₦airaland Forum

The Lagos State government has raked in more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) this year.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode hailed tax payers for performing their civic obligations faithfully.
He spoke at a special evening of music and camaraderie held at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

The governor said as at December 16, the state had raked in N287billion as against N268.2billion generated last year.
Ambode said the taxes paid have been judiciously utilised to upgrade infrastructures and provide various services.

Speaking on the significance of the event which featured performances by an array of musicians and was attended by top political leaders, captains of industries, media executives, professionals in various fields, members of the diplomatic corps, among others, the governor said the government was greatly appreciative of the contributions of the people to the state’s growth.

He said: “You wonder what it is that we are doing? We said it is an evening with the governor but the truth is I just set this up to appreciate all of you and to say a big thank you.

“Yes, people have been saying that Lagos is working but Lagos is only working because of the people who are here.

“The taxpayers are the ones giving us the little energy that we have and even though when they say Nigeria is in recession, but somehow Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes.

“The truth is that the people have been carrying out their civic obligations and somehow we have been returning those obligations with the services that we have provided and you found out that this year; we have actually made more IGR than last year under a recession.

The event was attended by Deputy Governor Idiat Oluranti Adebule; House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Majority Leader of House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information Lai Mohammed; former Osun State Governors Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Isiaka Adeleke; former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke; Senator representing Lagos West and his predecessor, Solomon Adeola and Ganiyu Solomon; Speaker of Lagos State; Managing Director of Access Bank Herbert Wigwe, among others.

Some of the legendary musicians who performed at the event include Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Lagbaja, Queen Salawa Abeni and Adewale Ayuba.

Atiku2019:
There shouldn't be any age restriction

Funlordjnr:
The name is very senseless! Make una go re-brand!

Shalomdee:
Instead of the world to copy from us, we Christians are imitating the world. What's with the Islamic tatoo?

Haniel18:
Y is she looking at d floor

WHAT WE MUST DO NOW

It is important to give this short briefing. You see, we intend to do things much differently from before, and to learn from the experiences of those who have gone before us. Some ground rules will be entrenched and will soon be codified:

1. We want people who have jobs or businesses, and not 'professional politicians' to vie for offices at all levels.

2. We want to try and limit the ages of those we put forward within constitutional requirements but also below 55. We think that is fair enough. We want young people but we will not rub it in and engage in anti-ageism. We must guard against being seen as unnecessarily exuberant hotheads.

3. We want to promote the involvement of women and young people in politics and administration and so will encourage them to step forward... with their ideas. We believe the best ideas reside in this demographic.

4. Anyone's claim to fame will not be their comments on Facebook or elsewhere, but how much commitment they have shown in growing the party. For now, acquisition of state offices is of paramount importance. Those who will take charge of states must be able to sponsor the rentals and employment of staff for at least one year. Online and offline registration will commence within the week.

5. We want people of modest means in our party; self-made people preferably, with verifiable businesses or careers. We are not after moneybags. We are also not a platform for the perpetuation of poverty and despondency. We shall encourage ALL who choose to join us to get something going. We are fiercely independent and this must show in everything we do.

6. This party is about SACRIFICE. We dont want people who are seeking for quick money and benefits on board. Anyone coming with the mindset of "chop-and-quench", or "kill-and-divide", will not be recognized and will be watched keenly.

7. The political process is fraught with intrigues. We expect to have disrupters, hecklers, agents of detractors and so on. We wish to operate a very open system of camaraderie but we are also aware that it will not be smooth sailing. To that extent, those seen to be deliberately disruptive will be shown the door. We will run a tight ship here. No weak leadership.

The rules will be reviewed from time to time. After we solidify structures we will be governed strictly by our constitution. By all means, this is about making a difference in our country and in the lives of our countrymen and women. Ours is not a vision for immediate benefits but for the future of our great country and its people. It is an effort to try and organize ourselves and break the jinx whereby it is believed that after the frontrunners who have always organized themselves since the colonial days, the subsequent generations cannot. The inability to ORGANISE has got us to a point where our lives are careening out of control, and we are faced with existential issues even as our affairs have been piloted by people who had everything at their behest in their prime.

Our mantra for now is RENEWAL. RENAISSANCE. RESPECT!

Caseless:
are you a Muslim?

ring7:
Being the fourth wives won't make her popular.

ring7:
Who Fatima help,buhari 15 percent of becoming the president was because of zhara even some Nairaland all because of zhara,who dee Fatima here abeg iii,next

sisisioge:
It depends on the girls' choices and class. Though both girls' are siblings, their taste and exposure is different. This, one could see in the way they talk and carry themselves...

One chose to be a third wife, the other a first.

One chose an older guy, the other younger.

One is obviously into romance while the other is kinda clinical.

Whew! May God bless their marriages.

APCHaram:
Fatima (a divorcee) only got remarried long after her divorce courtesy of her father becoming president.

Zahra like your average duara kunu girl, only got Indimi's attention because of the father's current position

If buhari was not president, Fatima would remain unmarried and at best Zahra would have been married off to her father's mate as a fourth wife.

TINALETC3:
Op, wetin concern u??

QuotaSystem:
It boils down to the characteristics of their suitors and nature of both marriages.

The older daughter got re-married to a relatively unknown and significantly older suitor who appears conservative by his demeanor, with relatively no social media presence.

Zahra on the other hand, herself a stylish personality and darling of social media, got married to another quite popular and flamboyant personality in Ahmed from the popular Indimi clan, who gained SM notoriety when he posted his account balance of $100 million a few years ago. His sisters Adama (rumored to have dated D'banj) and the others are also popular SM personalities with thousands of followers, and the fact that popular vendors catered for the event boosted its profile as well. The result was not surprising.

The first wedding just underlines the simplicity and humility of the Buharis despite their presidency, which was diluted in the second wedding by the wealth, popularity and flamboyance of the Indimis.

aishmuhd:
The fact remains dat Fatima she a widow who is only remarrying with kids from her late husband. Because her father is a sitting president if not such re- marriages supposed to b low key

Zahra is jus getting married for the first time and Young Bride.

Before some people will say 'Eaya' because Fatima mum is no more life that was why.

imperiouxx:
where are the pillars? Only if one can foresee the future, death trap would have been placed in front of the church before that fateful day.

TINALETC33:

WHY THE RICE FIXATION? – THE ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY OF RICE IN NIGERIA – WAYS FORWARD (BY JIDE OLUTOKE


Genetically and archeologically, the origin of Rice has been traced to China as it was domesticated from a wild species peculiar to Australia. According to 2012 FAOSTAT data, rice is the agricultural commodity with the largest worldwide production after sugar-cane and maize but the most important grain in terms of human nutrition and calorie intake.

The recent economic recession in Nigeria has led to the surge in the price of goods and services both locally and foreign-made. In 2016, the price of Rice has been volatile beginning from January when it sold for N12,000 per bag. As at the end of the third quarter it sold for nothing less than N22,000 and has been projected to sell for N40,000 before the year runs out if local production fails to improve. According to the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri “close to $22billion is being spent on food import alone on a yearly basis”. In a similar statement credited to Africa’s richest businessman and Chairman, Dangote Group, Mallam Aliko Dangote, Nigeria spends $1.8 billion on Rice every year which makes her the second largest importer of Rice after China. What a feat!

Looking through some few statistics might help us understand better the state of things before now and possibly project into the future.

STATS OF RICE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION AMONG HIGHEST CONSUMING NATIONS

Source: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
Nigeria is the only country that has her consumption bigger than her production, thereby making her a chief importer.
Rice consumption has gulped billions of dollars and is still going to gulp more. However, the more precise question to be asked is why is it that the demand for rice is so huge? And if traced back, why is it that the trend of rice consumption has been on a progressive rise for the last 40 years? Or rather, how did we catch the rice bug so devastatingly?

Source: United States Department of Agriculture

WHY WE STARTED CONSUMING MORE RICE
Economic Factors
For those familiar with Nigeria economic history, luck smiled upon Nigeria when crude oil discovered sometimes in late 50s. the came the Oil Boom of the mid 1970s. The increase in foreign revenue for the country led to the redistribution of wealth among its citizens thereby affecting the consumption pattern of individuals in a process which Economists call NUTRITION TRANSITION. The Nutrition transition was so pronounced that even after fall in revenue, consumption pattern did not fall back to its original level leading to what Economists also call RATCHET EFFECT.

Furthermore, as income increases, more leisure is substituted for work. Humans, being rational, desire the need to spend more time resting, having fun, eating good food, staying with family etc. Likewise the need to prepare stress-free food also increased, whereby energy demanding African delicacies like pounded yam, Akpu, yam porridge, mashed beans are substituted with less stressful foods like rice, noodles, pasta, flakes, fast-food to mention a few. The change in societal roles between genders, where more females are now aplenty in the corporate world, against the traditional lifestyle where females are limited to the kitchen and rearing of children has also led to demands for foods that are cooked with little energy and attention.

Political Factors
Rice consumption in Nigeria is majorly financed by importation and this has been a source of extreme wealth and income for some group of “opportune” Nigerians. The political system of Nigeria where resources and opportunities are allocated on a “Man-knows-Man” basis has led to a cancerous growth with all sectors suffering from debilitating Hemorrhage. Rice became a tool of political patronage; when it is shared to the suffering masses for votes, or when import quotas are allocated to politically-connected moneybags. We took our eyes off local production.

Based on the data from the United States Department for Agriculture as depicted in the graph above, Rice production in Nigeria hit its highest production level in 2010 and that was in the same year the Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was appointed as the Minister. However, several policies were implemented by the dapper Adesina including attracting over $4 billion worth of investment, improvement in the production of fertilizer, getting over 14 million farmers into the data bank, availability of viable seeds etc. In spite of these strides, Nigeria is today battling with increasing prices and acute shortage of food; especially rice. The data further shows that rice production from the year 2011 till date has not been as high as the 2010 level. The other cause for worry is that there may be policy discontinuity as the fairly new Agric head honcho chooses new priorities.

Globalization
Globalization and advancement in technology has made the world a global village, through the usage of internet and other media devices its now easier to catch up with happenings around the world. This has however affected our culture, belief system, orientation and more importantly our cuisines and pattern of food consumption. An average Nigerian who sees the make-up of food in other part of the world might want to give a try. If however, the process seems convenient, faster, better and presentable, then a need to change from the all-time stressful pounded yam, Akpu, Burabisco etc. in a bid to keep up with the Joneses of the world the consumption pattern will have to change. In an ongoing survey being carried out by Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance (ISEGG), KFC and Domino’s Pizza are leading the pack as the best organizations in fast food sector. Though it might look far-fetched but there might be an iota of truth that in the next few years Pizzas and Fried chicken will rank among staple food among Nigerians!. See http://isegg.org/?q=service-excellence-survey for the results.

Medical and Nutritional factor
Most of the traditional food produced and eaten in this region have their base from root and tubers which are majorly carbohydrate. Improvements in medical knowledge has enlightened us to dangers in the over-consumption of these foods. Taking Garri for example, it has been researched that most of the garri being sold contain excessive hydrocyanic acid above the normal 10% recommended by WHO. Also according to health experts, garri contains a lots of calories which always end up being stored in our body due to our poor fitness culture. The recommendations from medical experts is enough to scare many Nigerians away from our traditional foods. The Minister of Health recently urged Nigerians to stay away from suya, Isi Ewu and Kilishi because they caused heart problems. The list of condemnation of local food is endless, thereby driving Nigerians to foreign foods.

A thorough analysis of the Rice conundrum vis a vis our general food crisis, throws up a few questions viz;
1. Have we ever thought of processing and re-engineering our food crops to become more competitive in an intense, globalized world?
2. What about packaging, presentation, preservation?
3. What efforts are being put into place to make our food crops available all year round? (Nigeria is one of the few countries that is still battling the seasonal volatility in the production and prices of our food crops. Maize, which is most likely a ubiquitous commodity in June turns into a rarity by September).
4. How can we work on the nutrients value, fiber contents and fats level of our foods?
5. How many of our local foods can we pack in our kid’s lunch bag when going to school?

HOW DO WE DRIVE THE CHANGE?
Educational system
The roles of education and educational institutions in a nation cannot be overemphasized. However the education we emphasize in Nigeria is that of certification where less attention is paid to knowledge acquisition. The hub of research, innovation and invention in a nation is the university. In a society where the institutions are focused rightly, growth and development will ensue. The Food Science and Technology departments with collaboration with family nutrition in Nigerian Universities and Colleges should refocus their energies on how several varieties of foods and food crops can be re-engineered to include the needed nutrients. Also food expert and nutritionist should brainstorm on how these foods could be cooked, packaged and process to meet the world standards. Culinary skills and lessons should be on the fore front of media houses so as to pass down the knowledge to the general public.

Manufacturing system
Food processing could form a basis for development of our economy, and has been indeed recognized to be a major option for Nigeria to forge ahead economically. The ability to put all our foods and cuisines in cans or an airtight containers that could last months or weeks on shelves will also increase the demand for our local delicacies, and will ensure that less food is wasted. Imagine you visiting ShopRite and you find yam porridge, smoked yam, beans porridge etc. neatly packaged on the shelf?
All is not lost if everybody is able to see this connection, if Universities and higher institutions authorities are solution-driven then we should expect right minded graduates to be produced. History and sociology graduates will focus more on reeducating and re-orientating the populace on the need to salvage the nations’ culture and heritage; food nutritionist will work more on educating the masses on several culinary approaches that are faster, efficient and less stressful; engineers and food science technologist knowing fully well that the psychology of the present generation is more inclined to package foods will also work on processing all our foods to a world acceptable standards. This is one sure way of getting the country out of long term depression, since billions of dollars spent on food importation will be drastically reduced, the amount of money spent on local foods will summarily increase hitherto generating employment for the many that will be engaged in the agriculture industry, releasing a lot of fund for productive activities and as well reducing the untold pressure on the Naira.

Jide Olutoke
Economics Graduate, OAU Ile-Ife
Intern at Global Analytics Consulting, Abuja

So I get off stage right and drop the mic
Walk up to these hot chicks and I'm all like
"What's up, ladies? My name's Slim Shady.
I'm the lead singer in D12 baby"
They're all like "Oh my god it's him"
"Becky oh my fuckin' god it's Eminem"
"I swear to fucking god dude you fucking rock"
"Please Marshall please let me suck your cock"
And by now the rest of the fellas get jealous
Especially when I drop the beat and do my acapellas
All the chicks start yellin', all the hot babes
Throw their bras and their shirts and their panties on stage
So like every single night they pick a fight with me
But when we fight it's kinda like sibling rivalry
Cause they're back on stage the next night with me
Dude I just think you're tryna steal the light from me
Yesterday Kuniva tried to pull a knife on me
Cause I told him Jessica Alba's my wife to be
This rock star shit, it's the life for me
And all the other guys just despise me because