 Politics / Re: FG Impounds Russian Plane With Arms In Kano by davitogreat(m): 9:50pm On Dec 07, 2014 |
emmatok:
Russians still operate Antonov An-124 Ruslan.
You guys seem to believe the Russians so much these days. Your suspision that it's from Russia is incorrect. Check my previous post. I just posted a picture of a helicopter found in the aircraft. Its a french helicopter that Russia does not have in her Arsenal. |
| Politics / Re: FG Impounds Russian Plane With Arms In Kano by davitogreat(m): 9:48pm On Dec 07, 2014 |
patriot4:
First of all I do not have any way to verrify your claim. What I know is that Antonov is a ukrainia company, right ?
And even if Russia uses a few Antonov, it still doesn't make this particular aircraft Russian !
Why would you spot a ukrainian made aircraft and call it Russian ?
And look, Russia is the country which is providing Nigeria with attack hellicopters (MI35M) and tanks and other military equipment which the west refused us. Russia is practically saving Nigeria, so sorry if we chose to not accuse them without proof.
I don't think you are a Nigerian. We Nigerians are greatful to Russia, thanks to them our military has the weapons to take on the bad guys. Your correct The plane is Not from Russia. This helicopter is a french Helicopter called Aerospatiale gazelle. It was one of the goods being transported in the aircraft and Russia does not have this product in her Asrenal. Now why would Russia be carrying a french chopper to chad? I believe the plane is from France 1 Like 
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| Politics / Re: Arms Deal: Fg To Raise $1bn Russian Loan by davitogreat(m): 1:52pm On Dec 07, 2014 |
This is a good move by the government. I and a few others have said on this forum that, America and The U.K and Their NATO Allies will Never sell Nigeria any high grade weapons. Many people disputed our comments. I like this deal with Russia. Apart from the fact that our military will be upgraded, we will also get much needed technology transfer for our satellite systems. This will be good for security, agriculture, mining sector, meteorological sector e.t.c
At the end of the day there are no permanent allies. Every country looks out for their own interests, so I have no bitter feelings towards the Americans and her NATO allies.
When it comes to the Nigerian government my only problems with them was their turtle like response to making a move like this. We should have done this 2 years ago before the situation deteriorated to this point. My second problem with them is their constant pouting and crying to the media about America not selling us weapons. They should have just made a move like this without making a big scene and embarrassing themselves. |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 8:47pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
sarutobie:
this is what I call destroying ignorance and fiction with cold hard facts..bless you Thanks. I had to step up and post because this is not the first time I have seen Nairlanders belittle the present rehabilitation of the railways because they see bullet trains in China or Japan. The ignorance I see on this forum is really outstanding. 1 Like |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 8:20pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
JAZES:
Bros, people pay for more than that for a local flight around this country, so your arguments doesnt hold water at all. Its human nature, people will always pay for what makes their life easy and convenient. show me One nation this world that has a bullet train without regular narrow gauge or standard gauge rail lines? I will save your time... There is None.
Bullet Trains are Grossly expensive to build, they dont carry raw goods and materials, and in many cases they become unprofitable and a drain to the society. Plus your comment about Nigerians being able to afford it is laughable. If Americans themselves feel that Americans wont be able to afford one if built what makes the Nigerian populace viable for such a project? Unless all the cries I keep hearing about Nigerians suffering are all lies, and In fact Nigerians are actually very rich. http://www.railroad.net/articles/topics/pros-and-cons-of-high-speed-rail.phpDetractors, however, say that the high speed rail program will just eat the budget and reap no real rewards. They argue that, especially in America, very few people will take the trains, opting instead for the freedom offered by personal automobiles. Some also claim the prices for high speed rail tickets might be too expensive for many people to take the trains regularly. This lack of riders will render the supposed benefits of the high speed rail network moot. |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 7:55pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
espn:
then dey should come up with progressive policies dat wil improve d economy so dat Nigerians can afford it. D money dey steal is enough to carry out most of dis beautiful projects..nd we r here making excuses for dis people dat dnt even v d interest of d electorate at heart. I really want to face palm now... Do you know how much it costs to build a bullet train? Do you know how much Nigeria's budget is? Even without corruption Nigeria CANNOT afford to build one. Let me give u an example. Here is a piece from LA weekly about the cost to build a bullet train from Los Angees to Sanfransisco. http://www.laweekly.com/2011-11-24/news/100-billion-bullet-train/How much does it cost to go from Los Angeles to San Francisco by train?
Nearly $100 billion.
It's not a punch line. It's the sticker-shock price tag from the California High-Speed Rail Authority to build a bullet train that engineering and transportations experts now say probably will not reach speeds of 150 or 200 mph, offering instead a not-that-fast rail route between L.A. and the Bay Area, whose cost will be paid by Californians for decades. Its so expensive that americans are fighting against it Schweitzer's graduate class at USC's School of Policy, Planning and Development later completed an independent estimate, coming up with a figure of $90 billion to $105 billion, which closely aligns with the figure the authority released Nov. 1.
She describes the California High-Speed Rail Authority board as playing the ultimate political game with other people's money: So now if the Americans with all their wealth are fighting against it why do starving Nigerians want one built? Nigeria must focus on rehabilitating her old rail tracks and building STANDARD GAUGE rail lines which are cheaper and possess the ability to transport goods and services. (something bullet trains cannot do) Bullet trains should not even be in the conversation. It is a waste of money and will not benefit the average Nigerian. 3 Likes |
| Politics / Re: FG Impounds Russian Plane With Arms In Kano by davitogreat(m): 4:44pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
kmariko:
The reporter should go back to school.
1. Is the plane owned and operated by the russian government.
2. Are all the flight crew russians
3. Where is the originating country
4. Are they russian made arms.
5. Why Kano, why not Ndjamena international airport.
6.Etc.
Too many questions yeah this report is amateurish. Lets wait a few hours for more light to be shed on this development. 2 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 4:22pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
[quote author=olas24u post=28646784][/quote]
Please tell me which company is going to want to invest in building such trains in Nigeria? Nigerians do not have the spending power to support such a venture. Remember the private sector does not invest for investing sake. They look at costs of production and they look at their potential return on investment. I can tell you right now that any company that invests in establishing a bullet train in Nigeria will undoubtedly go bankrupt.
Also this is not the same an MTN or GLo so your comparison does not make sense at all. This is a lot more complex.
For Nigeria to have bullet trains, the Nigerian government has to first privatize the NRC, next we have to get electricity working then we need to increase the spending power of Nigerians by alot. After all that we have to set in place incentives to encourage private companies to establish such a train here. Though I will tell you all of these will take at least a decade to establish, and by that time more advanced trains would be in the market. 2 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 4:03pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
olas24u:
You wrote about paying yes paying is a big part of it. After all these trains have to be profitable for it to be maintained. As i told the thread starter. To ride a bullet train in china minimum payment is 95 dollars while business class is almost 300 dollars. In japan its even more expensive. The average Nigerian cannot afford to ride such trains if it were built here. Look at the Lagos Kano train situation. There are Nigerians complaining that it is too expensive for them and that is with a cost of 2000 naira. The only way Nigerians will be able to afford to ride the trains will be if the Government subsidies the costs. here is a link to the costs in china (you just have to make the conversion to dollars $1=6 chinese yuan) http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/beijing-shanghai-highspeed.htmThe High-Speed Electric Multiple Units (EMU) Train, namely the G-trains, travel between Beijing South Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, going across Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu.
The ticket fare is CNY 1,748 for sightseeing and business seat, CNY933 for first-class seat and CNY553 for second-class seat. |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 3:34pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
olas24u:
You are not making sense,your argument has got nothing to do with world class infrastructure. What about my comment does not make sense? Nigeria is a developing country that abandoned her railway for decades due to corruption and military rule. The present government is reviving it. Some people have chosen to criticize it by comparing the current trains to the bullet trains in china. I gave my reply about why their criticisms are foolish. Or do you believe the present government should have constructed bullet trains? If so How do you think they should have gone about it? 2 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 2:40pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
sauer:
Government doesn't need to spend billions to build this. They simply need to create an enabling environment that will allow private contractors build this for profit. If there's a market, it has a way of stabilizing itself in the long run. Besides, private contractors understand to plan projects and expect long-term profits. The Lekki-Epe expressway was once a sorry sight. It didn't build itself. But now, with private participation, it's a great convenience for people who live in that axis, in spite of the initial resistance Thats not what we are talking about. We all know that private investors should be the ones to build this. maybe in the future down the line when Nigeria is more developed and stable we will have trains like this but right now we are talking about the present. And in the present there are people like the thread starter criticizing the NRC because they feel the trains they are using does not compare to the ones in more developed nations. That is what prompted my response. 1 Like |
| Politics / Re: Picture Of China Train Station, Lesson For Nigeria Goverment by davitogreat(m): 1:45pm On Dec 06, 2014 |
sann204:
I am ashamed of this country whenever Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria boasted that GEJ had transform our railway system. Can they compare our railway with this? The way some of you think baffles me. Lets say Jonathan Builds this. Who In Nigeria is going to ride this? Nigerians are already complaining that the lagos to Kano route is too expensive and that one just costs about 2000 naira or 11 dollars. Now you want to build a train like this. Do you know how much it costs to ride this train in china? Let me enlighten you a little. If you want to take this train from lets say beijing to shanghai the cheapest you pay is $95 dollars. While Business class is nearly 300 dollars. Again tell me who in Nigeria is going to ride this if it gets built here? or will the Government spend billions to subsidize the train costs for the masses? Nigeria should not think of such trains until the populace has the spending power to support it. 15 Likes 2 Shares |
| Politics / Re: The War Over U.S. War Crimes In Afghanistan Is Heating Up by davitogreat(m): 4:35pm On Dec 04, 2014 |
Americas Hypocrisy is truly unmatched worldwide. 1 Like |
| Politics / Re: The War Over U.S. War Crimes In Afghanistan Is Heating Up by davitogreat(m): 4:19pm On Dec 04, 2014 |
The reason they are now getting aggressive with the U.S is because of the ICC's new Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. She is from Gambia. Here is her Picture  |
| Politics / The War Over U.S. War Crimes In Afghanistan Is Heating Up by davitogreat(m): 4:17pm On Dec 04, 2014 |
The Hague’s International Criminal Court has long avoided pointing the finger at U.S. misdeeds in Afghanistan. That truce is about to end
[b]The International Criminal Court in The Hague is tiptoeing closer to a confrontation with the United States. The key issue is U.S. detention practices, and the alleged use of torture, in Afghanistan. A report just released by the office of the court's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, for the first time explicitly names U.S. forces as potential culprits.
The back story of the International Criminal Court's (ICC's) inquiry into possible crimes in Afghanistan extends more than a decade. Afghanistan joined the ICC in early 2003, less than a year after the court opened its doors. That move gave the international prosecutor potentially broad jurisdiction over crimes committed by all combatants on Afghan soil. Shortly thereafter, the ICC opened what it calls a "preliminary examination" of possible crimes in the country. In this phase of the court's work, the prosecutor's office reviews mainly outside sources of information about situations and considers whether to launch a full investigation of its own.[/b]
Year after year, the court's inquiry on Afghanistan has remained in limbo, even as reports of abuses in Afghanistan accumulate. The United Nations estimates that about 8,000 civilians have been killed in the country since 2009 alone.
To many observers, the ICC's sluggishness in responding to one of the world's bloodier conflicts appeared odd, particularly as it opened multiple formal investigations in Africa. It was hard to avoid the conclusion that the ICC might be avoiding Afghanistan precisely because an investigation there would involve scrutiny of U.S. actions and otherwise complicate major-power diplomacy related to the conflict. No NATO state involved in Afghanistan has expressed support for an ICC role.
While the court's inner workings are not easy to divine, it appears that a more assertive approach to Afghanistan developed sometime after Bensouda took over from the court's first prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, in mid-2012. As prosecution officials prepared an update on the Afghan situation, they gathered NGO reports of abuses by U.S. forces and material from U.S. internal inquirers to go along with much more voluminous material on Taliban crimes and alleged Afghan government abuses.
In a Foreign Policy article published in May, I detailed the heartburn that the court's more energized inquiry was causing in Washington. In 2013, three senior State Department officials dashed to The Hague for a meeting with the deputy prosecutor, veteran Canadian lawyer James Stewart. At that meeting, the U.S. officials discouraged the prosecutor from specifically discussing alleged U.S. misconduct. It appears that Washington's alarm had an impact; the ICC's 2013 update on Afghanistan contained no direct references to U.S. forces. Allegations of U.S. misconduct were instead lumped into the category of "pro-government forces" and elided by the passive voice. "It has been alleged," 2013's report noted, "that, between 2002 and 2006, some of the detainees captured in Afghanistan were subjected to interrogation techniques which may constitute torture or inhumane treatment."
That tactful ambiguity vanished in the report released this year on Dec. 2. The prosecutor's office concluded that "the information available suggests that between May 2003 and June 2004, members of the US military in Afghanistan used so-called ‘enhanced interrogation techniques' against conflict-related detainees in an effort to improve the level of actionable intelligence obtained from interrogations." (The report also considered whether certain raids and airstrikes by international forces constituted war crimes but concluded that there was no evidence of intentional harm to civilians.) Still, the prosecutor's statements on U.S. detainee abuse mark the first time that the ICC, which the United States has not joined, has explicitly identified possible criminal behavior by U.S. nationals.
At a public event on Dec. 2, I asked the U.S. point person on global justice, Ambassador Stephen Rapp, about the new report. He expressed disappointment that the ICC was even considering U.S. conduct and reaffirmed long-standing U.S. policy -- articulated soon after the court was negotiated in 1998 -- that the ICC cannot exercise jurisdiction over a nonmember state. "The position of the U.S. in 1998 was that the ICC should not have jurisdiction over non-parties, and that remains, as a policy matter, something that we believe," Rapp said. He also maintained that even if the court somehow had jurisdiction, the U.S. military justice system has examined the relevant allegations and has taken appropriate action, including some prosecutions.
The court remains a very long way from indictments of U.S. soldiers or civilian officials. The prosecutor still hasn't decided to open a full investigation. Even if she does, indictments of U.S. personnel are highly uncertain. What appears to be happening behind the scenes is a quiet push and pull between The Hague and Washington over whether the United States has adequately investigated abuses by its own forces. If the United States can demonstrate that it has done so, the doctrine of "complementarity" should preclude any court action.
That may be easier said than done, however. In recent months, U.S. military lawyers have been working to match up the incidents the court is interested in with the various internal investigations conducted by the U.S. military. The dearth of information on many of these incidents makes this a challenging task. But there's a much more fundamental issue. The ICC has as part of its mandate investigating and prosecuting "those most responsible" for serious crimes. Its investigations thus far in other conflicts have bypassed lower-level officials and have moved directly to commanders and even political leaders. Because the United States has mostly avoided grappling with whether senior officials bear criminal responsibility for abusive interrogation practices, U.S. officials may have trouble convincing the ICC prosecutor that they have done enough.
For that reason, the new ICC report increases the still-small probability of a full-blown confrontation between the world's superpower and the fragile young court. Over the last decade, the political fights in the United States about the ICC have mostly faded into the background. The second George W. Bush administration and Barack Obama's administration have taken small but meaningful steps toward a productive working relationship. But if the court's interest in U.S. misdeeds in Afghanistan continues, that truce could end.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/12/03/the_war_over_us_war_crimes_in_afghanistan_is_heating_up_icc_hague?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AEditors%20Picks&utm_campaign=2014_EditorsPicks12%2F3SLO |
| Politics / Re: Exclusive report on Nigerian Army’s Renewed Offensive Against Boko Haram by davitogreat(m): 12:46am On Dec 04, 2014 |
This is good news to hear. |
| Politics / Re: Russia, Nigeria Sign Memorandum On Security Councils’ Cooperation by davitogreat(m): 8:52pm On Dec 03, 2014 |
Vivalavida99:
Losing Nigeria Friendship to American Arch rival Russian will not only lead to more pressure in Washington but it will be an advantage to the Republican.
Losing Nigeria friendship means losing the whole of west African nation which their Economic survivarbility lies on Nigerian Population and resources.
I think American need to re-evaluate their policy towards Nigeria.
If American can ship weapons to Kurds-Pershmagers, Kobani's and some elements that fought against American army and also killed several US soldiers during Iraq war, I see no reason for helping a legitimate government to fight terrorism in is nation.
I might not like the Nigeria government, but this is about innocent civilians dying every day in Northern part of Nigeria street.
Nigerian government need little or no American help so to say but American Interest in Nigeria are so bogus and such need to be consider.
I know the next step is to follow Indian step to US, by removing all their securities in All American Embassy and Interest in Nigeria. Great post. hopefully they send those so called american experts that are bundled up in the American embassy keeping info about bokoharam to themselves back home. |
| Politics / Re: The American Oil Boom Won't Last Long At $65 Per Barrel by davitogreat(m): 7:37pm On Dec 02, 2014 |
atlwireles:
The only reason we cry about crude oil prices is because of government spending. The question is why is a Nation like Nigeria beholden to Oil prices? When oil is just $97B of our $520B GDP. It's because nigeria has one of the worst tax frameworks on the planet. Taxes in nigeria only make up 3% of govt revenue. (The average in subsaharan Africa is 9% and the average in the developed world is 30%) 2 Likes |
| Travel / Abuja-kaduna Standard Gauge Railway Completed by davitogreat(m): 1:53am On Dec 02, 2014 |
ABUJA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese rail construction giant China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Monday officially rounded off the track laying work of Nigeria's first standard gauge railway modernization project linking the capital city Abuja and the northwestern state of Kaduna.
With Nigeria's Minister of Transport Idris Umar tightening the last screw of the rail track at a well-attended ceremony, the first standard rail road project of the Chinese firm in Nigeria and the entire West Africa is formally complete for public use, CRCC said.
Constructed in three years, the rail road project gulped nearly 850 million U.S dollars and lasts 186.5 km with nine stations and a design speed of 150 km per hour.
Umar, while expressing satisfaction on the project on behalf the Nigerian government and people of Africa's most populous country, described the project as a significant milestone in the history of Nigeria, as well as a testimony that the transformation agenda of the government was yielding fruitful results.
"I am delighted to be here to perform yet another milestone of the Nigerian railway modernization project," Umar said, noting it will ease the mass movement of people from the Nigerian capital city to the northwestern state of Kaduna.
"We are committed to carry out a lot of modernization projects to make transportation easier for all Nigerians," the official added.
Shi Hongbing, managing director of the Nigerian office of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), an offshoot of CRCC, said the company would take part in the running and management of the train in the future.
"With the completion of the track laying, it shows we are competent," the CCECC top manager in Nigeria said.
"I want to thank all the people who helped us during the construction," he added, acknowledging, especially, the cooperation and hospitable nature of people of the local communities which the rail project passed through.
"The completion of the rail road is a guarantee for the running of the rail road next year. It will boost the confidence of the Chinese firm and also the determination of Nigeria. And this is a good example of the coast rail road project of the West African country," said Chairman of CRCC Meng Fengchao in a message sent from Beijing, capital of China.
Earlier, Cao Baogang, vice chairman of CRCCCAC, described the project as a "miracle", noting it was completed "under the pressure of Ebola and the security problem in Nigeria."
The Abuja-Kaduna rail line is one of the first Standard Gauge Railway Modernization Projects (SGRMP) undertaken in Nigeria. The railway modernization initiative in Nigeria aims at replacing the existing narrow gauge system with the wider standard gauge system, while allowing high-speed train operations on the railway network. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=255923 23 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke Elected First OPEC Female President by davitogreat(m): 1:17pm On Nov 27, 2014 |
Voice234:
first of all I am not a northerner, wouldn't where I am from because we all Nigerians and that is what matters most.
My brother I wud ask u d following questions and if u sincerely answer them, you would find out u have the answers you seek.
* how many refineries do we have in Nigeria what are their capacity and what are their %age reliability i.e what dey currently produce.
* how many LNG plants do we have, compared to having the 10th largest gas reserve in the world
* how much is a litre of pms, Ago n dpk in nigeria compared to countries without crude oil as a natural resources. All your questions are tied to the passage of the PIB Bill. One of the main components of the Bill is the deregulation of the downstream oil sector which would make the sector more attractive for private companies to invest in. So if the bill is passed expect more companies to be willing to invest in Construction of new refinerys, LNG plants, oil excavation e.t.c. The fact of the matter is if we want our oil sector to be efficient, beneficial to the masses and globally competitive it must be deregulated. Sidenote- I read in an article that our already existing oil refinerys are too old to be maintained due to unavailability of their spare parts in The market and are basically obsolete. Which means it is impossible for the government to bring them up to full capacity. ( so expect more refined crude importation in the future) This is what happens with decades of neglect and vision less leaders. 9 Likes 2 Shares |
| Foreign Affairs / Re: USA: Ferguson Police Officer Found Not Guilty by davitogreat(m): 6:57pm On Nov 25, 2014 |
igbo2011:
Why are people surprised?
At the end if the day until Africa is free no African in the woldl is free. Couldn't have said it better myself. This is it in a nutshell. 3 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Nairaland Is Controlled By The White Man by davitogreat(m): 12:36pm On Nov 25, 2014 |
GenBuhari:
Point me to one thread on neo-colonialism that made the front page It has nothing to do with the white man. It is the mentality of the average nigerian. Ask any nigerian about white supremacy, colonialism, colourism and the like and I promise you they will be giving you blank stares. While the rest would look for ways to justify the racism and oppression africans have received from the west. On top of that most nigerians already have a colonial and inferior mindset. So now when you look at nairaland which to a certain extent is a reflection of Nigerian society you can have a clearer picture. If you want to have an enlightening conversation about race, pan africanism, african economic freedom, black empowerment, self hate and the like, sadly it's best you go to black American blogs and forums. 6 Likes 3 Shares |
| Politics / Re: LET THOSE THAT CALL BUHARI AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS by davitogreat(m): 2:35am On Nov 25, 2014 |
chamboy:
u see my Bro, Me n u knw d Problem. U just tryna b ignorant about it So now back to buhari. What steps has he said he would take to ensure that government interference in social and economic sectors of the economy will be minimized? What steps has he said he will take to ensure that nigeria becomes a cashless society? What steps has he said he will take to ensure our institutions are strengthened? What steps has he said he will take to ensure that the days of all state governors trooping to abuja for monthly allocations is ended and instead true federalism economically, socially and politically is practiced? Buhari main stand is he is a corruption killer but yet We are 2.5 months away from elections and he has not presented the actions and policies he will take to ensure corruption becomes a thing of the past. 1 Like |
| Politics / Re: LET THOSE THAT CALL BUHARI AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS by davitogreat(m): 2:13am On Nov 25, 2014 |
chamboy:
what is the major cause of all u listed here I know what your trying to do. And no corruption is not the cause. It I a lack of strong institutions, a centralized government, cash based society and too much government interference in different sectors of the society and economy. All of these leaves the room open for corruption to thrive in Nigeria. |
| Politics / Re: LET THOSE THAT CALL BUHARI AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS by davitogreat(m): 2:00am On Nov 25, 2014 |
chamboy:
have u asked ursef what's the Major Cause of Unemployment in this Country Lack of reliable energy, adequate infrastructure and inability of SME's to acquire loans at affordable interest rates. 1 Like |
| Politics / Re: LET THOSE THAT CALL BUHARI AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS by davitogreat(m): 12:04am On Nov 25, 2014 |
femicyrus:
Who are the nigerians who do not want buhari?
Who are those that distribute rice when election is coming?
Who are those you will not want to lose their loot and go to jail when buhari becomes president?
I am sure unemployed graduate, N18k salary earner, and the masses that can't eat 3times a day will not be among your nigerian that do not want buhari
In regards to your comment on unemployed graduates and masses not eating 3 times a day. How does Buhari intend to increase the standards of living and create jobs for the masses? From your comment you seem to believe that Buhari will be able to solve these problems and from what I know, i have not heard Buhari mention the steps he will take to solve these issues. Unless you have access to information I dont. If you do, then please share. 2 Likes |
| Politics / Re: The Truths Obasanjo Failed To Tell Nigerians. by davitogreat(m): 6:19pm On Nov 22, 2014 |
Obiagelli:
Rice and cassava project was started by who? The few roads gej is completing today was started by who? Not to even mention power plants. Rehabilitation of kano - lagos rail was started by who? Obj was a bad leader but is miles ahead of gej Sadly Many African leaders think like you. People like you cannot seem to comprehend continuity in governance. Regardless of who starts a project, if the project is beneficial to the citizenry the responsibility is on the incoming government to continue and finish the project. This is what economists talk about when they cry for stable investment environments. Why do you think international investors are afraid to establish long term investments in africa? One of their fears is too many African leaders thinking like you. When they come into power they cancel and stall development projects by previous administrations because they want all the glory to themselves. Now with your comment one really wonders if these African leaders are to blame for making such decisions. I guess the saying "you get the leaders you deserve" rings true for much of africa. Also the rice and cassava initiatives are Jonathan's achievements and so is the lagos-kano railway, road projects,irrigation projects and soon to be commissioned eastern rail line. Many of the power plants also fall under Jonathans achievements since he also contributed in making them a reality. 14 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Associate Of Chadian President Arrested With Missiles Meant For Boko Haram by davitogreat(m): 5:46pm On Nov 22, 2014 |
adavize:
This sounds plausible
Idris Deby has been fingered before now on been one of those supplying boko haram.
My question is what benefit is the crises in North east to Chad.
Anybody can help with a good reason?. I am not really a fan of theories without solid facts backing it. But here is an article that might help to shed more light on the situation. http://www.allvoices.com/article/100001851With recent developments, it has become clear that the discovery of significant oil and gas reserves in Nigeria’s northeastern Lake Chad Basin, the zone of the Boko Haram insurgency, is a major factor contributing to instability in the region. The recent discovery has attracted the interest of neighboring countries, such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger, and international powers, including the United States, Britain and France.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, discovered new oil and gas reserves in the Borno Lake Chad Basin in 2012 after its francophone neighbors, Chad and Niger, announced significant discoveries on their sides of the Chad Basin. Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo announced in 2013 that the country was preparing to commence oil and gas exploration in the fourth quarter of 2013 or the first quarter of 2014.
It is estimated that the Lake Chad Basin, including the west of Chad, southernmost parts of Niger, northwest Cameroon and northeastern Nigeria, could hold as much as 2.32 billion barrels of oil and about 14.65 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Further escalation of the Boko Haram threat into a full-blown military conflict, leading to a declaration of a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno in 2013 following the discovery of oil in the region, might seem at first glance a coincidence given the roots of the crisis in the civil conflict with Nigerian security forces in 2009.
The Nigerian government had completed plans to begin commercial oil and gas exploration in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa in 2014. However, with significant sections of the region under the control of insurgent forces who have declared an independent caliphate, the plans have been thwarted.
As the Nigerian political opposition writer Peregrino Brimah notes, "There is no question that the find of oil reserves in 2012 potentially puts the entire conflict in the north in a different light."
Who stands to gain from prolonging the Boko Haram conflict?
The risk management group Edinburgh International identifies the interest of Nigeria's northeastern neighbor, the Republic of Chad, in prolonging the conflict. Chad is already benefiting from the inability of Nigeria to commence commercial exploration of oil in the region due to the ongoing insurgency.
From its side of the Lake Chad Basin, Chad has started drawing crude oil from shared underground reserves. Under the so-called "Rule of Capture," Nigeria's neighbors can legally draw oil from reserves located in the Nigerian territory provided they do the drilling exclusively in their territory. Billions of dollars in investments are going to Chad's oil sector. Chad is drilling oil from the Chad Basin for exportation as part of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline project.
The injection of oil geopolitics into an already volatile mix of ecological factors pushing socioeconomic devastation of the region is further complicated by the involvement of powerful local politicians on the Nigerian and Chadian sides whose personal investments in Chadian oil means that their interest is best served by Chad's continued exclusive and unfettered access to the oil reserves while Nigeria remains bogged down with the Boko Haram insurgency.
The unfolding of the regional scenario with the commencement of oil exploration on the Chadian side has made explicit previously implicit assumptions about the Chadian government's links with the Boko Haram insurgents in concert with local politicians who have vested interests in the commercial exploration of the Lake Chad Basin oil and gas reserves.
Evidence of close links between Chad, local Nigerian politicians, Chadian politicians and the Boko Haram insurgents has become clear following recent ceasefire negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram brokered by the Chadian leader Idriss Deby. Nigeria has in the past urged its neighbor to stop the insurgents from using Chadian territory as a safe haven for recruitment, supplies and launching attacks into Nigerian territory.
Chad’s destabilization role in the region, as part of its economic drive to transform into a major oil exporter, with the apparent backing of its former colonial master France, was highlighted by a recent Global Post report which indicted France of supporting Deby's destabilization policy in the Central African Republic, CAR, with the aim of securing Chad’s unfettered access to its common oil reserves with CAR and disrupting the country’s increasing trade and economic links with China.
According to Kasper Agger, field researcher for the NGO Enough Project, in an interview with Global Post: “’Chad is drilling oil from that border region and it's actually a shared oilfield with CAR’.... While there is no drilling on the CAR side yet, Chad has high interest in keeping tight control over the area.”
Recently, Australian negotiator Stephen Davis, who played a role in the negotiations that led to the granting of amnesty to Nigeria’s Niger Delta militants, repeated previous allegations against former Nigerian governor of Borno state Ali Modu Sheriff that he is one of the major local sponsors of Boko Haram.
Sheriff is known to have had close links with ECOMOG, a political militia that later morphed into Boko Haram under Mohammed Yusuf.
Sheriff is also known to be a personal friend of Chad's Idriss Deby with significant investments in the Chadian oil industry. As if to confirm his influence with Deby and Boko Haram, he played a key role in brokering a meeting between Deby and Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan which led to the ongoing ceasefire negotiations and talks between Nigeria and Boko Haram to release the Chibok girls.
According to an account by Sahara Reporters attributed to Nigerian intelligence sources:
Mr. Sheriff was actively involved in the recruitment, training and deployment of Boko Haram members.
"... members of Boko Haram sect are sometimes kept in Abeche region in Chad and trained before being dispersed. This happens usually when Mr. Sheriff visits Abeche," a 2011 memo from field officers in N’djamena, the capital of Chad, read.
When Mr. Sheriff visits Abeche for these activities, he lodges in Chadian Presidential Guest House in Abeche, and is provided security by the Chadian government… Mr. Sheriff is a close friend of the Chadian president, Idris Deby.
In 2011, during the Chadian presidential elections, Mr. Sheriff supported the Chadian president with 35 vehicles, for security, and is believed to have bankrolled Mr. Deby’s re-election.” The recent ceasefire talks between Nigeria and Boko Haram, brokered by Chadian President Idriss Deby, with the backing of influential local Chadian and Nigerian politicians with a vested interest in the Chadian oil industry, has focused attention on how the discovery of significant oil and gas reserves in Nigeria's northeastern Lake Chad Basin is contributing to instability in the region.
To fully understand the nature of the relationship between local Nigerian politicians and their counterparts on the Chadian side it is helpful to learn that the region is home to Kanuri clans who have common cultural and historical links despite being separated by international borders drawn by European colonialists.
Rampant corruption in the Nigerian state, coupled with the diversity of its 170 million people, means that local Borno politicians have greater ties with their ethnic kinsmen across the border than with Nigerian government officials hundreds of miles away in Abuja.
The economic devastation of the Lake Chad region due to the shrinking of Lake Chad, the economic mainstay of the region’s fishing communities, also means that the discovery of oil in the region is seen by local political power brokers as an opportunity to seek independence from the weak central government in Abuja, regardless of the interests of the poor masses of their own people.
The complicating impact of the regional geopolitics of oil is that although the Nigerian government has not revealed the terms of its recent ceasefire talks with Boko Haram, it could be fairly expected that Boko Haram will make huge settlement demands based not only on the precedent case of the Niger Delta militants who negotiated an amnesty deal with the Nigerian state but also on the fact of the vast oil resources at stake.
No doubt, issues of pay settlement will play a major role in the talks. But it is unlikely that the Nigerian government will be able to accept the demands, thus paving the way for the perpetuation of the conflict to the detriment of the Nigerian side and the advantage of Chad, as is the case in the Central African Republic.
If negotiations fail, the Chadians will, at least, be able to say that they made an effort to help secure a resolution of the conflict and that the fact that they are benefiting from a prolonged conflict in Nigeria’s Borno Chad Basin region is a situation they can't help.
A blog post by a Nigerian analyst who claims knowledge of the inner workings of of Boko Haram probably gives an accurate picture of the complicated nature of the challenges Nigerian negotiators face in securing a deal with Boko Haram.
According to the analyst, the ceasefire talks may have succeeded only in accentuating the differences between the four major militant groups constituting Boko Haram, namely:
Jamaa’atu Ahlis-Sunnati Lid-Da’wati Wal-Jihad ("Group of the People of the Traditions of the Prophet, for the Propagation and the Striving" , led by Abubakar Shekau
Jamaa’atu Ahlis-Sunnati ‘Alal-Haqq Wal-Jihaadi Fii Sabilillah ("Group of the People of the Traditions of the Prophet on the Truth and the Striving in the Cause of Allah", led by of Sheikh Bukar Al-Barnawi
Ansorul-Muslimiina Fii Bilaadis-Sudaan ("Helpers of the Muslims in the Lands of the Sudaan", led by Abu Usamah Al-Ansori
Harakatul-Muhajiriina Wal-Mujahidiin (“Movement of the Emigrants and Those Who Strive), led by Khalid Al-Barnawi
Following a succession of victories by Nigerian forces in September, it appears that Shekau is anxious to secure a temporary ceasefire deal to regroup, rearm and secure his rear bases in Cameroon. But the other groups have reportedly rejected the proposal of a ceasefire deal with the Nigerian government.
Shekau's faction also reportedly rejected a proposal by the Nigerian government for a permanent resolution of the crisis, saying it was interested only in a temporary ceasefire deal. If the analyst’s report is accurate, it reveals the real intentions of Shekau’s faction in seeking a temporary ceasefire: The militants are merely seeking a brief respite to regroup and rearm following recent setbacks.
The analyst also denied reports that the Shekau faction has agreed to release the Chibok girls, noting that Shekau cannot release them simply because his faction is not holding them. Shekau's negotiators only promised to try to persuade Ansorul-Muslimiin to release the girls, according to the analyst.
Regardless of the accuracy of this analyst’s sources, it is widely understood that the major factor behind the desperation of Nigerian authorities for a temporary ceasefire is politicians seeking a respite to conduct elections, barely three months away. Politicians set for the campaign season want to be able to conduct their electioneering without distraction from the insurgents. President Goodluck Jonathan only recently announced his intention to seek re-election amid controversy.
The upcoming general election is the cause of the situation in which the Nigerian government is on its knees begging the insurgents for a temporary ceasefire. There is an understanding that it is in the best interest of politicians if fighting ceases temporarily to allow elections to take place, even if it means they return to the battlefield immediately after. The more pressing issue of who controls oil revenue flows to the center is settled through rigged elections.
As incredible as it sounds, Nigeria’s corrupt politicians are in effect begging the mad dog they unleashed to allow them a brief respite to conduct elections. But how much are they willing to bribe the mad dog to allow them to have peace for a season? 3 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Police release NEW VIDEO: Extraordinary Scenes Inside Nigeria National Assembly by davitogreat(m): 4:34pm On Nov 22, 2014 |
Obiagelli:
Go and read the things our heroes Mandela and Martin Luther King did to get us where we are today. dont ever compare these trash to Mandela and Martin Luther king. You think these law makers give 2 Zap.s about you? They are all there to line their pockets. After all our house of reps and senators are some of the highest paid in the world with nothing to show for it. If they cared then they would have pushed for the passing of the much anticipated PIB Bill. This is a bill that will revolutionize the oil industry and employ many Nigerians. A bill that will break the monopoly the IOC's have had in the Nigerian oil and gas sector for decades and will further promote local content in the oil and gas industry. This bill will also set funds for the development of communities in the Niger delta. Yet these stupid lawmakers have been stalling it. If they cared they would have pushed for the passing of other bills like the local content policy for construction, aviation and telecommunication. If they cared they would pass the much awaited Health Insurance Bill which will help to improve the lives of the citizenry. If they cared these idiots would have lowered their salaries, but instead they are looking for a way to further increase their already enormous salaries and benefits. Again never compare these trash to Mandela and Martin Luther King. 13 Likes |
| Politics / Re: Police release NEW VIDEO: Extraordinary Scenes Inside Nigeria National Assembly by davitogreat(m): 1:30pm On Nov 22, 2014 |
what a disgusting scene...
bunch of savages. 12 Likes |
| Politics / Re: President GEJ Washes Hands Off Security Operatives Action. by davitogreat(m): 11:30am On Nov 21, 2014 |
dat9jaguy:
If a child abuses his elders,people around would know that the child was sent or encouraged by his/her parents. Fine Then. Let me ask you a question. Is what is taking place in Ferguson, Missouri today Obamas Fault? (After all since Obama is the president of America the security forces in Missouri are under him and to use your parable "they are his children" |
| Politics / Re: President GEJ Washes Hands Off Security Operatives Action. by davitogreat(m): 1:09am On Nov 21, 2014 |
fyneguy:
Nonsense!
You guys keep posting annoying craps and one wonders if these words were processed by a human brain.
The I.G would act against the 4th citizen without clearance from the President, right?
yes he can. Especially in that situation. plus what proof do you have that the inspector general needed clearance from the president to act in that situation? |
