₦airaland Forum

Another destroyed BH tank

I am a nobody, but I'm gonna use what I have to felicitate with the families at this festive season. This thread is created solely to remember our sisters as we are preparing to celebrate christmas, while they are faced with unimaginable horrors. Let's put them in our prayers. As things stand, Shekau's new year video might just show the girls with new born babies or 9 months pregnant. Just imagine how their parents will feel. Slavery in the year 2014? Chai. No matter how heartless we are we can't pretend we don't feel the pain.

Collynzo9:
You are a grade one illiterate almajiri.
Show us where the mockery is in the article or go and hide in shame!

"...a government that spends $6 Bn to tackle insurgency in north east..." I guess they are praising Nigeria right? Or doesn't the war affect the economy? ..."overdependent on oil money..." How come after spending 6 Bn dollars the war persists?

Look my friend, check the dictionary and understand the meaning of "mock". Or do you want them to be like Nigerian papers by using words like "shege", "oloshi" before you know they are making fun of us?

Pray for chibok and other abducted girls.

talktimi:
Where is the mockery in this article ?

Read again and ask me.

What’s Happening in Nigeria’s Economy?
7:09 AM EST DEC 19, 2014


Russia has been perhaps the most high-profile victim of the recent oil crisis, but further afield, the Nigerian economy is also being hamstrung by crashing prices despite the central bank’s best efforts to stem outflows. So what’s happened, what measures have been taken and why does it all matter, in Nigeria and beyond? Here’s the short answer.

How dependent is Nigeria's economy on oil?
Africa’s top economy and crude producer has grown 7% a year for the past decade. As retail and telecommunications companies have taken off, the oil industry has shrunk to a more balanced 14% of economic activity. Nonetheless, oil and natural gas still make up almost all of Nigeria’s exports and around 80% of government revenue, according to the International Monetary Fund. Brent crude has slipped more than 45% year-to-date and that is seriously damaging the value of Nigerian exports and assets.

How have markets fared so far?
The most obvious sign of the pressure that the slipping oil price is exerting on the Nigerian economy, is in currency markets.  The naira has fallen more than 17% so far this year against the dollar as investors have pulled out, and on Thursday it hit yet another record low of 187.40 against the buck. In December alone, the naira has depreciated by 5%.

Equity markets are feeling the heat too. The Nigerian all-share index is 15% lower this month and down almost 30% so far this year. Nigeria has three dollar bonds outstanding which have all dropped in recent weeks too. Nigeria has revised its budget on the assumption that oil will hover around $65 a barrel, which is still higher than current prices. The country’s economy is now expected to grow 5.5% this year, rather than the 6.4% previously forecast.

“We fear that the currency’s sharp depreciation is likely to impact negatively on inflation as Nigeria is a very import-intensive market,” Barclays economists write in a note.
What measures have been taken to limit damage?
The Nigerian central bank has implemented a number of measures in recent weeks to try to control the situation. In early November, the bank barred importers of goods, including electronics, generators and telecommunications equipment, from procuring dollars at its foreign-exchange auctions. Later in the month, it raised its key interest rate by one percentage point to a record high of 13%. Since then, the central bank has also intervened several times, according to traders, by selling dollar reserves to prop up the naira.

This week, it banned dealers from depositing currency-trading funds overnight, preventing traders from placing bets for or against a single currency at the close of a trading session. So far though, all of these measures appear to have had little impact though. The naira remains stubbornly pinned close to a record low against the dollar and economists have said that until the price of oil drastically rises, Nigeria will suffer.
How important is the Nigerian economy to Africa?
In a word: very. In April this year, and as a result of efforts to measure one of the world’s biggest informal markets, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics said that Nigeria’s nominal gross domestic product was $510 billion in 2013, which was 89% larger than previously estimated, and $190 billion more than South Africa’s slow-growing economy.
How did it rise to the top?
Nigeria’s rise is primarily a triumph of demographics. Its population will be seven times as large as South Africa’s by 2050, the U.N. projects. That trajectory is drawing investment and emboldening businesses. Nissan Motor Co., General Electric Co. and Procter & Gamble are just some of the multinationals that have invested in Nigeria of late. Last month, Carlyle Group LP, a private-equity firm, bought a $147 million minority stake in Nigeria’s Diamond Bank PLC, betting that a new mobile banking service will help rapidly boost the lender’s customers and profits. Separately, private-equity firms are considering bids for drinkscompany Chi, a person familiar with the company said in November.

But the country’s recent plight does raise questions over how long investors will be willing to battle with Nigeria’s myriad woes. Nigeria is facing other problems. Its government is heading toward a costly presidential election in February, and is also spending around $6 billion a year battling the Islamic insurgency Boko Haram, which on Tuesday kidnapped at least 191 women and children from a northeastern village.

-       Drew Hinshaw, Patrick McGroarty and Simon Clark contributed to this post

http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2014/12/19/whats-happening-in-nigerias-economy-the-short-answer/?mod=e2tw

We can do nothing, yes. But we as citizen can only #prayforchibokgirls. This is realy a nightmare. Imagine if it was someone you knew. But I refuse to believe there is nothing Nigeria as a nation can do. The most annoying thing is that all our politicians are more focussed on 2015 than on anything else. Imagine the Senate and HOR have NEVER had a special session to discuss this national tragedy. Or is it because we are nearly about 200 million that's why we can easily forget 200 girls?

I just tought of the christian girls of Chibok this night. While I'm comfortably lying down in bed with a full stomach and all comforts around me, I can't help but wonder what is happening right now to our daughters. Imagine a bearded dirty jihadist entering and abusing these little girls night and day. I'm in tears as I type this. I don't know these girls but this is the height of inhumanity. These girls spent xmas last year enjoying with family and friends. Little did they know they will enter the new year with a nightmare that will change their lives forever.
Are we really gonna celbrate christmas without a tought for our daughters? I have cancelled all ma celebrations as a mark of respect for them.
#prayforchibokgirls

BashBB:
Cameroonian soldiers appear to be better armed and more motivated than our NA....each cameroonian soldier has about 8-11 extra cartridge plus d one attached to d gun......their BRI's use the M16A4 gas carbine....wchich is d standard American assault rifle used by US soldiers in d field now....this fact is according to what I saw while their as a refugee about a month ago.....

Guy tell us more. As a one time refugee I guess you were chased out of your base by BH. You are in a better position to give us a more accurate information than those Lagos based newspapers who fabricate all sort of lies to sell papers.

As Arsenal just de lose trophies, na so Atiku dey lose presidential contests.

How sure are you?

Real battle between Camerounian army and BH around Marwa axis as over 600 jihadist who crossed over from Nigeria as a result of intense heat from Nigerian Army into various villages of Cameroun met their waterloo.

More from VOA Hausa

http://m.voahausa.com/a/yan-boko-aharam-sun-sha-kashi-a-kamaru/2559011.html

Mogidi:
What did you mean when you said "GEJ and his cabal are trying to christianise Nigeria" ?
You quoted Okupe out of contest, what's wrong if he says “People do not understand the burden this president is bearing. He’s like Jesus Christ. He’s bearing the burden of everybody.”

Does the buck not stop with GEJ? Who do people blame if there's no running water in their state or good transportation or power shortages etc.
When do you see Nigerians blaming their state governors or local govt councils for their ills? You should be ashamed of yourself.

How do I make you understand? Okay let's assume i say you are like a goRrilla in the forrests, always fighting imaginary enemies. Does that not compare you to a gorrilla? Please how am I out of context. Did okupe not say GEJ is like Jesus?
You are really dumb. Okupe has insulted Jesus Christ for comparing him to GEJ plain and simple.

After failing in APC presidential primaries, Atiku is consoling himself that Aresenal got a weak team in todays UCL draw.


Tweet from @atiku
@atiku: Monaco is a very good draw for @Arsenal - I believe we will go through #happy

Mogidi:
Where's the link where Okupe compared GEJ to Jesus?

Doubting Thomas, here's your link:

http://dailypost.ng/2014/12/15/president-jonathan-like-jesus-christ-doyin-okupe/

Doyin Okupe compared his boss GEJ to Jesus Christ. In a country where evrything thing is taken and viewed with bias can we comfortably say GEJ and his cabal are trying to "christianise" Nigeria? Should Nigerian muslims be comfortable with such words? How would Nigerian Christians react if someone had compared Yaradua to Muhammad?
Personally, I feel its an insult to Jesus christ to compare GEJ with him. Such shamefull metaphors should have no place in our politics.

They keep on creating thread after thread after thread just to discredit him, yet he keeps on getting more and more popular. Save your MB haters, change is gonna come 2015 by Gods grace/insha Allah.

mikeansy:
There are some things folks dont know about politics

We will clarify after the elections

and please dont confuse "most talked about" and "most popular"

If people always talk about you, doesn't that make you popular?

Take a wild guess? People have created more than one hundred threads since he won the APC primaries. Love him or hate him, he is the man of the moment right now.

NafeesaAA:
I have admirers among them but no serious relationship

Noted.

Actualy the army have entered those areas for some days now, but DHQ is yet to make the news public due to final mop-up ops. The towns have been sealed and house to house searches going on to identify indigenes who have joined BH. Also specialised bomb squads are busy diffusing IED planted at various areas by fleeing terrorists. Expect official pronouncement from DHQ after mop-up. Nafeesa, I salute you for having access to classified info. You sure say you no be soldier babe so?

Keneking:
Any compensation to the dead and their families?

I think now is the right time to invest the Victims Relief Fund. The damage done is irraparable but any little help will greatly be appreciated by returning residents.

Remains of a new genration bank looted by boko haram boys in Mubi

He was buried this morning in Kano. RIP to a very funny character.

Popular Hausa Comedian, Ibro Is Dead
— Dec 10, 2014
Popular Hausa comedian, Ibro, is dead.
Details shortly!

http://leadership.ng/news/394100/popular-hausa-comedian-ibro-dead

More

According to VOA Hausa, day to day activities are gradually picking up in Mubi with shops and businesses opening for business after final "mop-up" operation by the Army to finally clear the town of last remnants of boko haram fighters. Residents plead with govt to re-open the General Hospital and for telecom networks to be restored so that they can effectively communicate with each other.
Residents say soldiers on patrol in Mubi are very friendly and condole with people on their lossess. Meanwhile VOA Hausa reporter in Mubi confirms that the Army, hunters and CJTF have advanced towards the next town, Michika with a view to dislodging the terrorist from there.

http://m.voahausa.com/a/sojojin-najeriya-da-maharba-da-yan-kato-da-gora-sun-doshi-michika/2550820.html

Pix: Nigerian Army Armoured Tank patrlolling Mubi.

It seems the new kids on the block are getting more vicious and uncontrollable from the grandmasters of islamic terrorism. Al Qaeda asks its fighters to kill with guns instead of slaughtering. What's the difference?


Tweet from @nytimes
@nytimes: Qaeda Commander Denounces Decapitations as Used by Islamic State http://nyti.ms/1wVh0Kn

LINK:
Qaeda Commander Denounces Decapitations as Used by Islamic State
By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI
DECEMBER 8, 2014
ISTANBUL — Nearly a decade ago, Ayman al-Zawahiri — the man who would go on to become the head of Al Qaeda — wrote a letter to his deputy in Iraq, scolding him for beheading hostages and posting videos of their execution online. He explained that although he was in favor of killing the enemy and agreed with the principle of sowing terror, the scenes of slaughter risked turning public opinion against their organization.

His advice was to be more discreet: “Kill the captives by bullet.”

The letter — written in 2005 and recovered by American forces in Iraq — was addressed to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of the group that would become the Islamic State, which split off from the Qaeda network earlier this year.

On Monday, Al Qaeda came out publicly against the practice of beheading in a strongly worded interview with one of its field commanders, making clear that the organization founded by Osama bin Laden was more pragmatic and as a result less extreme than its jihadist rival in Syria — which has turned the act of decapitation into a signature of its brutality.


Graphic | How ISIS WorksWith oil revenues, arms and organization, the jihadist group controls vast stretches of Syria and Iraq and aspires to statehood.
In a 43-minute video, Nasr bin Ali al-Ansi, a military strategist and official of Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, is asked whether he condones recent beheadings. He says that although some Qaeda members may have carried out such acts, the organization does not sanction the practice.

“No doubt, some of our brothers were affected by seeing scenes of beheadings that were spread recently. We do not accept — and we strongly reject them,” Mr. al-Ansi says, according to a transcript provided by SITE Intelligence, an organization that tracks jihadist propaganda. “Recording such acts and spreading them among the people in the name of religion and jihad, we see as a big mistake. It is not acceptable, no matter the justification.”

He makes clear that the position he is articulating is not just his own, or even that of Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but rather is the guidance of the group’s most senior current leaders — and reflected the wishes of Osama bin Laden himself. “Therefore, I assert that whoever does such actions,” he says, “he has violated the command of Sheikh Osama.”

A veteran of Al Qaeda, Mr. al-Ansi moved to Afghanistan in the 1990s to train in the group’s elite camps. He was dispatched by bin Laden to the Philippines in 2001 to help guide jihadists there, including by teaching them the principles of Shariah law, as well as military tactics.

He says in Monday’s video that bin Laden specifically asked him to stress to the cell in the Philippines that recording scenes of brutality was forbidden.

The Islamic State cemented its place as one of the world’s most brutal terror organizations this August, when it began recording the beheadings of its American hostages, starting with the 40-year-old freelance journalist James Foley.

Last month, in one of its most horrific videos, the group posted a lengthy, cinematic production showing the decapitation of dozens of Syrian soldiers — with the camera panning over each of their faces in the moment before they are killed. As if to draw out the horror, the screen goes to black just before they are executed and the viewer hears the panicked breathing of the victims waiting to have their throats slit.

As if to underscore the centrality of beheading, the Islamic State also posted photographs showing children decapitating their dolls.

Al Qaeda’s prohibition against beheading does not mean it is necessarily less murderous. Over the weekend, Qaeda fighters in Yemen shot the American hostage Luke Somers, moments before SEAL Team 6 commandos reached the compound where he was being held captive.

And last week, the group’s affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front, posted a photograph of a Lebanese hostage being executed. Tellingly, the image shows the man kneeling as a fighter aims a gun at his head.

Though the moment of death is not shown, the clear implication is that he was — in keeping with the advice of senior leaders — killed by bullet.

cocoduck:
Because all the students were rescued

Are you sure? This is exactly what happened in Chibok when we were told "all students were rescued" only to find out the number kidnapped was higher than the initial 109 that were said to be kidnapped.

SOUNDKING:
Shecow is only mimicking isis. He is as clueless as the political wing of their jihadist group.

In every ramification we have ISIS copycats. BH had no direction until ISIS came up. Now they are toe to toe with whatever ISIS does.

BH attacked Bajoga in Gombe state and then Ashaka. They raided FGGC Bajoga and only God knows how many girls are missing(God forbid). The authorities seem to be silent on this. I hope we don't have another Chibok case on our hands.