₦airaland Forum

When someone invests in your country, it creates jobs. Everyone benefits from job creation.

This is all I'm saying.

^-- You know that Bolaji Aluko is VC at GEJ's university in Bayelsa? So yes, Ekiti and non-Bayelsans more generally can benefit from development of that state (or anywhere else in Nigeria).

If someone decides to build a $7 billion port somewhere in Nigeria, we all benefit.

Isn't a zero-sum game

I don't know why anyone finds this funny.

Loss for Nigeria as a whole

There was a wikileaks a a few days ago in which an OBJ (or Buhari? I can't remember) crony claimed that Tinubu and Atiku are al-Qaeda supporters.

Somehow I guess this then got linked to BH

This is a bad move, no?

How can you be asking for forgiveness from terrorists. . . ?

Very interesting thread.

Always good to hear stories like this.

Public School Boy Scores 310 In Utme, 75 Percent In Post --utme

15 September 2011

Students in Public schools, especially those in primary and secondary have always been treated with disdain and contempt believing that they are less privilege children as a result they can not be intelligent because their teachers cannot deliver qualitative education.

However, this notion has been debunked by Master Aduralere Jegede, sixteen-year-old, SS3 student from Ajumoni Senior Secondary School, Iyano- Isolo who scored 310 in his UTME and 75 per cent in Post UME at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) his first choice of institution.

While in SS2, Aduralere registered for the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC)examination and made 5B, A1, 2 credits and a pass. Also, as SS3 student, he made 5B and 2 credits.

When the Lagos State government took acknowledgment of his wonderful performance, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, recently offered him a job opportunity at Mushin Local Government Secretariat to work for two months ahead of his resumption day at UNILAG.

Aduralere who said, he prefers studying Accountancy in the university said that Accounting was his best subject in the secondary school adding that his academic performance as a public school student was due to diligence, hard work and sound foundation at school and home.

According to him, he reads six hours everyday preferring midnight hours as his best period because is void of distractions. "I developed a personal reading time table where I devoted two hours for each subject daily," he said.

Asked why he preferred public school to private, he reiterated that public schools have qualified trained teachers and holidays coaching classes for students. John however, maintained that his father, Pastor Jegede Johnson who is also a teacher in his school greatly influenced his academic performance.

"I was encouraged by my father to study. As an account teacher in my school, he took me account subject in school and at home as he often woke me up at night to study until I got used to it," he said.

Speaking with Pastor Jegede Johnson in this regard, he asserted: "I do not expect anything less from John because right from nursery school, he has been a quick learner. Whatever he learns, he never forget. We sleep in the same bed which gave me opportunity to wake him up early to read after which, he became used to it."

Jegede said that he does not believe public school students cannot compete favourably with their private school counterparts saying that though public school has their shortcomings, nonetheless, the foundation of every students, the kind of teachers in a school matter to students' success.

He ascribed the performance of teachers in class in recent time to the improved remuneration of teachers saying that the salary increase served as incentive to teachers in the State. Lagos State government, according to him is trying as it has judiciously utilized the fund giving by the World Bank.

"Lagos State at least gives two million naira to each public school which has led to great improvement in our science laboratory where we take student to for practical science. "In the time past, it was not like that but presently, students in public school in Lagos are giving books in core subject ; English Language, Mathematics, Biology and Economics," he said.

To him, revamping our education sector, the whole society has a role to play whether as government, parents or students.

Many parents he noted have failed in their role toward their children arguing that before the children wake up in the morning, parents have gone to work and arrived late at night when the children have slept without any time to cross examine the children academic performance. He urged parent to seek for time to visit their children at school to know how they are faring academically.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201109150430.html

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/5230/2011/09/15/fashola_seeks_lagos_london_economic_integration.html

"Fashola Seeks Lagos, London Economic Integration"

Hehe

Since none of ya'll seem interested in securing any of this 90 billion pound fund, perhaps most of it will be invested in Lagos and hopefully it's environs

Foreign investment = good, don't care if it is from India
Foreign company tying investment to import waivers = very bad

I see no reason for this foreign company not to pay the same duties everyone else does.

240 billion was budgeted for all of the the year, but so far 931 billion has been spent? Of this 771 spent by NNPC? So which other branches of government could have spent the difference (931-771)?

Anyway, ignoring that discrepancy, I still don't get it. Where did the extra money come from? Who authorized the spending?

Very strange

Nice post.

This was interesting:

OAM4J:
“Every business needs power and communication. People need to get to work without wasting time. Infrastructure pays for itself and creates good jobs. In the city of London, we have realised that one British pound spent on infrastructure generates about two and a half British pounds,” Bear said.

Anyway, hopefully some of this investment fund will be spent on mutually beneficial projects in the SW.

Tbh I thought Amosun would be a flop. He seemed very erratic early on.

But the latest I'm reading and hearing sounds very good.

Maybe he was jittery early on, who knows.

Anyway, it will be interesting to watch the situation.

on SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 · in POLITICS

By Kolade Larewaju

FOR residents of Ogun State, the 100 days of Governor Ibikunle Amosun may be some sort of reprieve considering their experience in the last days of the Olugbenga Daniel administration. The roads in the state, especially in Abeokuta, the state capital became terribly bad. Portable water became “essential commodity” as taps went dry. All tertiary Institutions were not in session as there was one strike or the other.

Governance virtually came to a halt on account of the disagreement between the governor and the speaker of the state House of Assembly. The problem was the issue of the N100 billion Bond Governor Daniel sought from the Capital Market, the then Speaker Tunji Egbetokun-led House of Assembly refused.

It was a tug of war. Without the Bond, the Governor said nothing could be done as there was no money. To compound the problem, Governor Daniel less than a month to the end of his tenure recruited over 2000 workers while refusing to pay the salaries and allowances of 15 lawmakers who were at logger heads with him for over one year.

It was against this backdrop that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN assumed office. Carrying a baggage of promises, he also had a debt profile of resumed N50 billion to contend with.

Consequently, Amosun had a slow start. His supporters said he used the first few weeks to assess the gravity of the problems on hand. However, a couple of weeks after, the people became restive asking for action from the new Governor.

The Government began with the clearing of refuse and drainage, which had been blocked for ages and patching of deplorable roads. Even then, the palliatives on the roads are still a far cry from what would be acceptable, as some roads remain impassable.

But for the people something has at least started. Citizenry in Abeokuta, the state capital were happy few weeks into the tenure of the new government hitherto dried taps became runny again.

Simultaneously, the government began a beautification programme of the major streets of Abeokuta with the planting of grasses and flowers to give it a brighter look. The Muslim Eid Praying Ground was given a facelift. The Lantoro Road to the Praying Ground, which had been impassable was rehabilitated. Even then, more is expected from the Governor who in the build up to the election said he was on a Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

Speaking on his achievements in 100 days, Amosun said: “We have started laying a solid foundation to build a rosy future for our people. And each item on the programme is being implemented in a way that one complements the other and they all form a total package for unleashing the abundant skills and positive potentials in the state for the purpose of development.

“For example, education is needed to create a more enlightened citizenry. Immediately this administration took off, we released funds to cover the half_term running costs of public secondary schools to enable the immediate implementation of the qualitative and affordable education policy.

As for our tertiary institutions, the government decided to end the era of no subvention, which has plagued them for the past nine months in some cases, by paying about N1 billion between May and August. Also, our government has removed the 50 per cent increment in tuition fees earlier announced by the last administration and we further reduced the tuition fees by an additional 10 per cent.”

On the deplorable roads in the state, the Governor who said that contract for the Ita Eko road to be turned into six lanes had been awarded adding, “the State Executive Council had early last month approved the award of contracts for the reconstruction of 28 roads across the three senatorial districts.

“The first step towards effecting the council’s approval was taken on 25 August, 2011 when the China Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) was formally awarded the contract to reconstruct and expand the Ibara Roundabout – Ita Eko – Totoro Road in the state capital.

“The next road to be awarded to a major contractor for construction is the road stretching across Sango_Ijoko-Agbado-Oke Aro-Akute-Ojodu Abiodun. This road links Ogun West and Central senatorial districts and takes care of the population of our constituents who reside on the border towns with Lagos. The other road reconstruction projects would soon commence in earnest.”

However, the Opposition Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in a statement by its Director of Organization; Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, described Governor Amosun as a flower planting Governor, who had nothing to commission after 100 days in power.

“The three months and 10 days of indolence and groping in darkness by the flower planting governor came to a climax yesterday (September 5) with the critics and observers alike jolted at the farcical celebration of inanity instead of substance. , The macabre dance has finally laid bare the truth that the present government in Ogun State is clueless and also lack capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun State.

“100 days in office without any significant project to commission is a clear indication of lack of will to govern, unlike the previous administrations in Ogun State and particularly, the immediate past OGD-led government where 100 days was celebrated with several gigantic projects.

“Verily, with this poor starting, Ogun State people should expect little or nothing from this present government. Instead, our people should expect further embarrassment in the area of undue importation of Lagos model to Ogun state like the current hardship imposed on the people by Governor Amosun through the demolition of kiosks of petty traders in the most cruel way so as to create space for flower planting.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/ogun-amosun-at-the-gate/

I actually like 50. And liked his movie ("get rich or die trying", iirc)

Pretty funny guy imo

Good move

I like some aspects of obj. If he hadn't rigged in the SW, or had at least rigged and installed good leaders, my beef with him would be smaller.

By no means perfect, but not terrible either

sometimes I wonder if mama-gee smokes weed

Cuz the stuff she be saying sometimes makes no sense

gonna address the points raised in the pessimistic posts, but i can already tell this will take time and energy

I'll return to this thread at some point later

hehe

Ok, now having read this thread, X-Factoria has already said the same thing.

The comparisons make no sense.

A son born into a poor household may as well be asking why his father hasn't bought him a BMW, and using the rich kid across the street's Lexus as justification.

Whether his father is generous or stingy, he likely won't be able to afford that BMW.

Without bothering to read through this thread, how on earth can one compare an oil-and-gas-rich country with low population like Libya to a high-population country like Nigeria?

How many countries on earth are likely to be able to provide the basket of goods that Libya did?

Do you think this has anything to do with democracy or not, rather than just high per capita wealth?

I've suggested this before on NL. But imo the fastest way to get to 10k businesses is for the governor to open up new industrial estates and cut out this extra work of providing power.

What if he decides to install a 10 MW power plant powered by natural gas himself? He provides the electricity and small businesses sign up to be wired to his grid. Textile shops, food processing plants, all sorts of small businesses like this.

That way the textile manufacturer, all he has to do is to buy the raw cloth and his equipment and labor, not worry also about providing power for himself.

By doing this, he makes it easier for smaller people to start businesses. And I am sure that he can fill the demand fairly easily.

This is the sort of thing I would do if I wanted to make 10k businesses in Ogun State by 2015 a reality, if I were in charge.

Regarding electricity, Ogun State has a gas pipeline running through it. And in Agbara and Ota you can get shell to extend their pipeline (by up to 100 meters) to pump natural gas. So if your property is within 100 meters or so of the pipeline (or already in an industrial estate), you can get sufficient gas for electricity.

You can confirm all of this by calling Shell Nigeria on the phone, if you like.

Regarding the rest, transportation/roads/etc, I dunno.

Good move by CAN

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 · in NEWS

Calabar(NAN) An industrial park expected to attract N23 billion private sector investments and employ no fewer than 3,000 people in Cross River has been inaugurated in Calabar by Gov. Liyel Imoke.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Portside Industrial Park is an “owner-built’’ petroleum and allied products tank farm layout.

Inaugurating the park in Calabar on Wednesday, Imoke said that the park was strategically located on the Calabar River Channel adjacent to the Calabar Port Complex and covered approximately 49 hectares of land.

Imoke said the project was initiated in 2007 in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to provide a safe environmentally friendly infrastructure where petroleum products would be stored for loading.

The governor said the design of the industrial park was undertaken by AIKENBECK Resources Limited under a public-private sector partnership.

He said the project was initiated to increase the overall petroleum and allied products storage capacity in Nigeria.

`He said: “Today we have further demonstrated our commitment toward developing the downstream sector in the state and we are doing this in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner.

“Portside have been borne from our commitment and interest in harnessing the strength of the private sector as we strive to achieve one of our main goals, the economic development of Cross River.

According to Imoke, the ground-breaking ceremony for the project marks the first phase of the Calabar Energy Project.

In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer of AIKENBECK, Mr Olaniyi Ogini, said the operation of the tank firms in a controlled area would ease the process of ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and requirements.

He said: “We at AIKENBECK look forward to showcasing the engineering feat for which we break ground today. In the coming months we will see new road layouts seemingly plugging into the existing network.

“We will showcase an ingenious two-berth jetty arrangement that is capable of receiving cargo tankers from as low as 2,000 metric tonnes and up to 30,000 metric tonnes at the completion of the dredging of the Calabar channel.

NAN learnt that the industrial park expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012 would have a well-designed asphalt access road to be used exclusively by tankers and trucks from the Calabar metropolis to the park.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/cross-river-inaugurates-portside-industrial-park/

Btw, let's not pooh-pooh small businesses. Even if the average is 25 per, an additional 8.5k creates ~210k direct jobs, and probably a comparable # of indirect jobs.

That is not an insignificant #.

It isn't really big business alone which I think will provide mass employment.

Demdem:
Amosun: I will create a more enabling environment to achieve my aim of at least 10000 Industries in Ogun in the next 4yrs

Well said. If he creates an enabling environment, then he will have done his part.

Will the end result necessarily be 8.5k new businesses streaming into Ogun? Who can say. Could be more, could be less.

But we'll know he at least completed the work on his end.

^-- Probably the newspaper screwing up. Industry=registered businesses or something, in the terminology of the article's author

I don't want agric alone for Ekiti o

With electricity and good transportation, we have no competitive disadvantages relative to anyone else in the SW