₦airaland Forum

software man: RIGHT ON! THE ISSUE HERE GOES BEYOND POLITICS BUT MIMIKO SEEMS TO SEE IT THAT WAY. MY TAKE IS THE OTHER GOVERNORS SHOULD JUST GO ON WITH THIS NOBLE CAUSE AND COMPLETELY IGNORE HIM.
I NEED YOU TO GO AND CAREFULLY STUDY MIMIKO'S ANTECEDENTS. I MEAN CAREFULLY STUDY IT. THEN YOU WILL CONCLUDE AS I HAVE LONG CONCLUDED ABOUT HIM THAT EVERYTHING IS POLITICS.

Ultimately, Mimiko is nothing in the grand scheme of thing. DAWN is simply about proactive self-help. It is about SW leaders and intelligentsia, even those who detest politics, saying "enough is enough". Everyone is in agreement that it is totally condemnable the FG has arrogated upon itself responsibilities it cannot carry out. This has now resulted in all corners of Nigeria, in comparison to developed Nations like South Africa, resembling a 1940 land that time has forgotten with infrastructure deficiency and socio-economic challenges that should not be seen in 2013.

DAWN simply proposes that everyone should come together to aid whatever will make the SW a developed region. I.e one where modern rail,air and road transport will ensure goods and services travel optimally and agriculture, power supply, tourism, education,Security and all other relevant socio-economic considerations would be boosted to aid accelerated development and progress.

Now, which genuine South-Westerner would have a problem with that given that the pace of development over the past three decades, for every region, has been abysmal? Meanwhile, regarding this forum, we can understand why those from outside the SW will resent this DAWN initiative that has now moved beyond lip service to be a source of worry for those who wish the entire nation remain equally backward and roughly parallel in underdevelopment.

http://www.abndigital.com/news/western-africa/2013/07/08/power-sector-growth-linked-to-nigeria%E2%80%99s-dawn-initiative/

Fri, 26 July 2013
Power sector growth linked to Nigeria’s DAWN initiative

By Nicole Cassandra Naidoo
Monday, 08 Jul 2013 17:45:00 CAT


The DAWN initiative aims to accelerate economic development and help grow the power sector in Nigeria, Dipo Famakinwa of DAWN has said.

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria initiative aims to create economic development as well as progress the power sector in Nigeria, Dipo Famakinwa, the director general of DAWN has said.

“Power is key to industrialisation and we have certain capacities across the lengths and breadths of Nigeria that we need to leverage. The idea that we have an opportunity to develop the power sector, it now opens up the space for people to begin to invest,” Famakinwa told CNBC Africa on Monday.

The south west of Nigeria launched the Development Agenda for Western Nigerian (DAWN) initiative to accelerate socio-economic development and with a minimal number of power stations in that region, power can become a limitation.

“What the agenda encapsulates is to find the mechanisms for the states in the south west of Nigeria to begin to work together on development programmes that run across the socio economic strata. There must be ways these states can begin to look at these issues together,” said Famakinwa.

Intra-regional trade seems to be a trend in the country with the BRACED commission in the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states in Nigeria’s south-south region as well as the DAWN initiative, which aims to develop the Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ogun states.

“The idea is to begin to look at areas where they can build competitive advantage and leveraging the fundamental issues of development across the region - issues of economic development, promoting economic competitiveness, rebuilding the infrastructure of the region, rebuilding the social and human capacity within the region,” said Famakinwa.

“Part of what we intend to do is to repackage the process of delivering development to the people of the region. It is for us to begin to look at an economy of more than 40 million people in the south west of Nigeria and see how we can actually create an economic, development block around that.”

Longeria: This is Tinubu trap for mimiko, but he's wiser than Tinubu and Fash_ole.

Do you even know what DAWN and regional integration is about? You guys will just come here and be ignorantly disparaging the efforts of many great men and women because of your obsession with Tinubu. I suggest you conquer your mindless and unobjective hatred of individuals and do some basic reading so you understand what SW regional integration is and note those involved.

The fear of the Tinubu name that sees you and others elevating him to god-like status, to the extent you say silly things, is amusing.

Guys, especially those insulting Mimiko, do some basic research to see he has actively cooperated with the other governors over regional integration agenda. Some clearly do not want regional integration for the SW to work so they create imaginary enmity and try to confuse others such exist. It is called "divide and conquer" and it is the oldest trick in the book. The DAWN initiative is one that unites all dwellers and intelligentsia beyond political, religious, ethnic and State affiliation.

DAWN is deliberate. It is a well-considered attemtp to liberate the SW from the retrogression and underdevelopment the FG has enslaved every region with. Regional integration is borne of the thinking that the SW cannot and must not predicate its development on an indolent, corrupt and grossly under-performing FG focused that has and continue to fail all regions. Just check the profile and previous post of OP and others who have talked to praise Mimiko based on their ridiculously divisive disposition that leads them to believe Mimiko is "resisting Tinubu" and such garbage. DAWN regional integration is far bigger than any man, any Party or any ego. You guys end up cheapening what it stands for, plus the many great men and women involved, debasing things to talks about perceived political enmity and such garbage.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/item/12007-fashola-fayemi-aregbesola-amosun-harp-on-regional-integration

Fashola, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Amosun harp on regional integration
Written by Bola Badmus - Lagos Thursday, 16 May 2013 02:47 font size decrease font size increase font size Print Email
Rate this item 1 2 3 4 5 (1 Vote)
раскрутка сайтов
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola and his counterparts in Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo, including Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Ogbeni Rauf Arebesola; Dr Kayode Fayemi and Dr Olusegun Mimiko said the idea behind peer review mechanism among states in the South-West was to ensure rapid, socio-economic and coordinated development of the region.


The governors stated this on Wednesday, in Lagos, at a forum tagged: Second Nigeria Governors Forum South-West Governance Share Fair, declaring that the critical idea about the gathering was to share knowledge about policies and programmes that had worked or not in states in the region while promoting integration towards achieving better governance.
Governor Fashola, who played host to his colleagues at the two-day event, in his welcome address, reiterated that the forum in line with its objective was to address developmental goals of the region and bring about real integration and good governance.

According to Fashola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr Ben Akabueze, the governors had decided to come together with the blessing of Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) to share knowledge and experiences in states of the region concerning governance.
“The forum as the name goes is Governance Share Fair, especially as it affects states in the South-West. It is for them to come together and share knowledge about what has worked and as I pointed out earlier in my remark, what had not worked and what had not worked and learn from what had worked and not worked.
“At the end of the day, we will now go back to our respective states with the ideas that will enhance good governance.
“My expectation is that we in Lagos, in spite of the progress we have made, we will be able to learn from our sister states something we can do additionally,” Fashola said.

Ekiti State governor, Dr Fayemi, while buttressing Governor Fashola, declared that the forum was non-partisan, explaining that the goal was purely to achieve regional integration that would benefit the people of the South-West.

Fayemi, who was represented by the Commissioner, Integration, argued that developments had no colour since it was for the good of the people, adding: “that is why if you see good roads, you know you have seen good roads and we will ensure that we bring good governance to the table of our people.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Services, Mr O. Osundolire, who represented Mimiko, said the idea of the forum was to lay on the table how the state had been engaging the people to develop the state and thereafter take back home what could be added to develop Ondo.
According to Osun State governor, Aregbesola, who was represented by the Commissioner for for Special Duties, Mr Bashiru Ajibola, the realisation is that no state can do it alone, saying there was the need to cooperate and relate with others to move the region forward.

“The realisation is that no state can go it alone because of the nature of the system. We have to relate and cooperate together to move forward. Nigeria Governor’s Forum is showing the way forward to ensure that we deliver on good governance,” he said, just as Aregbesola declared that the panacea for the crises rocking the country was good governance.

In his submission, the Ogun State governor represented by Mr Wale Ogunyomade, observed that the mobility enjoyed by the people allowed them to behold happenings in other states and wonder why such was not happening in their own environment.
“We need to work together so that we can offer good governance to our people. People want good governance,” he said.

It appears SERAP has taken the FG to court after its FOI petition was ignored. SERAP had demanded the FG release information on how N700 billion , borrowed between December 2012 and April 2013, was spent.

http://saharareporters.com/press-release/foi-serap-drags-fg-court-over-n700bn-expenditure

FOI: SERAP Drags FG To Court Over N700bn Expenditure
Posted: July 21, 2013 - 11:34


By Adetokunbo Mumuni
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government to the Federal High Court, Ikoyi over failure to provide information on the spending of the N700bn borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013, and details of projects on which this money was spent.

The Suit Number FHC/L/CS/978/13 was filed last week following a request made under the FOI Act by the organization.

Joined as Defendants in the suit are the Accountant-General, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke. The suit is seeking the following reliefs:

A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the 1st Defendant is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff with up to date information on the spending of N700bn borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013 and details of projects on which the money was spent.

A DECLARATION that the failure of 1st Defendant to provide the Plaintiff with the information requested is a breach of section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information 2011.

AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS directing and/or compelling the 1st Defendant to provide the Plaintiff with up to date information as requested.

According to the organization, “by the clear provisions of section 2(3)(d)(V) of the FOI Act, documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of a public institution constitute part of the information which a public institution is obligated to publish, disseminate and make available to members of the public.”

The organization also argued that the 1st Defendant “is legally mandated by the provisions of section 4(a) of the FOI Act to comply with a request for access to public information except where the FOI Act exempts a public official from so disclosing.”

The organization further argued that the 1st Defendant “has no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide the Plaintiff with the information requested” and urged the court “to compel it to comply with the provisions of the Act by providing the Plaintiff with the information requested.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application.

Signed
Adetokunbo Mumuni
SERAP Executive Director
21/7/2013

Good ruling. Shame the FG, since 1999, has been led by insecure 'accidental' Presidents who never want Lagos to show up their own ineptitude, indolence, lack of vision, innate dearth of administrative talent and dedication to retrogressive gradualism/stagnation.

I welcome this ruling and hope to see more like it because this will mean an incompetent and vengeful FG will not continue to get its way holding every State/region back and, by implication, miring everyone in underdevelopment. Letting all States and region gain more power and control over socio-economic activities within their own border is the way to go. Great news.

Is this OP for real? Paranoia gone mad. By the way, why are all of you obsessed with the front page? There seems to be this unhealthy obsession with it that only means many don't come here in the spirit of discussing amiably and educationally. It seems Nairaland's front page is now another excuse for some belligerent folks to fight and kill each other over.

SLIDE waxie: Anybody expecting less is actually not a normal nigerian!

So, u think your Jonathan, the man with the highest level of corruption in the history of this nation will actually fight corruption?

One heavy thing he is duly addicted to...

Happy dreaming!

I have said this here a million times. GEJ is corruption and corruption is GEJ. Is Otedola not in GEJ's economic team? Does he not have the ears of the President directly? How come, as many have pointed out here many times, GEJ has not taken Otedola's advice , shown below, if he is not the same corruption plaguing Nigeria?

The man's penchant for "don't give a damn" scams are really a disgrace to Nigeria. Nothing would come more naturally than for a President who is a solution provider to do as Otedola suggests below. I think even a child knows why GEJ is always loathe to take good advice and do what will save Nigeria money, promote accountability, defeat corruption, strengthen our institutions, diminish the enrichment of politicians and their cronies plus optimally boost income accruable to the Nation. Nauseating how this President openly abets corruption and the plundering of his own Nation in a brazen and wanton manner.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/fuel-subsidy-rip-offs-wikileaks-reveals-how-nnpc-cost-nigeria-billions-dollars

Fuel Subsidy Rip-Offs: Wikileaks Reveals How NNPC Cost Nigeria Billions of Dollars


Following that, on April 6, Femi Otedola, President and CEO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas, essentially corroborated Finlayson's report, saying over $300 million has been overpaid by NNPC for fuel imports, and that many leading international traders are involved in the manipulation of shipments that the NNPC curiously failed to notice. “Discrepancies were found when comparing dates on the bills of lading with dates of landing in Lagos,” the document said.

According to the cable, “Pointing to examples, Otedola said that while a tanker loading fuel at a refinery in Bahrain usually takes four weeks to arrive in Lagos, comparisons between the bills of lading and dates of arrival of some shipments reflected only a four-day difference, and in other cases, if taken at face value, indicated the journey took nine months. Otedola said 73 shipments from refineries in the Persian Gulf, England, and Venezuela listed delivery times of only one day. NNPC is attempting to get compensation for the over-charge. Otedola went on that most of the fuel traders supplying Nigeria are implicated in over-charging NNPC, and showed a list of 17 companies that supplied fuel in the first quarter of 2004, several of which, he said, are significant players in international markets, such as Trafigura and Vitol. Otedola added that three companies clearly not involved in the scandal are British Petroleum, ChevronTexaco and Shell.”



The most stunning part of the cable is the reported recommendation of Otedola who felt that Nigeria would “save some four billion dollars a year in expenditures on imported fuel” if the NNPC simply stopped contracting with international fuel traders and, instead, negotiated purchases directly from refineries worldwide.

Totally predictable.

.

Is religion on the wane? Personally, I believe so. Will it be extinct in 28 years i.e 2041? I don't think so. Perhaps in 60 years onwards.

Bayelsa is terribly unlucky with leaders. From Alamco to GEJ then Sylva and now this joker. How will the State develop when it is only these sort of characters who become governor? Tragic.

Dickson being facetious. As if waste, profligacy and laughable lack of seriousness are not the hallmark of his leadership. Is this not the same character who made a beauty queen a special advisor in his government? I feel for Bayelsans. From Alamco to GEJ then Sylva and now this clown. Sad

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/bayelsa-governor-seriake-dickson-lavishes-public-funds-private-beauty-pageant

Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson Lavishes Public Funds On Private Beauty Pageant
Posted: July 22, 2013 - 03:34


By SaharaReporters, New York
Despite dwindling oil revenues that have drastically impacted Bayelsa State as well as N4 billion pension liabilities, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has just lavished public funds on a beauty pageant that was supposed to be the private affair of the Murray-Bruce family in Yenegoa.

This is despite the governor saying recently said that the sponsorship of entertainment awards by the state government was not in the interest of the state’s oil-dependent and consumption economy. SaharaReporters has also gathered that the state currently has a pension liability of about N4 billion, which compelled pensioners to stage a public protest a fortnight ago.

The justification for the policy summersault to permit expending state resources to fund a beauty pageant in a state where basic social amenities are non-existent is unclear, especially coming from Dickson, who claims to run a prudent and transparent administration.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, the Bayelsa Government had to embark on a fundraising dinner to raise part of the sponsorship funds for the African Movie Academy Awards hosted by the state.

Observers of developments in Bayelsa said that beauty pageant sponsorship may be a form of patronage for Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, the Chairman of the organizing Silverbird Group who contested the gubernatorial election with Dickson two years ago.

“The show was packaged to assuage the carnal lust of the political class and this is very sad development from a government that pledged to deviate from the culture of waste of public resources by previous governments,” an analyst said. “How can a state where there is endemic poverty and no public water supply and be wasting billions of Naira in sponsoring a beauty pageant where the elites will simply spend one night watching nudity and unclothedness of young girls.


Asked Ephraim Johnson, a resident of Yenagoa, the state capital, “Is this the way he will develop the state? It is rather shocking that while the masses are struggling with refuse heaps and crying for basic infrastructure, the politicians are spending the commonwealth of the state on trivial things as beauty pageants.”

The beauty contest itself was marred by irregularities as the organizers, perhaps rewarding the government sponsorship, manipulated the results in favour of the Bayelsa contestant. Her performance in the interview segment before the live audience was abysmal and clearly inferior to that of the runner-up.

The development drew jeers from the crowd while fans of Miss Omo, who was declared runner up, left the hall in droves.

Sincere 9gerian: If you think its easy let the Lagos State Govt and other state govts do many of such PPP's so we'll have houses litter everywhere, which will automatically crash cost

They are doing so you semi-illiterate. You really should stop dumbing the forum down just to score cheap political points for your master. If achievements are real say so !!! If you claim propaganda then prove it. Don't claim things do not exist when they do simply to shore up the argument in favour of your camp. You are just a liar confident in the knowledge many clanish Nairalanders will embrace your lies as gospel truth rather than read or do research to note the real state of affairs for themselves.

There are PPP housing collaboration elsewhere even if you prefer to sit here deceiving gullible Nigerians you should be trying to enlighten. To be honest dude, I am ashamed of you sometimes because I know you are no kid and are not exaclty as unenlightened as those you deceive here daily with lies. Nairalanders should indulge me by visiting the link below to see Housing PPP scheme between AFTEL group and 3 States of Nigeria with Ogun hosting a 10,000 housing project, Oyo also host a 10,000 housing project while Abia is partnering AFTEL for a 6,000 housing project and you are here trying to steal undeserved glory for GEJ over a 500 + unit, with 60% allocated to the men and women of the NPF, inaugurated before him and exclusively financed by the Partnering real estate developer with no counterpart funding whatsoever from the police or the NPF? Dude you are not only dense but you are extremely shameless and what the Yorubas call an "agbaya".

http://aftelgroup.com/index.php/en/what-we-ve-done.html

Sincere 9gerian: Gbawe the LIAR is here again. The project has nothing to do with GEJ, yet he's commissioning the project? Yet the estate is called GOODLUCK JONATHAN Housing Estate? How does that make sense to you?

The project was executed thru Public-Private-Participation. The first P (Public) is represented by the Police, under the control of the president (GEJ). Depending on the arrangement for the PPP, the first and second P, CONTRIBUTED something to the project. The Police may have contributed land or whatever while the Private company may contributed funds,etc. The ministry of housing and urban development also contributed something. All parties contributed something to gain something and to make the project a reality.

Yes, the project was conceptualised in 2008 but work commenced in 2011 when GEJ was president and the project was completed in 2013 when GEJ is still president. Kudos to the police and GEJ for seeing the project through.

The problem in Nigeria public sector is not ideas, plans or initiative. If you'r made a minister or commissioner today, you'll automatically inherit tonnes of plans, proposals and ideas. The PROBLEM in the Nigeria public sector has always been IMPLEMENTATION, DELIVERY and GETTING THE JOB DONE.

GEJ has DONE IT AGAIN. The JOB IS DONE. GEJ will do it again and again. Haters can go and die.

Shameless liar and propagandist. GEJ and his propagandists, typified by your uber shameless self, have been exposed. Go to the thread below and comment or do what you small-mindedly do best i.e try to discredit the messengers as you do here. Shameless n1tw1t.

People like you are the real enemies of Nigeria prepared to lie ridiculously and steal achievements for a President who would not need anyone to do such for him if he genuinely has laudable achievements to his name. Intelligent folks, as a cross-section of competent judges, have spoken about your messiah. Go and tackle what they say even as I know you enjoy brainless threads that allow you to work up your clannish and ethnocentric mob like a phony 'prosperity pastor'.


https://www.nairaland.com/1366174/group-scores-president-jonathan-administration

Maxymilliano: And who is arguing with you on this thread that GEJ has something to do with the project or did you miss the part in the original post where it was clearly stated that he only commissioned the first modern police housing estate named after him in Lagos ?

The Nigeria Police cannot act in isolation, and the link you provided emphasized that the project was between a private realtor and the Nigeria Police, a federal government institution.

If you've slowed down a bit and research further on some of the President utterances recently, you'll have come across where Jonathan restated the determination of his government to transform the country by providing enabling environment for private investment and went further to say story about commissioning is what Nigerians want to hear and not bomb explosion.

Are you not happy to hear the story about commissioning or what sort of chronic bad-belleism is this

Dude, you are always emotional and not able to defer to facts. Whether you like it or not, this was a project inaugurated in 2008 so you cannot dishonestly make it appear as another effort that validates your utterance which makes zero logical sense considering this is a project that preceded GEJ

Jonathan restated the determination of his government to transform the country by providing enabling environment for private investment

GEJ had nothing to do with the conception of this and you are ranting about "transform the country by providing enabling environment for private investment" Pray tell the forum what 'environment' GEJ created in 2008 relevant to the conception of this project.

The truth is that GEJ has nothing genuine to celebrate and this is why you and others run around in circles only to end up confusion yourselves . You are the sort below talk about as 'aiding' the opinion GEJ is putting in the public place that is not consonant with reality. Go to the thread below to see the verdict is in on GEJ.

It was not delivered by Gbawe, Demdem, Dayokanu, Pataki, Eko Ile, Take dat, Tinubu, EL Rufai or Buhari but a cross-section of expert and relevant analyst who have stated, as I do here, that GEJ is effectively about propaganda and aided by clannish followers like you who deliberately fail to call a spade a spade in helping fraud and deception reign as the only real offerings of the GEJ government.

You, Insincer9gerian and other should avoid your usual predilection for small-mindedness by going to the thread below to comment and provide a factual defence of your messiah who has been scored low and indirectly labelled a propagandist vociferously assisted by you, Insincere9gerians and others like you who "inundate" the Nigerian with claims of ‘unusual’ achievements by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele. Just exactly as you are doing clannishly on this thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/1366174/group-scores-president-jonathan-administration

Responses of stakeholders to this story also confirm a departure to spin and propaganda seen on Nairaland daily. Obvious this is a report no one can spin given the calibre of those who indicted the GEJ government for "low" performance it tries to hide with propaganda :

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/group-scores-president-jonathan%E2%80%99s-administration-low

Govt is just there to share money!

Submitted by Danboyi Gomsuk (not verified) on July 20, 2013 - 06:02.
The govts all over the country are just there to share money amongst the various political and appointed leaders, from the president down. Working for the nation and the citizens who voted them is just at the backburner or at a distant last in their consideration! The fact is already a hackneyed news.

reply
JONATHAN?

Submitted by Salih (not verified) on July 20, 2013 - 04:58.
No wonder there's a lot of noise from the administration. Maku the parrot, Abati the soil ant, and Okupe the piano have been barrating the media with lots of vocabulary to claim the government is working. What the nation is seeing looks like “the well constructor”. As he dug deep down he feels he's progressing.

reply
@Crumbies: Please give us an update on GEJ's 2011 promises.

Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on July 20, 2013 - 04:03.
No tales by moonlight stories of "Buhari ati Tinubu", "long republic of SS$SE" and other nonsense from the crumbies.
Let the Crumbies tackle this communique on point by listing Dumbo Jo's achievements here. To help the Crumbies, below is a link to GEJ's 2011 election promises with dates and location, please give us an update on each promise. No digression, no story !

http://saharareporters.com/column/non-governing-governance-3-4-mountain-...

You can leave out the northern states as you have the ready-made excuse of Boko Haram but how about Yoyo, Ogun, Ondo, Bayelsa, Otuoke, Rivers, Anambra, Edo among others ?

reply
Low as in zero or low as in

Submitted by KS (not verified) on July 20, 2013 - 03:16.
Low as in zero or low as in low mark?? Should be the former!!!!!

reply
Correct

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 20, 2013 - 02:01.
Nothing basic is working. No adequate power, unemployment, high cost of living, e.t.c. Indeed any Nigerian leader who does not want to fight corruption head on has no business sitting on that seat.

billante: .

You are speechless? Anyway please look at the list of the participating panel members, noting their status and positions, to see that this is a report that objective Nigerians should take very seriously. I have always said it is only on land of spin Nairaland GEJ is doing well. On the ground Nigerian intelligentsia, political analyst, technocrats and heads of society are virtually all virtually unanimous in agreeing that GEJ is a failure. This report is another proof that Nairaland spin merchant of GEJ are wasting their time.

Participation and Presentations
There were panel discussions on four ministerial reports followed by general discussion, and questions and answers.

Panelists and participants were drawn from civil society organisations spread across Nigeria. The Participants at the forum included:

[b]1. Dr Nasir Isah Fagge - ASUU President
2. Dr Chima Amadi - Executive Director, ISDMG
3. Adeola Soetan-Project Executive, Feed Nigeria Initiative among others.
4. Dr. Sofiri Joab-Peterside - Executive Director, Centre for Advanced Social Science
5. Lanre Arogundade - Executive Director, International Press Centre
6. Jaye Gaskia - Convener, United Action for Democracy (former country Director, Action Aid)
7. Barr. Mahmud Abdulmumin - President, Public Interest Lawyers League
8. Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi Mohammed - National Coordinator, Transition Monitoring Group
9. Kyauta Iliya Giwa - Coordinator, Community Action for Popular Participation
10. Ben Adoga - News Editor, Pilot Newspapers
11. Ezenwa Nwagwu - Former Vice President! Transparency in Nigeria
12. Oluajo Babatunde - National Secretary- Zero Corruption Coalition
13. Abdulrazaqque Barkindo - Publisher,The Road Newspapers
14. Prof. Emeka Ezeonu - Lecturer NAU, Awka.
15. Okechukwu Nwanguma - coordinator, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria
16. Faith Nwadishi - National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay and Member, NEITI Board
17. Adeola Soetan - Project Executive, Feed Nigeria Initiative among others.[/b]

Conclusion:

HEALTH SECTOR
26. Participants noted, with respect to the health sector, that government’s claims of achievement in this sector are not supported by verifiable evidence on the ground.

27. Contrary to government’s claimed achievements in the healthcare sector, Nigeria has been consistently ranked within the category of low human development index in all UNDP Human Development Index reports. Other recent reports have also ranked Nigeria as the worse place to be born, one of the worse places to be a mother as well as one of the countries in the ‘serious’ category- the one but last category in the Global Hunger Index. All these combined or taken in isolation, make it difficult for Nigeria to achieve the levels of improvements in the healthcare sector as it claimed in the midterm report.

28. The high levels of joblessness, insecurity, hunger, homelessness, poverty, lack of access to portable drinking water- all jointly and individually impede access by the majority of the population to quality and affordable healthcare and general wellbeing. This is not to talk about the lack of availability of quality healthcare facilities.

29. Participants noted that the transformation agenda vision- to save one million lives by 2015 was launched in 2012 as Nigeria government’s contribution towards saving 6 million lives of mothers and children globally by 2015. Participants however observed that the Global Health Index with a score of 15.7 ranked Nigeria 40 out of 79 countries with a score higher than 5 thereby contradicting the federal government’s claimed achievements in the key performance indicators for the healthcare sector.

30. With regard to the 4 pillars enunciated in the National Strategic Health Development Programme with focus on expanding access to basic services in the areas of maternal, neonatal and child health, Nigeria has consistently ranked low among low Human Development Index (HDI) category of countries from 2010 to 2013. Life expectancy has also continued to lower from 51.9 in 2011 to 41.4 in 2013.

31. The most significant indicator of the decline in the state of healthcare over the years, and particularly, in recent times, is the fact that state dignitaries, as well as other privileged personalities including high profile business persons, continue to seek medical treatment outside the country for all manner of ailments from the most common to the most complex.

The Nigeria Medical Association has stated that the country loses over 600 billion naira annually to what it calls ‘medical tourism’.

TRANSPORT SECTOR
32. Participants observed that transportation is one of the many keys to economic and industrial development.

33. Participants further noted government's acceptance in the midterm report that the growth of the transport sector has been marginal. Between 2010 and 2012, there was a mere marginal 0.8% percent growth of the sector from 6.71% in 2010 to 6.79% in 2012.
34. In terms of contribution to GDP growth, transport accounted for 2.67% in 2010 and 2.66% in 2012. Thus in 2012, the contribution to GDP declined by 0.1% in 2012.

35. With regard to railway, participants observed that the achievements of the sector outlined in the midterm report do not show any strategic investment beyond the rehabilitation of dilapidated rail tracks the management of which is in the hands of the politically controlled and inefficient Nigerian Railways Corporation. Whilst the report highlights rehabilitation of rail tracks and wagons as achievements, it makes no reference to the passenger capacity utilization within the sector and how many passenger seats the rehabilitation of wagons has created.


36. Participants noted that while the current cosmetic make-overs of the airports are laudable, such cosmetic reform does not address the capacity utilization weaknesses of the aviation industry. Only the Murtala Mohammed International Airport operates beyond design capacity; scarce public funds are expended on airports with little passenger capacity. There is no consideration for the development of manpower within the industry. The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria still remains the manpower training centre for the aviation industry. Viewed against the near dilapidated state of that college, it is not hard to see why manpower remains the challenge of the industry.

37. Participants also raised questions of transparency and accountability over the manner contracts for the redesigns of airports were awarded, and noted that many critics of the government have alleged that contracts were awarded without recourse to due process as stipulated by Section 16 (1) (c) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 which provides that ‘’subject to any exemption allowed by the Act, all public procurement shall be conducted by open competitive bidding; in a manner which is transparent, timely, equitable for ensuring accountability and conformity with this Act and regulations deriving therefrom’’.

38. The poor aesthetic designs of some of the airports, particularly the Abuja airport, give fillips to the criticisms that the manner in which the redesign contracts were awarded was all but competitive and transparent. The new look Abuja airport isn’t close to what a modern world class airport should be. And it is even worse that only recently reports of incessant power cuts at the Abuja and Uyo airports were reported in the media. The power cut incident in Uyo was even more ludicrous. The media reported that the airport staff responsible for ensuring that the alternative source of power that light up the airport left after the close of work with the keys to the airport’s generator house.

39. Participants noted that there is clear evidence that the transport environment has not provided enough returns to investments considering the declining contributions to GDP growth. Participants also noted that the policy framework has not been effective and efficient and there have been no real improvements in the sector as the government claims.

40. The dismal performance in this sector is evidenced by the poor state of infrastructure, low budgetary allocation, low investment, poor performance, poor maintenance culture, corruption and waste, lack of due process and accountability, no growth and blame trading between the federal and various state governments on major road repairs.

AGRICULTURE
41. With regard to the Agriculture sector, participants noted that the performance of the regime in review has not been satisfactory to this vital segment and the resultant effect is the persistent rise in market prices of foods.

42. Participants observed that the midterm report presentation was not a sober reflection of the true state of Agriculture and food security in Nigeria and the Minister of Agriculture’s extravagant romance with questionable statistics, like many of his predecessors in office, might have beclouded his rational appraisal of the gravity of the challenges faced by farmers and other stakeholders in the sector.

43. While noting some achievements recorded in the sector in the period under review, participants observed that much more could have been achieved if the implementation processes of these policies and programmes were decentralized and be more inclusive to include farmers’ organizations in the local council areas and states of the federation.

44. Participants noted that before the nation arrives at the envisioned commercial, large scale mechanized agriculture, the small scale farmers that presently constitute over ninety percent of Agricultural workforce and contribute over eighty percent to domestic food production should be the central focus of the transformation agenda.

CONCLUSION
45. Participants commended the transport ministry for sending representatives to defend their report, and particularly noted the commitment by the ministry representatives to henceforth open a website for the ministry where members of the public can access information from and about the ministry's activities.

46. Participants noted and condemned the failure of other ministries to send delegates and interpreted this as a confirmation that they could not defend and substantiate their touted achievements as reported in their sectoral reports.

47. Participants were unanimous in their conclusion that taking overall, the performance of the current administration in the four sectors so far assessed during the forum was far below average, unsatisfactory and did not meet the aspirations of Nigeria. The claims were not supported by the realities on the ground.


Transformation is embedded in development. It is visible. Therefore, was no need, in the first place, for an assessment, to determine whether or not the Jonathan government has performed or succeeded in its transformation agenda.

Signed: For Communique Drafting Committee
Okechukwu Nwanguma
National Coordinator Network for Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN)

Oluajo Babatunde
National Secretary
Zero Corruption Coalition

Continued :

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
1. Participants welcomed in principle, the idea of a midterm report, but doubted the sincerity of the Jonathan administration in coming up with its own midterm report.

2. The remark by President Jonathan that he should be judged on a marking scheme highlights the deficiency of the midterm report.

Transformation is embedded in development; it is a visible thing; there would therefore, be no need for any assessment to determine whether the government has performed or succeeded in its transformation agenda.

3. Participants observed that the regime has been in office for more than four years beginning from the late President Yar’Adua administration of which Goodluck Jonathan was an integral part, first as Vice President and later, Acting President, before the last 2 years when he became substantive President following the demise of President Yaradua.

4. Participants also noted that the regime has been a continuous one rather than a break from the past 12 years that the PDP has been in the saddle.

5. Participants noted that virtually all the economic policies being pursued by the Jonathan administration are a recycling of the same old World Bank and IMF dictated policies founded on a neo liberal philosophical and economic paradigm which previous administrations including Obasanjo had implemented, but which had not worked for Nigeria.

6. Participants also observed that the figures bandied by the various ministries in their midterm reports as indicators of progress did not provide baseline information and data, as well as failed to reveal whether the projects which various ministries claimed to have completed were initiated within the two years since Jonathan has been on the saddle or prior to it.

7. Participants observed that the midterm report did not show any correlation between the amount of money spent and the impact on the lives of citizens in relation to the claims of economic growth.

8. The midterm report presents a picture of lack of coordination between and among the various sectors. It presented no sense that sectoral targets feed into an overall socioeconomic picture and goal, and nothing to indicate that the sectors are interlinked and that progress or lack of it in any one sector affects progress in other sectors.

EDUCATION SECTOR
9. With particular regard to the education sector, participants noted that contrary to the claimed achievements in the midterm report, there has been a near total neglect of the education sector reflected in poor annual budgetary allocations to the sector. Allocation to the healthcare sector as a percentage of the annual national budget has continued to decline while capital votes have been consistently below 25 percent of healthcare annual budget.

10. It was observed that government has failed in its responsibility to provide quality education for Nigerians in line with Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution which mandates the state to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities for all and to strive to eradicate illiteracy.

11. Participants noted that in seeking to justify the recent ridiculously low cut off marks for admission into federal government colleges (unity schools), which in some states in the North, was put at as low as 2, the ministry of education premised this ridiculous decision on what it called ‘collective intelligence of all students’ while also saying that ‘the students do not necessarily have a low mental capacity to grasp concepts’. The Minister of Education however, went further to admit the real causes of poor performance among students when the Minister said ‘perhaps, we should note that a major reason why the students score so low in examinations is that the state of education in Northern Nigeria is poor, a serious lack of competent teaching staff, corruption in the management of education, lack of adequate educational plan; poor implementation of educational goals; and demographic problems.

Yet each successive state government has done little more than nod in agreement to the identified issues.’

12. Participants however observed that while poor state of education in parts of the North may represent the extreme, the reality is that education in all parts of Nigeria is in total state of decay.

13. Participants noted that government has abandoned its responsibility for ensuring adequate and quality education to private merchants whose primary motive is profit. The effect is that, using Lagos as an example, private schools currently account for 57 percent of all enrolments in Lagos as reported by the DFID in its Lagos Private Schools Census 2010 – 2011. Abandoning education to private merchants is not the way out of the rot in Nigeria’s educational system, rather the way forward is to prioritize education and see it as an investment in the nation’s human capital without which its much avowed developmental aspirations cannot be attained.

14. Participants also noted the trend towards abandoning the funding of education and educational development to interventionist agencies. They cautioned that interventionist agencies remain largely interventionist and are not a substitute for the duty of governments at all levels to fund and commit the needed resources to education.
15. Participants asserted that while interventionist agencies like Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has done a yeoman’s job in its effort at stabilizing education at the tertiary level, government at all levels must be alive to their fundamental duties of investing in the education of Nigerians.

16. Participants further observed that the administration's midterm report listed achievements by interventionist agencies such as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and TETFUND as part of its scorecard. While some of the interventionist agencies have done quite a lot towards revitalizing education, the continued abandonment of the primary duty of funding education by government at the various levels have not made the impact of these agencies felt as it should have been.

17. Using TETFUND as an example, participants observed that properly focusing interventionist agencies rather than abandoning its primary duty to fund education by government at the state and federal levels can help such agencies make more impact in the efforts at stabilizing education and ultimately improving standards.

18. Recalling that TETFUND was the product of sustained agitation by ASUU for improved funding of education through the collection of an Education Tax, participants noted that the historic 1992 strike by ASUU culminated in the establishment of an Education Tax Fund to be administered by a Management Team set up by the General Babangida military junta.

19. Participants observed that between 1992 and 1999, nothing much could be ascribed to this agency. But by 1999 the Obasanjo administration revamped the fund at the prompting of ASUU. Between 1999 and 2007 this agency was merely handing out palliatives to beneficiary institutions which cut across all levels of education in the country. The structural and institutional framework of the agency was a major setback to its effectiveness sits and this led to calls for its scrapping. However, by 2007 and with a new government, a new Management Team headed by Prof. Mahmud Yakubu was appointed to refocus the Fund.

20. The law establishing the Fund was amended which mandated it to restrict interventions to only Tertiary institutions. This move restored the original concept of ETF as initiated and negotiated by ASUU and FGN in 1992. Between 2007 and now, the refocusing has enabled the fund to be consolidated for impact in the following areas-

• Allocations to beneficiaries increased manifold. Prior to 2007, the highest amount ever allocated to any University in normal intervention was N58.5m. By 2012, however, each University received N595m in normal intervention. The allocations to the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education also increased astronomically.

• In addition to increased normal allocation, the Special High Impact projects were also introduced under which select tertiary institutions on the equality of geopolitical zones were given special allocations of N3b per university and N1b per Polytechnic and College of Education (based on the 2.1.1 sharing formula enshrined in the Act). Each year, 6 universities, 3 Polytechnics and 3 colleges of education benefitted (i.e. One university and a Polytechnic or College of Education per zone) benefitted. This is a continuous intervention which is meant to continue until all institutions benefit in the long run.

• Until 2008, the highest amount ever allocated for postgraduate staff training by ETF was a one-off N1.75m (one million seven hundred and fifty thousand Naira), an amount that was significantly inadequate. The refocusing of TETFUND made it possible for this sum to be increased substantially to about N80 million resulting in over 6,000 lecturers benefitting. This is the highest number of lecturers from Federal and State tertiary institutions sponsored for PG studies within a 4-year period since Nigeria's independence in 1960. This is in addition to over 7,000 lecturers who have benefitted from Conference Attendance (CA) initiative introduced in 2009.

• The fund also initiated a National Research Fund for the education sector with a seed grant of N3b approved and earmarked to support research for national development in critical sectors such as power, security etc. This is in addition to the Book Development Fund introduced to support the revitalization of Journals (beginning with those of professional/scholarly associations). So far, over 100 journals have benefitted from the sum of only N5m each out of a N2b seed grant. In addition to journals, the seed grant of N2b is also used to support the publication of tertiary levels textbooks, including outstanding PhD theses submitted to the universities.

21. While conceding that TETFUND has done a good job in its effort at stabilizing education at the tertiary level, participants observed that the same cannot be said of other levels of education. Participants therefore, called on the government to be alive to its fundamental duties of investing in the education of Nigerians and not abandon the funding of education and educational development to interventionist agencies, reiterating that interventionist agencies remain largely interventionist and are not a substitute for the duty of governments at all levels to fund and commit the needed resources to education.

22. Participants noted that children of most public servants and privileged Nigerians are either in private schools or attending school outside the country thereby leading to capital flight.

23. Participants noted that the NUC, rather than focus on and take seriously its statutory duties of oversight and ensuring quality delivery in university education through the full implementation of national minimum standards, has rather preoccupied itself with wasteful and spurious activities such as organizing irrelevant conferences and usurping the powers and functions of university senate in many respects. Participants also noted that the struggles of ASUU over the years have bordered on the duties that the NUC ought to play under the law establishing it but which it has failed to perform.

24. Government's decision to establish 12 new universities across geopolitical zones when it has failed to adequately fund existing ones is a mere political maneuver that will not enhance access to education but has the dangerous effect of promoting disunity. Our youths will be restricted to their immediate environments and prevented from moving out of their states of origin or birth to mix up and interact with their peers in other parts of the country.

25. Government has over the years demonstrated lack of honour to abide by and fulfill agreements reached with ASUU on most of the issues plaguing the educational system. This is a clear testimony to its lack of commitment to improving the state of education. No country achieves development without placing high premium on education.

Long but very comprehensive read predicated on a thorough, measured and deliberate look at the claimed 'achievements' of GEJ. The bleak revelation as per virtually every sector reveals what dispassionate observers know to be the truth beyond all the emptily cheery spin and propaganda.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/group-scores-president-jonathan%E2%80%99s-administration-low

Group Scores President Jonathan’s Administration Low
Posted: July 20, 2013 - 01:06


Independent Service delivery monitoring group, a transparency advocacy organization, has scored President Jonathan’s administration low on transformation programs saying nothing on the ground to match the achievements recently flaunted by many ministries.

Rising from a one-day forum organized to assess the mid-term report of the administration, the group noted that the “midterm report did not show any correlation between the amount of money spent and the impact on the lives of citizens in relation to the claims of economic growth.”

The Communique reads:
The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group convened a Civil Society Forum on the Midterm report of the Nigerian Government in Abuja on Monday July 9, 2013.

Background
In the past few weeks, the Nigerian public has been inundated with claims of ‘unusual’ achievements by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan using the ongoing platform of the Ministerial Midterm Report packaged by the administration through the Ministry of Information.

The Midterm Report by Ministers is following on the heels of President Jonathan's presentation of his two-year scorecard on May 29, 2013. While presenting his two-year scorecard, the President challenged Nigerians to develop a ‘marking scheme’ by which his achievements and scorecard can be judged. However, since that challenge was made, Civil Society was yet to pick the gauntlet thereby allowing the administration and its agents the free reign to rile Nigerians through the media with wide, one sided and unsubstantiated claims of performance.

It was against this background that the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group thought it necessary to organise this forum to provide a platform for civil society organisations spread across Nigeria to engage and dispassionately assess the claims of achievements of the administration using government’s own benchmarks.

Participation and Presentations
There were panel discussions on four ministerial reports followed by general discussion, and questions and answers.

[b]Panelists and participants were drawn from civil society organisations spread across Nigeria. The Participants at the forum included:

1. Dr Nasir Isah Fagge - ASUU President
2. Dr Chima Amadi - Executive Director, ISDMG
3. Adeola Soetan-Project Executive, Feed Nigeria Initiative among others.
4. Dr. Sofiri Joab-Peterside - Executive Director, Centre for Advanced Social Science
5. Lanre Arogundade - Executive Director, International Press Centre
6. Jaye Gaskia - Convener, United Action for Democracy (former country Director, Action Aid)
7. Barr. Mahmud Abdulmumin - President, Public Interest Lawyers League
8. Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi Mohammed - National Coordinator, Transition Monitoring Group
9. Kyauta Iliya Giwa - Coordinator, Community Action for Popular Participation
10. Ben Adoga - News Editor, Pilot Newspapers
11. Ezenwa Nwagwu - Former Vice President! Transparency in Nigeria
12. Oluajo Babatunde - National Secretary- Zero Corruption Coalition
13. Abdulrazaqque Barkindo - Publisher,The Road Newspapers
14. Prof. Emeka Ezeonu - Lecturer NAU, Awka.
15. Okechukwu Nwanguma - coordinator, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria
16. Faith Nwadishi - National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay and Member, NEITI Board
17. Adeola Soetan - Project Executive, Feed Nigeria Initiative among others.[/b]

Panellists led critical discussions on reports by four Ministries: Education, Health, Transportation (aviation, road, water and rail transport) and Agriculture, in the first instance, to see if the achievements listed in their reports correspond with the objective realities on ground.

Participants contributed through free and robust debates, comments and questions to the panel reviews and generally examined the activities of the administration during the period under review to ascertain if they meet the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

Ibanga p: They are doing this on the wake of our Controversial under-age marraige declaration jus to spite us and appear better in the eyes of the international communities. Not that they do anytin better than us. Am not saying wat our law makers did is right though.

Let us learn to get over ourselves. Everything is not about us. This is a Ghanaian statistician suggesting what she thinks is best for her Country and I think this is clear enough. Population growth that cannot be effectively catered for is irresponsible and to be discouraged even as I personally do not agree with raising the marriage age from 18 to 23.

She indicated that this would not only prepare them for marriage, but also slow population growth by 15 to 20 per cent, in the country.

Maxymilliano: The question should be what provoked Gumsu's outburst in the first place, why pick on Prof out of over 160Million Nigerians ?

Dude, you surely cannot be unaware of recent history to be unaware of why every child of Abacha may thoroughly hate a man who tormented their brutal, murderous and dictatorial brute of a father while he was in office? This girl simply hates Soyinka because he was one of the main antagonist of her father who would not stop telling the world how evil, brutal and vile Abacha was. She was merely looking for anything to attack the prof with.

This girl's antics directly shows how perverse some Nigerians are. Her father was a nasty, evil tyrant who murdered many, including the likes of Ken Saro-Wiwa, in cold blood yet she has the nerve to hate those who stood against him and are shining examples of what Nigerians can be, i.e the best in their field of endeavour, while her father is a Hitler-type disgrace every sensible Nigerian is ashamed to share nationhood with.

Only in Nigeria, because demonic evil goes unpunished, that this girl will be emboldened to attack others perhaps because they stood against the perverse evil her father exemplified. While off-springs of Hitler and other 'monsters' in history change their name and live 'underground' the children of Nigeria's most evil men, like Abacha, are strutting about proudly and attacking those who have brought nothing but pride to the Nigerian stock while their brutal forebears murdered others, decimated Nigeria and ruined the lives of generations unborn. Sick nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wole_Soyinka

Soyinka has strongly criticised many Nigerian military dictators, especially late General Sanni Abacha, as well as other political tyrannies, including the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. Much of his writing has been concerned with "the oppressive boot and the irrelevance of the colour of the foot that wears it".[citation needed] During the regime of General Sani Abacha (1993–98), Soyinka escaped from Nigeria via the "Nadeco Route" on a motorcycle. Living abroad, mainly in the United States, he was a professor first at Cornell University and then at Emory University in Atlanta, where in 1996 he was appointed Robert W. Woodruff Professor of the Arts. Abacha proclaimed a death sentence against him "in absentia". With civilian rule restored to Nigeria in 1999, Soyinka returned to his nation. He has also taught at the universities of Oxford, Harvard and Yale.

[quote author=tpia@][img]http://img1.nairaland.com/attachments/1208499_aa_jpg270ee74b40f629ca6e9cfb84a1d07b43[/img]

doesnt look like a nigerian hospital at all.[/quote]The reception, as one example, actually looks better than some you step into in the UK's many NHS hospitals. Commendable as usual from Fashola.

hercules07: I remember Odumakin being very sick in the early 2000s and it took the intervention of Tinubu to save his life in India. The cost of most of our public projects are high, it is due to our culture and the way those projects are awarded, SW projects are still cheaper than those of the FG and when factors are considered, are inflated but not to the extent that people are shouting here. Odumakin has a right to air his opinions but he should not lie, some of us remember his beginnings in Pa Ayo and Adesanya homes.

This is essentially the point I am making. Odumakin claims that ACN charges N1 billion per km across the SW. (1) This is simply not true because the factual reality for the unemotional and balanced Nairalander, able to defer to factual evidence, is that cost per KM varies with many road projects delivered at less than the rate Odumakin falsely claims to be standard throughout the SW. I gave an example of Amosun delivering a major road in Ogun State for a rate of N0.5 billion per KM.

(2) How is it sensible for anyone to miss that Odumakin must now be serving a PDP agenda if he wants us to believe the N1 billion per km rate he claims marks the ACN to be corrupt has been outdone by PDP administrators who contract roads out at rates above N2 billion per KM?

To sensible folks, still dedicated to living their lives with facts and respect for logic and existing reality, the hatred of the ACN or Tinubu is not enough to make them dump reality into the bin to blindly embrace the utterances of Odumakin that are lies on so many levels packaged together for sentimentally unthinking adults and/or young children.

Even though I waste my time doing because many here clearly do not/cannot read and will ask silly question next minute about the Per KM road construction rate of Ondo when it has been established such can vary drastically in even a local government, I present evidence of Osun, an ACN-led State, awarding road contracts at far less than the N1 billion per KM.

In the same Osun where a contract was awarded for a major road with several bridges, railway underpass et al at N0.8 billion per kilometers , i.e N800 million per KM, we see road contracts below, perhaps for fairly straightforward, two-lane, fairly standard, non-undulating and non-problematic terrain awarded for N0.6 billion for 5.45km. That is a rate of N110 million per KM !!!

Where does this now place Odumakin's argument clearly tendered to deceive the gullible and the herded? Has he not told the world the ACN Governors are corrupt because they build roads at N1 billion per km everywhere? Is this not proof of all I have said i.eroad construction cost vary and we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by a charlatan who assumes Nigerians are all illiterates who cannot read or do basic research?

Some can harbour hatred towards others but they should learn to look at facts and eschew sentiment even if it is only for the sake of everyday living considerations such as investing wisely, raising kids, running a business, managing important office, being financially responsible etc, etc. Harbour your sentiments and bias but know you do yourself and your life a very big disservice when facts and reality have no place in your emotion and bias-driven thinking.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=100097

Osun Awards N.6bn 3 Road Contracts In Ife

https://www.osundefender.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/osun_road_project-300x225.jpg
road in osun

On going road projects in Osun LGs
Government of the State of Osun has awarded a contract sum of N602,283,071.25 for the construction of three separate roads in Ile-Ife, totaling 5.45 kilometre.
The roads are Lokore/Okesoda Street (1.85km), Oranfe – Mokuro road (3.15km), Omi-Okun road (0.45 km) and the roads are in addition to number of roads that the state government had earlier embarked on in the ancient town.
The contract, which is awarded to Messr HANSMAG Nigeria Limited, is expected to run concurrently and be completed within six months.
Signing the agreement with the contractor in Osogbo last Friday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transports, Engineer Oladepo Amuda, said that the road would have asphalt concrete overlay of 40mm, reinforced concrete side drain, retaining wall, culverts, earthworks, as well as road marking and signs among others.
He added that in line with the agreement; the project will be contractor-financing, which would be repaid by the government in 24 months, saying that in such an arrangement, the commitment of the contractor has been guaranteed.
Amuda said: “The three roads are single carriage ways and they will have all the necessary parameters that will enable the roads to last a minimum of 25 years.
“No request for mobilisation and in such an arrangement, the contractor will be committed and the expectations on the work will be guaranteed”, he said.
The governor’s aide stressed that the contractors have been selected based on experience and the confidence the government has in them, saying that his ministry would ensure proper monitoring of the projects, with a view to guaranteeing a good job.
Responding, the MD/CEO of the company, Mr Demola Awofiranye, stated that his company would surpass the expectations of the government on the project by delivering a good job.
He added that the contractor-financing arrangement is not new to the company, and they are willing to partner with the state in this regard, having seen the present administration as a responsive and responsible government.
At the end of the project, he assured that the state government would be proud to work with his company.
By kazeem mohammed

cheleku: youre a prejudiced 'npoop. The cost of constructing roads, as you pinted out clearly varies. You should have given us info on what it costs to build a km of road in Ondo for instance. Again, why didnt you also debunk Odumakin's statement condemnig Tinubu's tendencies to impose his family members upon Lagos politics!....The crazy dude even collects tolls on bridges in Lagos..He runs Lag like some mafian Russian oligarch.

You are calling someone a prejudiced npoop yet what do you take yourself to be when your ignorance and lack of comprehension damn you as extremely prejudiced with how, after all that has been said that would have enlightened even a child, you can still ask to be given a per km road construction rate for Ondo as if such is constant like the price beans? Some of you are just impossible with how you are ready to insult others based on your own ignorance and grotesque lack of comprehension that would shame an intelligent 5 year old child !!!!

The rest of what you have said are just sentimental garbage also. Same as you cannot grab the essence of an issue after the substantive point has been made over and over again. You talk of imposition. Again, you do not have the finesse to appreciate that stakeholders ultimately decided the fate of those affiliated with the Tinubu name who ran for public office. If not that you are one of those possessing a lynch mob mentality, can you tell us factually how many "members" of Tinubus family have been "imposed on Lagos"? Please respond with facts and not the sentiments and insult your kind are about. Let us have the official statistics. In a State of around 17-19 million Are the "imposed" members of Tinubu's family 10, 15 or 60?

Sincere 9gerian: Note: this does not exonerate PDP controlled states of corruption. But the DIFFERENCE is that in ACN controlled states, the corruption level is times two, ie the resources of the states most cater for the corrupt tendencies of state chief executives (governors) AND the
godfather (Tinubu). But in PDP controlled states, we have to contend with only the corrupt tendencies of state chief executives (governors)

Haba Oga insincere9gerian. Do you not tire of lying? everyone, even critics of the ACN, are acknowledging the strides in delivered infrastructure being seen in the entire region. you're not really about intelligence and more about lies so I will use a simple contextual example even you should understand. How can the corruption under the ACN be worse when far more projects are being delivered , than was the case under the PDP, especially when these are the same project PDP administrator abandoned or stated bluntly that they did not have the money to implement?

There are now literally dozens of projects completed across the SW abandoned for decades!! Feel free to join the sentimental elements here since you are not much better than them but your wild lies simply make no sense at all.

You sit here pretending to care about Nigeria yet you contribute to the deception of those more gullible than you with shameful spin and outright lies no one can believe. You stand here and facetiously clap with them about "propaganda" and you say inane things about the ACN being twice as corrupt as the PDP when even a child will tell you that delivered infrastructure objective Yoruba, Igbo, Ghanaian, Hausa, British and American folks now admit to , as typical of the SW under the ACN, flately debunk your ungodly lie. How will the ACN be able to achieve what is higlighted in the article below if more corrupt than the PDP they replaced that was happy for the SW to be synonymous with the word "stagnation"?

It is the PDP that typified evil corruption with how they literally took every kobo and gave back nada to South-Westerners and onlyleft many abandoned projects everywhere. How many times have you heard of "abandoned projects", after billions has been collected, under the ACN? Yet do we not know that this is what the PDP is very famous for this? Keep leading the pack of clannish minions with deceit instead of telling the truth all neutral news-sources now routinely reveal about the SW and the exemplary progress being made there others should be busy lobbying their leaders to emulate instead of sitting here lying and denying what the entire world is seeing and praising about the efforts of the ACN.


http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/10123-nigeria-on-the-throes-of-infrastructural-boom

Nigeria: On the throes of infrastructural boom?
Written by Gbemi Solaja Tuesday, 23 April 2013 00:00

https://tribune.com.ng/news2013/images/2304feat1.jpg

NIGERIA, home to over 160 million people, has, over the years, been called the giant of Africa, due particularly to its large population and abundant natural resources. However, the ‘giant of Africa’, over the years, has been plagued by the corrupt attitude of its leaders and people in power. This has stalled the economic and infrastructural growth of the nation and encouraged the scourge of poverty among its citizens.

For decades, the nation depended on its agricultural products and later, with the discovery of crude oil, petroleum resources which till date, has helped grow the country’s economy but not without attendant crises from the Niger Delta region from where the bulk of the crude oil is extracted.
The nation was grossly lacking the basic infrastructure needed by its citizens, which was not helped by the corruption and careless attitudes of the then governments which led to a lot of good projects being abandoned midway or not adequately maintained.

But fast forward to the present day Nigeria and all that seems to be changing drastically. From the capital cities of states to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, it is obvious that most urban centres are wearing new looks, with major infrastructural projects being implemented by each state government to give necessary facelift to its immediate environment.

The visible changes that are taking place all over the nation range from various road constructions to building of bridges, rebuilding of drainage to the reconstruction of rail lines, upgrading and building of airports and stricter laws enacted to regulate corrupt practices between government officials and contractors. Even to the ordinary eye, according to an engineer, Femi Ogundele, infrastructural development is taking centre stage in Nigeria.
For example, the Federal Government, recently approved a contract worth N1.61trn for the modernisation of its railway system, and about 15 different railway projects were pencilled down for completion between now and 2015.
According to a document on the 2013 capital projects of key federal ministries released, 13 of the projects will receive attention this year at a total cost of N44.35bn.

The railway investment, it was learnt, would involve the construction of new rail lines across the country and rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge lines. Also, the federal government’s agenda to revamp the sea and air ports will be valuable to federal, states and the local governments, importers and exporters.
Toeing the line of the FG’s transformation agenda, many states have also initiated and embarked upon various infrastructural developmental projects.
Apart from enhancing the aesthetic beauty of major cities in the country, the general development, according to societal critics, has also contributed immensely to the socio-economic sectors, more so, with the creation of the needed employment opportunities for jobless Nigerians.
Today, the construction industry is flourishing as everywhere one turns to there is one construction or the other going on.
According to Godson Ihenacho, an electrical engineer, Nigeria is in the throes of an infrastructural boom. “At the beginning of this political dispensation, we were made to know the agenda of some elected members, including the executive arm of the state. With the deplorable state of infrastructure in most states of the country, one would truly affirm the need for any government to focus mainly on infrastructure while making sure that collapsed public infrastructure is rebuilt to make life more comfortable for the people. I am happy that the governments of most states are taking note”.

[b]Even cities which were known to be critically short of infrastructure are now changing. In this regard, Oyo State, for example, is not left behind in pursuing efficient urban renewal programme, aimed at making the state to compete favourably with other states in the provision of quality infrastructure for socio-economic transformation and sustainable development.
T
he Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led government had embarked on massive road construction and maintenance, pulling down old structures and relocating roadside traders to newly built markets. Today, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is wearing a new look and residents are beginning to marvel at the new emerging mega city.
In Ogun State and in most states in the South-West, the same story is the order of the day, with each state governor embarking on state-wide constructions and restoration of state order.
A point of reference is Lagos which, over time and with successive administrations, had enacted laws prohibiting illegal roadside trading, parking, settlement, and with law enforcements agencies more diligent than before, dislodging illegal traders, while earthmoving equipment demolished marked illegal structures in many areas. Illegal structures built on drainage and walkways had been pulled down to pave way for easy movement and traffic flow. Also, the proposed Eko Atlantic City is a project of the Lagos State government that says volume about how aware governments have become about the importance of adequate and tasteful infrastructure for its residents. When completed, the Eko Atlantic City is estimated to accommodate over 400,000 residents and a daily flow of 250,000 commuters, thus increasing job creation for Nigerians and foreigners.
[/b]

Garri the 1st: Where pics na??

You can see some pictures below. The project has nothing to do with Jonathan.



https://www.nairaland.com/1362750/n4bn-goodluck-estate-228-units#16859779

chudidonas: Good effort GEJ... Exactly the best way to respond to your critics

With a Project that has nothing to do with him? With all due respect, would you be speaking like this if GEJ had real achievement that makes him a proven achiever beyond reproach?

Even the article lies with the assertion the project was "named after" GEJ when the PPP arrangement between the Nigerian Police force and Remax realtors was inaugurated in 2008. We did this to death the other day to establish conclusively that GEJ has nothing to do with this:


https://www.nairaland.com/1362750/n4bn-goodluck-estate-228-units#16859779

SLIDE waxie: Wow!!!

Where them haters be?

Show face o

They are all here foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs about to be put down:

https://www.nairaland.com/1363722/buhari-disowns-yinka-odumakin-spokesman/5

@Topic.

The "flower planter" delivers more hibiscus and roses. Fashola showing faith with the "health is wealth" mantra.

[quote author=Neo-XVI]You guys are a disgrace to any decent person. SMH. You are an ACN looney and I never believed in your sincerity for one day. Want to know how I knew? 1. You were all for Ribadu because your master, Tinubu said so, until he didn't. You saw nothing good in Buhari. Now you're all for Buhari because Tinubu said so. 2. You never praise Jonathan even when he stumbles upon doing something good once in a long while. That is how I knew that all you ever do is dance to Tinubu's tune.

Don't just go online and pick out the cost of road projects in spain or wherever. You should also give us details of the soil test in those areas. Even in the Niger delta region with their poor soil conditions, how much is a kilometer of road built for? We aren't morons now. How is it that your neighbour builds a road for 50 million and you build yours for 1 billion? What are you building it with? Gold? SMH

Please remove your head from Tinubu's a$$. You're a grown man and it is disgraceful that you follow someone without thought.

@topic. Yinka spoke the truth, and Buhari should be ashamed of himself for not standing by him.[/quote]Are you not lying same as Odumakin now? How many Nigerian examples have I provided in this thread to back up my argument that + or - N1 billion per KM contracts is not proof of anything and certainly no definitive marker of corruption as Odumakin histrionically maintains. The problem is that people like you are just bitter, twisted and hateful. You can rant all you want but most educated folks and fari-minded folks, even if they do not support the ACN, can see the substantive point made.

[quote author=nOble^gEnt]I'm so shocked that people can still argue an obvious truth, blindly......its only God that will save us in this country.[/quote]I think you are mixed up. Who is arguing "blindly" aside those who say the figure of N50 million per kilometer cap indeed indicates that N1 billion per kilometer rate equals corruption as Odumakin ignorantly infers? The point is that it does not. This is fact even if sentimental folks will not see so because they just want a statement, however ludicrous, that hepls them give a dog a bad name to hang it. Let Odumakin prove his allegation with facts. As much as I dislike the PDP, no one sees me running around claiming, as if I can prove such with facts, that the cost of road contracts from PDP administrators prove corruption.