₦airaland Forum

CFCfan: That's great. Slowly but surely, Eko Atlantic will become an engine room for the Nigerian economy. Kudos to the initiators and developers of this modern Nigerian city.

Indeed .... and I think similar will be seen across Nigeria but not on the same scale.

gbanikiti: wow!

God abeg give me money make i become landlord for Eko Atlantic City!

Eko no go spoil o!

Iconic address if one can afford it. Residential units will represent superb investment purchases that would pay for itself fairly quicker than anything else because of high rental yield. Superb project sha.

http://businessdaynigeria.com/eko-atlantic-leads-emerging-african-cities-promising-homes-over-800000-residents

Eko Atlantic leads emerging African cities promising homes for over 800,000 residents


Wed, 2013-06-12 08:00

Eko Atlantic City, variously described as Africa’s Dubai, tomorrow’s Lagos and Lagos of the 21st century, is leading the pack of seven new cities under construction across Africa which altogether promise homes for over 800,000 residents.

These cities include Kiamba in Angola, Konzo Techno City in Kenya, Apolonia and King City in Greater Accra and Western Ghana; Tatu City in Nairobi, capital of Nairobi, La Cite du Fleuve in Kinshasa, the capital of the Republic of Congo, and Hope City also in Accra, Ghana.

Eko Atlantic, a joint venture between South Energyx Nigeria Limited and Lagos State government, is a multi-billion dollar residential and business development that will be located on Victoria Island in Lagos, along its up market Bar Beach coastline.

The ambitious project is being built on 10 square kilometers of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to provide upscale accommodation for 250,000 people and employment opportunities for a further 150,000 who will commute to and fro the city on daily basis.

Kilamba, a ghost town in Angola, is a grandiose project which analysts often label as a white elephant. Built afresh, outside the capital Luanda, Kilamba was designed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people but remains largely empty due to its expensive housing and unfavorable location.

According to the developers, Rendeavour, the objective of the project is to provide the basic infrastructure, planning and necessary management framework in creating satellite cities that reverses the current trend of unplanned development and urban congestion in most of Africa’s growing cities.

Konza Techno City is the Kenyan government’s flagship mega project designed to foster the growth of the country’s technology industry. The multi-billion dollar city, located on a 5,000-acre plot of land, some 60 kilometers southeast of the capital Nairobi, aims to create nearly 100,000 jobs by 2030. It will feature a central business district, a university campus, urban parks and housing to accommodate some 185,000 people.

Designed by Rendeavour, the urban development branch of Moscow-based Renaissance Group, Appolonia and King City will be located in Greater Accra and Western Ghana, respectively. The mixed-use satellite cites are expected to accommodate more than 160,000 residents on land developed for housing properties, retail and commercial centers, as well as schools, healthcare and other social amenities.

The developer reveals that all baseline studies, master plans and detailed designs have been completed and approved, while basic infrastructure work in Appolonia is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2013.

Tatu City is also being developed by Rendeavour and will span 1,035 hectares of land, some 15 kilometers from Nairobi. It is designed to create a new decentralised urban center to the north of the bustling Kenyan capital. Construction work began last May and the whole project is projected to be completed in 10 phases by 2022. When the project is finalised, the city is expected to be home to 77,000 residents.

La Cite du Fleuve is a luxurious housing project planned for two islands on the Congo River in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo and one of Africa’s fastest growing cities.



BY : Chuka Uroko

kulyie: mr man,there is no atom of sense in this post from the beginning to the end :/

My good man, you'll get more sense out of a new-born baby than you can from that confused character.

Interestin to note that the first phase is almost sold out off-plan to business and non-residential users.

http://businessdaynigeria.com/first-building-eko-atlantic-city-ready-24-months

First building on Eko Atlantic City ready in 24 months


Tue, 2013-03-26 00:00

Slowly but steadily, Eko Atlantic City is evolving, and hopefully, in the next 24 months, the city’s first building shall have been completed and possibly occupied, its developers and promoters have said.

Eko Atlantic, an emerging city in Lagos, is rising on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean and, according to its developers, it is a 21st Century city that will compare with United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.

David Frame disclosed to journalists at the project site that the developers of the city’s first building, who he did not disclosed “for security reasons,” have already started piling up work in preparatory to building what he called “a fully commercial development.”

Frame, managing director, South Energyx Nigeria Limited, developer of the city, spoke during the visit of Michel Sleiman, the president of the Republic of Lebanon to the city.
He said the Lebanese president came to the city to see what his country men were doing (since the promoters of the project are from Lebanon), adding that the visiting president was impressed with what he saw.

David also revealed that the first phase of the city comprising over two million square metres of land was almost sold out to institutions and corporate bodies, adding that they had achieved some important milestones in the development of the city.

“The important milestone we have achieved here is that 50 percent of the land reclamation has been done, and also three and half kilometres of the eight and half sea protective wall has been completed,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “The first phase of the project which is over two million square metres is almost sold out; within the next two years, the first building in this city will have been completed and that is going to be fully commercial development.”

According to the managing director, the city will be self-sustaining in terms of infrastructure provision, as “all the infrastructure needed in the city will be buried underground; none of these facilities will be seen on the surface.”

Another investor in the city, Eko Pearl Nigeria Limited, has perfected plans to what it calls Eko Pearl - a 24-storey residential tower to be located on the harbour front of the city.

Residents of this new luxury tower will be able to enjoy uninterrupted views of the water as they take in the endless breeze from the ocean, and in addition to living in the newest prime area of Lagos, residents will enjoy first-class infrastructure facilities, including uninterrupted power, water, and security services.

“Eko Pearl is a luxurious tower that consists of 24 residential floors, a pool and terrace level floor, a ground floor, a technical floor and a basement floor, both dedicated to 345 parking places and 48 storage rooms,” an official of the company said.

According to him, typical apartments are located starting from the first to the 18th floor, comprising an entrance hall, sitting rooms, dining room, living family room, kitchen, master bedrooms, guest rooms, among others, while duplex apartments are located on the 19th - 20th and 21st - 22nd floors, consisting of lower level and upper level.

Lower level comprises entrance hall, sitting rooms, dining room, lounge, kitchen with pantry, guest bathroom, maid room and WC, laundry, balconies.
Upper level comprises living family room, master bedrooms and balconies.

“The Eko Duplexes will be built upon the finest standards of quality in architectural design, construction, and convenience; a lifestyle worth-living; The Penthouses also called ‘Apartments in the Sky,’ offer homeowners remarkable panoramic views,” he said.

Pastor Kun: I repeat this is not an initiative of the Lagos state govt. It's an initiative of Oando plc, Lagos govt is just being used to promote this initiative cause of the personal interests involved. Oando plc launched this initiative at least two years ago when they released their 5kg O-gas into the market with the view to promoting it as a replacement for kerosene stoves.

Assuming you are correct , for the sake of argument, and Lagos is being "used to promote this initiative" by OANDO. What is the problem? Will Lagosians be forced to buy LPG at gun-point or will the laws of demand and supply still apply leading to attendant benefit for the State? Is this not another worthy effort providing more choice in the energy mix of a mega city with positives all round?

Fashola, speaking at the launch of the Eko gas project at Masha Roundabout, Surulere, said it marked the gradual return to the old days when cooking with gas by Nigerian households was not a luxury. He said the flag-off of the initiative by his administration was also an indication that gas is no longer the exclusive preserve of the rich, as the poor can now also have access to it for their domestic uses as against kerosene and charcoal, which aggravate the green house effect and global warming.

Uyi Iredia: I suggest that the Lagos state government build distribution centres in strategic locations for easy access to the product.

Good thinking but taken care of already. Efficiency and professionalism should be good because the Lagos State Ministry of Energy is partnering with established private sector firm for this initiative.


http://businessdaynigeria.com/lagos-private-firms-begin-supply-cooking-gas-residents

Lagos, private firms begin supply of cooking gas to residents

Wed, 2013-06-12 12:04

The supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as preferred cooking fuel for households in Lagos as against kerosene and charcoal, which kicked off in the state, Tuesday, will see collaborating private sector partners establish skid plants across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) of Lagos in what aims at making supply accessible to millions of people.

The cooking gas initiative is taking off as Governor Babatunde Fashola also on Tuesday assured traders during a visit to the Trinity auto spare parts market, Apapa, gutted by fire, Sunday afternoon, that his administration will rebuild the shops. He advised them to consider taking insurance policy which will absorb the shock of such huge losses in the future. Goods worth millions of naira were lost in the fire incident which razed no fewer than 150 shops. BusinessDay gathered that the burnt one-storey shopping complex which has shown signs of distress was built about 1976.

Some of the partners in the LPG supply project which has received the full endorsement of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) are Oando Gas, Techno Gas, Lite Gas and Banner Gas. The project driven by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will see the partners deliver cooking gas in cylinders of different sizes ranging from 5.0, 5.2, 13.8 and 42.5 at designated places across the state.

Fashola, speaking at the launch of the Eko gas project at Masha Roundabout, Surulere, said it marked the gradual return to the old days when cooking with gas by Nigerian households was not a luxury. He said the flag-off of the initiative by his administration was also an indication that gas is no longer the exclusive preserve of the rich, as the poor can now also have access to it for their domestic uses as against kerosene and charcoal, which aggravate the green house effect and global warming.

With the current 8.0 billion metric feet gas production per day in Nigeria, the country, Fashola said, has enough to meet the needs of its citizens, but lamented this is not being optimally utilised. He said with the successful launch of the project, “LPG is now going to be our preferred option for cooking in Lagos,” adding that the gas would be made available to Lagosians in different locations at various prices.



BY : JOSHUA BASSEY

samkoro: Its a tradition of the world Bank to deride any Government that effectively tries to eradicate poverty. World Bank is mearnt to spread poverty while claiming to eliminate it.

Even though I am no fan of the World bank, is it not inane for fans of GEJ to deride the organisation, in trying to attack the messenger, when the main star of GEJ's cabinet and the de facto Prime Minister of Nigeria owes her fame and reputation to the world bank? Every time supporters of GEJ point fingers of vilification at others, because of the paranoid and hollow need to discredit legitimate criticism, the other finger points back at you because GEJ is usually always culpable of something.

If you now want to tell us the world bank is evil personified, who went out of his way to plead and beg for Okonjo Iweala, World bank's African poster appointee, to come and be super minister with full control over the Nigerian economy?

Sincere 9gerian: These emotional outbursts will not help you. Lets stick to the facts. The facts in the issue of the federal budget is that recurrent expenditure has been reduced from 74% in 2011 to 68% in 2013.
http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/6270-cabal-moves-to-hijack-firs-ceo-post-works-against-applicants-from-south-west
That is a reduction of about 6% in 2yrs (two budget cycles- 2012 and 2013), a reduction of about 3% per year.

It will be recalled that the recurrent part of the federal budget rose to 74% in 2011 following about 53% increase in workers wages and implementation of the minimum wage.

So @Gbawe, tell us another LIE.

Liar, liar pants on fire, have you no shame. Who, time after time, has been proven to be the undoubted master of lies and deceit if not the messiah you worship and all those he surrounds himself with?

You want anyone to believe the assertion of the ultra-corrupt GEJ Government that is being indicted daily by the likes of the NEITI, world bank and others as a fraudulent, deceitful and hideously corrupt entity that does not "give a damn" about ordinary Nigerians? Shame on you.

http://premiumtimesng.com/business/138525-world-bank-indicts-jonathans-government-says-massive-poverty-unemployment-killing-nigerians.html

World Bank indicts Jonathan’s government, says massive poverty, unemployment killing Nigerians
Oluwaseyi Bangudu
Published: June 12,2013

The report says poverty and unemployment are growing despite government’s claim of a robust economy
The number of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing significantly, the World Bank says.
The number of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing significantly, revealing a perplexing contrast between the nation’s economic statistics on rapid economic growth and minimal welfare improvements for much of the population, the World Bank has said.
“Poverty rates remain high in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. These rates declined between 2003-2004 and 2009- 2010, although not nearly as fast as would be expected from the pace of economic growth in the country,” the World Bank said in its ‘Nigeria Economic Report’ May, 2013.
“While the officially reported growth rates of GDP well exceed population growth in the country, the pace of poverty reduction does not, this implies that the number of poor Nigerians living below the poverty line has grown measurably,” the report stated.
The World Bank said the first Nigeria Economic Report is designed to give some attention to longer term trends in the country, including the puzzle of why a decade of rapid GDP growth by official statistics, concentrated in the pro-poor areas of agriculture and trade, did not bring stronger welfare and employment benefits to the population.
Aside from the increase in poverty, the organisation said progress towards a number of the other Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria has also been disappointing, stating that Nigeria was ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index, as unemployment rates have been steadily increasing and younger Nigerians are encountering increasing difficulty in finding gainful employment.
The organisation said available data on unemployment suggest a similar story.
“Job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. The official unemployment rate has steadily increased from 12% of the working age population in 2006 to 24% in 2011. Preliminary indications are that this upward trend continued in 2012.
Another issue the report highlighted was that the official definition of employment in Nigeria (less than 40 hours worked in the past week) is unusual, and is therefore not comparable to that in most other countries. The negative dynamic is very consistent, however, with perceptions of the population of increasing difficulties for finding gainful employment. Going by this, the problem in Nigeria might best be interpreted as underemployment in contrast to unemployment proper.
Variance in reported statistics and reality
Reports over the recent years have continued to highlight the concern that the Nigerian economic statistics reveals a puzzling contrast between rapid economic growth and quite minimal welfare improvements for much of the population.
Nigeria’s annual growth rates that average over 7 per cent in official data during the last decade place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world. This growth has been concentrated particularly in trade and agriculture, which would suggest substantial welfare benefits for many Nigerians.
“Nevertheless, improvements in social welfare indicators have been much slower than would be expected in the context of this growth. Poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians. Progress toward the fulfillment of many of the Millennium Development Goals has been slow, and the country ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index” the World Bank said.
The Organisation said further data collection and investigations will be necessary to clarify this picture of what factors are responsible or explain the disparities between economic growth and the welfare indicators of the nation.
“Given the seeming inconsistencies between the national accounts data summarized above and statistics based on other surveys, it is imperative to conduct further investigations and statistical tests to uncover the true growth and development story in Nigeria” the World Bank said.
Against this backdrop, the World Bank said it is imperative that Nigeria finds a recipe to unlock rapid growth and job creation in a larger part of the country, as well as to increase standards of education, health, and other social services to enable its citizens to find gainful employment in the emerging growth poles.
“In sum, statistics on poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, together with other direct indicators of welfare, suggest a story that is rather different from the national accounts data. GDP growth has not been sufficient to support levels of poverty reduction and job creation necessary to prevent a growing number of poor and unemployed (underemployed) Nigerians.”
Despite the challenges, the World Bank states that the macroeconomic outlook for Nigeria in 2013 appears fairly strong, assuming that oil prices do not decline sharply and oil output stabilizes. The foreign inflows that generated the balance of payments surplus and reserve accumulation should continue, and will stimulate domestic demand. In this context, particularly if there are better weather conditions in 2013, the pace of economic growth could accelerate somewhat.
“Overall, 2013 should provide a favourable context for the realization of key reforms and investments (power, roads, business climate, education, health, agriculture) that could generate the non-oil growth, productivity increases, and jobs needed to ensure the country’s prosperous future”.
The Jonathan administration has increasingly made reference to Nigeria’s GDP and economic growth as signs of successes while the opposition and several Nigerians lament that those growth have not had a corresponding effect on the lives of average Nigerians.

Garri the 1st: GEJ has been marked and he has scored F9....

What a shame!!

It is official. Tinubu, Buhari, Ribadu, El Rufai, Wole Soyinka et al now work for the World bank. In fact, I work for the world bank also and you do too.

Oga Insincer9gerian, behold the antics of another agency controlled by the Buhari, Tinubu, El Rufai and the APC. This is what you will meet every time you try and craftily move attention away from GEJ's glaring failure with cheap attempts at diversionary and fraudulent character assassination against others.

http://premiumtimesng.com/business/135147-jonathan-other-pdp-governments-encourage-corruption-in-nigerias-oil-industry-government-report.html

Jonathan, other PDP governments encourage corruption in Nigeria’s oil industry- government report
Bassey Udo
Published: May 20,2013

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative says government hardly implements its recommendations on accountability in the extractive industry.
[size=14pt]The deliberate inactions of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and those of other Peoples Democratic Party governments since 1999 have encouraged corruption and obfuscation in the Nigerian oil industry, an agency has stated.[/size]

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, on Monday, expressed frustration in its efforts to boost the level of transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry.
The agency blamed the federal government for Nigeria’s recent poor ranking in the global Resource Governance Index, RGI, report of the Revenue Watch Institute, RWI.

Sincere 9gerian: Exactly. The Igbo proverb that someone who had killed with the cutlass will always feel uneasy when the cutlass is taken past his back readily comes to mind.

Dude, stop this show of shame and, for once, act with integrity and talk limited to what we have all seen transpire as reality . Spare us your conjectures that are the product of your paranoid,insincere and dishonest mind.

Did APC E-warriors turn Abati into the shameless liar he is today?

Was it the APC warriors that openly compromised the Ribadu petroleum task force disgracefully before the entire world all in an effort to discredit it's findings? Which of the recommendations of Ribadu, which GEJ can ratify in minutes, has been embraced by the Government today?


Did you and others not lie to the forum that the GEJ government was "harmonising" the Ribadu report? Where is the result of such "harmonisation" efforts as we approach a year after Ribadu formally delivered his findings to Mr.President? Do you have no shame even attempting revisionism as you do now when GEJ has done so much to leave no one in doubt he is corrupt and wish everyone to join him in corruption?

Did the APC E-warriors turn Otedola, a key member of GEJ's economic team, into 'James Bond' agent of espionage? What is the deal today with the Farouk-Otedola brouhaha?

What of Okonjo Iweala who was one of the biggest critics of the GEJ government before she joined it? Did she not stand alongside her colleagues home and abroad to warn that Nigerian must drastically cut waste and profligacy, to aid a "drastic" reduction in recurrent expenditure, if the Nation is to make progress?

After showing such conviction for what is right when out of government, did the APC E-warriors force Okonjo Iweala to then satisfy herself with a laughable 4% reduction in recurrent expenditure over 4 years (a laughable 1% drop per year for 4 years) once on board as finance Minister and defacto prime minister with broad powers to carry out the "drastic" cost-cutting she previously told us was "crucial"? Why did Iweala simply not practise what she had preached


Dude, you are shameless. If not you would admit that factually, the GEJ Government has made characters like Abati and Iweala go against previous utterance and stance , to public chagrin, while others who did not wish to compromise themselves , eg Ribadu, are made enemies to be vilified and attacked. Nothing to do with APC and, for honest folks, everything to do with the dishonesty and corrupt mien of GEJ and those around him.

gbanikiti: Just read your comments over and over again and see if you don't need mental help asap! oh! sorry i forgot you are a failed medical doctor. Seriously, why don't you stop attacking the opposition and do what you were assigned to do on this. forum. You're beginning to sound silly, honestly.

To be honest, his rant here , start to finish, only pays homage to lunacy and shameless revisionism. Is what is written below not borne of madness:

These Tinubu's defenders have nothing but the following wishes for their country and the govt of President Jonathan: EVIL, disaster, destruction, death and everything BAD. This is what some of us call chronic BAD-BELLEISM.

Can what he writes below be anything other than shameless revisionism given that the point many made unanimously regarding Abati, when he joined the GEJ government, was that he would be tainted and soiled by corruption? What is the state of affairs today with Abati now turned the sort of liar who glibly turned around to tell the nation Patience Jonathan was "resting" abroad when the woman herself confessed to nearly dying? Who lies like that on behalf of another if not an amoral individual more married to the rewards of office than to his conscience ? It was never about anyone arguing "Abati was 'too good' to serve his fatherland in the GEJ's govt" as Insincere9gerian lies shamelessly. More to do with people warning that GEJ is ultra-corrupt and anyone who works with corruption can expect to be bogged down and discredited by it. Other names validate this notion eg Ribadu and even Okonjo Iweala that revisionist liar Insecure9gerian mentioned.

When GEJ was elected in 2011, he invited Dr. Reuben Abati to serve in his govt as spokesperson. Tinubu's defenders raised an alarm. They told all who cared to listen that Abati was 'too good' to serve his fatherland in the GEJ's govt. It's only in Nigeria that we hear SILLY statements like "some people are too good or competent to work in govt". Incredible! Can a people who wish their country well or the govt of GEJ well try to discourage 'good', 'competent' or 'credible' people from serving their fatherland? In other words, only 'bad' people should work for the govt of GEJ?

@Insecure9gerian.

Dude, really? This incoherent and nauseatingly fraudulent rant is a new low for you. Stop dumbing-down this forum with your teenager-like insecurities. If you have nothing sensible to say, why not remain silent?

Fitzy4real: What you don't understand I'd that everyone here is angry with Mr. Abati for being a turncoat. If anyone of us gets a presidential appointment and starts pouting FG propaganda, no one will be bothered, but when it is someone like Abati, it is betrayal because he had a reputation as an honest person. nobody really bothers about what people like Dr. Okupe and Labaran Maku says because we all know that they are opportunists.

Simple.

Pukkah: Comparing the (in)consistency of Abati and Okupe reminds me of a saying by Aesop:

"A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him"

Absolutely. Okupe never pretended to be anything other than a hireling. Everyone knows precisely what to make of him. It is Abati who now has an image problem because of what he pretended to stand for in the past.

PapaBrowne: Wasnt hard for you to do that mock up because it is cultural to your DNA.

Everybody should celebrate progress! Its only bias that would make someone see something that's good and call it bad which you and many of your ilk were doing until the State of Emergency declaration where your master jagaban presented a misfitting essay.

I made a long trip yesterday criss crossing a section of Nigeria and I concluded that progress is finally coming to Nigeria both in PDP and non PDP states. The federal high ways are impressively improved and both PDP and ACN states are beginning to pick up. The reason is that elections now count and if you fail to perform you'll be out. Its good for the country. And its speaks volumes that its all happening under the watch of a man who many have chosen to label clueless.

Did I address you? Guilty conscience? I think you know your own bigoted antics on threads like this in the past and that is why guilt led you to respond. Take a hike buddy. Not interested in what you have to say because deceit and two-faced shamelessness runs in your familial DNA.

emiye: The good work continues ........

The never die PDP & AP online goons will have something negative to comment though, they always will... Watch out !

My friend take your time ooh !!!! Is it roads the starving people will eat? Some citizens have not eaten for 4 day and Ajimobi is building roads !!! Nonsense.

When the PDP does not even care for running its own account with seriousness, how are they handling the income of Nigeria? Your guess is as good as mine. I wonder why PDP fans never showed up here to come and celebrate this revealtion of "fresh air" and "transformation"

barcanista: @gbawe: This thread is about KORO not party. beside we all know that ACN controlled states are only performing in the media with nothing to show on ground. Oshio just conducted the worst election in africa's history-same happened in 2011 LGA election in Lag. Give it up man, PDP is far above acn in all ramifications. Or do you want us to present facts? however this thread is ABOUT SENATOR KORO. do you have any allegation known or unknown against Koro?

. All ramifications? Don't you mean the "nest of killers" cannot match the ACN in even one single area? Too many folks here whose ability to see let alone admit the truth has been compromised by sentiments. You are one of them even as you fancy others as "apologists". [size=14pt]Good bye.[/size]


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/audited-accounts-inec-indicts-pdp-cpc-53-others/

Audited accounts: INEC indicts PDP, CPC, 53 others
on FEBRUARY 20, 2013 · in NEWS
12:55 am
Share
By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & DAPO AKINREFON

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has indicted the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other political parties for not having audited internal financial statements.

According to INEC’s executive summary of external auditors’ reports on the accounts of political parties for the year 2011, signed by Acting Secretary, Mr Mustapha M. Kuta, 55 of the parties in existence then did not have prepared and audited accounts; and conventional books of accounts were not properly kept as required by Section 93 (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Since then, the electoral umpire has de-listed 30 parties.

[size=14pt]The only party that scored pass mark was the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which according to the commission: “has an internal audited report and account for the year under review. Conventional books of Accounts were maintained. Budget and budgetary control were in place and the party has a well defined fixed assets register and membership register were fully in place.[/size] The party claimed that income amounted to N676,248,437 and it also claimed to have expended the sum of N464,699,974.”

yemmy19: This thread is so funny,so many post hidden.......haba!we are in a democratic set-up,each person is entitled to his/her opinion.

In fairness to the mod, they were not trying to stop anyone expressing their opinion. They simply had to act because Wesley80, Yelsew80 started everything with his incendiary antics that directly broke rule number 2 below. The Mods had no option at all. His contribution , entirely unprovoked, was to insult other posters directly, insinuate they had several user names and other such provocative antics. Dude was spoiling for a fight as he always is. Mods had no choice and their side of the story should be told since everyone is always accusing them of unfairness.

2. Don't abuse, bully, deliberately insult/provoke, fight, or wish harm to any Nairaland member.

omonnakoda: The funny thing about it all is I doubt very much that he is really getting a lot of money for his efforts

Believe me, he is. GEJ's government is a 'sharing' government. Trust me about that. Everybody connected to the Presidency is 'hammering' big-time.

@OP
We most continue to be tolerant, hospitable and, most importantly, respectful of the human right needs of foreigners and visitors to Nigeria but we must indeed move our foreign policy away from fawning cordiality towards an aggressive crack-down against the mistreatment of Nigerians abroad. Simple as that. I think the impression now is that you can do absolutely what you want to a Nigerian while he is out of his country and get away with it. That opinion has to change.

Pukkah: This phase of his which is understandable to you has not brought him accolades but shame, disgrace and opprobrium. He will fizzle out with the regime because no other person will take him seriously. You know why?

I prefer an enemy that kicks me in the open to a friend that stabs in the back. People like consistency and Abati has been shockingly inconsistent. Someone like Okupe even has a brighter future as an attack dog than Turncoat Abati.

Indeed. Okupe never pretended to be anything other than an empty crook searching up and down for what to eat. He has now 'hammered' with GEJ. Meanwhile Abati comes off worse with his previous utterances now coming back to ridicule his current insincere posture as a mouthpiece for an ultra-corrupt government.

Pukkah: Abati is a shameless turncoat. He's the classic 'boot-eater' that is referring to Ribadu as a bootlicker.

I don't know how he's able to sleep at night.

Someone should please tell me why anyone should take seriously whatever this so-called presidential spokesperson says. He has lost credibility and he's now a bad product.

Money is important but it is not everything.

Indeed. Tell that to Abati while he is eating his premium steak lunch at Aso rock, washed down with the finest Bollinger champagne, and he may well jab a fork into your stomach

john650: This country Nigeria is so badly run. The simplest of processes seem like a herculean task to the government.

No comment

blink182: Neiti is looking for trouble and soon their jet will be grounded for no reason.

Ribadu is already facing his own Yawa, as we speak, for daring to voice an opinion against the woeful leadership of GEJ. Ledum Mitee, watch out. This vengeful government will come for you.

skyfall: I'm happy that Ledum Mitee is from the same region as Jonathan, otherwise those aborigines would have started hounding him now.

The story is not surprising considering the fact that Jonathan is a corruption champion and it would be a betrayal of purpose to fund & promote any agency that'll ensure transparency and deny his PDP boys of food.

This is precisely the crux of the matter and the reason these PDP hacks stalk me up and down rather than take an honest look at themselves for backing the ultra-corrupt GEJ. I predicted before the 2011 elections, without equivocation or mincing of words, that the corruption we would see under GEJ would be monumental because the guy was endorsed and backed by all the biggest and most corrupt crooks and mercenaries who have bled Nigeria from one government to another.

Even Orubebe had been revealed, by wikileaks, to have stated that GEJ is part of the culture of corruption ruining the ND. Now that NEITI, in straightforward language, has made it clear some of us were correct and that GEJ is indeed ultra-corrupt and a defender of the status-quo some are having palpitations and yapping at their fellow forumer instead of retiring to a dark room to reflect on their horrid choice.

OAM4J: How would posterity remember Reuben? I guess: A man who voluntarily set fire to everything he ever wrote. Shame! - Dele Momodu

Witty and apt delineation.

Poor Abati. I bet he wishes he could render all Nigerians unable to read and write currently so that we won't be able to read his past utterance now coming back to haunt him.

TouchDown: 1. It is not the A.CN's duty to promote the PDP led federal government's initiative if indeed it is true Obasanjo ever launched a similar program (of course he didn't and you're just a liar)

2. Methodist Grammar School in Bodija belongs to the State Government and not the federal government.

Thank you. It is amazing how some PDP Politicians , not interested in playing politics with everything, are even more honest than many PDP supporters who can never rise above pettiness to give credit where due. Senator Chukwumerije for example, the chairman for the Senate committee on education, knew what he meant when he asked others to drop their ego and learn from Aregbesola. He knows his nation is full of people who can simply not praise innovation and learn from it.


http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/10/chukwumerije-hails-aregbesolas-education-policies/

Chukwumerije hails Aregbesola’s education policies
POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, 2012



By Gbenga Faturoti, Correspondent Osogbo

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije has called on other states in Nigeria to emulate the feat recorded by Osun State in education sector saying that what is happening in the state is capable of rescuing the country’s rotten education sector.

Chukwumeriji, who lead other members of the committee on an oversight visit to Osun State, challenged other state governors to learn from the policies being put in place in Osun if indeed, they are set to put their states on the path of glory.

He explained that all state governors must drop their party affiliations and sentiments and learn from Osun because the state is on the right path to the development of the sector.

Other members of the committee included wife of the former governor of Lagos State, Oluremi Tinubu, Professor Olusola Adeyeye and Atiku Bagudu.

The committee said the visit was a mark of respect and solidarity in showing appreciation for the feat that the young administration of Aregbesola has achieved in Osun.

According to Chukwumerije, “The states and the country owe Governor Aregbesola a lot of gratitude for promptly laying a formidable foundation for education in the state. I will like to use this opportunity to advise other states irrespective of your political affiliation, you must drop your ego and learn from the people oriented projects and programmes of Governor Aregbesola.”

The senator described the collapse of education in the country as a national challenge and appealed to all to muster the courage to address the decay in the education sector.

“The Governor of Osun is God-sent to his people. Aregbesola, as a fresh governor, has shown that he is a serious-minded person. For the first time, the education policy of Ogbeni Aregbesola remains the best in the country, even ahead that of Lagos State.”

Responding, Governor Aregbesola held that for the country to progress, the interest of the people must be considered before any decision is taken; stating that parliamentary system of government is the essence of democracy.

He said, “The best form of political activity is in the parliament, our nation will not make appreciable progress if it focuses only on the executive, at least the parliament is where ideas are generated, they have total representative and support of the people.

“Parliamentary system is the essence of democracy. The assembly of the people must not be an expression but it must put into practise. For a country to have a meaningful development progress, it must not be a one-sided means of power.” The governor averred.

Speaking on education, Aregbesola said when he got into power; his intention was to close down schools for about a year because of what he met.

“What was on ground was dilapidated school buildings not fit for human habitation. The conditions of teachers were nothing to write home about plus the condition of other infrastructure.”

He urged the committee not to be afraid to tell the president that there is a problem in the educational sector, adding that the decadence in the sector must be arrested to rescue students from the problem of not having sound education.

Aregbesola held that the basis of growth for any country is sound education and that Osun is committed to provision of genuine and sound education for its citizenry hence the commitment of huge resources to make sure that its pupils will rank among the best in Nigeria.

marveouz: Gbawe....their seem to me much correlation....i live in Ib....Ajumobi is performing no doubt...but everything he does has been coined with Ajumose or Ajumo something.....no matter how much i support progressives.....this should not be supported.

How many times will you guys be told it is Ajimobi and not Ajumobi? Below is proof his name is Ajimobi. Ajumose and Ajumo mo both have Yoruba meaning that make them directly relevant motto.

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

Abiola Ajimobi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi
Governor of Oyo State
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2011
Preceded by Christopher Alao-Akala
Senator for Oyo South
In office
May 2003 – May 2007
Preceded by Peter Olawuyi
Succeeded by Kamorudeen Adekunle Adedibu
Personal details
Born 16 December 1949 (age 63)
Oja'ba, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Political party Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

Taking unthinkingly at face value, it may appear contentious to most but the specific point the ACN raises are clear enough and with a basis in solid argument. I just try and refrain from talking about Boko Haram and certain 'sensitive' issues here because GEJ fans are entirely clannish with no capacity for logical reasoning. Go back to the period after the fuel subsidy riot.

Many of us here openly warned that Ribadu would be rubbished if he worked with the Government because GEJ is insincere, dishonest, ultra-corrupt and the main perpetrator, along with Allison-Madueke et al, of the subsidy scam. We were insulted here as "unpratriotic elements" asking Ribadu to "shun his national obligation". What is the state of affairs today? Did we not see them openly compromise Ribadu via drafting Orasanye and Otti into the NNPC board , which was one of the body under investigation, while the duo were still members of Ribadu's task force? Are we not vindicated today and are those who backed Ribadu then and touted it a mini-victory that GEJ could get him on board not the same characters insulting the man today?

Ditto for when I said devoting the largest budgeted sum ever to security in the National budget would not solve the Boko Haram issue if there is no sincere effort to bring soponsors of terror to book. I was even a "boko Haram sponsor" because I said the GEJ government can simply not meet it's insincere and facetious pledge that the Boko Haram will be brought to an end by June 2012.

Even now I have specific views about the handling of the Boko Haram issue but this is not the forum to discuss it. The article below hopefully clears things up because I certainly will not talk much about the issue. Had it not been that you are a decent poster who addressed me directly, then I am comfortable not talking at all about the government's actions over Boko Haram. Where we find ourselves is where we find ourselves since grown adults want to be sentimental and biased kids who blind themselves to what is obvious and logical.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/acn-boko-harams-ban-violates-constitution/

ACN: Boko Haram’s ban violates Constitution
Posted by: Our Reporter in Featured, News 1 day ago 68 Comments

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said that the recent proscription of Boko Haram and Ansaru, desirable as it may be in tackling the terrorist organisations, violates the Constitution.
According to the party, the proscription stifles the press and tampers with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the order also makes it easy for an increasingly intolerant government to clamp down on the opposition, which it sees more as an irritant than an indispensable part of democracy.
It urged professional media organisations to challenge the Order in court to save journalists from long jail terms “simply for carrying out their constitutional duties”.
The ACN urged the Federal Government to clarify “the knotty and vague areas” of the open-ended Order, that may end up punishing journalists and infringing on the civil liberties of the citizens more than it will curtail the activities of the sects.

‘’Against the background of insinuations in government circles, let us be clear that we do not condone the activities of these sects that have killed and maimed innocent Nigerians and turned a section of the country into a battle field. Terrorism in all its ramifications is condemnable, and no responsible government will allow any group, no matter its name, grievances or ideology, to carry out terrorist acts unchecked.
‘’But we believe that whatever action government takes – even in an emergency – must pass the Constitutional test, especially since the relevant sections of the Constitution have not been suspended,’’ the party said.
[b]It said the offensive section of the Order is Section 5 (1), which prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years ‘’for any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group’’.
The ACN said “support”, as defined by the Order, includes ‘’incitement to commit a terrorist act through the Internet, or any electronic means or through the use of printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information.
‘’Is this subsection not in conflict with Chapter II Section 22 of the Nigeria constitution, which says ‘The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media, shall AT ALL TIMES BE FREE (emphasis ours) to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people?’
‘’By stifling the press, is the Order not abridging a part of the fundamental human rights guaranteed every citizen under Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution in Section 39 (1), which states thus: ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference?’(emphasis ours).
‘’Can journalists escape being sentenced to 20-year jail terms for publishing statements issued by the sects? Can they freely report on videos periodically posted on YouTube by Boko Haram leader Shekau? Can the media freely report the kind of massacre that took place in Baga in April without being held liable for ‘supporting’ terrorism? Can radio and television stations organise talk shows on terrorism without the discussants being held liable for ‘supporting’ terrorism?
‘’Can the opposition criticise the government’s strategies against the terrorist sects, through its regular intervention, without being perceived as offering support to the sects? Does this Order cover the satellite broadcast channels that can be accessed in many homes across the country? Who determines when this Order has been breached? These are some of the questions that arise under the proscription Order,’’ the party said.[/b]

It said the government must take a cue from what obtains in other countries, especially in the US, which are also battling terrorism, adding that the media in those countries have continued to report freely on the activities of the global terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, despite the horrendous attacks it has carried out in the US and Europe, among others.
‘’In a statement we issued on May 5th, we said inter alia: ‘The Jonathan Administration is steadily descending into despotism with a brazen assault on the freedom of expression and the press, the use of national institutions against perceived enemies and a growing inclination to denigrate opposition leaders.
‘’The Jonathan Administration is anchored on a Transformation Agenda. But the only transformation that we can see is the one from a democratically-elected
President to an Emperor, a despot…If the President is not prevailed upon to change course, Nigeria may be in for another season of anomie, reminiscent of the days of the maximum ruler who took the country to the brink before his sudden demise.’
‘’We hate to say this has turned out to be prescient, in view of the dangerous provisions of the Boko Haram’s and Ansaru’s proscription Order. The Order’s assault on the press freedom and the Constitutionally-guaranteed rights of ordinary Nigerians is unprecedented in the country’s history. We call on the Federal Government to take a second look at this Order, with a view to resolving any conflict it may have with the Constitution,” the ACN said.
In a reaction to the AC N statement, House of Representatives Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said: “You make a controversial butb an interesting and valid point. The order itself is in order but for the word support which is ambiguous n needs interpretation.”