₦airaland Forum

olivertwist: Comedy unlimited

eGuerrilla: The voices of reason prevail - small win!

If Farouk Lawan is not sent to jail, I move a motion, that the Nairaland citizen initiate a natiionwide street protest, all in favor, say "HI!", the HI's have it. No room for "nay".

dafman10: If dis issue dies like dis, den oh i pity dis nation. *packing my bags*

Entirely correct perspective. Balanced Nigerians who see the big picture, vis-a-vis the characters involved, can only look on in shame at how majority of Nigerians, with their susceptibility to being 'played', have once again been divided and conquered easily to the extent they only fight each other while taking side with one crook (Lawan) or the other (Otedola) with the substantive issue now forgotten i.e bringing to book the fuel subsidy scammers and all those involved in getting Nigeria to this pathetic and laughable situation where billions are stolen with the Government only able to dance around in a macabre and impotent fashion.

Anyway, from discussions on NL so far regarding the saga, it is 'mission accomplished' for the corrupt Nigerian Government. Corruption wins.

texazzpete: I'm not surprised.

Only in Nigeria will you see people STUPID enough to believe the spin about 'massive renovation in our airports' while the sector largely stagnates, security breaches multiply (madmen on the runway, stowaways in undercarriages), poor customer service abounds, shoddy treatment of passengers (often broken down ACs, escalators, lifts, fans etc). Airline carriers now delay flights for up to 4 hours with impunity...no punishment from above.

Go and look at the new terminal built at the Local airport in Lagos. See how TERRIBLE the finishing is...very unsightly. See how shameful it is for porters to be hand-carrying bags to passengers since there's no working conveyor belt. Despite this, we're paying the FAAN charge of N1000 which has ZERO visible effect on level of comfort for passengers. Still the ACs don't work in many airports in Nigeria.

On top of all this tomfoolery, we're nickel-and-dimed by the FAAN. Just to drive into the Airport, you fork over N200 for a sedan. To park your car overnight, it's jumped up from N1000 per night to N2000.


The fact that people hold up the state of our Airports as an achievement of GEJ is an incredibly damning indictment on the man's Presidency and the general sheepishness of our people.

Yomieluv: All sectors are stagnant, Nigeria is a shame to developing countries

FRIDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2012
Arik accuses aviation minister, Stella Oduah, of grand corruption



You would recall that union members and their leaders grounded Arik Air flights in Lagos yesterday.
Arik air has accused aviation minister Princess Stella Oduah of grand curruption.

According to a media report released by Sahara Reporters, the aviation minister has forced Arik Airlines to ground their operations owing to a failure to provide her with 5% of the airlines equity shares.

According to the Sahara Reporters story, “Today, the beleaguered airline circulated a text message accusing Ms. Oduah of vindictively fomenting crisis within the airline for denying her demand to receive a stake of 5% in Arik. The text message read, “Due to persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, with a minister who is demanding a 5 percent equity in a business where she has no investment…and FAAN management, which has culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop the airline operations and lock in checked-in passengers in Lagos this morning, Arik Air has suspended all domestic operations until further notice. This issue [borders] on personal interests and not payment of bills; since FAAN has been collecting.”
The media report also accused the minister of claiming the demand for equity in the company was being made on behalf of President Jonathan. Stella Oduah is one of President Jonathan’s closest advisers and was his campaign treasurer for the 2011 elections.
Sahara Reporters also said a source revealed that the minister only let Dana regain operational status after receiving a hefty bribe.
According to their report, [“We have received reports that minister received hundreds of millions of naira [in bribe] from Dana authorities to restore their license to operate,” said the source. She added that the Dana management was actually surprised by the urgency with which their airline’s license was restored. “You should bear in mind that Dana had not paid a quarter of the insurance payments to families of the casualties in the June 3rd crash of Dana Flight 992 in Lagos,” said our source, an aviation expert. She said it was eye-opening that the management of Dana issued a statement claiming that they had not bribed anyone to influence the restoration of their license.]
The minister of aviation is yet to respond to the allegations.

Aviation sector weak, stagnant — Report
Written by **
Tuesday, 20 November 2012 05:04


NCAA allows unsafe planes to fly

Negligence partly caused Dana crash

Nigeria’s aviation industry is weak and stagnating because of regulatory negligence, cutting of corners, ageing fleets and ministerial interference in duties of agencies, a parliamentary investigative committee has said.


The draft report of the National Assembly joint committee that investigated the remote and immediate causes of the Dana plane crash painted a grim picture of an aviation sector that is tottering, bedeviled by allegations of corruption.

Daily Trust has seen a copy of the report which is yet to be submitted to the two chambers of the parliament.

In its conclusions, the committee said it found “palpable evidence” of “an industry that is, at best, stagnating and in need of new policy engines of growth.”

The panel found that there is weak regulatory regime, declining and low professional competence in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in particular, non-adherence to laid down procedures, long standing ministerial interference in functions of parastatals, sub-standard search and rescue co-ordination and approach in aviation sectors and poor funding.

It said “debt overhang” is weighing down all domestic airlines, which mostly operate “ageing aircraft”.

The report suggested a need for the airlines to merge so as to be stronger, saying part of the problem in the sector is “the solo philosophy of airline operators in spite of their weakness, non-growth and non-profitability arising from their small sizes.”

It said even though allegations of corruption were leveled against officials in the industry, “no concrete evidence” was presented during the committee’s public hearings.

On NCAA, the committee said, “One observation that further reinforced allegations of laxity, compromises and corruption is the fact that with the public hearing announced, (an airline) that was operating immediately ceased operation and send its aircraft overseas for maintenance.

“This gives credence to the allegations that NCAA, at will, unduly extend operations life of aircraft overdue for checks. This jittery reaction (of that particular airline) can only be explained as an attempt to avoid detection of untoward and unethical practices.”

The report added: “NCAA does not have any known and clear competence for regulating operations of both the Airport Authority, Airspace Management Agency, Meteorological Agency and others.”

It also found out that Nigeria is not sufficiently covered by the NCAA inspectors. “Of the 56 inspectorate staff of NCAA airworthiness directorate, 51 of them are deployed in Lagos, 2 in Abuja, 1 each in Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna. More critical is the fact that virtually all NCAA maintenance oversight engineers are deployed in Lagos and only 2 in Abuja and 1 in Kaduna while Port Harcourt and Kano have none,” the report said.

What caused Dana crash

On the ill-fated Dana airliner which crashed on June killing 153 people onboard, the committee said it was an old plane that was banned from use in the United States before it was brought into Nigeria in 2009.

The aircraft MD 83 was acquired by Dana in 2009 and registered on February 3, 2009, originally owned by Alaska Airlines, USA and was 22 years old at the time of the crash.

“MD 83 is not just only an old generation aircraft that is no longer in production, Dana is the only operator of the aircraft type in Africa,” the report said.

“Between October 2009 to Mat 2012, Dana recorded 14 air returns out of which the ill-fated aircraft accounts for five,” it added.

On October 20h, 2009, the aircraft recorded air return of ‘cabin air temperature”, on March 13, 2010 it also recorded “cabin pressurization”, on April 19, 2010 it had “bird strike”, and on March 18, 2011 it had “cabin pressure above schedule.”

Also, the plane on January 17, 2012 recorded “smoke detected activation due to smoke in the cabin”.

The report also said: “Allegations of corner-cutting flowed freely from within and outside the airline. These were hitherto unknown to the public who believe in Dana.”

The committee headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma recommended that Dana “should phase out its present fleet and embark on fleet renewal to comply with the age limit requirement. This is in view of the fact that MD.83 is not just only an old generation aircraft that is no longer in production, Dana is the only operator of the aircraft type in Africa.”

It also said, “All aircraft in the fleet of Nigerian airline operators should not exceed 20 years for passenger operations and 25 years for cargo operations. Aircrafts to be used for short term such as pilgrimages are not impaired by 10 years acquisition age bar but must comply with the 20 years limit for passenger airlift and 25 years for cargo. 10 years age limit to be placed for new acquisition for passenger aircraft and 15 years for cargo aircrafts.”

wesley80: Shut up Ol man and tell us why you found the word 'Convictions' hilarious, our resident hypocritical senile 'Word Police'.

wesley80: Evasion by diversion; the stuff of cowards. What about the small matter of the word "Convictions" that you once upon a time found deeply hilarious?

wesley80: What did I tell you about senility? For real you need help, you're loosing it big time.

wesley80: Sorry old man, I expect no less. It doesnt matter what the entire country thinks, I'm led by my own convictions and nothing else. You can glory in the company of vile fellows like Seanet and his likes and count them as evidence of your popularity- its your choice.

ANALIST: WESLY80, indeed has nothing upstairs to argue with, other than running around for mere lambasting insult on GEJ and all that thinks his opinion on public affairs is not the arbiter.

I think, he should change his tactic of political machinery because Nairaland is a forum of intellectual Nigerians and indeed international community. And Nairalanders are proving what they understand from all facets of life, which politics is one of the central. Therefore, it's not to be left to the polluted and illogical mind.

wesley80: Dude, you've missed your way again! Please read the topic again and notice its not an ethnic bashing thread, this isnt about defending Awolowo or bashing Ojukwu, this thread actually requires some 'common sense' a luxury that happens to be out of your reach. So why dont you save your antics for your preferredarea of specialty where you can employ the most vile languages with no effort, we all know the max you can do on a thread that requires common sense is a three lined statement. Oya be a good boy and run along, Dont make your handicap obvious to all!

wesley80: Maybe it does apply to me, maybe it also applies to you, maybe, just maybe, but they represent my thoughts on the person of Gbawe and nothing stops you from putting down your thoughts on my person if you're not a gutless backbiting sissy thats afraid to pick a fight but willing to make unpleasant innuendos passed of as honest opinions. Why not pick your balls off your girls mouth and stop acting like a eunuch?

seanet01: Look at this mumu. You see, this your nonchalant attitude towards the betterment of your children's future will not benefit you. Reason for once.

wesley80: You're nothing but a sad hateful creature damned to watching over your soldier in perpetual fear arising from the incurable guilt you're immersed in. What a pathetic and wretched imp you are. How's it that you assumed my post was in response to the crap you posted? How's it that you assumed Gbawe isnt more than a ghost to me that deserves no more than a casual glance? I have nothing to prove to you and your antics are totally irritating and only gratify the utterly stuupid. You've been called out over and over again and your true disgusting persona laid bare for all to see and as of now, you're just an old shameless oaf struggling for relevance and content to slip through the backdoor unnoticed to poison peoples minds like a little hapless demon.
Hear me and hear me good you silly gutless old imp; You are a non issue and a completely irrelevant bufoon, you dont matter, never have and never will - at least not to me, but if you think you got youself a blank cheque to peddle your falsity unopposed, then pls dream again!

bilms: @Gbawe, that is the symptoms of the disease called gej..event in the face of glaring facts and figures,they resort to attack on your person...never mind...

wesley80: Is it not sad that superior and unemotional arguments are equated with poor judgement and reasoning by you simply because they are contrary to your own view? How else can one describe bigotry and intolerance? Most of you that resort to using the most foul languages can hardly win a simple debate or at the very least put your views across without resorting to imbecillic claims and name calling, victims of your own bigotry you are but sadly, always the first to accuse those with more reasonable opinions of being bigotted even when your entire arguments are hinged on falsity and dotted with undiluted hatred and little else, how sad.

bilms: Have you not noticed that president Goodluck Jonathan without sounding rude has become like a disease, that when anyone is infected with it, that person lost every sense of justice,reasoning and good judgement? I do not mean to sound insulting,but i just couldn't explain the reason why most people claiming to be in support of gej lack reason even before undisputable facts and figure.

onatisi: the mokola roundabout doesnt need a bridge only competent traffic wardens , the problem of that road is from queens cinema and the junction to omitowoju and also the dugbe junction to jrl

deols: I appreciate that it is so on time. On this one,Ajimobi truly kept to his promise. With this rate of development,I believe he'll achieve a lot.

Oyo to procure 100 43-seater mass transit buses

The Oyo State Government has approved arrangements for the procurement of 100 mass transit buses to ease transportation problem in the state at the cost of N1,744,800,000.
A statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said that the vehicles are Daewoo-model 43-seater buses to be purchased from Korea.

He said that the 100 units of 43-seater buses’ – Daewoo BF-106 – sum included the cost of the project administration, spare parts and the stay of Korean expatriates in the country for one year.
The statement also said that the state government insisted on bringing the Korean expatriates to train the state technicians so as to increase the workers in the employment of the government’s technical know-how.
According to Adedayo, the buses would be supplied in three phases of 30, 30, 40, with the first batch arriving the state in November 2012.

He explained that the project would also include training, support, design, implementation and maintenance of the project, so as to enable the state derives maximum value from the mass transit project.
The governor’s spokesman said that a workshop would be constructed and maintained by the firm for one year during which technicians and engineers of the state-owned Trans City Transport Company (TCTC) would be trained on the handling and maintenance of the buses, while parts of the vehicles would also be supplied by the company.

Adedayo, who said that some of the technicians and engineers of the state government who would work on the vehicles would also be trained in Korea, added that the procurement of the buses was part of government’s comprehensive transport policy for the state.
He said that the other aspect of the policy would involve procurement of 18-seater mini-buses and taxi cabs aimed at removing some of the rickety vehicles currently being used for commercial purposes in the state.

Ajimobi: The bridge builder


Written by Festus Adedayo
Saturday, 17 November 2012

https://tribune.com.ng/sat/images/stories/feb2010/1711ajimobi1.jpg
The Mokola, Ibadan, flyover under construction

In the realm of metaphor, Abiola Ajimobi, the current governor of Oyo State, is building political bridges that are strange to the politics and governance of the state. Before now, Oyo State was a hotbed of political intolerance. Totalitarianism, the one that was prominent in Stalin’s Russia, was the order of the day. Political office and perquisites were localised among loyalists and party faithful. Offices were held in totality and there was no space for the opposition.

Perhaps, because of his helicopter view of life and his exposure at the highest echelon of the corporate world, Ajimobi detests totalitarianism. Immediately he came into office, his first port of call was the homes of rival political parties. At the end of his consultations, he had harvested quality brains from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP) and Action Alliance (AA) into his cabinet. For an Oyo State, which used to be governed by totalitarians, this bridge-building was a fresh and comely air.

Ajimobi’s metaphorical bridge-building is, however, a child’s play when compared to his literal role as a bridge builder. An unlucky fellow that he is, the ceaseless downpour of last year, especially that of August, 2011, was to expose the underbelly of his predecessors, depositing the pains of their inactions on his laps. Bridges that had been built for decades which were sparsely maintained, streams and canals to whom dredging was alien, began to give way and overfill their brims. As the ceaseless downpour pounded the ageing bridges, in ones and twos, the poor bridges began to give way aftermath the August 2011 flooding.

And the masses, who would not take ‘No’ for an answer, wept like the biblical Israelites in the wilderness. Not even the fact that rebuilding the bridges was not budgeted for in the year’s fiscal plan, nor that money available to government is not limitless. And to worsen it all, no help was coming into the coffers of Oyo State from anywhere in the firmament.

So, after mourning the losses, Ajimobi embraced the eternal Yoruba wise saying which counsels that a man’s palm is his closest ally that will not play him Judas. He, amid cascading sweats, began the process of reconstruction and picking the ruins of the dilapidation, one after the other.

The Secretariat/Bodija bridge in Ibadan is his first port of call. It had become notorious for over-spilling its contents at every little flood provocation, inconveniencing passers-by and at one time or the other, washing some victims into its bosom. Ajimobi immediately awarded the rebuilding of this massive bridge, which, but for the perennial flood that hampers its timely completion, would have been completed by now.

Many other bridges have received the Midas touch of a governor who has been nicknamed the bridge builder in Oyo State. The Ogbere Babanla bridge, for instance, during the August 2011 flooding, was reported to have guzzled a few victims like a notorious python. It gave way aftermath the fury of the flood. Ajimobi awarded the reconstruction of that bridge and right now, the people of the area have overcome the machination of the bridge or the water that flows underneath it which some spiritualists attributed to some infuriated gods at work.

So also for the Olomi, Ayeye and the Osoro River bridges. These bridges wreaked untold havocs on the people of their areas whenever it rained. Indeed, they had become sources of fear to the inhabitants. At present, the bridges have been reconstructed and have assuaged the fears of the inhabitants that the goddesses of the rivers were the ones whose non-pacification resulted in the periodic flooding.

The Alaadorin, Sakutu bridge in Oyo town, the Omowunmi-Olorunsogo bridge in Ibadan, the Simeon Adebo-Adeyi-Awolowo Road bridge and the Mokola-Cele-Baracks Junction bridge, among others, also got over-filled and were subsequently damaged by the flood, making life difficult for the people. These were bridges that had spanned decades and which gradual decay was not arrested over the years until their final collapse.

Perhaps, the greatest of Ajimobi’s bridge-building penchant is the Mokola flyover bridge. The stretch of road that leads from Challenge, through Ring Road, to Dugbe and through University of Ibadan to Ojoo road, is very strategic to commerce Ibadan.

It is the road that leads in and out of the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. Indeed, the road, at a conservative estimate, must be one of the most plied roads for traffic of merchandise and people. Because of the implosion in population, the Mokola axis, where four footpaths meet (apology to Ola Rotimi’s The gods are not to blame), witnessed heavy human and vehicular traffic. Governments came and went and no one had the sense of direction to halt the drift, until Ajimobi. The last time such a bridge was constructed in Oyo State was under General David Medayese Jemibewon, over 30 years ago.

Awarded to an international contractor of reputation for excellence, CCECC, that bridge is on the verge of completion, with workers working day and night. At completion, it will provide a Lagos-like feel-good feeling to the people of Oyo State, aside its ancillary role of easing traffic.

Adedayo is Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State governor.

Mokola Roundabout Bridge Construction – Update
BY ADMIN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2012 · ADD COMMENT
This is the current state of the bridge being constructed at the popular Mokola Roundabout in the city of Ibadan, Oyo state.

Following plans to commit N11 billion to the building of infrastructure, Oyo State government kick started efforts to remodel the city with the construction of two bridge projects.

Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi in March disclosed that a total sum of N11 billion would be committed to the construction of roads, bridges and a fly-over across the state this year adding that his administration is commited to quality in terms of project execution accused the past administration of corruption in areas of projects and contracts.

According to Ajimobi the said sum would cover the construction of 57 roads, eight bridges and one fly-over at the popular Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi, who expressed the regret that the Federal Government was yet to fulfill its promise to the state since the unfortunate flood disaster, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to come to the rescue of the state in the reconstruction of some of the bridges and roads affected by the flood.

“President Jonathan was here (in Ibadan) shortly after the flood during which he made a lot of promises, and he meant well but probably because of several commitments, he has not made good his promises. So, I am appealing to him and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the state so that we can fix some of the roads and bridges, and thus prevent a re-occurrence of the disaster” he said.

queensmith: Will Manitoba be compensated? If they disagree how can they resolve? Can they take the presidency to court? In Nigeria?

This is sad news, likely to chase away any other potential investors, everything is politics in Nigeria . . .corrupt politics.

Maxymilliano: Government is an institution and it wield enormous power, 30 days should be enough to get a firm to manage that aspect of the power sector if the requisite will is there. The country is where it is today because of the lack of political will on the part of successive governments. Late president Yar'adua came out openly to confirm the existence of a cabal in the petroleum sector but how come allwoed the status quo to remain for the almost 3 years he occupied the exalted office?

The corruption in the country is systemic and it is not something to rein in overnight, let's keep our opinion till the end of the 30 days before we harangue the government.

Maxymilliano: Gbawe, it was this same stance you took when Okupe came out to tell us about Ribadu's unfinished work and how the burden was shifted back to the FG. You never denied the fact that Ribadu did an unfinished work, but to you, the government claimed of unfinished work by Ribadu was to discredit the outcome of the report and to confine it to the trash bin, but is it not the same unfinished report we woke up to read that the FG has set up a committee to look into, as well as reports of other committee and to come up with a white paper which will represent the government decision in the whole drama?

Similar incident happened in Osun State where the present Government set up a fact finding committee to look into how the 18.3 billion bond secured by Oyinlola was utilized, a report was submitted few weeks ago and in the words of the incumbent, "the government will look into the report and review it before coming out with a white paper" which will represent the government position. Why should our assessment be different when it comes to the Jonathan led federal government?


Anyway, i will visit the thread on the committee to look into the report and see what you have to say about the action of the FG.


I come in peace bro.

Maxymilliano: I understand the point you are trying to make which you claimed some of us fail to see, as well as your unstated reservations on the 30 days proviso as stated by Abati, what I could decipher from your argument is that the 30 days looks unrealistic for such enormous task.

I concurred with you on this but my line of argument is based on Abati's response on government position on this issue, I don't dwell on conjectural speculations in my argument but unfortunately, that is what I see in the link you further provided, the whole write up is based on anonymous source in government circles and premising a line of arguments on such anonymous source is enough to refute the argument.

The 30 days may look unrealistic but like I said earlier, the jury is still out and it will be hasty for me and you to rather dewll in unfounded speculations to make our conclusion on government action and inaction.

lagerwhenindoubt: Storyline
1: FG Okays Power Sector Reforms Opening Calls for Bids from Prospective Partners/Investors
2: After 5 years and some rigmarole FG on BPE's rigorous Due Diligence, Award the Contract to Manitoba/TCM
3: GEJ Cancels Manitoba/TCM Contract on BPE's insistence that a 5-year review and due diligence was not enough and some irregularities and breach of Due Process
4: GEJ and a Team of Experts (origins unknown at this point) begin to review the Manitoba/TCM contracts 3 days after it was unequivocally cancelled.

Hmmm

Manitoba contract still intact
FRIDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2012 00:00 AMETO AKPE



A former member of the National Council on Privatisation told our reporter last night he was worried by an attempt to mislead the president to rubbish the work that has taken more than five years to accomplish.

He explained, “from what I have heard, there appears to be a battle of wits going on between the BPP and the BPE and unfortunately, the vice president who masterminded the whole process, appears to have failed to rise in the defence of his own work. In addition, unknowingly, the president is also asking Nigerians to make a judgment on his handling of the power sector that he himself calls a cardinal programme. I hope the president makes the right call because if he fails, history will not be kind to him. What I see here, is like the criminal termination of the metroline project by the late Mudashiru administration in Lagos. You can see what that fickle act has cost the people of Lagos.”

[b] An analyst familiar with the power sector reform in Nigeria, told BusinessDay that if the Federal Government goes ahead to cancel the Manitoba contract, as is being suggested, it would have two immediate implications. “One being that the World Bank will most certainly withdraw its partial risk guarantee, PRG which provides comfort to Independent Power Project developers that they will be paid, if they were to enter into power purchase agreements with bulk traders.

“Secondly, we can all expect that the financing costs for the preferred bidders for Discos and Gencos will rise astronomically, as the risk premium goes through the roof in the midst of uncertainties created by the government.”

Industry operators and analysts continue to express worry at the alleged contract cancellation, with some describing it as a bad omen for the ongoing power sector reforms, and a poor signal to investors. Priestman, speaking to BusinessDay on the development said: “at the moment we have got no official word from the government on the contract cancellation and everything we know about it has been from media reports, which is a heck of a way to do things”. [/b]

Priestman told BusinessDay that until an official notification was received from government, all officials of Manitoba in Nigeria will “wait until we know the government’s position. I’m still in my office at the PHCN CHQ (Power Holding Company Corporate Headquarters) that houses TCN and our telephone lines have been shut down. I cannot make official calls outside of here but rely on calls coming in”.

He added that: “We have to wait to take a decision to either demobilise or remain here, but right now we are in a limbo. We came here in good faith to do our job but the mood here suggests otherwise and we reckon that we are not in a fight with anybody; we just wanted to do our job.”

On whether the firm would take legal action if the government decides to revoke the contract, Priestman said: “The decision is not in my hands but certainly, we have got a case, we are owed a lot of money and we hope to ask for compensation if we are communicated of government’s position that the contract has been terminated.”

Maxymilliano: This is a classic case of blowing hot air over nothing, how does the original post and the link you provided invalidates my earlier stance on this issue? The fact is that a contract was cancelled because the process of awarding the contract was fraught with irreularities and a review is necessary to determine if the company involved deserve to be compensated or not, so what exactly are you blathering about 'coz I don't seem to see anything new in your contribution.

And if you must know, all what is contained in the OP and your the link you provided only lend more credence to my earlier stance , the only thing missing from this version of the report is the 30 days proviso.

May be you should revisit your thread where this issue was discussed and compare your false premised arguments to what we've come to understand of the situation.

My stance has not changed bro, the 30 days proviso still exists, the jury is still out.

Fresh intrigues over electricity reforms



[b]Already, they have positioned “a management contractor” like Power Grid of India whose technical proposal was initially found inadequate as it failed to meet BPE’s benchmark to have its financial bid opened. That was why the financial bid of Manitoba was opened at the bids opening event. Still, some others are angling for the Chinese transmission firm.

But the fear is that being a government institution that manages a centralised market in China, the Chinese firm may not have the required experience in a market driven operation as envisaged in Nigeria. For the Power Grid of India, for now, the fear is that it has no international experience as it has only operated in India. This is in contrast to Manitobia, which has varied international experience. There is also another issue bothering some stakeholders spoken to in Abuja. This is the issue of the 30-day directive given to the Ministry of Power, not the BPE to organise a new management contract bidding process and get a winner. One source said:

“The fear is that the BPP is inadvertently working with anti-privatisation forces in misleading the President in claiming a management contractor can be procured in 30 days. This may be a tall order. It is not as easy as it sounds. The most feasible period could be six months.

“Another issue is that the BPP complained that BPE shortlisted from its data base of world class management contractors. Yet it recommended to the President that a shortlist of five management contractors be undertaken. One wonders if this is not its own goal.[/b] Again, the Ministry of Power, which is saddled with the job of conducting the bidding has no experience of privatisation as the management contract is a form of privatisation. The BPE, despite its experience in privatisation spanning over two decades, still needed the expertise of foreign consultants. And check the records, BPE worked for over a year with British Power International, a reputable consultancy, as advisers in procuring a management contractor. I think someone may be deliberately misleading Mr. President in order to halt any progress in ensuring regular supply of electricity in the foreseeable future.