₦airaland Forum

Xander85:
Spyder, you know who supplies security for the students living in these off-campus facilities? I'm hoping the students (especially the girls) are secured properly!

I've never been a fan of this off-campus arrangement. Besides being unsafe, all that 'freedom' and 'independence' for people so young can be a bit distracting and even a bit corrupting!

At UNN, i vividly remember that most of the bad-boys that didn't live in lecturers BQs lived in these off-campus accommodations!

. Hmmmm. Xander85. You are a Super Lion too?. Here, I am too sir. Economics Class of 2009. Lived at Mbanefo Hall,BQ's at Mbanefo stret and Catwright. I sincerely can relate with your genuine concern about the trade off of freedom a.k.a distractions these off campus locations bring to bear on students. Nothing beats a good and clean hostel residence located inside the school.There are sound reasons, developmental and existential ones too that informed emphasis on living in the hostel by the founders of our great citadel. I can relate very well. I've always had my mixed reactions concerning all these off-campus locations and it's impact on learning,concentration and appreciating the very substance of ivory towers.

WHEN A NORTHERNER COME DANCING AT THE REFUSAL OF FEW 'SOUTH SOUTH' TO JOIN BIAFRA: BRING HIM HERE

Landlocked South vs Deadlocked North,
who actually has the padlock? Who has the keys??

By frankdoz22

This Hausa man took a deep cut of his Gworo and said to me, "Biafra will be landlocked, over populated, they will loose so much wealth and the separation will most likely be a war".

I sipped my wine, because I knew he was on the cheapest fears and I said to him,"I have all the keys to those pad locks".

First look at these..
Two scenarios.. A Biafra with the South South and another without the South South.
Without the South South... How has landlock stopped a nation from growing, assuming Igbo sub-groups with access to Atlantic Ocean like Andoni and Ikwerre of Rivers State decide to become Fulani slaves forever? In this era of Antonov AN-225 Hercules planes that can lift over 450000kg equivalent to almost 2 ships and who remembers a SEAPORT in this generation of INTERNET-PORT when 85% of world's transactions are done through high speed broadband Internet. Gambia, Togo, Benin, Mauritania, Guinea etc all have unlimited access to the sea.. Ha ji ya mee gini?

Are they in anyway doing better than Rwanda, Bostwana and little Djibouti. In fact Djibouti is servicing 25 African countries with its Antonov plane nicknamed SKY-PORT that covers its most distant point in Africa from Djibouti in 18hrs while it will take 3 days to move a 40ft container from Apapa to Aba. Rwanda without a Stream port nor River port, not to talk of seaport is Africa's best growing economy.
.
In Europe, the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) have a peninsular access to the sea, whenever the storm of recession comes, it first sweeps them into the same damn sea, they are Eurozone weakest nations while landlocked countries like Luxembourg and Austria are waxing strong.. as in, ha kwu chim n'ala.

If the South South/Niger Delta is not Biafra, there are various international corridors and laws that can sort things out, not forgetting that a greater communication with that region must cross through the South east (Biafra)..
But if the Yoruba republics are declared and the complete anticipated Biafra is pronounced with the South South. Then the north is simply DEADLOCKED and then mallam, I will advice you to chew less of this Gworo now so you can have what to eat then.

On the population, what laws says all Biafrans must live in Biafraland.. What percentage even lives in the north?? Less than 3%!!!.. Yes..
when you go to some places in the South East, the population looks like there is a festivity going on but you must admit that the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan has a population of 37million people and Monaco has a density of 22500 per sq. km. I don't see people walking on the heads of others there, rather I see a China, India, Japan, USA, Mexico that has harnessed and muscled the strengths of their population into development. Even Lagos explosively developed due to population increase, that people had to push back the sea.. 1000 skyscrapers in Biafra land, in no joke will solve the housing problem of Biafra by 95%!.. Take this to the bank!

On Biafrans loosing their wealth, I need not go outside Nigeria for an answer. In 1970, Biafrans got £20 and in 1975, there were millionaires already in Biafraland, the likes of Chisco, Ekene Dili Chukwu, Emeka Offor and even in 1979, Alex Ekwueme single handedly sponsored NPN to presidency that he was rewarded with a VP seat. Now show me one man, east, south, north and west that is wealthy from all the inheritance of the abandoned property??

The north is still underdeveloped, impoverished and incomparably out of tune with the 21st century.

On separation meaning a war. This defines the sum of the accumulation of the northern cowardice, as if Russia broke up through a war. Singapore and Malaysia? There are more peaceful resolutions to conflicts than the vampire attitudes of the north but let it be clear to you Mallam, ubochi à muru dike na mba, ka à muru ibe ya! The day a hero is born in a foreign land is the same day another hero is born at home. Without your godfather Britain, the north will be conquered by the Biafran army in weeks. Your noise making is because of Britain nothing else. Remove British protection and you are only but a bunch of cowardly terrorists.

The problem of the North is that they are brainlocked, spiritual-locked, psycho-locked, greed-locked, future-locked, even landlocked and above all DEADLOCKED by their ancestors who have long lost the keys to UNLOCK them and yet they want everyone to synchronize with their backwardness and then still think its about PDP vs APC.
NB: Pasted as seen and original writer acknowledged.

spyder880:
Rangers avenue/Bisala road junction this morning. .......

Udo na achi nwanne!

I take it that ESWAMA finally woke from their slumber. Rangers Avenue shown 2 days ago was this clean too. Meanwhile,i marvel that no government yet sees the beautiful boulevard that could be created from the full length of Chime Avenue if proper fabricated fiber embankments are installed to cover the median of that iconic street. In the absence of any embankment and metal railings,pedestrians simply converted every section of that lovely space to a footpath,totally condemning the grass planted and rendering it to same third world look.
Little renewals like that is capable of opening new vistas of business and prime corporate presence along that road. This same renewal can be done in the other major roads and these are not very costly interventions yet these seemingly little and insignificant things hold they key in redefining the ambience and resilience of a city.
Pic 1: Chime Avenue
Pic 2: Istanbul
Pic 3:Istanbul

Chiwude:
Well, thanks also for your decorum I appreciate it nwanne. We may not agree on everything but we will always agree on one thing. And that surely is the interest that binds us, "the Igbo interest". I think it was the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije during a speech he made a certain time ago, when he mandated the Igbo nation to use MASSOB as a tool or pressure group to achieve our aims in Nigeria. Chukwumerije observed that the west, niger-delta and north had at one time use certain groups to bend the government to their demands. Uwazuruike at that time bought into the idea and channeled his fight for the political and economic emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria. Now, when IPOB came there was this euphoria that at last a group that would bend the federal government and the Nigerian people to give in to our demands have arrived, no wonder our leaders at that time open their arms in welcome to the group. But rather than stick to the plot, Nnamdi Kanu a leader at such dire period deviated from the plot. After his release from jail, Kanu sought to bring anarchy to leadership in Igboland. First he went for the enemies - the north and west, later he went for our own political and traditional leaders, next he went for the our religious leaders, then the intellectuals and later he went for opposing voices. He even went as far as introducing radical Judaism as a new religion in Igboland to which other religion must bow to. And the worst among all he totally brainwashed our youths to believe in warfare as a way if peaceful means don't actualize Biafra.
They was no plan whatsoever in the case of a full blown war. In short, Kanu would have aided enemies to carry out their long term evil intention against us and destroy us for good had our ancestors not prevailed. Now in relation to other groups you mentioned the OPC's, MEND, Boko-Haram and Fulani Herdmen, how many times did they go contrary to the agenda of their masters or people. Did MEND insult its people and leaders? Are the Fulani herdsmen introducing Judaism into their existing culture and beliefs? Did OPC draw a map to include the minorities in their fight, or did they destroy its cultural practices, or did they fight against their presidential ambition in support of isolation? It is a well known fact that those three aforementioned group brought their ethnic groups into national reckoning, presidential positions and other juicy recognitions that they still enjoy today? Where did you think Nnamdi Kanu's leadership of IPOB would have taken us to? The answer is obvious, it would have taken us 50 years backward after the end of the civil war. Pitch every tribe against us, kill off our cultural heritage, send our people back home as refugees, turn our cities into Syrian type rubbles, kill our source of livelihood and destroy us completely, it would have ended the Igbo race with its naive strategy.
Kanu undermined the leaders that could have stood with him and chased shadows thinking that the UN would come to our rescue if a genocide starts again. There was no plan whatsoever, because Kanu in question lacks diplomacy and had no useful allies except for Isreal which weren't even a world power. Kanu was just dumb and his followers failed to notice it, that many use their bodies as human shield to send themselves to their early grave. So when we talk about a group for the interest of the Igbo nation please do not bring IPOB into it. Unless maybe it frees itself from the ideology and footstep of Nnamdi Kanu, elevate Igbo republicanism in its modus operandi and not the fascist method of Nnamdi Kanu, wash off the useless fraternity it tied itself through it's map with minorities, fight solely for our interest alone and take Nigeria head on just like others. If it fails to do this, then it means we won't take them serious and will as well revive MASSOB or any other new group to carry out our objectives.

Chiwude. Freedom fighting is not a marathon. It is a relay .After one champion goes down,another takes over from where he stopped.There are no hard and fast rules to it.Infact,the most critical factor in freedom fighting is raising the objective consciousness of the citizens. IPOB agitations is a mixed signal to Nigerians but it stands out as the greatest catalyst of Igbo consciousness home and abroad since after the war. I am no IPOB member.I am all for Igbo interests hence my leaning on IPOB and other Pan-Igb groups. You keep faulting Nnamdi Kanu of many ills but failed to note that till date,no one can point to IPOB destructive potentials except conjectures and speculations like you littered your post with. IPOB today stands as the biggest and most organized freedom movement in human history. They hold rallies in all foreign nation capitals simultaneously and they are self sustaining.That we failed to see the enormous political and economic advantages of their existence is a mystery to me.Their modus operandi and request are constitutional and legitimate. Even Jesus did not spare the political and religious leaders of his day so why do you have a problem that Nnamdi genuinely lambasted the below par leaders we have in our neck of woods?. We all agree here that the quality of our leaders is one of the albatross to our development. They (IPOB) called for War? Who said anything about war? IPOB repeatedly made it clear it is peaceful and will never resort to violence no matter the provocation and they have stuck with that.Their peaceful resolve is their winning strategy. MNK chose Judaism as his forte and at no time was that a problem to other faiths. By some hindsight or higher consciousness,Nnamdi predicted both the current APC disaster and the Fulani herdsmen carnage agenda. In all his faults,such is not a kind of man to ignore. I can bet that Kanu had more "converts" in death than when he was here. It took his exit and the events following there from to convince people he was right all along. If all you could hold on to were all you mentioned above and not the hypocrisy of the Nigerian government in handling of MNK , then it is a pity. If until now,it does not occur to you that conniving with the Federal to decimate IPOB will yet remain the biggest error of our leaders,then it is sad. Some groups have committed and are still committing higher treason,killing,maiming and disrupting the sovereignty of Nigeria as we speak but they are rather being compensated with covert Federal protection,amnesty and drafting into the armed forces for some sinister agenda,yet IPOB is the fall guy in your estimation.For waving flags,insignias and holding mass rallies?Ridiculous!. Unfortunately for Nigeria,the Biafra narrative championed by IPOB,with all the imperfections you listed above,has since become a global political and human rights point of discussion. It is no more a local narrative. This again is an opportunity for us to utilize and reinvent their value to attain our goals. With proper integration of our demands into the core of IPOB,Igbos can reinvent the levers of power and gain anything they wish for. IPOB has taken the Igbo and minorities issue to levels Nigerian government cannot influence anymore.Nigeria as currently constituted is not workable and can never work. Either it burns and new phoenix nations rise from the ashes or a little rejig to grant autonomy to compatible tribal nations. A thousand Igbo presidencies under the current system will avail little. Again,thanks for keeping the discussion clean. #damn all typos

Chiwude:
I agree that outsiders shouldn't be given the opportunity to poke their nose into our business. This thread is for Ndigbo in Nigeria and our way forward. IPOB can fight for the restoration of Biafra, no problem about that, but when it comes to issues that concerns our wellbeing in this country, they should give us the space to talk about it meaningfully. We can't bow to the submissions of some of our brothers who want to play on our emotions again. Because it's obvious that IPOB don't know how to wage their wars and such low level intellectuality, thuggery and dictatorial tendencies among its ranks seems to be against free speech to the generality of Ndigbo. We were almost doomed by an unprepared war the last time we allowed a man lead us to our doom. All because of the plot that anyone speaking against Nnamdi Kanu is an enemy of Biafra. So emotions should be separated from our interest in Nigeria.
Whether we like to admit it or not we are still in Nigeria. We remain Nigerians until the country dissolves on its own. The Fulani herdsmen are doing the job well in that aspect and we should be grateful to them. So, we cannot watch by the sidelines and forfeit our rights to others because IPOB wants us to remain in isolation. For how long are we to remain in isolation until our dream Biafra comes, maybe in the next 40 years when all ethnicity have taken turns to rule this country and when they finally carry out their evil intentions against us because of our isolation policy. Igboland deserves key infrastructure like seaport and others, and until we force ourselves into the bargaining chip that we can get those things done in our lands. Sorry IPOB we are not backing out on Igbo Presidency and other developmental strides I listed earlier. IPOB can be supported to fight for Biafra, but when it comes to national issues, they should give us space to fight for our rights. Someone said the west lined up against a non-credible candidate, yes they did and it paid off. And if we are foolish again, they will play the same game again and rub us of our slot to the presidency come 2023. So we should smart and play the game right.

Chiwude Nwanne. Thanks for keeping the discussion clean. I totally appreciate. Just a few views and am done. You gave your reasons for continual attachment to Nigerian politics and Igbo presidency project in particular and it was logical and sound. I totally agree we also should appropriate the benefits of this imperfect union until it dies or rejigged. You still ended up taking jabs on IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu and I found that highly distasteful. Events have since proved them fully right. You cast apersion on the intellectual depth of your brothers and sisters but right there in Abuja is your president who does not posses the most basic qualification and has so far been a disaster. We should stop trying to make sense of appear decent in Nigeria. It is a hopelessly tribal enclave The rule is simple: Grab all you can and safeguard your tribe like a Lioness guards the pride of cubs! How many northern leaders condemned the herdsmen and Boko Haram inspite of the monumental carnage they have wrought on this nation so far? I stand to be corrected. Which Niger Delta leader condemned avengers? Before Nnamdi Kanu came into the picture,Nigeria was at war with herself. Nnamdi has since been assassinated and Nigeria has plunged futher into monumental genocide at supposed peace time.Nnamdi has since been justified over and over. It still beats me how you failed to see that IPOB possess the nuisance value to force the hand of the Lords of this zoo to concede to Igbo whims and attract benefits. The nuisance value fall out of June 12 gave Yoruba's the presidency via Obj. The nuisance value of Boko Haram and the violent disposition of the north was the major reason the rest of Nigeria conceded subconsciously to Buhari in 2015. Nigeria is a Mafian jungle. Only nuisances and unequal balance of terror and danger potentialities attract government attention and tribal privileges on a large scale. That was where Igbo leaders mismanaged IPOB's value. The amount of heat generated by IPOB at the height of their agitation catapulted restructuring and Igbo presidency to the front burner of Nigerian political discourse. Especially the former. It emboldened other minority group associations to start talking tough. IPOB was disbanded and proscribed. Operation Python Dance happened. Nnamdi was either taken prisoner or murdered and Nigeria is back to square one. Let this sink. It is well. #damn all typos

Igboid:
Naturally, I'm not in support of inviting non Igbo Nigerians to come and contribute here, no matter how genuine their intentions or contributions sound.
Nothing good can come from such contributions.

Ojukwu had Aluko, a man he trusted for ideas and shared plans with, we all know how it ended.

Even though this is not the right platform for this discussion, but I suggest we limit acceptable contributions to only Igbos.
We can't stop any none Igbo from contributing, but we can always ignore their contributions by not quoting them.

And as for IPOB thing. IPOB control a large chunk of the Igbo Youth, and since the Youths are the real drivers of any productive society, it doesn't make sense to say that we shouldn't discuss about IPOB and their agitations here, after all, their agitation has real political and economic implications for Alaigbo.

My advice is that we keep it all in moderation. Let's not convert this to another war zone thread.

Ndewonu!

Good thinking...with exceptions nonetheless. Everything Igbo attracts extensive needless mixed attention,online and offline. It is a burden we must bear as a race. Only Ime-obi meetings can be free of these needless intrusions.It will sadly continue,moreso when it is on virtual space. Some of these intruders have also evolved over time so much that they emit Igboid nuances and give positive impressions until a single slip gives them away for the intruders they are. IPOB is Igbo and Igbo is IPOB. Those fellas are the real heroes we can see. They put their lives and resources for the single purpose of Igbo restoration and freedom from this chocking pit. Many of the them have paid the supreme price.The aftermath of Python dance and the double standards of the current set up should radicalize us all already They are far too gone to retrace their steps and will be the catalyst for further concessions if the current tempo is further sustained. Such highly organised,passionate and patriotic, selfless mass of men and women remain our biggest asset in this boiling cauldron Nigeria has become. All beautiful ideas we propose here will still be better appreciated within the context of either an autonomous or better still a free and independent Igbo nation,which remains the cardinal goal of IPOB. Again,we cannot gain in the current Nigeria set up by playing safe.Have we all been cowered to the extent we are now almost denying ourselves and brothers just to appear good and bloody politically correct? You still see some Igbos talking about Igbo presidency and all manner of inanities without giving a thought that even King Solomon will perish under the current structure. The prevailing anomalies and fulani arrogance should radicalize all of us already. Nigeria is gone and it has further degenerated to group (tribal) struggle for supremacy. Again,if the west can line up behind lesser criedible and self seeking perjurers,drug addicts and ex-convicts for direction and the north are currently using Boko Haram and Herdsmen as strategic levers of power,then what the heck are we doing trying to play safe and apologetic to the point nearly denying our brothers? Someone here is at the verge of proposing we censor the word IPOB and Biafra!! God forbid! Let the beautiful and forceful ideas here scare and put the brigands to flight. Making this goal a reality is our generational mandate. Happy weekend from the other side!

asha80:
i have lived in glasgow for 2 yrs and understand what you are trying to say but i also agree with what ofodirinwa wrote here especially the bold becasue evn far back reading books about igbo land the writers seem to always hammer on 'poor soil' of igbo land..some parts of igbo land started experiencing erosions as far back as 1940's far away from human settlements..how do you explain that?yes landscaping culture amongst igbos is an issue but not the 90% of the issue that caused erosion issues in the south east..

I may be wrong but erosion is not primarily caused by lack of vegetative cover.The entire Orumba North and south,Aguata and parts of Nnewi are ravaged by erosion and these are thick tropical locations with massive and expansive vegetation. The area of my town suffering from fromm erosion actually had bamboo and palm plantations in the entire areas yet erosion prevails. I am inclined to believe,aside the lack of vegetative cover and poor drainages in some instances,dislocation and movements of the earth crust cause erosion too.

Continuation of the series:
To attain the desired height in development,considering a homogeneous Igbo nation or Igbo nation merged with other friendly ethnicities as a Confederate or Federal state,security must be a priority. Our people said in an adage "Onye ndi iro gbalu gbulugbulu na eche ndu ya nche" roughly translates as " Whomsoever is circled by enemies guards his/her life jealously". With respect to Security,i propose the following:
SECURITY:
As far back as the year 1995,the united states security budget alone was nearly 1 trillion dollars! Connected to global power and influence is a formidable security infrastructure and personnel. This explains why a staggering communist enclave like Russia may not match the West in economic buoyancy but maintains a covert security threat and the other end of global power base.
An independent eastern region will be literally encircled by bitter,century old enemies and adversaries. If we do not wish to be tottering like Kenya, being constantly assaulted by Al-Shabab jihadists from Somalia,then we must deal with security as a national survival item. I propose the following:
1. Drone security satellite:
I personally refused to view this as project beyond our capabilities,more so when it has to be home made and strictly tailored to our needs. If our ancestors could build rocket launchers,modest missiles and convert pleasure jets to fighter jets in addition to other numerous technological feats in a life sapping and bitter genocide situation,then we can do much more if we challenge ourselves. This satellite will be orbited to cover the entire national space and will be encoded with automated triggers,whose function will be to detect all possible unauthorized materials,movements locations and activities detected either outside the perimeter of the boarder or within the nation. This triggers will be received at real time in the classified military control room(s) which shall be dispatched to the affected district ground forces for speedy resolution. This ensures centripetal forces against national unity are diffused in a matter of hours.
2. Coastal guards and Special Amphibian Forces:
The old eastern region has more than 3,000 kilometers of coastal stretch. This is not only a massive and challenging task but also critical to national survival. The battle between Queen Elizabeth The 1st and King Phillip of Spain,who by the way wields the greatest power in the 16th century came to mind. Spain was defeated in that war by highly trained amphibian forces (British pirates led by Sir Francis Drake) of the day who wrecked the formidable Spanish Armada and facilitated English triumph.Nations bordered by the sea can be conquered through the sea if not well guarded. The coast is a reservoir of wealth and must be given priority.
3.Terrestrial boundary guards:
Presently,Nigeria has neither a drone technology or terrestrial special forces that secure our boarders as obtain in serious countries.This explains the massive influx of misguided elements through all the northern boarders who make up the voting numbers during elections. This terrestrial boarder guards will be complemented by other security departments.
4. Special "kILLER" Ops:
This is akin to the Marine Corps in United States. They are the secret killer squads. Their training regimes lead to deaths given its intensity and stretch but they are the soul of the military. Every serious country needs that to succeed more so with danger perpetually lurking beyond and within the Eastern Corridor.
5.Police and Neighborhood Watch(VIGILANTE):
One of the most successful civilian security intervention in Igboland is the introduction of neighborhood watch(VIGILANTE) in our towns and villages. They have largely succeeded in bringing peace an combating crimes in the east to a good extent. Being that they are all made up of indigens and residents placed more responsibilities on them.There should be a review of these groups with a view to reform and reposition them to be more modern and accountable.Pockets of abuse and deviance are reported. By and large,this is an effective means of crime control and must be retained in my opinion.
The police on its own needs total disbandment and a complete overhaul from the scratch. The present Nigerian police transfer policy whereby a man from Kebbi State is transfered to become the Police Commissioner in Enugu state is one the most foolish government policies i have ever seen. In the United States fror instance,the Sherif and district Crime Officer are both indigens or at least residents of the city for a considerable period of time.They know their areas of jurisdiction well and are well known within the localities.

6.Eastern Criminal Intelligence:
The name already suggests a special ops that will combine the duties of CIA and FBI not only for intelligence gathering but infiltration of underground economies,crime syndicates and detection of saboteours within the military,government or private realms. The current Nigerian utilization of quota system and states allocation for employment into the Secret Service is another abberation beyond comprehension. Merit and thorough assessment of applicants will ensure only the best are selected.

7. Navy,Airforce and paramilitary:
I will deal with these two and paramilitary agencies in the next series.
Ndewo nu! : PS: Damn all typos

BabaRamota1980:
Kanu was unfit to lead IPOB. That was one of the mistakes you Igbos made. Fela was an outspoken and rebel person and lashed at military and civilian governments alike but you never hear him trying to lead anyone. Soyinka had always been a rebel but never took position to lead anyone. Fawehinmi used law to do battle with Nigeria but knew his limits.

There are certain things Nigeria is not conducive for....that is championing a cause you dont thoroughly understand, or one you have not mastered to bend and influence effectively.

Kanu was intoxicated. As far as throwing Charly Boy's name here, you are a clown.

Ana akogheri! Complete trashy and useless statements everywhere! Kanu was unfit to lead IPOB but under his leadership, IPOB became a global freedom movement. Infact,the first of its kind in human history. In another 24 hours, IPOB will be protesting against the dullard in Washington. Same is being replicated in all national capitals all over the world on record real time. Who in the history of this evil zoo has ever created such impact and tightly knitted organisation holding massive rallies with millions in attendance simultaneously? All logistics sorted and not a single casualty in tow?! While Kanu held sway,your air headed caliphate and their accomplices shitted in their pants. The liberation of the Igbos is their biggest fear. I don't wanna bore you with the details sir. The evidence are all over the place. Unfortunately,in trying to destroy a subset,they ended up damaging the entire Nation and that clearly showed how self-destructive the zoo jungle leaders are since 1970 . In your own words,Kanu was unfit to lead IPOB but Buhari,a known disaster with no shred of skills and a complete relic stuck in 12th century is enough to lead you and your fellow dregs into the 21st century?? Tell me something! In three years,see where your hero led Nigeria to! I take nothing away from Fela,Soyinka and Gani,who by the way are some of the Yoruba men in admire and study their lives but Yoruba existential realities differ sharply from that of Igbos in Nigeria. You guys face baby demons while we have been battling with Lucifer and his generals since 1945 till date. While Kanu held sway,numerous middle belt grips and south south liberation groups sprouted and started talking tough about restructuring and liberation. Restructuring even became a by-word in the corridors of power as a means to assuage the calls secession! Heck,even Yoruba's had their own flippant and diversionary convergence called "Ibadan Declaration" which also died the moment Kanu was assassinated. Now,who is the real leader here? The man who created the objective condition for all these to happen and still happening or those given to mere talks? Kanu matched his words with actions,paid the supreme price and it outlived him. Today,IPOB is still global both home and abroad and will ultimately be the end of this zoo! The zoo leaders know that already. This thread was not about Kanu and his ideas and you can see we avoided it all through .But you needed to be clarified a bit. Above all,this thread was meant for Igbos to discuss and I wonder why you lots cannot respect such boundaries even if in virtual space.

Cjrane2:
Hopefully soon, we can have bright minds figure how to make billions of naira through manufacturing or importing high quality solar panels to make them a standard installation in each home. We also nned battery manufacturers in the country to stop focusing on only car batteries and begin manufacturing some heavy duty batteries for homes Solar Electricity.

Just as we now have boreholes as standard installation for water supply and GSM are standard for telephones.
Depending on government to provide power is like waiting on NITEL to provide functional telephones.

Creating hybrid and affordable solar power technologies is the next oil windfall awaiting Nigeria and Igbos in particular.This should also be preceded by including its production,maintenance and further research in the curriculum of Electrical Engineering departments in our tertiary institutions.That is if it is not already being done? I recall my friends in school then offer a course called "Power Systems" which seeks to develop alternate power sources aside hydro.
Now,the all year round availability of sunlight in our clime is the first big bang. It is by far the cleanest electrical technology. Solar technology will give rise to a new self sustaining sub-sector. The market prospects are infinite if well developed and its prices subjected to market forces. It will also help conserve our gas resources for present and future industrial uses. I wish half of the looted resources pumped into the dead NEPA and multiple gas channels can be utilized for solar development. Unfortunately,the corridors of power in Nigeria is not known to delve into any venture that demands critical thinking and application of superior intellect,especially one that will give leverage to the progressive section of the country.Ya diba!

Xander85:
Spot on! B

But the question i tend to ask myself is where the fuc/k were the Igbo politicians and gov't appointees (either from PDP or APC) when the useless rail plan was being drawn up? You see what i mean when i say that besides the wickedness of outsiders, that our useless elite are also a big part our our problem.

I remember Ken Nnamani saying why he moved to APC was so Ndigbo can have a voice when decisions are being made at the centre or at APC. Total bunkum!!! This is always the excuse these lazy, greedy, self-centred politicians give when they want to gallivant from one party to another just to protect their corrupt behind or to be in with a chance of stealing more. What did Ndigbo gain when these muthafuckers were in PDP as chairmen of the party, Senate President, House of Reps Speaker, etc? This useless rail plan was drawn up with links to Daura, Niger and other places that means fuc/k all to someone like me, while in turn ignoring prominent cities and towns in Alaigbo like Nsukka, Afikpo and Nnewi, and someone wants me to join them and shout 'one Nigeria'? Notice the northern university town of Zaria was included while they totally forgot Nsukka...this is Zaria that has gotten more than its fair share of federal projects and institutions, while Nsukka is left with just the university.

This is why i'm finally convinced that the only way Ndigbo and Alaigbo can reach our full potential and be able to compete with the likes of Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and even little Rwanda...the only way this is possible is by a full and comprehensive restructuring of the polity so everyone can answer their papa name and control their own resources. And i don't mean the watery suggestions of restructuring being bandied about now that would still give a large amount of control to the envious and wicked bastards who since the late 60s have been plotting how to marginalise us and steal our resources and destiny to their own regions and pockets...i don't mean that type of restructuring. It's either proper restructuring or the only other alternative is for us all to go our separate ways! Enough of this nonsense!

Sometimes I even pity our so called leaders. Massive odds are staked against them in Nigeria. From that subconscious persecution projected at every Igbo man to the suspicion borne of false narratives spewed over the years to diminish Igbo trajectory in politics and national affairs. This unfortunate reality leaves them with a psychology of defeat and an indelible scar of grief. This same condition is the basis of identity crises we all grapple with in Ikwerre,Ika+Ukwuani and upland Igbo groups. It is also the cause of the shameful gradual erosion of identity and cultural death among our people which manifests in decline of Igbo language among diasporeans all in unconscious alignment with a mental state of defeat and timidity. To get ourselvs back on track,there is the need to de-construct and de-clutter these demonic mental strongholds instilled into our people for close to half a century. I do not blame our fathers so much. They literally battled with demons to breathe. It takes a special race like Igbos to overcome the subservient and near death conditions they were subjected to,just to breathe,live and scrape a living. Times have since changed. We are the generation to change the narrative. Igbos cannot reclaim their lost glory by playing safe. Either we demolish the odds or "die trying". It took the assassination of Nnamdi Kanu for most people to acknowledge he has paid the supreme price. Either we all turn radicals and face the devil or this slavery is just starting.

Purehuman:
Keep studying the masterplan, can we draw out the best economic route for our products which will give us high returns. So that we can design our business routes to pass through this system.

Which rail route shows more promise than the rest?

All these are my opinions based on facts and deductions. First,note that the same backward political rationale that has always informed establishing infrastructure in areas of chauvinistic rather than economic considerations are at play in this master-plan. The same atavistic drives that saw Yola Airport,Kaduna Airport and even desert Kano Airports all given international status and receive better allocations ahead of Enugu,Owerri and PH Airports is at play here also. For instance,there are many deadwood towns that has no need nor economic clout to be there yet were included,especially in the north. Now,consider Talata Mafara,an arid and deserted hamlet like Wudil in Kano State,Daura,Dikwa and the rest. Why do we need to spend our resources to link a rail line with N'djamena in Chad? Cotonu and Lome? Mardi in Niger Republic? Is this not supposed to be a national master-plan or is it a sub-regional intervention? Check it,there will be rail line direct from Enugu to Idah but no stop-over in Nsukka! There will be a direct link to Abakaliki but no diversion to an ancient enclave like Afikpo. No diversion to Ibaka,which in view of the proposed seaport needs a direct rail like to major cities in the south. Above all,no rail link connected to Asaba and the entire Anioma even with its massive economic potentials. The only take away from this is that at least,they are providing a rail line base for the region. Should we attain self rule or autonomy,which am sure will come,new lines and links which will cost less will be added to the existing one. Nigeria as we know it is at its terminal stages. The requim is already humming at the background. We better get set for the worst.

Purehuman:
Electrical power is driving economies. It is making economies with no future look more promising than those with fossils.

Our politicians are busy trying to be more politically correct than the people in the corridors of power. An additional power station in the region can push development to another level but we seem.not to be getting it right.

I recall UNN pioneered alternative energy reseach in Nigerian universities. I recall the Energy Research Centre was located beside faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Hybrid and cheaper brands of solar panels were developed in that centre to encourage solar power utilization. I do not know how far that centre has gone. I can bet they were starved of funds and grants or bureacracy/corruption killed it off. I may be wrong. My point is,with the capital intensive nature of nuclear power,the fluctuations and instability of Hydro Power Stations,with the abundant supply of sun,solar power should be the next revolution in Igboland. From recent records,only 9% of power generated in Nigeria is allocated to the South East! This can hardly sustain street lights talk more domestic and industrial uses. Solar is the way to go. Pictures below are solar farms in China.This will not only generate the much needed power,it will also expand and sustain new curriculum in Electrical Systems and Engineering that will remain relevant for another century and beyond. Ndewo nu!

Purehuman:
Some organizations are behind the power most skyscrapers on the island are using. They make so much money from powering these structures because they are used for business and as you know most businesses depend on power for effective functioning.

Some people can invest in power production in powering CBDs while some people can build CBDs. It's a chain of business that will make everyone gain at the end.

You don't even need to go far. I am a facilities management consultant. Maintaining those sky scrapers and improving their capacity,market feasibility and aesthetics is my forte. For every of such building (or clusters) in advanced societies you see,there is a prevailing service level agreement which takes the burden away from the owners and shifts it to a competent facilities management company/consultant. Every single aspect of maintenance (cleaning,security(both cyber and civil),ventilation,power systems and electrical(powering the lifts inclusive.In some cases,a single company manages and maintains the lifts.I know of OTIS in Nigeria),aesthetics and horticulture,leasing and marketing are either handled by the parent company or leased out to tested providers. This is a complex chain of services whose multiplier effect is churning out more professionals,technicians and technocrats.And a money spinner too! The world is moving towards this direction and am glad we are talking already.

Purehuman:
BUILDING A MALL CITY

This is a new design I and my friends have thought about for the past few years. The igbos are a people with comparative advantage in some sectors in the Nigerian economy. With proper planning we can get a headquarter where all our strength can be seen from afar.

Onitsha has been the biggest market in West Africa since 60's. With recent developments in science and technology and the increase in market size over the years, it has become imperative to redesign our market to be the next big thing like it was in the 60s but with a more modernized model. This model will:

1. increase the marketability of the products within its area,
2, improve the image of locally manufactured products.
3. Increase market size.
4. Improve tourism
5. Attract FDI within the region
6. Create businesses for programmers and ICT experts
7. Increase government revenue
8, make individuals richer and
9, create a better image for the igbo people.

It was planned to be in Onitsha based on the fact that
1. Onitsha is the commercial capital of the east.
2. It's a border town in Anambra state.
3. It relates well with our anioma brothers.
4. It is easily assessable by anyone coming from the neighboring state or region.
5. It has a history of business.

The design is to build big malls in a designated expanse of land. The malls are not going to be one or two but we are talking about 50malls. I know some of you must be crying about space but I assure you, space will be utilized and managed well. Each mall will have close to 500 shops each and they will offer products of similar kinds. For example, we can have a mall of electronics. This mall will house computers, phones, TV, decoders, etc. This will enable us to get data about customers buying from the malls and their interests. It will be easier for us to know the products that are having falling patronage per time and find ways to solve them.

The mall city will be designed to cater for every need. You can get everything in this mall city. If you say you want to buy anything and it's not sold anywhere in Nigeria, Onitsha Mall City will have it. It will designed that online retail stores will use these shops as their suppliers. It will house a sound transport system that will transport goods bought to the most convenient spot the customer will need it.

This mall city will be designed to open for 18hours in 24. This will help in night trading because the lighting system will be the best. There will be no night. Anytime you come to mall city, you have a customer and a buyer at all times.

There will be sound movement direction system that will make customers not lose their way in the city. The roads will be well tarred.

Will continue later.

I totally agree with you that Onitsha main market and indeed most of those mono commodity markets within Onitsha and Idemmili are long overdue for upgrade to modern standards. There is every need to alter and rebuild these markets from ground up and install independent power,better sewage and recreating the Main Market Brand. I was at Aspanda Lagos in 2006 or so and i was a bit impressed at the modest standard they implemented there. I was informed we Igbos in Lagos built that market from the scratch. Also note that for Ochanja market to become a 24 hours destination,lifestyle and perspectives of Onitsha residents must change with it. Hong Kong,Istanbul,London,Joburg and Texas to mention but a few are all 24 hours cities. Security has to be top notch and nightlife recreated in addition to ensuring easy access and total illumination of the entire streets.I was in Awada in 2007 to see my friend. To my shock,by 8pm everyone was already indoors or tucked away at isi ewu joints only to sneak in quietly. The potentials of Onitsha is yet to be scratched. The sheer human density in that city is mind-boggling relative to its size. Now,that is also a goldmine for market promoters and other providers of improved lifestyle and services.Like Onitsha,like Aba,like Umuahia,like Awka,Asaba,Enugu and Nnewi We have the seed of our greatness within our hands!

Develpeast:
The development of igboland has been the most important topic in the minds of every igbo youth. This goes to show the forward thinking being instilled in us by our parents and forefathers. I give kudos to our generations past for the mindset they sent down to us and let us understand the importance of developing our lands. I also thank the Nigerian system for their skewed developmental plan and how they had indirectly taught us to fend for ourselves without the help of any nationalistic amenity.

I am going to dedicate my time on this thread even to highlight the things we need to do differently so that we can achieve our desired aim.

The lawmakers from the southeast were chasing southeast development commission which will see to the development of the eastern region. They tabled it before the senate and it has passed the second reading. The only problem I have with them is their inability to see it through in this first tenure of Buhari's regime when he is still looking for voters and can be cajoled into making lawmakers from his region make it possible.

The SEDC will be looking into the general development of critical structures in the east and more so, involve in refining policies within the region to enable development come into the region within the next 20 years. The commission will be funded by the state governors, it citizens, and corporate organizations in the region. This go a long way in generating bigger internal generated revenue in the region for development.

The people who are going to head this commission will solely be technocrats. These men will be successful men their various industries and they will have enough experience in raising funds and attracting investors that will invest in critical sectors in the economy of the east.

The real issue here is the commitment of these lawmakers, they have slowed down in recent times to push for these things because they cannot negotiate terms with their colleagues in the red chamber. Everything is not done with an open book agreement but there are some back channels our lawmakers need to take to be able to see this SEDC enter the light of day.

So, I am going to ask again, how can we push for this SEDC to come into fruition which will herald the new dawn to eastern development. Who can remind them that they have a task at hand and they have neglected the real issues they were voted to discuss in the red chamber.

https://oak.tv/south-east-development-commission-bill/:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/breaking-reps-reject-bill-establish-south-east-development-commission/. Refer to the links above. Is the bill still tenable in view of the above?

Oga Spyder:
Here is the first series of my submissions.These are my opinions scribbled in a hurry: We can fine tune ideas generated here,bind them in a hard copy and present to Ohaneze and Aka Ikenga and all relevant PAN-IGBO groups:
EDUCATION:
Technical and vocational education: Already,we have a relatively advanced and functional fabrication and technical sub-sector in Aba,Coal Camp and Nnewi. It is heartwarming that motor parts of all sizes and machine tools for plants and heavy equipment are all fabricated in the above locations. An upgrade of existing technical colleges and Universities and establishing new ones (with emphasis on these key areas) will further enhance this comparative advantage. I have it on record that most oil servicing companies in the Niger Delta depend on our local fabricators for some basic and advanced tools and equipment especially as it becomes increasingly costly to source them abroad. This is our comparative advantage and must be sustained. I learnt we have just two very functional steel fabricating mills in Nigeria.One in Aba and one in Nnewi.

ICT and ROBOTICS:
ICT has revolutionized work,recreation and lifestyle. I learnt there is an ICT institute in Enugu or yet to be approved? Spyder help me out.I recall seeing something like that earlier. I recall the entire Enugu state and most South East States are already fibre optic compliance.This should spark off an ICT revelotion already! With the ICT univerisity in Enugu,we should be thinking of creating and making Enugu the digital hub in Nigeria and West Africa,after Nairobi and Johannesburg.A vibrant ICT sector in Igboland will revolutionise business and commerce in record time. Not to talk of attracting new businesses in the long run.
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are critical frontiers for the future. A review of the existing science curriculum to accommodate these new areas are critical. But this can only be preceded by foreign sponsorship of our bright students to study and learn these new knowledge. The current Chinese MIight was built by these linkage programmes which they eventually replicated and improvised at home.
In drawing up a new Pan-Igbo education policy,it is instructive we extract the expertise and assistance of Igbo professionals in diaspora to create an indigenous based education with global relevance.

TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation is critical to business. The Igbo speaking areas have by far the highest concentration of entrepreneurs per head in Sub-Saharan Africa. Available stats showed Eastern Airports are more active than their northern and western counterparts.One of the biggest challenges of our people is transportation. A new Pan-Igbo transportation road map will emphasise on PPP to redesign existing roads and also develop new rail tracks to connect all the vital cities. Sadly,South East was not captured in the current APC governemrnt rail infrastructure development. That is why we must aggressively push for this on a PPP basis.
Is there anyway we can speed up the concession of Akanu Ibiam and Sam Mbakwe Cargo airports? I am most sure that if we pursue this as a regional goal,it will become a reality.

CULTURE:
Culture is a people way of life and we are gradually losing ours.While New Yam Festivals are still being observed in many communities,we can take it a notch higher by making a global brand. A totally diabolical celebration like the Osun Osogbo festival is already attracting global attention. Same as Ojodu Oba in Ijebu Areas and Drum Festivals in Abeokuta. (read this is not envy but acknowledging the fact). Our Mmonwu festivals are gone. My nephews and nieces have never even seen a masquerade. Meanwhile,Hallowen celebration has become almost an entertainment sub-sector in the west with Costume and prop managers making a kill each season.Not to think of events mangers and promoters!Same as the dragon festival in China. We can create a new culture calendar in Igboland that will include specific periods for our celebrations including Ofala to ensure visitors and interested indigens residing abroad include this calendar in their year book. There is a lot we can do here... To be continued..

Kokolet11:
my brother you have made your point but I don't think IPOB will want to do anything with ohanaeze and south east govs now.ohanaeze has missed the opportunity,it will take years for anything good to come to igboland apart from roads.

It is a pity South East leaders failed to see the inherent benefits in using IPOB and their positive as well as nuisance value as a bargaining chip,either to extract regional advantages or even push for complete ouster from the Union. The truth is that Nigerian structure is systematically skewed and made to work against Igbo emancipation and it was a long orchestrated process.It would have taken a massive force like IPOB to force the hand of the cabal holding the country. IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu were the biggest nightmares of the Caliphate and Western Slave Masters and the only force capable of shifting the levers of power. I recall,while IPOB and their activities were in high pitch,many Middle Belt and South South groups started talking tough and also seeking a renegotiation of the terms of the union. The assassination of MNK and proscription of IPOB saw these hitherto activism from these other regions die off. Today,everybody is back to square one. Till date,i still wonder why Ohaneze leadership and the governors facilitated the assassination of MNK and disbanding IPOB. It took the dust to settle before most people who formerly oppose MNK and IPOB to know they indeed are the beacon Igbos would have latched on to,even if they appear crude and radical. At least the double standards as it relates to governments treatment and covert acceptance of Fulani Herdsmen,Boko Haram amnesty and the latest coronation of Ganiyu Adams,a notoriuos criminal whose rap sheet is wider than Canada,as the Are'Onakakanfo of Yorubaland clearly opened the eyes of our people to the error this nation is. Rather too late! The Northern Ireland Republican Army was also a rag tag collective that started like IPOB which still succeeded to gain independence for their people.That was historical opportunity we all lost. Today,nothing else will galvanize Igbo consciousness and project like IPOB and i wish they keep the international tempo burning. It is only a matter of time. Nigeria is it is today is beyond saving and the leaders know. In the absence of restructuring,dissolution is imminent. Only time is the key factor. That is why a pan Igbo think-thank like Oga Spyder want to gather here is critical and timely for regional development. God bless us. #damn all typos

Cjrane2:
Gbam if the regional government were in operation, all the money stolen via corruption over the years could have been used to build key infrastructure for the development of Nigeria.

All the same, we have NO CHOICE than to build them ourselves through bringing states together to cooperate, because FG will NEVER build such for us. Infact, they will look for ways to frustrate it instead of supporting it so that other states can come together and copy the process in developing Nigeria.

Therefore the plan should be for a 5 years development plan for Regional railway.
The steps are.

1. The SE Governors and SS Governors should secure permission from FG to build the regional railway and float a company "Eastern Corridor Railways Corporation (ECRC)"

2. Every benefiting state will invest 1% of their budget as Equity into the company to take care on initial takeoff This is later converted to shares in the company for the respective states.

3. Get Foreign companies to bid as foreign Technical partners to do the actual construction on a PPP arrangement and 100 Year BOT (Build-Operate_Transfer)

These three steps will ensure the project is actualized and it will greatly facilitate economic activities in both zones. Imagine travelling from Calabar to Onitsha or Port Harcourt on an air-conditioned train and get there in 2-3 hours? Or bringing your goods from Afikpo to Port-Harcourt. Then do your business and return to Calabar or Afikpo without Police harassment and bad roads?

If the total railway track is less than 1,000KM dual carriage railway, Then the total cost should be less than $1 billion dollars which can be financed partly by World Bank, China Exim bank and other international financiers when the bidding process is transparent. A 5-Year phase of $200 million dollars per year is also reasonable time-frame.

Still on integrating Seaports to the transport infrastructure,attachd are details of Rotterdam Seaport,which is the largest seaport in Europe and the Potentials of Ibom Seaport. Ibom will be half the size of Rotterdam. Based on the Intel given by my client,60% of Ghana's foreign exchange is generated from Tema Habour! One can imagine the extent of wealt and multiplier effects h a functional seaport can unleash for a highly vibrant,hardworking and uppity race like the Igbos. http://idsp.ak.gov.ng/overview-of-ibom-deep-sea-port.php.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Rotterdam

Cjrane2:
Gbam if the regional government were in operation, all the money stolen via corruption over the years could have been used to build key infrastructure for the development of Nigeria.

All the same, we have NO CHOICE than to build them ourselves through bringing states together to cooperate, because FG will NEVER build such for us. Infact, they will look for ways to frustrate it instead of supporting it so that other states can come together and copy the process in developing Nigeria.

Therefore the plan should be for a 5 years development plan for Regional railway.
The steps are.

1. The SE Governors and SS Governors should secure permission from FG to build the regional railway and float a company "Eastern Corridor Railways Corporation (ECRC)"

2. Every benefiting state will invest 1% of their budget as Equity into the company to take care on initial takeoff This is later converted to shares in the company for the respective states.

3. Get Foreign companies to bid as foreign Technical partners to do the actual construction on a PPP arrangement and 100 Year BOT (Build-Operate_Transfer)

These three steps will ensure the project is actualized and it will greatly facilitate economic activities in both zones. Imagine travelling from Calabar to Onitsha or Port Harcourt on an air-conditioned train and get there in 2-3 hours? Or bringing your goods from Afikpo to Port-Harcourt. Then do your business and return to Calabar or Afikpo without Police harassment and bad roads?

If the total railway track is less than 1,000KM dual carriage railway, Then the total cost should be less than $1 billion dollars which can be financed partly by World Bank, China Exim bank and other international financiers when the bidding process is transparent. A 5-Year phase of $200 million dollars per year is also reasonable time-frame.

Your emphasis on rail transportation is critical. Developing a modern transport sector is highly critical to our development as a race and region. Igbos are by far the most mobile and active tribe. A highly developed regional transport sector will elevate and greatly facilitate business transactions with the various cities. Related to this is fighting to ensure at least one seaport is functional. I still wonder why same equity you proposed above was not adopted all these while by States in the old Eastern region to develop Ibaka Seaport. Ibaka,or any functional seaport is highly critical to our surge. I think equity financing or PPP is th way to go. Sad to live in a country where critical infrastructure are created based on political reasons and not economic rationality. It is well

AuntLaVIV:
I thought this thread will be a complete departure from the usual showcasing of SE which we have seen all over NL.

I was expecting thread where brainstorming on economic issues will be done. A thread that will chart a course for Igbo economic integration and economic independence through joint infrastructure and investment.

If that is not the case then the aim is defeated already.

. What do you do for a living? We can turn this thread to a a similitude of comprehensive professional seminar presentation context where we all can project our areas of core competence as it applies to Igbo development. For instance,am a Facilities Management consultant. Many of our brethren here expressed their concerns regarding the livability of our cities with special focus on maintenance,establishment of green areas and general convenience.My company manages some of the upscale sky scrapers in Dallas,Hamburg and Joburg.It is not magic that we see most of these buildings and plazas in key western cities look fresh and new all year round. There are policies that aid Service level agreements to ensure these buildings remain livable and functional all year round. This also applies to residential areas in these cities. How do we apply this in Igboland? We can establish States Facilities Review Board in all Igbo states and experts contracted as consultants to advise and set benchmarks on building livability and maintenance reviews. This can be privatised for more efficiency. This is why you have estate managers and facilities board in residential areas abroad to ensure quality is adhered to. This holds the key to the livability of our cities. Even posh areas like Zoo Estate,G.R.As,Liberty Estate and others are poorly managed and unlivable when subjected international standards.

Develpeast:
PRODA was seen as the beacon of light for the nigerian science and technology at the time but they starved of funding and it died naturally without strangulation. What we need now is funds and the right mindset towards development, then we will not be rivaled. You and i know that we will have reached a very high place in technology and science if PRODA had the right attention and funding it needs.

It is going to take ages for us to come to pursue a single future as a people owing to the setting of governance we are presently facing in the country today. We hope we younger generations can fight more to make us come together so that we can achieve more as a people than we have achieved as individuals.

Did you say PRODA? PRODA was killed by the atavistic politics of the zoo after the civil war. Not only where the designs and key technological sketches and designs of Igbo engineers during the war burnt and destroyed,PRODA,which holds the key for further industrialization of the east was also deliberately starved of funds and grants to pursue their legitimate mandate. I will post the links later for all to read and marvel at the wickedness of this land.

spyder880:
Agriculture has been the mainstay of Igbo pre colonial era, forming the economy of the region. Cultivation of crops, fruit trees, fish farming and animal husbandry sustained the culinary needs of the people. People also moved from place to place to buy and sell one good or the other to those in need of them.

There are vast areas of arable land in all the whole of the region, crops like cassava, yams, cocoyam, native beans, rice, maize and groundnuts provided bountiful harvest for those who cultivate them.

First,there has to be a review of current land holding practises. The present situation is individual,family and littered communal land holds that,when considered individually, can hardly encourage and motivate mechanized and large scale farming for future planning. A merge of existing lands where the soil tests proves fertile for large and mechanised farming will prove a boost for us in the nearest future. Recently,i saw pictures of onions,carrots,cabbage and cucumber being grown and harvested in Igbo land. These were some of the staple crops we thought as kids can only grow in the mambila plateau areas in the middle belt. Already there are effective faculties of Agriculture and Agricultural research institutes at Umudike and UNN.
Attached below are large scale ranch in Argentina and large scale farms in Mexico where progressive land holding practices are in place. We live to learn and apply what works others in our own domain given space constraints.

Develpeast:
HOW CAN WE BUILD HOUSING ESTATES WITH LIMITED LAND SPACE THAT CAN CATER FOR ATLEAST 100MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT 30YEARS

This is an important question that I have been wanting to ask in the last 3years that I been following the development of the eastern region. The igbos are a people who are fascinated in having their own structure under their name and design, so they go all the way to erect structures just to prove a point. The disadvantage is that with an increase and unchecked construction of buildings in the east, the roads and drainage are been crowded with little or no space for walkways and proper designing of the cities. If we keep allowing these things to continue, we will be having a concrete jungle with little or no aesthetics, dangers of road accidents (now prevalent in the east) and constant erosion.

The question is this, can this be planned in such a way that you dont really need to have your own structure and fence but you can have a housign estate well-planned and designed to accommodate everything necessary for comfortable living. You can buy a big apartment in a very big skyscrapper and you live your life without thinking of who will lock the gates.

Angola built the kilamba housing estate to alleviate the housing deficit in the capital of Luanda in 2012, the housing estate seems to be one of the most beautiful cities in africa and we can dare to imitate that. If we put our environment as a priority in the purchase and development of properties, we will be indirectly solving quantum problems bedeviling the region.

How can we finally solve the housing deficit in the region and also projecting future population explosion.

Experts please.

Me thinks it is a progression. Surely,the current swaths of estates littered with palatial duplexes and bungalows will not serve future Igbo needs. There has to be a review of our housing policy to cater for the imminent population surge in Igboland. Onitsha,Aba,New Heaven and Achara Layout sections of Enugu may look like concrete jungles but truthfully,they were all well designed as can be seen,when you consider it has similar clusters as Barcelona and Warsaw,except the latter duo were better planned with functional facilities and a practical recourse to nature and green areas as cardinal state policies.Already,the clusters at most parts the aforementioned Igbo cities were created to cater for high human density. Some sections of Awada and Ugwuabga Obosi have only 4 and 5 storey buildings. All are needed are slight remodeling and better services. This is where facility management experts will come in. Attached are pictures of upscale and modest Barcelona residential areas.Change will come in due time.

spyder880:
@ Develpeast, simply beautiful.

Where is Afam4eva, where is Cjrane, and all Igbos, come in and contribute.

Oga Spyder. You want Cjrane to comment here but you didn't capature his constituency. CJRANE is from Ogwashi-Ukwu and is proudly Igbo. Ohaneze is a Pan-Igbo cultural and Political Organisation. The membership and spread stretched to all known Igbo speaking and heritage enclaves beyond the 5 eastern states. This thread,as an elite Pan-Igbo thread should follow same philosphy. I repeat,we cannot counter the falsehood against Igbos by playing safe. Pictures you pasted must and should include Professor Chike Edozien,Chukwuma Nzeogwu,Maryam Babangida(Nee Odogwu),Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,Ambassador Ralph Uwechue,Joe Achuzia(Air Raid) J.J Okocha, Dennis Osadebey and a host of others. I may be a lone voice calling for this but it behoves on our generation to correct the wrong narratives. Way back in London,ICSM meetings are peopled by Igbos in all Igbo speaking areas and be sure some of my former friends are viewing and will contribute to this thread. The new Igbo generation must be radical to conquer this zoo. Ndewo nu.#damn all typos please

Afam4eva:
This has always been my submission. Let's not cause unnecessary distractions.

And who has ever changed falsehood and negative profiling by playing safe? Who has ever brought a new order or changed a status quo in Nigeria by playing safe? This is a critical time for us as Igbos to key into the current renaissance and awakening and address the madness that has always been projected against us once and for all. I gave instances in my previous posts why an all inclusive thread on Igbos should be created. Anioma and Oshimili are already secured. Many Kwales and Ukwuani's are rediscovering their roots and getting out of the self inflicted folly of identity crises. The above are my informed opinions on Spyder's plan. Ndewo nu!

whirlwind7:
I don't think this is wise.

Remember what happened when IPOB and its rallies gathered momentum?
Several dissenting voices arose. Not just from the average man on the streets, but some renowned political figures as well.

Let this thread be restricted to the 5 Igbo states. Including people who always feel like they are being coaxed to join their Igbo brethren would be counter productive at this stage.

If we all agree that the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria was a horrible error, why should we do something almost similar, or along those lines?
A good product sells itself. If the main Igbo states get their act together with a strong regional integration, neighboring non igbo speaking states will call for referendum to be assimilated.

A maiden who makes herself presentable will attract multitude of suitors. The headache isn't to bring back erring or lost kinsmen, especially when they didn't ask for it. The issue is to get our acts right, and they will seek us out.

No sir. I completely disagree. One of the most vocal and active President General of Ohanzeze Ndi Igbo is Ralph Uwechue,an Anioma Man. The present Secretary of Ohaneze is an Ikwerre Man. Ohaneze meetings are well attended by Paramount Rulers from both Anioma and Rivers. There are many online fora promoting an all inclusive Igbo nation including Proudly Anioma:Proudly Igbo and Proudly Rivers,Proudly Igbo fora on facebook. Those efforts were started by brethren who wished to changed the current divide and conquer narratives. The truth will also attract opposition and dissent but it will always prevail. Creating a thread here which will also include historical presentations will help to address these falsehoods. Trolls will always come to derail it but facts are sacrosanct and available to diffuse their errors. Spyder please proceed.