₦airaland Forum

NOBLEDANDY:
easy my foot. Go siddon, now I c where u are coming from... Go put nyash for one corner and face ur work let another man work his own. What if I say ur work is easy like N10 akara. Smh

No need to resort to insults, please let's keep it civil, not everyone is your age mate here.

Website design is easy. I've done it before. What is difficult is designing a website with functionality (e.g. ecommerce) and regularly updating a designed website.

asha80:
he is talking of Onitsha traders not alaba traders unless there isn't a difference between the two

True, but the two are connected.

Both groups are increasingly using the Internet and email to connect with their Chinese & Taiwanese suppliers.

You cannot say outright that they don't see the benefits of online presence, but if you understand their business model, you'll understand where they are coming from. It is not priority.

What percentage of business transactions in Nigeria are online? Less than 1% of 1%.

Why should a trader struggling with sales and margins commit to setting up a website - when maintenance costs will be quite significant.

In addition to being an IT person, I'm also a business consultant. You have to present the business case before you start suggesting solutions. Consider Shoprite, in spite of their sophistication, they are not focusing on ecommerce right now. They have to get the basics right & be sure their market can adapt to that change before they roll out such solutions.

I lived in UK, Tesco has an ecommerce channel in addition to its massive stores, but it takes a process to get to that point.

Who does the Onitsha trader make most of his sales from? From people who won't be found near a computer.

Finally, designing websites is relatively easy (MS Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver), the problem is the infrastructure to deliver a functioning website.

BuddahMonk:
"step into me, yo thats a wrong move/
so what yo want huh, dope or dogfood/
competiton i just devour all; like a Pitbull against a Chihuahua/"

~Aint no Half Steppin-Big Daddy Kane.

^^Freeglobe, in Chino's voice you can take this to the World Bank.
------------------------------------
Now let me write to the sane.

What should our government do to add more whitecollar jobs in Onicha, i hate a situation whereby out of 10 people you met in the city 8 are traders.

We need recreation facilities, we need amusement parks, we need hotels, ISP companies, why cant we have a bank head office in Onicha, must everything be in Lagos so that everytime our graduate pass out from service they will be running to Lagos causing braindrain in our states, what of insurance companies, consulting firms, law firms, real estate firms, Onicha deserve a Univ and Anambra is yet to have a state poly, ad agencies.

Some of these things i listed here are obtainable in Oka, our govt should organize seminars, workshops, conferences for Onicha traders to teach them about the need to embrace the 21st century ways of doing businesses.

My friend studied Computer Sci in NAU, he was into web designing in Onicha but he kept telling me the attitude of Onicha businessmen is not encouraging, tell them the benefits of having a website running and the need to do some social media marketing, branding and create identity for their business, they will be looking at you like your a 419er, afterall they are making money without all these in place why need them now.
My friend told me if you finally met one and tell him the price, he will school you on how simple your job is and why he is even doing you favour by trying to give you a job, they will be pricing it like "Azu Fridge" at Ochanja market, even their payment style isnt encouraging, so the dude abandoned the career and come to lagos to seek a banking job luckilly he got with UBA and his impression about Onicha businessmen havent changed.
They need orientation and attitudinal change. Most of them are confortable being importers but its the job of our government to remind them of the need to change from being consumer to being a producer.
Yes there is too much money in importation but the future is bleak if government policies come inplace.

I came to Lagos for an assignment for months ago, while surfing the net i stumbled on Konga site, i created account, login and ordered for a shoe, in less than 3days i got it at the address i provided.

Our ministry of trade, commerce and ANSIPPA need to be doing these things, everday new markets are being constructed in every corner of the state, must everybody go into trading?

Govt should do something to the economy of Onicha, its not balanced, the traders are boxing others on a tight corner and the govt is giving them undue advantage, they are buying up every available space, they park cars indiscriminately, they dispose refuse anyhow, they cross the xpressway instead of the pedestrian bridges, they corrupt our law enforcement agents with bribes because they have deep pockets.

Obiano and his govt should promote and save white collar businesses in Onicha, the informal sector domination of Onicha is not giving the city a rounded outlook and its not a global best practices.

Lets have shops, markets, companies, offices, hotels, restraunts, schools, cafes, studios, skycrapers, airports, et al well represented in the city.

Not totally correct.

Many traders use "Ali Baba" and "VConnect" to get the best quotes (Ali Baba is a Chinese ecommerce site). There is heavy Internet usage among younger traders (especially those involved in import/export trade). You should spend some time talking with them.

You cannot just go to a trader telling them "you want to design a website", you've got to demonstrate what value that website adds. I was bidding for a job with Alaba traders, the website was to be a clearing house for their goods - & they saw the benefit.

Since I didn't have a brand name, I was to be paid a percentage of sales and that is logical; ecommerce is a risky channel - and in any case, Alaba traders sell their goods via Konga!!

So they aren't as ignorant as you think.

LogicPower:
Your post generally makes a lot of sense, but with regards to the above, you should know that politics is not like mathematics or physical sciences.

For instance, your calculation of having an Igbo president earlier under PDP than under APC is based on the assumption that PDP would keep winning elections until it gets to the turn of the Ibgo president in 12 years timei

Although this is quite possible, it is very UNLIKELY, considering the current momentum the APC is enjoying across the country, which is being fueled by profound and widespread discontent and disillusionment with the PDP's 16 years rule, especially the not-so-impressive performance of GEJ.

And the 'Christian north' you mentioned may not be a sure banker for the Igbo candidate that time, partially due to the gross failure of GEJ, again, especially his lack of showing enough commitment and leadership in protecting the lives and properties of thousands of innocent northerners, Christians and Muslims, who were being slaughtered almost daily by the BH savages.

This means that in the future the Northern voters would be more critical in their appraisal of candidates, and less carried away by sheer religious or ethnic sentiments, as they must have realized by now that it is NOT in the interest of anybody to have an incompetent or unprepared leader at the top.

And although relations between the Northern Christians and their Muslim neighbours have in recent years deteriorated to the extent that they hardly see 'eye to eye', a lot of the Christian minorities would very wary to replace their northern 'masters' with a new set of 'masters' from across the Niger who they know to be so domineering by nature, so conceited, so pushy to the extent of being so inconsiderate of the feelings of others and, above all, who may be so unforgiving about a past of our national history that none of us can change!.

Please note: JONATHAN IS NOT IGBO.

Only ethnic bigots like Nyako broadcast that lie - I know it has gained traction in the North, but it is not true.

I need to point that out.

LogicPower:
Your post generally makes a lot of sense, but with regards to the above, you should know that politics is not like mathematics or physical sciences.

For instance, your calculation of having an Igbo president earlier under PDP than under APC is based on the assumption that PDP would keep winning elections until it gets to the turn of the Ibgo president in 12 years timei

Although this is quite possible, it is very UNLIKELY, considering the current momentum the APC is enjoying across the country, which is being fueled by profound and widespread discontent and disillusionment with the PDP's 16 years rule, especially the not-so-impressive performance of GEJ.

And the 'Christian north' you mentioned may not be a sure banker for the Igbo candidate that time, partially due to the gross failure of GEJ, again, especially his lack of showing enough commitment and leadership in protecting the lives and properties of thousands of innocent northerners, Christians and Muslims, who were being slaughtered almost daily by the BH savages.

This means that in the future the Northern voters would be more critical in their appraisal of candidates, and less carried away by sheer religious or ethnic sentiments, as they must have realized by now that it is NOT in the interest of anybody to have an incompetent or unprepared leader at the top.

And although relations between the Northern Christians and their Muslim neighbours have in recent years deteriorated to the extent that they hardly see 'eye to eye', a lot of the Christian minorities would very wary to replace their northern 'masters' with a new set of 'masters' from across the Niger who they know to be so domineering by nature, so conceited, so pushy to the extent of being so inconsiderate of the feelings of others and, above all, who may be so unforgiving about a past of our national history that none of us can change!.

We shall see.

Some of you think Nigeria begins and ends in Lagos newspaper stands.

As long as Sharia persists in the North and is used for politics, Northern Christians and Muslims will never see eye to eye. This is irrespective of whether Jonathan or Buhari wins the next elections.

What is happening today is an ethnic power squabble and this ethnic power squabble will continue, irrespective of who wins what. Of course you know this: we haven't heard the last from the Niger Delta.

It is no longer a matter of "mutual dislike", but "common interests". Save the 2015 elections, does the North and South West have anything in common? No. Does the North and the Niger Delta have anything in common? No, especially when the North is the chief stumbling block to resource control.

Do Northern Christians and Igbos have increasingly more in common? Yes, especially when they tend to be on the same side during the North's many recurring inter-religious/ethnic crisis.

The wisest course of action is for Ndigbo to sit aside while the rest of Nigeria tears itself apart. If Buhari wins, he will have to make very expensive concessions to the Niger Delta. Geography has placed us side by side with the Niger Delta, so invariably, we will benefit.

If Jonathan wins, the Igbo elite will continue their favored position (for example Ernest Azudialu of Nestoil now owns 10% stake in Julius Berger - & he's investing his money in his home state - money trickles down).

We've learned to thrive irrespective of politics - and we learned from our bitter experience (read up on 20 pounds after the Civil War). There is NOTHING you can do to displace us, whether you like us or not.

Whether you like Ndigbo or not - you still travel on Igbo-owned luxury buses, buy your generator from an Igbo man, by your spare parts from an Igbo man. The list is endless.

Very soon, that economic power will be turned into political power. I am giving you advance notice.

What today's politics is encouraging is an alliance between the Niger Delta, Igbos and Northern Minorities/Christians.

Think about it, if Ndigbo and the Niger Delta ever unite and sustain that unity, the Yoruba claim of "economic dominance" will be shredded to pieces.

It is not in the interest of Yorubas to let this happen, but Tinubu's imposition of Osinbajo as VP (instead of a person from the Niger Delta), is going to make this more likely.

Finally, the next generation of Igbo politicians are going to be people born after the Civil War. They will be more assertive, less likely to be "boot lickers" than the current crop.

MayorofLagos:
In 2023, which is only 8yrs from now, a new leadership will be sitting at the helms of affairs in Ohaneze. For most part we in the SW will see to it that those elected to lead Ibo forward are those with vested wealth outside Iboland. We will use their mansion in Lekki and their business in Ladipo to handicap their decision in the interest of Ndigbo.

When Uzor Kalu raised his voice in support of Ndigbo and threatened to sue Lagos State on behalf of deportees we retrieved his paperwork and discovered he is a tax dodger....so we acted in the interest of Lagos State. Kalu has not said anymore about a lawsuit.

In 2023 Presidency shall return to Yorubaland. Ohaneze must ask all Ibo aspirants to stand down and not contest against Osinbajo.

See you then....

A week is a very long time in politics. 8 years is an eternity.

Ndigbo are not ready for politics today, but I can assure you that in 8 years they will - and you will be shocked at the resources they'll have at their disposal then.

This is a nonsensical write up.

Ndigbo are in the most logical place politically.

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo president.

By 2019, you could have an Igbo VP (with the PDP/APGA configuration), with APC, that might not happen for 20 - 24 years.

But going beyond that, of what relevance are these positions to the well-being of the average citizen? The North can occupy the presidency for 100 years, but that will have zero impact on the appalling human capital indices (poverty, literacy rates, infant mortality) in Northern Nigeria. In fact, the average Northerner will see no positive improvement in his/her life.

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, did it result in any significant improvement in the life of the average Yoruba person? No.

Many Nigerians (we Igbos inclusive), don't appreciate the vantage position we occupy in Nigeria. We control the "economic midfield". If all Igbo traders in Lagos decide to close shop for just 3 days, Lagos will grind to a halt and people will understand the meaning of the word "economic dominance".

Why is Lagos strategic? Because it is the site of Nigeria's most important deep seaport? But who are the importers? Igbos. In spite of the natural advantage of having a massive port, the Yorubas haven't dominated the export/import business - an why is that so? They lack the ability and coordination to.

Professors Anya and Obiechina (I am told), have advanced this position - Ndigbo should concentrate on dominating "Nigeria's economic midfield" and consolidating on that dominance. If you want to travel from Lagos to Abuja by luxury bus - you either use Chisco, Ekene, "The Young", ABC, GUO, Ezenwata, Ifesinachi etc (there are no Hausa or Yoruba luxury bus companies competing with these people).

As the price of a barrel of crude continues to drop, the North will soon understand that simply telling its large mass of uneducated and ignorant people that "Jonathan is the problem" won't suffice. When they take over power, they will be forced to confront what they failed to confront for the past 40 years and since they lack any ideas except for struggling with the Niger Delta for every last drop of oil, they won't succeed.

What the South East needs are a crop of good governors. If Anambra and Abia can do N100 billion each in IGR, then Igbo politics will change. With Obiano already in Anambra and the likelihood of Otti in Abia, this is doable.

Finally, these aren't the 70s anymore. Hausas and Yorubas cannot simply "dominate" Nigeria - they have Ndigbo, an assertive Niger Delta and Northern Christians/Minorities to contend with.

Do away with this "1970s mentality/thinking".

OreMI22:
I think the should build the Awka to Onitsha line first using the expressway median. The would require no bridges and should be cheap and affordable.
Then as the project begins to earn revenue, government will deploy some of the resources to build the Onitsha-Nnewi line which requires long flyover bridges like the Rivers Monorail flyover bridges. But then, they will have revenue coming from the already functioning Awka-Onitsha line.

A lot has to be considered before even the Awka to Onitsha end starts. Anambra's budget this year is N164 billion, that won't be enough to cover capital intensive projects like light rail, in addition to serious road construction like the 47 kilometer Aguleri/Oil rig road (for comparison, Lagos to Sagamu is about 60 kilometers).

So the project will have to be a PPP, the question is will then be, is there a proven business case for the project? How financially viable is it? Obiano is a banker, so he'll understand how to make the case. When the case is made, then investors can be brought in.

A project of this nature will not break-even for many years, if it gets off the ground. But as a practical matter - how much traffic moves to and fro Awka to Onitsha and will the light rail totally displace commuter transport? These are questions Obiano's people must answer.

As for the Rivers monorail, I think it is a classical white elephant. It isn't economically viable (standard light rail would have been more appropriate like Lagos & it does not lead to anywhere). Anambra should steer clear of such projects.

On the balance, I think the Anambra Airport project will be more viable (and is cheaper, costs $150 million). The success of the Asaba airport shows there's a lot of demand for aviation services in Anambra - & and airport with out the Niger Bridge bottleneck and the stress of passing through Enugu (federal road is terrible) will be welcome.

Also note that the airport is to be tied to the oil refinery. It is to serve as a hub for aviation fuel. Don't mind the tag "Cargo Airport", Owerri is a "Cargo Airport", but handles mainly passenger traffic.

biafranqueen:
@ bold can you explain the land usage issues what is the problem exactly!

I am so proud of Governor Obiano, you will show them how it is done in government.

Unlike Onitsha/Awka where you can simply use the middle of the expressway (if you check the median of the Enugu/Onitsha express way it is very wide), doing a railway from Awka to Nnewi or Nnewi to Onitsha will require a lot of "right of way" or land issues.

What they are planning is something similar to Fashola's Lagos/Badagry light rail (only difference is Enugu/Onitsha Expressway) will be used.

OreMI22:
Although intra city light rail system will do a lot of good for moving around Onitsha, it won't be peanuts because almost the entire railine will have to be a bridge. There are simply no spaces left for the train to run on land. It will be a herculean task designing and building an intra city train for Onitsha metro. The roads are really, really tight.

No, there aren't thinking about an INTRA city link, they are thinking about an INTER city link - i.e a railway to connect Nnewi, Onitsha & Awka. The plan is to expand it to other towns in future.

Myluv1:
I think he meant this:
https://s18.postimg.org/ls24tzt3t/rail.jpg

I really care to know the latest about that MoU signed around 2010

No, it is not going to be a monorail, the person I talked to was clear about that.

3dankey:
Please can you throw more light on the following ^^, especially number 1 and 4,cos I have only heard about 2 & 3.

Number 2 & 3 comes from the Anambra State Investment Promotion & Protection Agency (I don't think it is widely publicized information). It is part of the $1.9 billion dollar investment Obiano hopes to attract to Anambra State.

I can give more details when I get to Awka early next year, by God's grace.

For those who are interested, Obiano is planning the following:

1. Light rail system (worth $600 million - will be funded via PPP). The plan is to link Onitsha, Awka & Nnewi by rail. Onitsha & Awka can be easily linked using the median of the Enugu/Onitsha expressway. The links to Nnewi will be a bit tricky (land access issues).

2. A $150 million dollar investment in an 80MW power plant. (PPP too).

3. A $130 million dollar Cargo Airport at Umueri.

4. $60 million dollar ultra-modern bus terminal and mass transit.

Target for commencement is 6 months.

Please stop the childish taunts, let's focus on substance on this thread.

Please can we stop these petty insults and focus on the subject of this thread.

The people who promoted the "Wawa/Ijekebe" dichotomy are either very old or dead. There were ugly incidents in the past like Enugu State's dismissal of Anambra people from its Civil Service, but that is past - Enugu needs Anambra and vice versa.

The selling point of Enugu is the town Enugu - spacious, wide & very livable. People with "civil service/politics" mentality (who know nothing about trade and investment) - tried to exclude Ndi Anambra from Enugu. In a more internally generated revenue driven Nigeria, this attitude cannot work. Governor Chime was instrumental to attracting the likes of Innoson and other Anambra businessmen to Emene to set up shop.

The selling point of Anambra is commerce - but we don't have a planned urban area (like Enugu). Everyone (people from Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia & Imo) come to Anambra to make money. At the rate Obiano is going, we might have several planned urban areas in Anambra within 4 years. This might chip away at Enugu's advantage (which Asaba is already competing with).

I traveled through Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo States last October (I even have a lot of pictures). Enugu & Ebonyi have the natural advantage of vast tracts of arable land (there is too much land in Abakaliki). Abia and Imo have massive potential in Oil Palm and the Adani/Omor/Anambra river basin area can give you 300,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum, if we are serious.

Ndigbo should start looking at ways to collaborate, not this silly competition ("the narcissism of small differences". We are strategically positioned and we should look beyond collaborating with each other, but consider collaboration with our neighbours: Abakaliki is a couple of hours away from Calabar. Dredging the Calabar channel is in our interest - it has the potential to make Abakaliki & Enugu boom economically (adding Enugu's International Airport to that mix).

Kogi has vast tracts of land and due to Peter Obi's marvelous work on road construction, people are now passing through Igbariam/Aguleri/Ifite Ogwari etc to get to Nsukka & then to Idah. There's a lot to leverage on that relationship.

Benue is right next to Enugu State (Nsukka) - we can leverage on that too & Ndigbo have no major issues with Idoma people.

Instead of blind arguments over nothing ("narcissism of small differences", consider this: Enugu is closer to Benin than Lagos, Enugu is closer to Makuri than Lagos too - ditto for Taraba. Enugu International Airport can turn into a major aviation hub for Nigeria if we are ready to fight for its patronage, not kill ourselves over "Ndi Wawa and Ndi Ijekebe".

Could we please return to the topic of this thread?

Ikengawo:
lol ok
[img]http://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Nigeria-per-capita-GDP-map.png[/img]

This data is meaningless (and unreliable).

That is why we had to "rebase" our GDP.

Can we see pictures instead of the predictable diatribe and counter-diatribe?

spyder880:
They have a big hotel along Bisalla road , independence layout.

I'm not sure that hotel is part of the global Golden Tulip franchise.

MayorofLagos:
Even Jonathan got drunk on ogogoro one night and in front of national media declared that only the Igbos have been the pillars of his administration.

Add his lack of tact and discretion on that statement to the repeated call by Ohaneze for all Igbos anywhere in Nigeria to vote Jonathan.

I hope not, but if it ends in a baboon and dog fight in 2015 Igbo will end up a scapegoat in the battle. There probably is....but Ive never met an Ijawman that built mansion and invested his life in Hausaland the way Ibos are everywhere in North and with their boast of mansions and economic control.


Ndigbo has two choices
1. Vote Jonathan and damn the consequencies
2 Self preservation and let Jonathan return home a one-term President.

What nonsense is this?

What will happen if Ndigbo don't vote for APC? They will impose "economic blockade" on us, like they did during the Civil War? Will they starve us like Awolowo did?

I don't have time for this nonsense - or threats.

How come nobody is threatening Ijaws?

They know Ijaws can cripple this economy, so they tread carefully, but these stupid Lagos people spend all their time threatening Igbos.

My advise to all these people threatening Igbos:

Do you worst, e no go pass Civil War - and we survived the Civil War and are thriving today.

Yorubas did not vote Obasanjo in 1999. He still won the elections.

Was that the end of the Yoruba race?

Igbos WILL NOT vote Buhari in 2015, even if he wins, what will he do? Starve Igbos like Gowon and Awolowo (with sadistic pleasure) did during the Civil War?

We need to really stop this nonsense. The region in Nigeria with serious problems is the North, not the South East.

They have 13 year old suicide bombers!!

Please let that sink in! The social problems the incompetence of the Northern ruling elite have caused will take DECADES to fix - and Buhari CANNOT perform magic.

So we Igbos will neither vote APC nor Buhari. Deal with it.

If you win the elections, you can do your worst - will it be worse than "all is fair in love and war" (and starvation/blockade) or "twenty pounds"?

spyder880:
This is a new development around Ibagwa Nike, on the new Opi-Nsukka road, I am still awaiting answers on what the government wants to build here.

It must be green houses for tomatoes.

Enugu State has an arrangement with San Carlos of Mexico to grow tomatoes and pineapples for export to Western Europe (via the Enugu International Airport).

barcanista:
The choice of VP should be between Prof Osinbajo and Gov Fashola. Osinbajo though not your regular politician, he can always ride on the political machine of Sen Bola Tinubu. This same machine brought Fashola to power in 2007 though he was relatively unknown as at then. Osinbajo's candidacy will fulfil the South requirement, satisfy religious balance (for those with religious bias), he answers the question of technocrat and competence, as well as satisfying loyalty requirement.
Fashola answers the question of popularity, tested and trusted, competence, a technocrat, absolute loyalty. A lot of awareness and campaign will be done to neutralise any question on religious sentiment with Fashola's candidacy. I believe we are equal to the task. Whoever is chosen between these two will be a great pair to Muhammadu Buhari.

Some of you think the only people who matter in Nigeria are Hausas and Yorubas, thus you nominate a Hausa/Fulani as president & a Yoruba as vice (after 8 years of Obasanjo).

And all will be well?

Next year will be very interesting.

Arysexy:
Nwanne is that road that links onitsha to nsukka now a thorough fare? Has it been completed? Can one travel that route rather than via 9th mile

Yes.

I traveled from Nsukka to Awka in October along that road with no stress. Only problem is the road is lonely.

soroptimist:
For the first time,i will agree with all the summation,mindset and opinion adduced by Tribune at this point in time
Buhari/Fashola let's go there!

Many of you think Nigeria consists of only the Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba.

You are going to learn A LOT next elections.

I visited somebody in Emene on Monday. The road was terrible (around Orie Emene). The sooner they fix it, the better.

APGA has not delivered a single standard infrastructure project. I doubt this airport will be the first.

Most probably it will be of poor quality & not delivered on trip. When Obiano talked about it previously, he called it an "airstrip" - and that is exactly what it will be.

cjrane: The runway should be at least 3.5KM and with very good terminal building.
Nigeria has outgrown mushroom airports and shoul not be accepted by Anambra

I wish it will not be, but the end result will be a poor quality job - if the airport ever gets built.

APGA will always use cheap, local contractors and will never do a good job.