₦airaland Forum

This is a wicked campaign of calumny. I hav known Capt Wada for very many years and all I can say abt him is dt he's a fine gentleman. He owned and flew EAS airline planes after many years of flying Nigeria Airway planes, now tell me,  which of these responsibilities demand more delicate mental stability; piloting and government administration ? Kogi indigenes shouldn't fall for ds wicked ruse as it doesn't in any way serve any positive purpose. If the man withstood more mentally tasking responsibilities in time before without any unusual judgement lapse, its easy to see that he's more mentally qualified than many holding or who hav held same postal all over d country.

^ Sure.

In contrast to d other thread listing failed national projects, this is for listing the successful ones- particularly those after independence. I will start by naming few;

1. Kainji dam (first phase)

2. National Assembly plc 

3. National Primary Health Care (led by Prof Ransom-Kuti)

4. National Action & Control of HIV ?

5. PDP. 

MAMSER

Family Support Programme

Better life for rural women

Operation Feed d Nation

National Bitumen Corp

Ajaokuta steel complex >$10bn US

@ dapo_bear

I hav no document to cite here right now, I only speak from my first hand understanding of d place. It's not abt who receives d port charges, but d fact dt over half of industrial activities in d state is due to location of d port. About half of all d industrial estates r located around apapa and along d apapa express. The effect resounds wt busier international airport and other allied business, hence its very very safe to claim dt over 40% of d economic activities is due to port location.

Consider dt ondo is also a neighbouring state, ask y isn't it half as industrialized as Ogun state? Simple, access to port through two major arteries of lagos-ibadan and agege-ota-abeokuta express ways, whereas ondo has no direct access to d port.

Now u see that where d vultures gather is where d carcass is. Consider that there r more deep sea port and.inland river ports along Benue and Niger, don't u think many business would also move along since d "compulsion" to stay around lagos is reduced/removed?

@ dapo_bear

I disagree wt u there, do u know dt d only deep sea port is in lagos? Dt alone accounts for over 40% of economic activities there. So what if more deep ports r developed and inland river ports? U wld hav successfully diverted over 40% of such activities from lagos axis. Not dt d port in lagos will die off, it will rather recover and run more efficiently while d other zones grow wt d new deep and river ports. Accordingly, businesses and general commercial activities begin to decentralize wtout any losses per se.

@ Rhino

How i fit take reach u for certain off topic matter.

@ OP
As shiit hits d fan, more begging questions abound. Linking BH wt Alimodu Sheriff isn't new, but its surprising involvement wt PDP. D people who ordered killing of its leader in police custody aren't any more mysterious. They may just b first of many.

On d other hand, is it another smoke screen of many mirrors?

Some dumb heads here don't know difference between population growth due to high natality rate and rural-urban migration. Lagos state's is rue to d latter and not because of uncontrolled childbirths. I'm sure that lagos will rank least in term of average family size.

More people enter lagos daily for all sort of socio-economic reasons from virtually every state of d federation and west Africa subregion.

^

Hey, cool down dude. Cut d adrenaline rush. Why do u want to attack Mauritania? Do u hav an evidence of d state culpable? Crime commited by an individual cannot b arbitrarily visited on a nation. My guy, abeg chillax

Good reason to bring back Al Mustapha, Sergeant Rogers and other members of d strikes force. Grant them ds mission on promise of state pardon national honour.

^

I doubt he did because Its well known fact dt The Nation is staunchly pro-ACN.

@OP

I hav an inkling dt ds man will b arrested and detained by d govt very soon.

Damaturu for me

Oops! Looks like its a solo effort for Jelani Aliyu.

@ Ileke-idi,

We neva start at all. It will take a serious national strategy to do dt over time. But we can start by compelling Serria Leone, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Niger ,, Benin and Togo to patronize Innoson brand to guarantee some of d free benefits dey enjoy. It's how everyone does it.

@ Ileke-idi

lol. Aircraft part manufacturing no b moi-moi o! It's an advanced art wc Nigerian hav attained theoretically, but infrastructure is not there. It's capital intensive and very hi-tech. High tech industry is very very political, u don't just go it alone, even ur country must arm twist to get market for u.

@ all

On d Nigerian guy dt did d GM car design, I think its erroneous to describe him dt way because I believe there's something u call a "design TEAM". That he heads d design team doesn't make him d sole designer. I'm also aware dt even smaller corporations hav teams for such core tasks, even if it were dt his design firm dt did it. But I may just b wrong

@ Ileke

Technology business is not done like dt especially if u r a new entrant or pioneering industry within d country. Normally, ur mother country co-opts and projects u as part of her foreign trade policy and negotiatons thereby practically fighting for market for u. Otherwise, u r a still birth. Technology market is so dominated dt its a highly political influenced.

I believe dt Nigerians deserve d kind of leadership we currently hav.

Slightly aside, met someone who was in Uniport when GEJ was doing his Ph.d. he told me d dude failed his defence six different and consecutive times, it took Alameiyiseigha's intervention wt d university's high authority to waive it for him. I will like Beaf to once again post GEJ's CV so dt we can check his date of receipt of ph.d against Alams' tenure. I'm sure If It were against Tinubu or Sahara reporters, Beaf will b quick to dig up "his evidences". Since I'm sure hes also in possession of ds "exhibit", I implore him to tender it for general scrutiny.

It's shameful to see so many sanctimoniuos people here claiming to b more Nigerian dn d other because he/she is from "other" divide of d country. Shallow thoughts displayed here by most posters simply confirmed their equity wt same barbaric hordes dt effected d various progroms in d North. Given favourable excuses, they all want piece of d barbaric action too, isn't it? Yes, at least that's d subtle clamour I can deduce from many noises and plenty empty talks so far.

U want division? Go ahead and do it, what r u waiting for? Who told u it will giv u peace n security? It's only fooolishness to think dat if u hav a failed state as neighbour, it will b none of ur headache. In fact, u bear d brunt most! Boko haram menace has fortunately been limited to certain areas wc makes it better manageable dn an all-over epidemic. The situation isn't so terrible per se, what's really terrible is indolence of d government.

When boko harem came out wt list of impossible demands, a good negotiator tells u dt they aren't unreasonable, dey only want to b taken serious. Simple! But what we hav on ds forum are juveniles calling for war and anarchy, to which I ask; unto what end? Separation from d "backward north" to create ur safe haven republic, isn't it? Then u r double stooopid!

Kenya would rather annex southern Somalia in others to guarantee her security. Turkey wld do same to NW Iraq; Pakistan, southern Afghanistan; Uganda, northern Congo DR; Israel, West Bank, Golan heights, Gaza strip. Many more. No sane nation or people want neighbour wt internal security problem. U had rather hav a legitimate incursion as part of republic as present Nigerian excuse or face up to frequent spill overs dt will b worse for u. So what wld b d gain of separation?

If by far chance ur dream comes true, do u think BH will b ur only worry? U must b joking or plain stoopid to consider it as a main problem, when u hav hordes of Taureg warlords, Chadian rebels, Islamist groups, AQIM and bands of others ready to dip their beaks in. It's just obvious dat many here don't know what is happening on other side of d current boarder. When u also factor in d very high possibility of discovery of oil and gas on ds side of Chad basin, what do u think u hav? Sum of all ur fears! Somalia will b a paradise compared to ur new neighbour.

Finally I will like to ask u, when u say North, who and who r u pointing fingers at? Is it based on religious affiliations or ethnic proximities? Oh! I forgot, all "northerners" r animals and villains, while d "southerners" r saints and angels. So kill them all, abi?

North has a tremendous social problem, agreed. But excising her is most unwise. D solution is in SNG and getting d northern leadership to show commitments towards social re-engineering there. It's our problem, if we like it or not! Either we face it and help d north through it (taming our devil) or we abandon d north and creating our very own nemesis.

Let us learn to apply good judgement above emotional outbursts.

Peace in our time.

I forgive d writer for declaring ab initio dt he's writing wt a lot of anger. U can always forgive an angry man for his irrationality. Anger impairs ability of d mental faculty to make best rational judgements.

I wish d writer, just like many misguided and poorly informed souls that crawl on ds forum, to specifically tell where d separation line between where North and South cuts through. It's a poor understanding of socio-cultural makeup of d country or just plain fooolishnes dt make anyone to hold a faulty notion as above in any regard. Red and violet r clearly distinguishable and opposite on natural colour band, but can anybody tell me where exactly the shift line occurred? If u can, then u r qualified to delineate South from North in Nigeria.

Without being dragged into d emotional citing of terrible checkers of progroms, I only wld like to mention dt d best way out of d current danger is not retaliatory violence, but in open and objective sovereign national conference where participating groups will renegotiate and redraw their article of association. Advocating violence is unacceptably costly in every ramifications, indeterminate and very unwise under d present settings.

Unfortunately also, d record of precedence d govt has shown on such matters in time past is abhorrent. Until d govt learns to make scapegoats, it stares at risk of further loss of perceived authority among its populace-an evidence of failing state. I personally wld prefer ask rock bombed by boko haram before such attempt on lagos. Honestly, d former wld end well for d nation while d latter, God help us

@ ideylaff  

dat was about 3 months ago. It was around d UN house bombing but can't remember if it was before or after, because he was is lagos all through and never stepped abuja, even Jonathan had to come down to lag too. He delivered lecture at Pan-African University then too.

FG/BA face-off: Cameron writes Jonathan
On November 9, 2011 · In News


 



By Rotimi Ajayi, Regional Editor, North & Kenneth Ehigiator
ABUJA — British Airways lobbyists have pressured the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to intercede on behalf of the airline to save it from losing more than 50 per cent of its flight frequency to Nigeria following the treatment meted out to Nigeria airline, Arik Air, at Heathrow Airport.

This came as Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, said yesterday that the Federal Government’s action on British Airways was informed by the need to protect the country’s domestic airlines.

A dependable government source disclosed that Mr. Cameron had waded in last Friday following the insistence of the Ministry of Aviation that British Airways should restructure its London-Lagos flight frequency from seven to three weekly.


British Prime Minister, David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan during his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

According to the source, the Prime Minister had written a strong letter of appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan, seeking a resolution of the matter in more beneficial manner to the two countries.

It was learnt that sequel to Cameron’s letter, the President had directed the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, to grant a week extension to BA to allow both Nigeria aviation authorities and that of Britain sort out the disagreement

The source said: “The British Prime Minister actually wrote to our President on this. So discussions are now at the highest government level and this is why a week extension was granted BA to comply with new flight schedule given to the airlines.

“The import of the letter is to see how to find a way to resolve the issue diplomatically in a manner that Nigeria will not be shortchanged and this can only come if Arik is restored its full flight schedule.”

A statement in Abuja, Monday, by Joe Obi, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, had underscored the need to allow the bilateral discussion end before the commencement of the new flight schedule of the British Airways to Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Why BA cut Arik’s flight

The source revealed that the BA had taken the decision to cut Arik flight from Abuja to London following the realisation that the passenger load of Arik had risen sharply since the commencement of the Abuja-London direct flight.

It was learnt that following the downward review of fare by Arik and the upsurge in the passenger load of the airline, BA felt threatened on the route.

Nigeria had been awarded 21 flights on the Nigeria-UK flight, of which Arik uses 12 while the remaining nine belong to Air Nigeria and the defunct Bellview Airlines.

Abuja airport domestic terminal for renovation

Meantime, all domestic operations at the domestic terminal of the Nnamidi Azikiwe Airport Abuja are to be moved over to the International Terminal as from next week.

It was learnt that the present domestic building would undergo renovation to make it suitable for handling of cargo and pilgrimage operations.



FAAN MD explains decision on BA



Uriesi, who spoke in an interview on AIT’s Kakaki programme, said the Federal Government was not comfortable with the manner Arik Air was edged out of Heathrow on its Abuja-London operations, saying the fact that the slots denied Arik were given to British Airways angered the government.

According to him, though the issue of slot allocation at Heathrow was determined by commercial considerations, the sudden increase in the cost of slots to Arik at the airport gave the impression of a deliberate plot to muscle the airline out of the route.

He said failure of government to take action might spell doom for the country’s airlines in future, as other foreign airlines would be encouraged to do a similar thing to a Nigerian carrier.

He said: “When you have a bilateral air services agreement between two countries, it is about accessing your market, it is about exchange to that market. The reality of the situation is that the government provides the framework for the access to that market.

“The United Kingdom has 21 frequencies, which gives room for British carriers to access our market 21 times a week, and Nigerian carriers can access the British market 21 times a week, it is all about exchange to access market.

“Now, on the side of the British carriers, it is exchange to your market and what I will exchange for it into your own market. The agreement sort of specifies how that access will work out. For the British carriers, they are utilising the entire 21 slots as they have two carriers, BA and VAA, but on the Nigerian side, only Arik Air is exercising that right.

Rights of indigenous carriers

“It is not really about Arik Air, it is about Nigerian designated carriers, which happens to be Arik Air, which has seven frequencies from Lagos to Heathrow, but a couple of weeks ago, with its five slots a week from Abuja into Heathrow, its slot got taken rather suddenly in the middle of October, they were left high and dry.

“To a large extent, it is one thing to have 21 frequencies, but if you do not have slot at the airport, it is generally about trying to defend a Nigerian carrier. I only want to de-emphasize the Arik part of it: it is about defending Nigerian designated carrier; it is trying to protect the rights of indigenous carriers.

“In the bilateral air services agreement, it is a convoluted arrangement that we have two British carriers at the detriment of one Nigerian carrier. It is one thing to have frequency into the airport without a slot, which makes it difficult. It is good for government to protect the rights of indigenous carriers.

“Slots into Heathrow is probably the most valuable commodity in the air transport industry, and there is a lot of acts associated with access to Heathrow. There are so many countries across the globe, many countries engage the British authorities to get slots into Heathrow.”

“Arik Air quietly went to negotiate five slots a week into Heathrow from Abuja, paying about £600,000 to have the opportunity to lease the slots, and the airline was paying about £52,000 per month for the operations, but all of a sudden, the British authorities informed Arik Air that from the end of October, it will not be able to lease slots to the airline.

“Coincidentally, it turns out that British Airways bought those slots, and even more and began to use six slots about the time Arik Air was elbowed out. There is a whole trade of slots going on in Heathrow, it is almost an essential commodity in the industry.

“One thing is to be able to access the leasing of slots. You can even buy them out right, then they become yours, the other thing is to show a competitive arrangement to elbow some one out of the market, but I think what is important for us to stress is that a lot of people are watching this.

“Other carriers and their owner nations , if a Nigerian registered carrier , could be elbowed out of that market , it means that other Nigerian carriers could be edged out of any other route by the authorities other than the British market. The access to the Nigerian market is prime for British Airways , so in elbowing out Arik Air out of Abuja – London is enough indication that British Airways will have to face some consequences.”

Already, management of FAAN had said it would restrict British Airways’ operations into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with effect from next week, citing operational reasons.

This is seen as additional retaliatory measure to the federal government’s slash of the airline’s frequency from seven to three on the Abuja-London route.

thing is to show a competitive arrangement to elbow some one out of the market, but I think what is important for us to stress is that a lot of people are watching this.

“Other carriers and their owner nations , if a Nigerian registered carrier , could be elbowed out of that market , it means that other Nigerian carriers could be edged out of any other route by the authorities other than the British market. The access to the Nigerian market is prime for British Airways , so in elbowing out Arik Air out of Abuja – London is enough indication that British Airways will have to face some consequences.”

Already, management of FAAN had said it would restrict British Airways’ operations into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with effect from next week, citing operational reasons.

This is seen as additional retaliatory measure to the federal government’s slash of the airline’s frequency from seven to three on the Abuja-London route.





http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/fgba-face-off-cameron-writes-jonathan/

Minister explains reintroduction of toll gates
On November 8, 2011 · In News


 



By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

LAGOS-Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, Monday, explained the rationale behind Federal Government’s introduction of toll gates on the country’s major highways, noting that bad roads will be exempted from the exercise.

In a statement, yesterday, the minister said: “Government is sensitive to the feelings of the people, so in re-tooling the toll gate policy, we have decided that we are not going to toll a road that is so bad that there would be nothing to show for it. What we have decided is that as we would rehabilitate and reconstruct the roads, and only roads that qualify and passed through this process of full rehabilitation are going to start collecting tolls.

“The toll gates would not be re-introduced to any road that had not been rehabilitated and reconstructed to the level of it being qualified as fit and proper by global standards. Minimum standard for the toll gates would be similar to the toll plaza on the Lekki-Ikorodu road in Lagos built by the Lekki Concessionary Company, LCC.

“The toll plazas we are planning now are not going to be run on the basis of business as usual, we would have automated plazas. They will be monitored and we would ensure that it is not just driving to a toll plaza and paying cash. You can get appropriate tickets or cards in advance from any of the designated banks before you ply these roads. With your tickets or sticker you can go without delay”, he explained noting that this would ensure accountability and transparency in the management of the toll plazas.

He said the reason for the re-introduction of toll gates is to bring to stoppage the degeneration of roads to the state of disrepair, saying: “And in so doing, we should be able to sustain the all-year maintenance of these roads. The ministry is working on a policy which will eventually be forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative action. Again, we seem to be the only country in the world where you don’t have appropriate institutional framework to pull funds together and manage our roads.”

Onolememen noted that the implication of non-service charge payment on road usage is the major cause of bad roads presently in all parts of the country, adding that money at the disposal of government cannot guarantee sustainable maintenance of the roads, hence the need for a pragmatic and realistic measure.

The minister averred that the abrogation of the toll gates was a wrong government policy, stressing that the absence of toll gates on the country’s major highways have contributed to the poor funding and subsequent lack of maintenance of roads aside the added advantage of toll gates serving as checks on most criminal activities on major highways including escalated cases of armed robbery.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/minister-explains-reintroduction-of-toll-gates/

this is just sad, especially d Ajaokuta part. so sad.

Solution to power problem not in sight -Ngige
On November 8, 2011 · In News





BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA— SENATOR Chris Ngige has attributed the continued epileptic power supply in the country to the poor handling of the sector by the immediate past administration in the country, even after huge sums of money were spent.

He also expressed fears that what was on ground did not give any hope that the problem would be over soon.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, Ngige, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Power and Steel Development, observed that no power plant in the country was functioning at its optimal level, noting that Kainji and Shiroro Dams were underutilized.

He added that the little improvement noticed was due to the efforts of some private companies that channelled their excess power to the national grid.

Ngige, who represents Anambra Central senatorial zone, said: “Many power projects were awarded in 2000 and 2001 and over 80% of them have not been executed.

“The existing power stations are not producing at their full capacity. For instance, Kainji Dam has its two chambers unutilized. Even the transmission lines cannot carry the heavy output expected to be generated by the various on–going power projects in the country.

“Many containers that brought in power components could not be cleared because the then government did not provide the money for clearing them, which made the Nigeria Customs to auction 22 of the containers for staying beyond the allowed period at the ports.

“When we discovered this, the Senate Committee on Power and Steel Development had to give a marching order to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, that the containers must be recovered.

“We found out that some of the containers were already in the market and through our efforts, 17 have been recovered so that the owners could use the materials for the projects they are executing across the country.”

He also explained that the senate would ensure that the little power being generated currently was equitably distributed, adding that the committee would soon tour all the power stations in the country to ascertain the situation of things, with a view to finding the way forward.

The senator said it was to ensure stability in the system that informed the committee’s support for 50% increase in the pay of PHCN workers, just as he said that senate was making efforts to discourage casualization in the power sector.

He also said the senate had insisted that the arbitrary billing system must stop, adding that pre-paid metre should be made available to every electricity consumer.

Ngige, however, reminded Nigerians that they had to pay for the power they consumed, adding that senate has directed PHCN to make available a comprehensive list of debtor consumers for deduction of tariffs of such establishments at source.

…Says Indians carted away steel components from Nigeria
BY VINCENT UJUMADU

SENATOR Chris Ngige also revealed in Awka, weekend, that private investors from India who won the bid for the nation’s steel companies have been taking out of the country some of the equipment, instead of making efforts to ensure the completion of the projects.

He told reporters that though the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State had consumed a whopping $7 billion, with the completion level still at 88%, it was discovered that the company was privatised at a give away price to the Indian investors.

He said the investors had been removing sensitive components of the company out of Nigeria which, according to him, is an indication that they did not want the steel industry to function in Nigeria.

Ngige, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Power and Steel Development, said senators were even amazed that the Indian investors had to drag Nigeria to a London court over the issue of steel development in the country.

“We are still studying the case file to know the next step to take,” he said, assuring Nigerians that the senate was determined to bring back to life all the moribund steel companies in the country without undue delay.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/solution-to-power-problem-not-in-sight-ngige/

@ Beaf

Well, for a moment I will leave d messenger and attend to d message.

Thank u for a matured response in ur last post. Ur question is very valid and quintessential. Unfortunately, d greatest mass of d people who u mayb counting for support in such protest r too compromised. It's never an ideology for them but for immediate material benefit, either instantly or little later. When dey claim ideology, its religious or ethnic; hardly pragmatic.

The class dat has some modicum of ingredients to carry this through is d middle class. They hav d knowledge, ideology and command of opinion/ respect. That's y movement like SNG succeeded. If the protest goes Libyan/Syrian style, call in d peasants calvary for a Benghazzi action. But if u lead a lower class protest in present Nigeria, b assured to face a serious criminal prosecution for d mob crimes of ur followers. By then, ur protest wld hav lost legitimacy and popularity.

When d laid off bankers, unemployed graduates, SNG et al r in synchrony, we hav a formidable platform for powerful revolution. But if ur attention is at ur local govt level, b sure It over killings, land matters, chieftancy issues et al, never employ market women, youths(thugs) and okada riders for ideological or infrastructural protest. They will only follow u for their price.

This is my take

We might sit on opposite sides of the political fence, but corruption does not know political party, which is the lie a lot of you tell. I generally expect better from you than the output of the usual foolish clowns who have spoken above.

You people are just cowards who come and mouth off on NL, but whose d.i.cks shrivel when told to put actions to your words. You do not have to follow me, a battle against corruption will acheive the same result, regardless of where Beaf is. Why can't you lead your own street if there is any seriousness about you? Why can't you sensitise the vulcanisers, hawkers, students etc on your own street?

You are only displaying the cowardly Nigerian mentality that is waiting for someone else to come and save them, whereas all the tools are at their feet.

my lost brother, its not difficult to see that u are not yet aware that ur currency of integrity if far spent into far debt. its why u cant still fathom y hardly anyone wants to stand wt u shoulder to shoulder on a noble quest as u proposed. u think its fooolhardy on d people's side, unfortunately u never realized it, even when its beginning to stare u back in d face that u r considered a snake and turncoat. bravery and courage never term as insanity my brother. its only a foooolish eediot as i said earlier dt will choose a snake like u as his platoon mate, let alone sideman in such mission where there r many possible outcomes.

whats wrong wt the responses u r getting here isnt wt the people as u think, but look at d man in d mirror before u. when d people find a truthful person who can b trusted, they will fight their war, but till then, they r wiser that rushing out at sound of beagle from a snake sir. they hav had a fair share of smooth talking, witty and loud sounding 'leaders', they need no more in u. what they crave for is a man whose words still worths much wt people.

thanks for ur usual self, also remember it led u to this slime of public distrust u r. hope u learn sir. a tout la houre! au voire

Only a fooolish eediot and simpleton will follow a snake like Beaf to such protest.

^ how many? i can also spin a story to make it look worse

dont fall for cheap propaganda. most of those arms may be dane guns, bows and arrows, swords and daggers. those stuffs are common among farmers and villagers out there.

assorted arms indeed!

Another fit of fooolishness by poster. Go get a life. Looser

U must hav been imagining things. Try recollect what u heard or ask a fellow listener to interpret d news to u in ur local language for better comprehension.