₦airaland Forum

Has anyone noticed that sputniksnews.com is no longer accessible??

Show support for �� Ukraine or in solidarity for �� Russia

How has this help to show support for Ukraine? when indirectly, China subsists to Western sanctions on his Russia-ally.

We understand the pun and insinuations quite alright.

It is just a pity Zelensky had to be played to game on, when he actually know his country would be the battle ground.

Americans Nato counterparts have prevailed on media sentiments of the public with CNN and the likes.

franchasng:
Most of you supporting Putin are senseless cretins that lack understanding of what is really happening.


Putin did not invade Ukraine because Ukraine a former USSR wants to join NATO, its a useless excuse.


Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are all former

USSR and share closer borders with Russia and they are all members of NATO since 2004, why haven't Russia invaded them since Russia don't want former USSR nations to join NATO?


If Russia is that strong and fearless like Putin is making you urchins believe, let him invade Latvia or Estonia or Lithuania and punish them for joining NATO, of course he knows that if he dares that, US and NATO will delete Russia from the face of earth and that's why they paunced on the most vulnerable prey, Ukraine.



Putin's excuse of invading Ukraine is useless and lack no merit.


If he wants to assist the new breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk then let him go to those regions and station his army and wait for Ukraine to near those regions.



Putin is a madman and all those supporting him are senseless cretins, mostly senseless Muslim terrorists and their senseless sympathizers.

Let's be a bit objective when we argue and not emotional. Emotion has a way of beclouding reasoning at the detriment of sound judgement.

Latvia, Estonia and the likes you mentioned joined NATO what year?

Putin made it clear that Ukraine- " about-to" will be the redline in joining the expansionist America's NATO.

This is double-standard
And clear hypocrisy on the part of America and Nato to Lure Ukraine on. Putin seemed justified

That's called double-standard. The west are fiddling on these issues with their robust information channels whilet inscribing some the bad guys while, we know the actual bad guy.

Well, it's still wrong to invade another sovereign country. Two wrongs can't make it right

Has production been exaggerated?
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it believes the ruling All Progressives Congress party is exaggerating the growth in local rice production.

"If indeed there has been an increase in local rice production, that should be reflected in the marketplace [prices]," PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba told the BBC.

Bar chart showing annual milled rice production
The most recent reliable figures for production come from the US Department of Agriculture, which has projected that Nigeria's rice production will reach five million tonnes in 2022, slightly above the previous year.

The US data show a significant increase in production between 2015 and 2017, which then slowed before another jump in 2020 when production reached a high point of 5.04 million tonnes.

The Nigerian government has data on rice production also showing a big rise between 2015 and 2016. But it does not have any figures for the last few years.

What is behind rising production?
The area under rice cultivation has expanded.

It grew from about 3.1 million hectares (7.7 million acres) in 2015 to 5.9 million hectares in 2018, and then dropped to 5.3 million hectares in 2020 - the latest year for which we have UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data.

The government has been providing improved seedlings and fertiliser to smallholder farmers, and invested in irrigation schemes.

In 2014, a scheme to help farmers hire machinery was introduced to improve mechanisation, and in some states, regional governments have granted land concessions as an incentive to large commercial farmers.

In November 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria launched a programme, under which farmers receive loans at favourable rates. Farmers can opt to pay them back with part of their produce.

The recent display of rice pyramids in Abuja to showcase the success of rice production evoked earlier times when Nigeria's groundnut (peanut) production was a key part of the economy.

Peanut pyramids in Kano, northern Nigeria, in 1955
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Peanut pyramids in Kano, northern Nigeria, in 1955
Similar structures were built from sacks of peanuts, and were viewed as a tourist attraction and a symbol of the country's wealth.

So why are rice prices rising?
President Muhammadu Buhari has said improved production "will aid our efforts at reducing the price of rice in Nigeria".

But the price of rice - which is now one of the country's staple foods - has been rising.

Chart showing average price for cheapest rice in Nigeria between 2017 and 2021
Government data also show the cost of producing rice in Nigeria has been rising, which would translate into higher prices.

And while the production of rice has nearly doubled in a decade, the demand for rice has also been growing.

"The increase in the quantity of rice [produced] is also being met with increasing demand due to population growth," says Khadijat Amolegbe, from the University of Ilorin.

Why Nigeria's rice handouts aren't going down well
Nigeria's border crisis fuelled by rice
Conflict between herders and farmers in the north-west and central parts of Nigeria in recent years has also affected prices, by displacing rice farmers from their farms.

"Previously cultivated lands are not used due to fear of being killed or kidnapped," she says.

However, it is not clear how many farmers have been affected or how great an area of rice production has been lost because of insecurity.

A farmer spraying his rice farm in Benue state, Nigeria
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Some farmers have been forced to relocate because of frequent attacks
Challenges in transportation because of bad roads have also pushed up prices.

Domestic consumption is currently estimated at seven million tonnes, according to US data, leaving the country with a shortfall of two million tonnes.

Rice is being imported
To meet the shortfall, the country has been importing rice, which in some cases appears to come in through smuggling.

Mr Buhari last month denied that rice was imported. "Now [in] Nigeria we produce the rice we need and we even export," he told a local TV station.

There is no official data for exports, and we could not establish from the government what the evidence is for that.

As for imports, Nigeria has had restrictions in place since 2015 in a bid to boost local production. These included:

denying importers access to foreign currency
banning rice imports from neighbouring countries
slapping a 70% tax on rice imported from elsewhere
President Buhari of Nigeria
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,
President Buhari has claimed that Nigeria doesn't import rice
Despite the official claim that Nigeria does not import rice, a US government report estimated that in Nigeria, imports have been running at about two million tonnes in recent years.

A Nigerian Senate committee in December 2021 came up with the same figure, which it said "is either imported or smuggled illegally into the country".

Oshupori is back

He should at least have stayed up to 2 weeks

Nairobi33:
You are a victim of the system, no pun intended but Your standards are low this seemed to be norm in this part of the jungle.

Then you are missing the pun and insinuations. My standards aren't low, yours are and you haven't keep such standards in check to think everyone will follow suit.

Engage me in an intelligent conversation, Let's see

Nairobi33:
I'm ignorant of these "important bills" he passed. pls can you educate me on this regard by highlighting some of the "important bills" he passed? Thank you sir.

8th Senate has Passed 238 Bills in 38 months

2015

-In 2015, the Senate President promised to pass comprehensive electoral reform laws before the election season starts. This promise was actualized in April 2017.

-In August, 2015, Senate mandated Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC to immediately abolish fixed charges on electricity consumption, and bulk marketing of villages and communities.

-In November, 2015, Senate detected the fraudulent activities involved in the implementation of TSA and resolutions to bring such act to a halt saving Nigeria N25billion from the implementation of the TSA policy.

2016.

-In March 2016, the Senate allocated N10bn to IDPs in the northeast in recognition of the dire situation.

-In May, 2016, the Senate investigation exposed abuse of import duty waivers on rice: the senate in a motion mandated its ad-hoc committee to investigate the removal of import waivers on rice.

-On the 4th of October, 2016, the Senate started investigation into the humanitarian crisis in the North East led to the dismissal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for misappropriating funds upwards of N200million.

-The Senate on the 30th of November, 2016 through a Motion, stopped the proposed hike in prices of data plan by the Nigerian Communications Commission.


And a lot more...... Google is always your friend

Compared to this inept rubber stamp and push over senate President

Nairobi33:
I'm ignorant of these "important bills" he passed. pls can you educate me on this regard by highlighting some of the "important bills" he passed? Thank you sir.

8th Senate has Passed 238 Bills in 38 months

2015

-In 2015, the Senate President promised to pass comprehensive electoral reform laws before the election season starts. This promise was actualized in April 2017.

-In August, 2015, Senate mandated Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC to immediately abolish fixed charges on electricity consumption, and bulk marketing of villages and communities.

-In November, 2015, Senate detected the fraudulent activities involved in the implementation of TSA and resolutions to bring such act to a halt saving Nigeria N25billion from the implementation of the TSA policy.

2016.

-In March 2016, the Senate allocated N10bn to IDPs in the northeast in recognition of the dire situation.

-In May, 2016, the Senate investigation exposed abuse of import duty waivers on rice: the senate in a motion mandated its ad-hoc committee to investigate the removal of import waivers on rice.

-On the 4th of October, 2016, the Senate started investigation into the humanitarian crisis in the North East led to the dismissal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for misappropriating funds upwards of N200million.

-The Senate on the 30th of November, 2016 through a Motion, stopped the proposed hike in prices of data plan by the Nigerian Communications Commission.


And a lot more...... Google is always your friend

Compared to this inept rubber stamp and push senate President

BluntTheApostle:
So, you believe Saraki is a better candidate than Tinubu?

Go and read about Tinubu's legacies as governor of Lagos state.

His blueprint is what successive governments have built on to turn Lagos
into an African powerhouse.

Are you real?

Lagos has been and will be African powerhouse-quote your eloquence with or with Tinubu in it.
Lagos was colonial master's power house and Nigeria's Capital and I need not tell what it means to the state economically and all sorts.

Lagos has been rich for even a dimwit governor to perform because of the sustainability of its funds

Yet, we had a governor who did so little even compared to successors
Only for you guys to sing high his praises because he had explored and exploited the financial nutrients of the state by embezzling funds and setting up hungry cronies at the nook and crannies of the such state. If that's what you call blueprints, then I would question your sense of reasoning

In sane countries, people like Tinubu and Atiku have nothing to do with politics. If it were China, they should have been eaten by dogs

And that's the person you want to sell for us as a president huh!!?

Who bewitched you people??

I pray that God should not only punish our inept leaders, but he should as well punish those inane followers who voted them into power


How u forgetful hath thou?

Buhari never taught una lesson

BluntTheApostle:
So, you believe Saraki is a better candidate than Tinubu?

Go and read about Tinubu's legacies as governor of Lagos state.

His blueprint is what successive governments have built on to turn Lagos
into an African powerhouse.

Are you real?

Lagos has been and will be African powerhouse-quote your eloquence with or with Tinubu in it.
Lagos was colonial master's power house and Nigeria's Capital and I need not tell what it means to the state economically and all sorts.

Lagos has been rich for even a dimwit governor to perform because of the sustainability of its funds

Yet, we had a governor who did so little even compared to successors
Only for you guys to sing high his praises because he had explored and exploited the financial nutrients of the state by embezzling funds and setting up hungry cronies at the nook and crannies of the such state. If that's what you call blueprints, then I would question your sense of reasoning

In sane countries, people like Tinubu and Atiku have nothing to do with politics. If it were China, they should have been eaten by dogs

And that's the person you want to sell for us as a president huh!!?

Who bewitched you people??

I pray that God should not only punish our inept leaders, but he should as well punish those inane followers who voted them into power


How u forgetful hath thou?

Buhari never taught una lesson

BluntTheApostle:
So, you believe Saraki is a better candidate than Tinubu?

Go and read about Tinubu's legacies as governor of Lagos state.

His blueprint is what successive governments have built on to turn Lagos
into an African powerhouse.

Are you real?

Lagos has been and will be African powerhouse-quote your eloquence with or with Tinubu in it.
Lagos was colonial master's power house and Nigeria's Capital and I need not tell what it means to the state economically and all sorts.

Lagos has been rich for even a dimwit governor to perform because of the sustainability of its funds

Yet, we had a governor who did so little even compared to successors
Only for you guys to sing high his praises because he had explored and exploited the financial nutrients of the state by embezzling funds and setting up hungry cronies at the nook and crannies of the such state. If that's what you call blueprints, then I would question your sense of reasoning

In sane countries, people like Tinubu and Atiku have nothing to do with politics. If it were China, they should have been eaten by dogs

And that's the person you want to sell for us as a president huh!!?

Who bewitched you people??

I pray that God should not only punish our inept leaders, but he should as well punish those inane followers who voted them into power


How u forgetful hath thou?

Buhari never taught una lesson ?

I have had my reservations about Saraki, up until his stances as the senate president. A lot of important bills on the part of the masses were passed.

A far better candidate than tinubu
We did a cosmopolitan and some one who would make embrace the spirit of come togetherness

Are some people mad or something?

Lagos since inception till the moment had been financially and economically buoyant with or without Tinubu

Read history if need be, Lagos was once the administrative capital of Nigeria
So, if you become a governor of such state and you tend to overtly exploit its financial stoutness raking billions, and using your power to block and buy loyalists and installing them at will just to soothe your selfish interests


Imagine what such will do if such becomes a president. People like Atiku and Tinubu and Buhari have not business in contemporary politics anymore
In sane politics, they should by now rot away in prisons

No amount of laundered image will put Tinubu, Atiku on that seat

Those who looted away our past and now assuring us of a greater future

What insolent!

God of all gods
Allah
Amodioha
Ogun

Will not allow this

ityP:
He won't declare. Buhari won't even allow it

Why do think you wont?

josite:
Self deception.becoming president with no base,not even the Christian constituency.he should not allow himself to be dragged into a race he knows he doesn't have the resources to run to the finishing line.can ibb give him a billion dollar to fund campaign.

And what is your point exactly?

Are you saying fraudulent political bases spearheaded by fantastically corrupt politicians can in all manners deter his chances even when you know he is the best man for the job at the moment

Centre your argument on issue-based politics and not money-politics

josite:
Self deception.becoming president with no base,not even the Christian constituency.he should not allow himself to be dragged into a race he knows he doesn't have the resources to run to the finishing line.can ibb give him a billion dollar to fund campaign.

And what is your point exactly?

Are you saying fraudulent political bases spearheaded by fantastically corrupt politicians can in all manners deter his chances even when you know he is the best man for the job at the moment

Centre your argument on issue-based politics and not money-politics

I wonder what happens if Osinbanjo finally declares his presidential ambition. His supports groups are up and running for him and lines are falling in pleasant places for him even when he hasn't declared

Why seek the west's validation to proscribe people whose criminal tendencies affect our sense of nationhood

Proscribe them right away and let them be treated as such

And not soft pedalling

Poiu11:
ooni of ife is not a king

I am not having this argument with you. The preset of that induced statement speaks volume of the kind of argument you can offer


I Bravoo cease from such argument

Kings know they are to take neutral stances and remain apolitical.

Just that kings of the days are somewhat greedy. They fight for their interest rather than the people's

tosaino95:
Chelsea get expo or wetin you talk na bad information cost Chelsea draw

West Ham don do am for you too before

Brarrie:
we hear you, how many clean sheets deji get this season I wanna check somethingngng

You can't just use a season to judge the performance of both

Whilst, Chelsea in better form and much of goal keeping trenches wouldn't be on your said Mendy Unlike, Man U squad at the moment, yet he had done a lot to save them time and time again. De Gea is good, while Mendy is just motivated by his overall team performance.



This is a fact everybody knows

Brarrie:
we hear you, how many clean sheets deji get this season I wanna check something

You can't just use a season to judge the performance of both

Whilst, Chelsea in better form and much of goal keeping trenches wouldn't be on your said Mendy Unlike, Man U squad at the moment, yet he had done a lot to save them time and time again. De Gea is good, while Mendy is just motivated by his overall team performance.



This is a fact everybody knows

Fedrick100:
Go and watch Chelsea vs brentford
Stop saying rubbish, If it’s now,De gea is not near Mendy

Just one match and you are comparing Mendy with De Gea, are you ok?


Should I begin to list those matches 3 years down the line?

snazzy5050:
yea I can see what your world class Da Gea is doing

De Gea has paid his dues as one of the best GK there is.

Mendy- which era?


The true test of the best is during their trying times not in their best of the moment


Check History Nigga

garfield1:
Mendy can't make such saves

I dey tell you

Even Chelsits know that
Dey just won dey whine your mouth
An their way

No follow dem argue

The team needs more attacker and threat on Man City defense

Bodmum:
Chelsea, proudly.

I wouldn't be surprised tho

Chelsea fans hate for nothing

Keep hating. We go shock you

Candidlady:
lol! Just know theres no shoulder for you to cry on when you luz todays game

i've got eggs hope your "ororo" can fry it?

Hey! Lady!! Go and Slay

And leave men with Football

Ororo dey fry anything even wet pussies