₦airaland Forum

I hope foluke daramola is away of this cos I forsee her doing same thing lilian did

lomaxx: Stop using airtel

Nope,he used mtn

Where are the roads he has done?what sort of rubbish news is this one?
The worst governor of this generation.

Blood liar.u were invited to collect 3bn.is dat money ur mate?see the way he mentioned 3bn.u can only decieve few nigerians and nairalanders but not all.too bad of u to lie this way.

koruji: You better go and find your bearings.
Do you think those two firms were built in the 2-3 years of GEJ's administration? You will probably find out that Fashola/Tinubu had much to do with facilitating these projects. That is why I advise people to keep GEJ from their projects because his loudmouths in the media have no shame in claiming these projects for GEJ. They are only inviting him to commission it - this is basically to honor him as the president, just like he was invited to the Eko Atlantic event.
One thing though, he will at least get to see the non-work his administration is doing on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. That would be the second time in a couple of months after going to RCCG to collect blessings. GEJ probably will not attend this event anyway.

So how jealousy and hatred have turn u into a political tout

Scarpon: oyibo wahala too much
nothing like an African sweet lady.

Example of an african woman;foluke daramola,toni payne,monalisa chinda,chinwe ike,etc. U try

Anyway,in d'banj's voice..oyibo pepper sweet ooo

AjanleKoko: First off, I never said it was the fault of the students.
In the first place, they're usually too young to know better. They either get pushed, or they just follow the crowd.
My post is made out of compassion, not criticism.

And as per government . . ., well, I think we should start from the first level of 'government' the kids know - their parents. It is at this point that the problem starts from, when the parent cannot advise their child but is rather pinning their own aspirations on the child. What's the use of pressuring children to study majors they are not suited for, or to even go to college in the first place? Maybe all the child needs to do is learn a craft or a trade sef.

Don't mind him.u go to school,see some children that are very unserious and highly insultive,u ask urself do this ones have parent at all.later they will join cultism to enhance their insultive spirit,later,same children and parent will blame government for what becomes their fate.if I may ask,if a child succeeds both academically and marally,is it the government or the parent that are been praised?

okeyxyz: The presentation of the OP is misleading, making it seem like it's the nigerian students fault that they make the wrong choices in training and education. How about the people(government) whom it is their duty to provide, support and maintain the appropriate systems to enable students access the right work and academic experiences to better inform their choices.

And please before you roll out that mantra "government can't do everything for you...", First ask: what has government done in the first place that we the private citizens should build upon.

U expect the government to choice ur field of discipline for u?next,u will ask the government to decide what u will eat.what are the duties of parent at home?is it just to keep producing children or to serve both as mentors and supervisors of their kids?

ojesoj: Hw old are you. Teenagers commenting who know nothing about the economic situation in d country

U weh know,where u deh?what's ur position in the society.

alexchiny: Nobody is forcing you to watch bro.

No mind am.pls convert that time to nigerian time for me.

How much do u think nairaland is making when people are childish during post,with slangs like garri and 1st to comment.nairaland needs to step up their game.the must ensure that the eliminate tribal and religious bashing.if this is done,I guess the sky will be their foot-mat.I like what seun is doing but he isn't doing enough.I won't doubt if little bloggers like lindaikeji and ladunliadi and co makes more money then seun.

AK 48: Yea miracles do happen and I m a testimony to miracles BUT.....

This your story has k-leg any atheist would easily rubbish your super story because of its non specifics.

What's the name of the address of the eatery in toyin street for I(as a reporter or police )can go there?

What's the name of the address in ogba?

Did u take any police to the place of incidence?

Was it relevant telling us ur church "living faith"? Now that's the likelyhood of being a scam because of the advert.


I am a senior police officer intrested in this case,how do I get any resonable information from this story?

No let mosketto or logicboy see this thing oo

Bro ,thank God u said u are a living testimony of miracles.I strongly believe than u been a police officer and a senior one for that matter should tell u that somehow and somewhere,the police is involve in this case and I guess the are doing their investigation and that's why the are hiding some identities to enable them carry out their duties.Jesus is Lord.

brosss: Honestly it seems like a movie set. But things do happen and thank God you are safe. Now you must complete your mission by revealing the witheld names of the much you can remember. Keeping these names may mean more harm to innocent unsuspecting Nigerians. Give the names out. You don't have to be scared anymore, they can't hurt you since God is involved. It will also, in a way,confirm your amazing story.
Don't stop praying

God is just great even when we lose our faith in him.imagine u being in this situation.God is great.

redcliff: After sending them back home, they should arrest the Nigeria official because there is no way in heaven and earth they would deny they dont know the real ages of these players. but come to think of it, our real U17 boiz cannot stand against U-17s elsewhere because they would be totally bullied to defeat.

Clap ur hands for ur legs.u sabi body we'll well.

Agbo lives in Calabar.[color=#990000] Agbo lives in Calabar.

Agbo did not live in calabar,rather he lived in the town of lagun if my spelling is right.
Edet lived in calabar.
It was just fun.I wsih we go back to those era where u can cramed the entire text book just for the fun.

Insanity has no bound.

Woman tells her experience in the hands of a Human Parts Trader for 4 days



Doose Nomhwange left home one morning, unaware that danger lurked ahead. Her friend of many years lured her to a man who traded in human parts. But fate pulled a fast one on her captor who, on the verge

of killing her, became mad. Call it a demonstration of power between the forces of light and darkness in which the former roundly won. Read the heartrending account of how this middle-aged widow went to hell and came back alive to tell her story.

 

Unforgettable Day

I had lived in Lagos where I had all my kids. But later, I lost my husband. Some time ago, I went back to Lagos to find what to do to take care of my two sets of twins. I was a full-time housewife when I had my children. I intended going back to school to further my education but my husband, an Ogoni, from Rivers State, stopped me because I was too young, and we agreed that I could go back to school when I finished having my babies. But later, things became tough because my husband was a businessman. When he died, I had to return to Benue State because I was the firstborn of my parents and I didn't want to take my children to Rivers State because Benue has more food. So, I returned to Lagos, and that was when I met a man. He owns an oil and gas company (name withheld) and he employed me personally as a marketer, canvassing for people who would buy oil, diesel, fuel and all that.

On this fateful day, I went to see my father who was ill and on admission at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. There was something they needed for my father's treatment and they didn't have it in Ibadan. So, they wrote it down for me to buy and I went to Boluke Pharmacy on Awolowo Way in Ikeja. As soon as I walked out from the pharmacy because I lived at Ojodu Berger, I saw Aisha, a lady I had met long ago at the office of my cousin who was a stylist and we became friends.

The lady is from Igbira in Kogi State. She wanted us to talk about a supply contract she had. I suggested that we sat in an eatery on Allen Avenue, but she said there was a new eatery on Toyin Street where we could talk. There was a young man by her side that she introduced to me as her fiancé, adding that they were going to wed in two months'. We jumped into the young man's car and they assured me that from the eatery, they would take the expressway, drop me and then go back to Ogba. When we got to that place, the man horned and the gate was opened. We saw a lot of cars outside because it was an estate. Inside the house, people sat with their girlfriends, drinking and eating. I didn't know that they were members of a satanic group. My friend drank beer and after apologizing that she had no money to buy me wine, she gave me water.

Evil chief

At a stage, a man gorgeously dressed in native attire (names withheld), came in and walked to our table. A lot of them got up and greeted him. I also got up and greeted him. After a glance at me, he asked why I was not drinking and he bought Campari for me. He opened the bottle and I took a glass and because nobody was interested, I dropped the bottle in my bag. After my discussion with the lady, I waited for them to drop me off as earlier agreed but the young man said he wanted to ease himself but never came back. After about 10 minutes, the lady, left in search of her fiancé, leaving her bag behind. After a long wait, I became worried and told the barman that I was leaving. As I walked towards the gate, the gateman shut it.'

The chief shows up

When I turned, I saw the gorgeously dressed man walking towards the gate. I thanked him for the entertainment and told I was leaving. The man said: "Do you know who you are talking to? You are an idiot! Common, shut up! Don't you know I am a chief?" Later, he said in Yoruba: "Omo Oba", and some young men including two that looked like bouncers came. On his orders, they collected my handset and handbag, and took me upstairs.

So, they took me upstairs and flung me into one room and shut the door. Inside the room, I saw many clothes, bags and more than 1000 SIM cards. About 15 minutes later, the man appeared and ordered me to, "pull off everything and drop it there", and I obeyed.

Unconscious

By then, I was no longer in full control of my senses. Before he came up, I prayed that if the man had been killing people, I should not be his victim. As a Christian, I understand that there is power in the tongue and I declared, "Right now as I sit here, let the blood of Jesus take over before they think about anything. I worship with Living Faith.

They removed my earrings

About seven boys were at the man's beck and call. He didn't touch you; all he did was give orders. He came back as I was still putting on my pants and brassiere and said: "Are you stupid? I said anything that represents a material on your body should be taken away. Why are you still with all these?" So, I removed everything and they took me to the next room and locked me up. Throughout that night, they jubilated and drank. Apparently, due to the glass of Campari that I took, I was very tired and having cried and prayed for long, I became weak, and slept off.

Angels to the rescue

I slept until 3am and that was when I regained consciousness and realized I was in a strange place. I prayed till after 4am and at about 5 am, the man came into the room and asked me, "Are you a witch?" and I said, "No sir." Then, he said: "What have I done to you that you beat me all night long, and didn't allow me to sleep?" It was a strange question for me to answer. I begged and told him that I had no strength to fight. He said, "shut up", and slapped me.

You see, I strongly believe that this incident happened in order for me to believe in the power of God because I didn't believe in miracles. When people said they received miracles, I just looked at them with disdain. But this time, I became a personal testimony. I begged the man and he started beating me. The way he punched me, if God was not by my side, even if I escaped, I would have died or needed a lot of money to fix my bones. But for each blow he hit me, I felt nothing. Each time he hit, and I shouted, "Jesus", I felt as if someone had touched an empty carton. Then, he said if I had any prayer, I should pray because he was seriously going to work on me. He said he had worked on so many people by removing their private parts, eyes, tongues and other vital organs.

House of death

He told me that no one came to the house and escaped. Honestly, that house was designed for killing people. If God was not by your side, you can never escape from that house. Most times, the boys were downstairs drinking and smoking.

I socialized with them by asking for cigarette hoping that if I did what they were doing, they would set me free. If I requested for cigarette they would quickly bring cigarette for me. One day, I requested for food and they said in Yoruba that after all, it was my last food. It was rice and meat but I couldn't eat it.

Day Two

On the second day, the boys argued among themselves in Yoruba and I could pick some meaning. They said: "Ah, kilode? Se this thing wey oga bring no be wahala o. We don tell oga make e leave her, make i go because oga no dey waste time. Anybody wey dem bring come na one day. One day don pass, two days don pass and still we don't even know what the shrine is saying." They consult a shrine to know a victim's worth.

Day Three

On the third day, the man came to me and said: "What kind of hairstyle is this (I had a hairstyle called fishtail)? This hair is the one tormenting you. You are a very nice person. This hair is what is tormenting you. Don't panic, they will remove this hair style, so that you can be free."

They called me Samson

I heard them say in Yoruba, "Samson ni o", that may be, I am Samson in the Bible. They suspected that they couldn't kill me because I have the same powers as the biblical Samson. They threw a bedcover to me and told me to tie it so that they could take me downstairs.

The house was very large and people lived in the boys' quarters with their families apparently, without knowing what the man did. Or maybe they knew but were scared? So, they took me downstairs to cut my hairs and as I stepped down, I saw that the gate was opened and then a Mallam pushed in a wheelbarrow with kegs of water. He was their barber but he came with water so that people would think he hawked water. As soon as they came in, some people started emptying the water inside the gutter and thereafter, they returned the gallons to the wheelbarrow and took me near the swimming pool, and I kept praying. One good thing was that at that point, my faith had risen by 100 per cent and I knew for sure that I was not going to die because the Lord was with me. They made me sit on a chair by the swimming pool and the Mallam cut all my hair and dropped them on the ground. As he dropped the hair, I found out that in the past, some hairs were burnt on that spot. After cutting my hair, he shaved my head with a razor blade.

I don't understand Hausa but on that day, this Spirit came upon me and I spoke Hausa to the Mallam. I asked him whether that was what the man does to people and he said I should not worry, that the man was a nice man, that he would give me money to go when I am ready to go. I asked why the haircut but before I could get an answer, the evil chief came out of the house and the Mallam quickly shut me up. By this time, more than 12 of the boys had surrounded me, watching as my hair was being cut. Later, they brought a small bowl containing some concoction.

I think they chanted some incantations inside it before the man said: "See, they have cut your hair; you can imagine how beautiful you look. Drink a little of this water, use the remaining to wash your head and go upstairs. I will give you your clothes to wear and then you will go home." I dipped my hands inside that water and said, "God, because the blood of Jesus Christ supercedes every other blood and that is the only currency that binds everywhere in the world, let this currency in the blood of Jesus Christ buy my life now." I prayed within my heart.

They ordered me to hurry up and do what they asked me to do. So, I drank a little of the liquid and washed my hair. They brought something like a detergent and said: "Wash your head very well. That is what is tormenting you." After washing my hair, I sensed that I was about going mad, and they freed me. Maybe they wanted to make me mad. They told me to go upstairs, may be, to know if I could know the way out. I almost missed the way to the staircase because it was as if someone's fingers were inside my brain.

By this time, I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I shouted: "Jesus! I rebuke this madness in your name because you were never mad, so, I cannot be mad." I said it loudly and they gave me a slap on my back calling me an idiot and warned me not to mention that name there. Upstairs, they kept another water in the bathroom of the room that I stayed before they moved me to the one was that looked like the master room. There was a large cupboard where he kept his tools for operating on people. They then asked me to bathe with the water that also had some concoction. As soon as I got into that bathroom praying, the Holy Spirit ministered to me that I should throw away that water. I did so and prayed that the water should flow fast before they come.

This was about 6pm, I thought of what else I could do to convince them that I had had my bath. Then, another voice told me: "Ease yourself inside this container and use your urine to rob your body.

In fact, bless that urine to be the blood of Jesus Christ and use it to rub your body and don't dry up so that it will look as if you took your bath (there was a towel in that bathroom). When they come, they will think you have had your bath." And because I had not eaten and drank, my urine was very little. But God gave me the grace.

Then I prayed into it and quickly rubbed it on my body and the remaining one, I sprinkled on his picture and everywhere. This time, I prayed and cried. So, before they came I had returned the bowl. The man looked at me, shook his head and left. After about an hour, he came back and said: "Who are you? Are you a witch? Why are you so difficult? And then he made a call. They have doctors. They had everybody.

By this hour, he told me bluntly that he had not killed me through poison because he was going to use my kidney to make more money. He would send my kidney for transplant while my body would be sold. He got angry and immediately called his doctor on the phone. He called one doctor James who now answered and he asked when he was going to come around because it appeared he was not on duty. Then, they fixed an appointment.

Miracle on Day four

On the fourth day, I didn't know what their shrine said because my prayer was that when they go to that shrine, they should see the blood of Jesus Christ. I was sure they couldn't consult because on this day, the man stormed that place in anger. He just opened the drawer and removed a shiny knife, showed it to me and said that anywhere the knife touched me, I would not live till the next day.

He was still talking when something strange happened. Suddenly, I saw the man fling off the knife, rolled on the ground, hit his head and ran out of the room. I wondered what must have happened to him. He came back later shouting, "Fire, fire", increased the air conditioner and jumped into the bathroom, and started bathing. After bathing, he came, stood under the air conditioner, calling those boys but they were scared to come.

He would call, "Omo Oba" and they would answer and he would say, "Where are you? You are just saying sir, sir, without coming." When they came, he told them to hold me but none of them came closer to me because at that stage, there was tension and they had not seen such a scenario before.

The man screamed and at a point, he held me by the neck demanding that I must quench the fire that was burning him. Then I told him: "Well, the only way that fire must be quenched is to allow me go. If you don't allow me go, the fire has not yet started." He said he would not give up, adding that he had never been defeated in his life. He mentioned his names (withheld) and titles to me and told me he would not allow me go because he would die if he did.

By this time, I began to praise God for visiting me and each time I shut my eyes, I saw angels surrounding me. At a point, the man knelt before me and asked: "Which God do you worship?" I told him that, "I worship Jehovah Almighty God, through His only begotten son that He gave for my sake, Jesus." After this man had confessed, he and his boys ran away.

But I could not leave because the room they kept me had a burglary proof designed in such a way that if it is hooked outside, you can't open it from within. I prayed, "God, I know that you have given me victory. But you need to do more. Someone needs to open this door for me to go out." At about 10pm, the young man whom Aisha claimed was her fiancé appeared and opened the door for me. I gathered later that when the man found out that everybody had run out with him, he contacted him because he brought me and Aisha. In deed, the man threatened to kill him if he failed to take me away. So, the young man had no choice but to come and open the door for me."

Surprisingly, he asked: "What did chief say you have done to him to deserve all these?" He threw his pyjamas to me and said: 'Wear it; let me take you to the balcony. When people are asleep, I will open the gate for you to go." At about 10pm, he left and never came back. At about 4am, as I was asleep, I heard a voice say, "Wake up. It is time", and I jumped up.

I thought of using the pyjamas as a rope to climb down but as I pulled my clothes, I turned to my left and saw a strong pipe. Then I crossed my leg to the wall and holding the pipe, I climbed down the building. The maiguard was still there. Sensing that the maiguard was asleep, I climbed a nearby tree and crossed the fence to the other side, even though the security iron cut me on my stomach. At about 5 am, the gates were opened and I saw cars passing.

I walked to the expressway and stopped a motorcycle but the man looked at me as if I was mad and didn't stop. I stopped three others but it was the fourth one that pitied me after hearing how I escaped death. He dropped me somewhere and gave me N50 with which I boarded a vehicle to Ojodu Berger. The conductor tried to stop me from boarding the bus, seeing the way I was, but I shoved him aside and with the backing of other passengers, I entered. When I eventually got home, my girlfriend rushed me to St Timothy's Hospital at Ojodu where I was treated. Even at that, I was ill for months.

http://m.ipaidabribenaija.com/news/general/item/21345

Dangote won't be jack of all things.I prefer u even refer it to adenuga.he is d man.he can even venture into cable network to reduce the monopoly of this DSTV.nigerians do not recognises the evil that dstv are doing to us.

Dear friends,I once bought the share of the above mentioned bank back in 2007,but up until now,I haven't gotten the certificate nor the dividend.Please does it mean it has been forfeited?what should I do to reclaim my right?thank you for your honest opinion and response.

Yakubu gowon,murtala muhammed,tafawa belewa,shagari,buhari,ibb,abacha,abdulsalami abubakar ;all the mntioned guys have rule this country for close to 40years,yet nothing came out of it.the impoverish d country and render it useless and now the want fairness.why haven't d ask that the agreement made in aburi be kept?why don't the request that the oil block that was unduely shared be brought forward for a review?
They want to make gej look weak when ofcourse the know that he is better than their choice candidtate for the position.this is bad!

Is south africa not corrupt?read about corruption in SA and u will be amaze.
We still have a lot of way to go,but if we reduce the rate of import,surely,no african country will come close.

With all this situations where we take our money to foreign countries,tell me why inflation and downwardness of the naira will not continue.why don't we patronise our own?

herobest: I AM COMING UP TO SHOW U PICTURE OF ENUGU STATE,IF YOU EVER THING AKWAIBOM IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE IN SOUTH-EAST

Pls do

mmmustapha: Dis city is a village compare with port hercourt or kaduna

See boko brother calling someone's zone a village.but u don make ur place a run away zone

Eko Ile: You missed the deceptive title. It says UYO city and not akwa ibom state and it was done for a reason meaning there is nothing behind uyo..


Only on NL..

Didn't u see a glimpse picture of ikot ekpene?how big do u think uyo is?u tink d airport is in uyo?u tink the 5star hotel is in uyo?u tink the power plant is in uyo?my dear all the above listed by me are not in uyo,but since uyo is the capital city,the tend to say its uyo.the places this things are located are,ikot abasi,ikot ekpene,uruan,mkpat enin,etc.the are not uyo my broda.

djustice: Just like the man said, make an effort to get off your fat azz and go there to see for yourself. Development is evenly distributed, unlike Lagos where it's just some parts of Suru-Lere, some parts of the Island and some parts of Ikeja that come anywhere near what we see throughout Akwa Ibom..

Guess what, when they wanted to invest in power, they built a massive 191mw turbine, and now they have 24 hours light in Uyo, unlike the 10mw rubbish on Marina and at Iju that Tinubu's houseboy, Fash-ole is claiming through PPP.

Stop bellyaching and appreciate what is good when you see it. Mumu.

To be sincere,we are yet to have constant power supply,we heard it is due to gas supply to the plant.

seanet01: What a dunce.
You have completely lost your senses.

U lost more sense than the person u accused.u need some pint of blood,I guess it will help.

Dejohnbull: I wan't know if Rivers & Abia states are rule by ACN? Reason is the 2 states rule by PDP is worst than wat Amosun is working in infarstructure in southwest.

Have u been to rivers state before?I sincerely doubt.

Aliko Dangote Unscripted: The gravest
danger confronting Nigeria
*Speaks on plan to build $8bn refinery
BY JIDE AJANI
He could pass for just any other guest. But he is
unmistakably familiar. Charming but humble!
Stupendously wealthy, yet radiates simplicity.
Strolling in, unassuming, was Africa’s richest man.
It was his birthday. Dressed in a black suite with a
black shinny cock shoe to match, Aliko Mohammed
Dangote kept his appointment for 9am.
Unlike the rambunctious entry of Nigeria’s men of
means and power, Dangote walked in with just a
few of his executives. After the informal
handshake and introduction, he grabbed the
microphone to make some opening remarks which
turned out not to be mere remarks. He made
earth-shaking revelations about his person, the
conglomerate he runs (Dangote Group), the
Nigerian economy and how things can get better
in a very competitive environment of clashing
political and socio-economic interests.
At first, the tempo was cool – the usual
compliments of not having time to rub minds,
examine developments in the country with a view
to proffering solutions – and the usual
pleasantries, until Dangote explained that the
real danger confronting the Nigerian state is the
infrastructure deficit in a country where the
population growth has choked existing facilities.
He made it clear that the problems confronting
Nigeria today did not just start – they are a
cummulation of many years of misgovernance and
lack of vision. Shall we blame President Goodluck
Jonathan? No!
On the Economic Management Team of President
Jonathan, Dangote explained that the team is
working hard to ensure that good policy
frameworks are put in place with a view to
building a more prosperous nation. The EMT is as
bothered as President Jonathan to bequeath a
better economy to Nigerians.
But, at the point when Dangote said the danger
posed by infrastructure deficit is far graver than
the Boko Haram threat, all heads turned in his
direction.
Mind you, his audience was a group of select
senior journalists in Nigeria.
“Why should we in Nigeria, blessed with many
mineral resources, be where we are”, he asked?
“The mineral resources we have can replace and
be better than the crude oil. “Some ask where
the minerals are but they are there.
“Even in the Economic Management Team, EMT,
we ask and look for ways to make it possible to
clear goods from the ports within 48 hours.
“But I say it would not be possible and the cost
adds to everything. “To clear a container in Lagos
it would take about $1000 but in Brazil where
they are not even efficient, it costs less than $100
to clear the same container.
“The issue which people seem to forget is that
the last port we built in Nigeria, the Tin Can
Island Port, was built in 1978 – look at the
population of Nigeria at that time, the size of the
economy, crude oil was being sold for about $9
and compare with the expansion of the economy
and the population and people think we should
still manage with the same facility?
“God forbid, some people were expressing fears
about Third Mainland Bridge; God forbid I say,
should something happen to that bridge, how
would people move around in Lagos? Look at how
difficult it is for people to move around now and it
is being said that by 2020 Nigeria’s population
would be about 200 million”.
Our Investments, Our Vision
“Before we were making money from our other
businesses like sugar, salt, flour and putting the
money in cement but by 2010 we were able to
pay all the banks.
“I don’t have any issue with government raising
money, that is, loan, so long as it is spent well.
Beyond the issue of Boko Haram and insecurity,
the greatest threat that confronts us is the threat
of decaying and decayed infrastructure. And this
is not just in Nigeria but in all of Africa, the
greatest threat is infrastructure”.
Decayed Infrastructure, The Greatest Threat
“Somebody was asked how he would operate in
government and the person said he would face
only two things – infrastructure and education.
And he was asked what about the rest. He said
with infrastructure, other things would follow.
“This is what I think confronts us as the greatest
danger even beyond Boko Haram”.
His audience laughs but he charges back with
bluntness: “No! It is true.
“The biggest problem of anybody is when you
taste money; you were once rich and then you
become poor. It is very bad. Nothing can be
worse than that.
“It is when that money goes that you’ll see the
true colour of everybody – your wife, your
children (a round of raucous laughter)
Alternative To Crude Oil
“If today oil prices collapse, do we have
alternatives?
“I tell people that we do. Some of us may be
manufacturing in our own little way, but in a very
big country like Nigeria with its population, that is
simply not enough.
“We are heavily into cement – meanwhile
limestone is the cheapest of all the mineral
resources we have. There are other minerals that
are even more lucrative and more profitable that
government is looking to exploring.
“The problem is that even when you begin to
explore, how do you move the goods around.
“We’ve also been talking about new ports but
there are challenges”.
Scavengers On The Loose
“Look, let me tell you what we have in Nigeria:
We have scavengers who hold licenses but wait
and do nothing. People just grab opportunities
and wait to see what happens rather than
operate with the licenses “Government has
issued 19 licenses for refineries and everybody is
holding the licenses and claim that they are
waiting for foreign investors. Mind you, the
foreign investors are not fools”.
The Role of Foreign Investors
“Foreign investors did not build South Korea –
South Koreans developed their country; the
Germans built their economy, an economy that
was once in ruins. The Germans suffered a lot
but now they are the best.
*Dangote
“What foreign investments are we getting?
“Meanwhile, Sanusi Lamido has done his best by
holding inflation down, holding exchange and
interest rates down; because in an economy that
does not export much, the best you can do is to
have a strong currency so that life would be a bit
easy. Though interest rates may be high but that
should not stop a business from operating.
“When we were building Obajana Cement factory,
we were paying as high as 42% interest rate at
some point in 2004/2005 – some banks charged
that much and we didn’t pay dividends for some
eight or nine years; but after sorting out our loans
we paid the accumulated dividends. “The foreign
investor I would prefer is the one that goes to
Ekiti for instance and sets up a factory because
even if the investor wants to leave Nigeria, he
would sell off his investment but the ones
investing in our bonds can just wake up one day,
re-discount it and just leave because our rates
are fine”.
Concessioning
“If you concession, it is not a bad idea because
government can not do everything. In Dubai and
some other more developed economies, that is
what is happening. I was reading some paper in
Dubai during the week and the leader of the
country was thanking the transport authority for
saving the government $60 billion over a period of
five years – meanwhile, the savings was calculated
in form of man hours.
“If you look at those who work with us for
example, the drivers, they bear so much. Imagine
someone who leaves his house by 4 or 4:30 am and
does not return home until 10 or 11pm! How
would he have time for himself and the children –
and these things come round to create an
environment that is not overall conducive for
upbringing of a child. “There is hope if we do the
right things. “It does not matter who provides the
service; the people would be willing to pay”.
The Future Is Brighter
“If you ask me whether the future is brighter
than today, I would say yes; but the people must
be ready to pay for services and pay their taxes. A
simple example! At Obajana where we are
producing at a current capacity of 10 million
tonnes per year, which is $1.7 billion, we can
continue to produce cement for the next 100years
with the same capacity but you do not rest – mind
you, limestone is the cheapest mineral resource
in Nigeria, so if people look inward they would see
the opportunities for greatness”.
An Example From Lula of Brazil
“Look at the example of Lula Da Silva of Brazil,
the country used to be heavily indebted. “By the
time he left he cleared the debt. But the
policies he put in place for education and housing
engendered serious development. He said people
in government were bringing proposals which
were lies to him but he was resolute and he stood
his ground. “By the time he left office, he had
built 18 standard universities. Before he left
office, Brazil had $467 billion in reserves. “These
things can only be possible when people pay their
taxes.
“Nobody is perfect. “We need to come out and
pay our taxes. “Today I’m conscious about the
concerns of other shareholders.
“If where there were no shareholders, the people
in the office may allow me some leverage because
I am the boss and owner but when there are
shareholders, those who would have to process
the papers that would grant me undue privilege
but who are now shareholders would raise
questions because that act would not be in line
with best practices so the company is quarantined
from such indulgences and fraud. Once the
people know that you’re cheating, they too will
begin to cheat. Listed companies are more open
to transparency”.
The Negative Paradigm Shift
“There is a world of difference between our
parents and this generation. “Our parents were
more caring within the capacity they could
muster because they cared for the children, the
wife, their own parents, their farms and uncles
and even neighbours; but this generation is more
self-centred and cares only about themselves,
the ‘me’. If people really care about their
children they would work to make the future
better. “Without good infrastructure, the future
is bleak”.
Between Vision And Planning
“You must have a vision and not just a vision but
you must have a plan that would make you fulfill
that vision. For us at Dangote, for instance, just
conception and planning alone sometimes takes
two years. You must also put in place processes
of how to execute the plans. Our vision in the
next fives years is to be a company that has about
$75billion in market capitalization, be number one
in Africa and one of the first 100 in the world”.
The Scourge of Subsidy
On the issue of subsidy and the education that
Nigerians really need, Dangote became very
passionate. He said as Nigerians, there is need for
an understanding of the issues and a proper place
for government policies and the commitment of
Nigerians too.
At lunch with one African president, “he told me
how his country dealt with the issue of subsidy
and how people resisted. When they had subsidy
on diesel, some people changed their cars to cars
that ran on diesel; that when they removed
subsidy on diesel, the bills went down but
kerosene which still enjoyed subsidy had its bills
going up. He said it was not easy but he prayed
over it and went ahead to do it in a systematic
way such that funds which would have gone into
subsidy were dedicated for some specific
projects. Now that president even charges 10%
on PMS and diesel”.
When President Jonathan tried removing the
subsidy on petrol, Nigerians went wild in anger.
Dangote continues: “Would you believe that in
2011 and 2012, Nigeria paid $30 billion in subsidy,
money which would have been used to build at
least 20 refineries – that was the finding of a
report! How can we say that people are stealing
crude and we are running about, going to night
clubs and we are happy as a people?
“The total tax collected in Nigeria is just about
$10 billion. How much is that in a country as big
as Nigeria”.
In response to a question on the building of
refineries even in a regulated environment like
Nigeria, he said “may be we at Dangote now
would be referred to as being insane because we
are going ahead to build a refinery very soon in
Nigeria.”
To this, a question was immediately thrown at
him: “What are you going to do with it”?
“We would sell”, Dangote immediately responded.
“If you build the refinery alone you might not
make so much money but you’ll need to build a
petro-chemical plant because of the by-products.
“The investment is going to be about $8billion.
“Meanwhile the fuel they import for us is the
worst and we pay them for the best. “When we
have our refinery, we would sell to them here
and we can even cut the cost – no shipping, no
demurrage. “We cannot continue to behave the
way we are behaving now.
“Look, by 2020, Nigeria’s population is expected to
hit 200million. So, how would you handle cargo or
shipping of products for 200million people with
the existing facilities that we have today? How
would you distribute? The pipelines are not
functioning; the roads are not good. The ports
are not there. We should make up our minds on
what we want to do. Something drastic needs to
be done.
“What I think we should do is that we should
attain self-sufficiency instead of this 20:2020 thing.
“Government should encourage Nigerians as it is
doing to invest in Nigeria but some times we are
the architect of our problems. Part of the
problems we had about Benue Cement was that
the people said Obasanjo hated them that was
why he sold the other cement companies to
foreigners and sold BCC to a Nigerian. When you
go to deal with some officials the first thing they
ask for is technical partner and we tell them we
do not have because we have the technical know
how – this is what we do. “We’ve already
commissioned a company to help us build a
factory for the production of Urea and Ammonia
and it would not only provide employment but in
the area of fertilizer production it would serve
some purpose.

www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/aliko-dangote-unscripted-the-gravest-danger-confronting-nigeria/