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Freedom of Information around the world

The not-so-beautiful game
Offside
Time to blow the whistle and put the right to host the World Cup on eBay
May 12th 2011 | from the print edition

, WHEN it comes to long, rancorous and pointless rows, few things are in the same league as the world’s favourite sport. (Note to American readers: we speak of the game you call soccer.) Arguments rage for days—decades—after the final whistle. Was the ball over the goal-line? (Note to German readers: maybe not at Wembley in 1966, yes in Bloemfontein in 2010.) Was that sending-off deserved, or a gross miscarriage of justice? Was the referee brilliant, blind or bribed?

Off the field, it’s the same. Five months ago 22 members of FIFA’s executive committee voted to stage the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar. People in England, which had hoped to be host in 2018, are still crying “Fix”.

And not just on the terraces. This week Lord Triesman, an establishment figure who chaired the English bid until he was recorded making allegations about rival bidders’ propriety, gave his version to MPs. He said that the behaviour of four committee members had been “below what would be ethically acceptable”. One allegedly asked for millions of pounds, channelled through himself, for an educational establishment in his home country and giant screens on which earthquake-stricken Haitians could watch the World Cup; the second wanted a knighthood; the third told the English “to come and tell me what you have got for me”; the fourth wanted television rights for a match between his country and England. The MPs also published an (unproven) allegation unearthed by the Sunday Times, a British newspaper, that Qatar had paid two other members large sums for votes. The accused all deny wrongdoing. Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president, whose long reign has seldom been short of controversy, says he’ll look into it all.

Granted, the English are suffering from a bad case of sour grapes. By any standards, they made a mess of their bid, their football establishment is a disaster and their footballers now dive almost as often as continental ones, though sadly without the theatrical grace. But the world badly needs a more open way of choosing the host of the World Cup.

Already suggestions are coming forward. One is to make votes open rather than secret. Another is to give FIFA’s 208 national associations a vote each—as they will have in a few weeks when Mohamed Bin Hammam (of Qatar, would you believe) challenges Mr Blatter for his job. The Economist has another idea. Auction the thing. And do it publicly.

The far corner

An auction would do two things. First, by making sure all the moolah went to FIFA, it would place committee members (with no votes to sell) above suspicion. Second, it would force bidders to work out how much the competition was worth to them. At least in democracies, that might not be very much, judging by past World Cups.

If oligarchs, sheikhs and other rich fans still want to pay for a party, fine. And if governments wanted to take bread from their people to pay for a football circus, they would at least have to admit how much. As for the location of the auction, where better than eBay, the leading online seller of second-hand goods? Fans around the world could watch agog as the deadline neared and bids rose. Better still, FIFA could flog the rights for reality TV.

Spoilsports will come up with all sorts of objections. Mightn’t this be a tad undignified? Perhaps, but football lost its dignity long ago. Wouldn’t an auction discriminate against poorer countries? Yes, but that is easily fixed by continuing to rotate the competition by continent (so Africa still has its turn). And wouldn’t all the treasure going to FIFA provide scope for corruption as it is disbursed? Once again, transparency is the answer. Publish online all the details of where every penny is spent. It is a little like goal-line technology, Mr Blatter. We know that an honest, eagle-eyed referee like you would never need it, but just in case…


http://www.economist.com/node/18681960

FIFA's presidential election

Beautiful game, ugly politics

Pity the republic of football. It has a government much like many another
May 26th 2011
| from the print edition

, IN ZURICH on June 1st a presidential election is due to take place. It is a rare event, the first since 2002, with a mere 208 voters. No incumbent has lost since 1974, and the man in possession is expected to win again. The winner, despite his grand title, will not be a head of state. Yet he will be better known than many who are—and his writ, unlike any of theirs, runs the world over. The presidency in question is that of FIFA, the global governing body of association football; the electors are its members, national associations. Sepp Blatter, a Swiss, has had the job for 13 years and thinks he deserves four more.

On May 25th his only challenger, Mohamed Bin Hammam, a Qatari who was once an ally, faced an unexpected obstacle: allegations of bribery involving him and Jack Warner, a Trinidadian who heads a regional confederation with 35 FIFA members. The claims were made by Chuck Blazer, the American general secretary of Mr Warner’s group, who sits with both men on FIFA’s 24-member executive committee (in effect, its cabinet). FIFA’s ethics committee is due to examine the claims on May 29th. The accused deny wrongdoing.

To some, FIFA’s politics stank even before this. Earlier this month the former chairman of the Football Association, which runs the game in England, told British MPs that four members of the executive committee, which decides where World Cups should be held, had asked for, or hinted at wanting, payment in cash, kind or honour for their votes on the 2018 tournament. (Mr Warner was one of them.) The British press has unearthed other claims regarding votes for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Those involved in all this deny doing wrong; and accusations from Britain carried a whiff of bad grace, because England’s bid for 2018 failed miserably. The latest claims, though, come from the heart of FIFA’s political structure.

For good or ill, FIFA has much in common with governments whose territories are marked by customs posts rather than goalposts. Like national governments, sporting bodies provide collective goods for their citizens, notes Stefan Szymanski, an economist at Cass Business School in London. They also raise revenue and redistribute wealth. And they are prone to poor administration and to “rent-seeking”—attempts by interest groups, officials and other well-connected people to use their position to gain influence or wealth.

Start with public goods: in sport, the rules are the most fundamental. Football’s “laws” are overseen by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), on which FIFA has four votes and the national associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have one each, a legacy of the game’s British birth. Six votes are needed for a decision. To many coaches and players, as well as commentators and fans, the IFAB has been too slow to allow modern technology, rather than officials’ eyesight, to decide whether the ball has crossed the goal-line. Many other sports have embraced video and electronic gadgetry at their higher levels.

A sport’s governors are also supposed to crack down on match-fixing. Football has been dogged by scandals in this area. The latest involved gambling rings in Asia and eastern Europe, and matches ranging from the lower reaches of European leagues to friendly internationals. On May 9th Mr Blatter announced a joint effort with Interpol, the global police agency, to stamp out this blight.

In a clearer example of a public good, football’s masters have helped create a global market in talent and entertainment. This reflects a shift in FIFA’s balance of power away from Europe which began in the 1970s, in healthy contrast with Euroheavy bodies like World Bank and the IMF. When Mr Blatter’s predecessor, João Havelange, a Brazilian, ousted Sir Stanley Rous, an Englishman, in 1974 it was partly by promising non-Europeans more places at the World Cup. The 1978 tournament featured only 16 national teams, ten of them from Europe; since 1998 there have been 32 slots, with more for Asia, Africa, and North and Central America or the Caribbean.

This has not stopped European countries winning the past two World Cups. And it has helped Europe’s clubs and national leagues. Teams such as Barcelona and Manchester United, who meet in the European Champions League final in London on May 28th, have fans all over the world. That means more money from television and merchandise. Globalisation has also deepened the pool of talent on which European clubs can draw.

Yet there are costs for clubs in Europe and elsewhere. They must release their players for World Cup and other international matches, from which the stars may return tired or hurt. They may view this as a tax in kind, even though FIFA paid them $40m in all for the use of players in the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA may not raise true taxes, but it finds revenue easier to come by than many national governments do. It has become increasingly adept at exploiting the power of the World Cup to draw a global audience. “France [in 1998] was the last poor World Cup,” said Mr Blatter this week. In 2007-10 FIFA’s revenue was $4.2 billion, up from $2.6 billion in the four years before that. Most of it came from the 2010 World Cup: television rights yielded $2.4 billion and marketing rights $1.1 billion.

Redistribution in FIFA’s fief is called “development” spending, intended mainly to improve facilities and coaching in poor countries, which amounted to $794m in 2007-10. Some of this went into Goal, a programme set up by Mr Blatter that is now overseen by Mr Bin Hammam. The six regional confederations and the national associations also got an extra handout from the World Cup windfall in the form of “extraordinary” payments within FIFA’s Financial Assistance Programme. Finding a little extra money for voters just before an election is rarely a bad idea.

As for poor government, FIFA has been supplying examples for years. Take, as just one, the ditching in 2006 of MasterCard, FIFA’s long-term credit-card partner, for Visa—a decision which drew a scathing rebuke from a New York judge. Andrew Jennings, a British journalist who has long been a thorn in FIFA’s side, aired further claims of pockets lined and sins covered up in a BBC documentary on May 23rd.

Despite all this, FIFA’s electors have not seemed ready for revolution. What effect the allegations against Mr Bin Hammam will have, no one knows. It is also hard to say how much would change should he, despite everything, manage to unseat Mr Blatter. Both men insist that FIFA is not corrupt; Mr Bin Hammam has made much of the need for more “transparency”. Certainly, the world’s most popular game needs a better government than the one it has.


http://www.economist.com/node/18744271

johnie:
The FIFA Ethics Committee has opened proceedings against Jack Warner and Mohammed Bin Hammam over possible charges of bribery (official FIFA statement). The committee is due to meet (and most likely choose) on May well 29th, just a couple of days before the June 1 elections date (and funnily enough, on a Sunday, appropriate soon after the Champions League final).

Chuck Blazer, a staunch Jack Warner supporter in the past, had reported Warner and Hammam to the FIFA Ethics committee. There were reports that FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke had asked Bin Hammam to withdraw his candidacy earlier this week, and it seems that when Hammam refused, the FIFA Ethics committee proceeded with this case.

Doesn't this sound familiar?

FIFA Politics: Sepp Blatter accuses Mohammed Bin Hammam of bribing Jack Warner

May 25th, 2011 | Author: admin

Update: The FIFA Ethics Committee has opened proceedings against Jack Warner and Mohammed Bin Hammam over possible charges of bribery (official FIFA statement). The committee is due to meet (and most likely choose) on May well 29th, just a couple of days before the June 1 elections date (and funnily enough, on a Sunday, appropriate soon after the Champions League final).

Chuck Blazer, a staunch Jack Warner supporter in the past, had reported Warner and Hammam to the FIFA Ethics committee. There were reports that FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke had asked Bin Hammam to withdraw his candidacy earlier this week, and it seems that when Hammam refused, the FIFA Ethics committee proceeded with this case.

What’s the role of Blazer (and why is Warner, a close Blatter ally, implicated)? You can read the Soccerlens Twitter timeline for a lot more insights, but briefly speaking:

1 theory is that Bin Hammam managed to convince Warner to vote for him (by means of bribes / political favours) and Chuck Blazer has decided to side with Blatter in the hope that he will eventually replace Warner as CONCACAF president (and also get a future World Cup).
The second theory is that Blatter and Warner have played a double-bluff with Hammam, trying to discredit him and hound him out of FIFA. If this is accurate, Warner will be cleared of any wrongdoing and Hammam will be found guilty. Unless…
If Hammam withdraws his candidacy, this matter could be closed and put away for very good.

http://waystosport.info/sport-news/fifa-politics-sepp-blatter-accuses-mohammed-bin-hammam-of-bribing-jack-warner/

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Let's turn our attention from the conventional politicians now.

Let's look at FIFA's high tension politics and corruption.

We start with this 15 November 2000 article:

Politics and Corruption in FIFA[b]
By Jens Weinreich, Thomas Kistner
15 November 2000 [/b]

Sport reporters Jens Weinreich and Thomas Kistner review the strange ways television rights are sold in FIFA, president Blatter's election in 1998 and the circumstances around the selection of Germany as host for the World Cup 2006.


Dear friends and colleagues,

First of all a brief apology: The most competent speaker on this item, Politics and corruption in FIFA, can not be with us. Mr. Joseph Blatter, the president of FIFA and member of the IOC, has more urgent things to do these days.

In Brazil he has been invited to appear as a witness in a corruption inquiry being carried out by the Congress. The Senators and Congressmen are investigating the longtime-closest friends of Mr. Blatter: The honorary FIFA-president Joao Havelange and his former son-in-law, the FIFA Executive Member Ricardo Teixeira. In Brazil, it seems, nobody really knows what happened to the 400 million US$ from the world-famous Nike-contract.

In addition, Blatter has to raise the enormous sum of about 250 million US$. This is, as far as we can count, the money he promised to all national and continental federations to make him president in June 1998 at the FIFA congress in Paris. We will come back to this election later.

Corruption in Fifa. Today we will not talk about this because the Brazilian parliament is currently investigating. By the way, the Congress has just stripped 19 Brazilian FIFA registered players' agents of their banking secrecy. They want to do the same with Teixeira, who is also president of the national federation, and with his secret economic ally Jos Havilla, who owns the marketing company Traffic. This company is getting most of the valuable marketing and TV contracts in brazilian football.

The similarity of the discussions in Brazil and here in Copenhagen shows once more that there are indeed serious problems with corruption in the world of soccer.

We have written a book about this and hundreds of articles. We discovered, that the old boys connection is still working well. It is the same connection Andrew Jennings mentioned last Sunday. Just a few keywords: Blatter, Havelange, ISL, Adidas, Dassler, Guelfi. Keywords which are also very important for and very well kmown within the International Olympic Committee.

Three questions about FIFA's ideas of democracy and transparency
Lets have a look at what came out of the promises which candidat Blatter made to the world of soccer in his presidential campaign two years ago: A lot more democracy and transparency in the so-called FIFA family. That's not our joke. That's what he is still talking about.

We do not want to tell you all the stories, but rather make some remarks regarding three topics:

1. How is FIFA selling its rights for television and sponsoring?
2. How does FIFA elect its president?
3. How is FIFA selecting the host country for the World Cup?

Two days ago we listened to the speech made by German TV-manager Stefan Kürten: The bidding game. It was funny that Mr. Kürten told us that the federations have to play the role of referees. This is really not their function. On the contrary, their task is getting the most money out of the bidding process, in regard of the sport and the public. And now let's look how FIFA conducted itself in the bid for the actual television rights.

An exchange of letters between FIFA and a bidding company
We are happy to present to you quotations from letters that were exchanged between one bidding company and FIFA's Mr. Blatter.

It began on 18th August 1995 with a strictly confidential letter from Eric Drossart, IMG International Group Vice President, to Joseph S. Blatter, at this time General Secretary of FIFA.

Quote: Dear Sepp (, ) We are now in the position that IMG wishes to make a joint offer together with Ufa (Bertelsmann/d. A.) for the exclusive acquisition of worldwide broadcast rights for the World Cup 2002, plus the companion sponsorship and licensing rights for the event if available. With this letter IMG/Ufa are offering to pay a fee to FIFA of US$ 1 billion (one billion), on a payment schedule to be agreed.(, )

Kindest regards, Eric Drossart.

Do we understand this correctly? Is there a company throwing 1 billion dollars on the table, right out of the blue? Copies of this letter went to then FIFA president Havelange and all Executive Commission Members? Poor Mr. Drossart from IMG, he did not know that he had just committed his first big mistake.

Blatter answered, 11 days later.

Quote: Dear Eric (, ) thank you for your valuable offer (, ) We shall analyse your proposal very carefully and revert to the subject as soon as possible. Nevertheless, we have to express our surprise at the way the letter to the General Secretary of FIFA was termed strictly confidential but copies were sent to all the members of the FIFA Executive Committee (, ) We are not convinced that this was the most suitable method of communicating (, )

Blatter was upset. But the question is: Why? FIFA's Executive Committee was the governing body and his boss. According to the statutes he had to serve the Committee.

They went on exchanging lots of letters. Drossart kept on asking for bidding details and timetables. Blatter's answers had no content. And worse: He kept on changing the agenda. Poor Mr. Drossart had to learn in spring 1996 that FIFA was now planing to sell the TV rights in a package for 2002 and 2006.

Then, on April 18th, Blatter wrote to Drossart: It is our pleasure to enclose herewith a copy of the Minimum Conditions for the Broadcast of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup, which are mandatory. Should your company still be interested in the rights described in the above-mentioned letter, we kindly invite you to submit your proposal on the basis of its contents by noon on the 15th May 1996.

Look at this! FIFA was suddenly offering a billion-dollar-deal until 2006, but the bidding company is getting less than 4 weeks to evaluate and arrange its offer. Is this the correct way to handle such a deal or did FIFA already have an agreement with another company?

Drossart was furious. He answered: I must admit that I am amazed by the content of your letter (, ) There are glaring inconsistencies in your letters to us concerning the basis on which the rights are being made available and such obvious preferential treatment being given to other parties (, ) that as of today it is difficult to believe that FIFA genuinely wish to consider our offer on a properly competitive basis. Your most recent letter has also failed to clarify a number of critical issues (, ) FIFAs position on consolidating the rights on offer has changed 180 degrees since November 1995.

Sepp, it is very difficult to conclude anything other than there being two sets of rules in operation here, one for the old partners CCC (EBU/d. A.) and ISL, and one for the rest, and your responses to our efforts are merely a cosmetic exercise designed to protect FIFA from future accusations of unfair and improper conduct.

Poor Mr. Drossart was now desperate. Now he understood that he had never had a real chance to get the TV rights. Regardless of the money he would offer.

But in the end the biggest surprise was for IMG and all other bidding companies, including the old FIFA-partner EBU. Blatter had only dealt with ISL, and this was why the new and hidden ISL partner Leo Kirch got the contract for 2002 and 2006. As we heard from Mr. Kürten the other day, this was the worst loss in EBU history. And what happened with the marketing rights? The same curious procedure, the same company got them in the end. ISL.

Why did Blatter and Havelange have to sell the FIFA rights again and again to their closest personal friends at ISL? And do not forget: We are talking about contracts worth more than 3.5 billion swiss francs.

An election overshadowed by suspicions of corruption
Now let's change the subject. Another impressive example of the lack of democracy and the omnipresence of corrupt circumstances in FIFA is the so-called election of president Blatter in 1998.

David Will, the Scottish vice president and lawyer, summed it all up some days after the decision in Paris. He said the suspicion of corruption will always overshadow this election. But, nevertheless, none of Blatter's opponents in the Johansson camp were clever enough to take legal action.

What happened? Lying was a standard technique for Mr. Blatter, then general secretary of FIFA. Blatter used the powerful FIFA administration to run his presidential campaign. Of course, this was against the rules and statutes of FIFA, and against a decision of the Executive Board. And the old dictator, Havelange, wrote personal letters to African delegates, inviting them on his private account to come to the election meeting, promising development aid etc. The typical way of giftgiving in the world of sports.

It was also very interesting to see which supporting countries Blatter presented when he announced his late candidacy in April 1998. Among these 15 countries were significant federations and football powerhouses such as Algeria, Libya, Lebanon and Guinea.

But only a few weeks later he won by an almost incredible margin: 111 to 80 votes. Surprise, surprise! Not only Lennart Johansson, the swedish UEFA-president, was wondering what happened the night before in the Meridien Montparnasse, the hotel in which most of the African delegates were based. Mogidius Braun, the president of the German federation, called it a dirty game, full of dirty tricks.

What was it that made a lot of African delegates change their minds so quickly in the last few hours? Only a short time before they had stood together hand in hand with Issa Hayatou, the chief of the African confederation CAF and FIFA vice president and promised their support for Johansson.

The next day we talked to Hayatou. He confirmed that the talk was all about money, all night in the Meridien Hotel. Hayatou himself got a phone call around midnight as he was preparing to retire for the night. He was urged to come over immediately from his Hotel, the Bristol, to the Meridien. When he arrived there a lot of African delegates asked him how much money they could get from CAF. He also confirmed what other observers said: It was bargaining like in a bazaar.

What does it mean, when hours before the most important election in the world of football and, maybe, in the world of sport, dozens of delegates - all of them members of the so called FIFA-family - are running around talking about money, money, money.

Blatter kept on lying when he declared on several occasions that he had never visited the Meridien Hotel until the day of his election. We have another impression: We watched him two days before the election in the Salon Modigliani making a flaming speech in front of the delegates from North and Central America.

How Germany won the World Cup 2006
But there was one important promise Blatter gave to his overnight supporters that the new president could not keep: He had promised the World Cup 2006 to Africa. The decision of the FIFA Executive Board was to be made in July 2000, and now Blatter had acquired his first big problem in office.

Africa was counting on him. Indeed, there were a lot of good reasons to give the World Cup to Africa. The continent had never had such a big sporting event. No doubt, the world of football could organise a World Cup in South Africa, because there is enough money in the business to use for developing the infrastructure. But one problem is that officals of the world sport governing bodies - FIFA and IOC - are not really interested in this kind of family aid. They prefer to keep the money from their rich sponsors in their rich countries. And federations, of course.

We all know who the winner was. But it is an error to think that the german victory was only the result of the Franz-Beckenbauer-campaign. It was much more a personal defeat for Blatter and a victory for the Germany, Incorporated.

It was a defeat for Blatter because all 8 Europeans on the Executive Board voted en bloc for the first time in many years. After Johansson's loss in Paris in 1998 they could not risk another disaster. They had to stand together. And they did.

Despite these 8 votes there was still a deficit of 5 votes. As you know, there are 24 votes in all, but a tie of 12:12 would have left the matter in the hands of the deciding vote of FIFA president Blatter, a supporter of South Africa. So Germany desperately needed 5 more votes.

They only got 4. But because New Zealand's Charles Dempsey abstained from the election rather than vote for South Africa it was enough to succeed. 12:11, one abstention.

Now lets look on these 4 new supporters for Germany. It was an entirely Asian bloc. These officals came from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and South Korea.

And now let's take a look at what some of the biggest German companies, some of them bidding sponsors, were doing behind the curtains: DaimlerChrysler, Bayer, BASF and Siemens announced investments and joint ventures in Thailand and South Korea worth around 2 billion US$. All these announcements were made during the last 10 days before the FIFA decision. And 8 days before, the Federal Security Council of Germany decided in a strictly confidential meeting to deliver 1200 anti-tank grenade launchers to Saudi Arabia.

We do not claim that these companies and the government conspired to buy the World Cup 2006. But we do think this was amazingly good timing by german industry. These were precisely those countries that voted for Germany on the 6th of July. South Africas economy could not afford any billion dollar weapons. We think this was the key issue of the election.

But we also think that South Africa did not go far enough after their defeat to clear up all the things that happened. Lets come back to Charles Dempsey's curious behavior: Why did they not take legal measures against an election which had ultimately been determined by the inexplicable abstention of one delegate? Dempsey has said he decided not to vote because he had been put under intolerable pressure by supporters of the competing bids, including attempts to bribe him.

But this can not be accepted as an accurate account of these events. Dempsey was not a private person in Zurich. He had to deliver the vote of his Oceanic confederation to South Africa. And this would have changed the result.

The problems are always the same, and not only in FIFA:

•There is still a huge deficit of democracy and transparency.
•There are no independent controlling bodies.
•The members of the so-called families never call for civil judges, because they fear investigations and inquiries.
•The officals continue to look out for themselves: Since Blatter became president, every member of the Executive Board now gets 50.000 US$ dollars per year.
•The TV and marketing companies, winners and loosers of every so-called bidding game, are looking forward to the next auction.
•The bidding countries and their political leaders are also looking forward to the next bidding process. Those who want to keep their options open are afraid of going too far in critisising powerful sports bureaucrats. They give them what they are asking for: Tax exemptions, for example.
So we would like to close with the same words Dr. Bengt Saltin used yesterday when he talked about the future of sports and the threat of gene doping:

As long as these people are in power and allowed to operate on their own authority there will always be corruption in the world of football.

http://www.playthegame.org/knowledge-bank/articles/politics-and-corruption-in-fifa-1002.html

Some interesting comments from the Vanguard news page:


laolu 11 hours ago

Dele Alake remains a sound gentleman of unimaginable decorum, A party man to the core by all standard, If providence returns him to governance in lagos,it is a welcome development 'cause he possesses the requisite experience and knowledge.That Peedeepee in south west cannot win a fair election today is a known fact even to the unborn child.Fashola has shown that dividends of democracy are beyond the rampaging party-riders,golfers,suspected assasins,dismissed police officers et al that constitute the Southwest,Pdp.Change, welcome to south-west,Nigeria!!!!!God bless the yoruba race

Flag 1 person liked this. Like ReplyReply

Ayekoto 12 hours ago

Dele Alake, returning to continue his dirty-job!

Dele Alake, a man that could be best described, as a Chukwumerije of Yoruba Race, likely to return to Lagos cabinet, after loosing in his state of origin, Ekiti State to superior rigging-machine and fire-power of the home-based politicians in the state.

In spite of all the spending for last elections, from looted funds of Lagos State for over 8 years of Asiwaju as governor, Dele Alake is again, returning to Lagos for another round of looting. So, it means that there is no qualified and competent Lagosian, who could be appointed, a Commissioner of Information and Strategies. This must have been under the directives of Asiwaju to Gov Fashola.

But it is very surprising, unbelievable and tragic for Lagosians, who are known for their no-nonsense and highly sophisticated nature, to have resigned to fate and allowed some of this types of insults, humiliation and slavery-treatments of the indigents of the state, to go on unchecked, or could it be for love of money, positions or are they charmed.

This Dele Alake, who lost to popularity contest in the last election, in his home state, but started threatening to exposed the various shady deals and anti-democratic moves of his party, ACN, is now returning to Lagos cabinet as compensation.

The politicians are now using people's votes to trade and compensate themselves, their family, friends and associates. They are fooling the people, deceiving us, that democracy is the best government, but surely, with this and others they are doing to the innocents and the poor, they will soon receive visitors, who are coming to correct these evils, wrongs and ill-treatments being meted-out on the people.

Some people after spending their time to study, obtained higher certificates could not secured jobs, yet some people are appointed, and re-appointed into offices as paddy-paddy government. This is unacceptable.

If Dele Alake should return to Lagos cabinet, after over 8 years of looting, then Gov Raji Fashola's government is doomed.

Time will tell,
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Augustine O Onyebuchi 12 hours ago

I wonder the airport road mark passed through. That road suppose to be
most landscaped maintained road in nigeria but it something else. dust,
pot holes, traffic jam, etc. Senate president I understand that should
be a federal road. please do something because many expertriates in 9ja
pass that road.

Fashola shops for kitchen cabinet

On May 25, 2011 · In Special Report ,
BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & OLASUNKANMI AKONI
Undoubtedly, Governor Babatunde Fashola’s first term administration of Lagos State remains a reference point for good governance in Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation.

This, to a large extent, assisted the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to sweep the South West States of Nigeria in April’s general elections.

As the first term of the administration ended with a valedictory session for cabinet members last Monday, action, especially clearance for those that will be in the cabinet during the second term, is in top gear.

While the governor is frantically putting together a kitchen cabinet, to be ushered in after the gubernatorial inauguration on Sunday some names are recurring in the permutations.

The returning Senate President, Senator David Mark took cognizance of how Fashola has been able to transform the state. According to him; “On my way from airport to this place, I have observed a lot of changes in Lagos. Governor Fashola is doing a lot, and he should be allowed to continue his good works in the state.

In line with Mark’s claim, former Minister of Education and former governor of Eboyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, acknowledged that there is high level of transformation Fashola has brought to the state since he assumed office in 2007.

Egwu, in his assessment of the first tenure of Fashola, said a number of landmark achievements that have profound positive impacts on Lagos indigenes and residents were recorded adding that the governor “deserves the support of all Lagosians”.

He was of the opinion that Fashola should have a free hand if the agenda for infrastructure renewal must continued and sustained in the state.


Governor Babatunde Faji Fashola of Lagos State


If his (Fashola) popular axiom; “the reward for hard work is more work,” is anything to go by, then Lagos residents have not seen anything yet in the holistic steps adopted in transforming the metropolis to Africa’s Model Mega City
After, his declaration as the winner of April 26th gubernatorial poll in Lagos, in an unprecedented feat, Fashola has been having a stormy period with the task of who and who will make the next cabinet team of which he is the captain.
One prominent name that has sprung up, according to investigations is that of Mr Dele Alake, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state during the period of former governor Bola Tinubu, who is now leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Alake, who has been a close friend of the Asiwaju, left with the former governor after he successfully laundered the later’s image and took over the running of some of the former governor’s media organisations including Radio and Television Continental, based in Ketu, Lagos.

Since then he has been with the former governor allegedly carrying out jobs that has to do with image promotion for him.

Some of the Commissioner that had signified their intention to go include the Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Tokunbo Afikoyomi, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire while Town Planner Francisco Abosede, Commissioner for Physical Planning, the ageing Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Prince Adeniji Adele, whose son made it to the state House of Assembly.

The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mrs Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya, daughter of the foremost Lagos politician, Adeniran Ogunsanya and Tunde Babalola, Commissioner for Home Affairs are surely not returning according to permutations.

According to expectations of Lagos residents, the out-going commissioners in the kitchen cabinet of Governor Fashola of Lagos state on Monday expressed different views following the dissolution of the current cabinet during the session held at the EXCO Chambers, Lagos House, Alalusa, Ikeja.

The governor who had earlier held a closed door meeting with all the over 43 EXCO members, hurriedly left for another assignment to reconvene later in the day.

Fashola who later reconvened and held the valedictory session behind closed door, refused to make public pronouncement of the dissolution of the cabinet either for personal or party reasons but an inside source confirmed the dissolution to Vanguard.

The only public indication was when the governor took a group photograph with his Exco members at the balcony of the executive chamber and later returned to his office.

Taking turn to speak on his period of service, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for the Establishments, Pensions and Training, who may return to the cabinet, described the Fashola administration as a brand that everybody now wants to identify with.

He said: “The Ministry of Establishments, Training and pensions has become the threshold for reference point by other states when it comes to pensions’ administration and welfare for its workers and pensioners.

“Serving the state under Fashola would be a unique privilege and opportunity one would cherish in his life. Despite the tedious challenges, we have been able to keep the responsibilities and duties he gave us and we cherish it.

“From the benefit of hindsight, may be one could have created more friendship outside the tedious work beyond what one has done today. To the best of my ability I think one has been able to put his best to the job and responsibilities on the job. Like he always say to us the only reward for a good job is more work.”

According to Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, one of the out-going commissioners who also performed meritoriously, he would not hesitate to work with Governor Fashola if called upon to do so again.

Badejo who bade staff of agencies in the ministry farewell at the weekend, stressed that it has been a great privilege working with a visionary man, an achiever who will keep everyone on his or her toes

He said: “It has been a very good journey that we have journeyed together. And I want to say thank you. I appreciate Governor Babatunde Fashola for giving me that undeserved favour of being part of his team. I will say it any time any day, I never met BRF until he became the governor of the state and for him to take up such an enormous risk with me, I owe him nothing than to appreciate him for having that confidence in me.

“Obviously, I will expect my successor to be very critical of the improvement on the welfare of LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officer, VIO. upward review of budgetary allocation for the ministry and improved inter-agency relationship,” he said.

According to Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, the Commissioner for Science and Technology , it has been service to the people at different levels, a difficult job and a challenging job but we stick to it that is why government would have to go out and campaign , we don’t complain because it is a job that must be done

“To serve a population of 18 million is exciting and challenging but one must thank God almighty for that opportunity , enormous experience , debate within the EXCO has been extremely rewarding, broaden ones knowledge and understanding of the world, vibrancy and see the challenges that the state has.

“As a team member, I was contributing to issues affecting other ministries at the ecxco level despite my being in charge of science and technology.”

In his own view, Dr. Dolapo Badru, the Special Adviser on Youths and Social Development said; “ the call to serve is for humanity and I will be willing to serve in any capacity if called upon. We are available to do that,” he said.

Dr Adewale Elijah, Special Adviser on Education, said that he carried out all the assignments given to him by the governor.

“I have been able to work effectively in scholarships section, the tertiary institutions, library board and be able to provide libraries for schools thus increasing the reading capabilities of our students, and we have been able to raise our pass standard from seven per cent when we came into office in 2007 to 22 percent now which is above average,” he said.

On challenges he stated: “I have no regrets but I know I have challenges which the governor of the state was able to surmount for me when I was unable to. I will oblige to serve in other capacities,” he said.

Prince Adesegun Oniru, was the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development: “I thank God that things are coming to an end and a new beginning and continuity is happening to Lagos.

“In the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, my ministry, the biggest thrust we found in the first four years , a brand new ministry as you all know is – the challenges of creating the Eko Atlantic City Project , turning water into land and turning land into real estate.

“Only God knows who will come back and who would not remain, but whatever happens at the end of the day is for good, but the major challenges was the Eko Atlantic City Project but aside from that I would have loved to continue to enhance the development of the water front of Lagos.”

Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Going philosophically, he said; “there is time for everything under the sun, there is time to be born and time to die, the time to be happy and time for sober reflection. This is actually the time to look back in the last four years to see what we have done and achieved so far as a government.

“I will tell you simply that I have been able as the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in Lagos, able to improve on what I met on the ground, we have been able to move round and see how the jobs were been done by the chairmen of various local governments and local council development areas, to ensure that we have that standard of the state at the local level also to serve the people better than before because we were in government to serve, we were not there to be served.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/fashola-shops-for-kitchen-cabinet/

FG delays PHCN sale, fails to approve EoIs .

Thursday, 26 May 2011 00:00 Badejo Ademuyiwa, Abuja & Anthony Osae-Brown, Lagos

The fulfillment of the promise to provide stable electricity for the country may tarry a while following the non-approval of the outcome of the evaluation of Expression of Interests (EoI) for the units of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) on sale.

This delay comes on the heels of the readiness of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate loans in its efforts to ensure the success of the power sector reforms.

Bola Onagoruwa, the director-general, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), at a technical workshop on Nigerian Power Sector Reform hinted of the non-approval of the EoIs.

EoI from prospective investors, represents the first stage in any privatisation exercise. Once this step is completed, request for proposals (RFPs) and bid documents will be issued to preferred bidders.

BPE had between December 13 and 20, 2010, through adverts in local and foreign media sought prospective investors’ interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.

It also invited investors to express interest in the four thermal power stations and concessionaires for the two hydro power stations. The initial deadline for receipt of EOIs was Friday, February 18, 2011 but later extended to March 4.

331 EoIs were harvested, comprising of 174 applications for the four thermal stations and the two hydro stations and 157 for the 11 distribution companies. The outcome of the evaluation has since April been presented to the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for approval which has not yet come.

At the workshop entitled, ‘Understanding the role of banks and key private sector stakeholders in the privatisation process,’ organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the bureau, the DG said the progress of the process depends on the approval.

“We have concluded the evaluation of the EoIs but we have not gotten the feedback from the presidency. We will publish the list once we get the approval and continue the work,’ she said.

“I cannot give you a specific time to continue with other processes because it is subject to the approval,” Onagoruwa said.

She however allayed the fears of banks if they assisted the emerging investors and assured that each distribution company would be financially viable. She noted that Multi-Year-Tariff-Order (MYTO) has been designed to raise enough revenue from DISCOs to fund other areas of the value chain. These include: gas or fuel supply; whole electricity generation costs; transmission charge, system and market operation charges; and regulation charges

“Total cost required to ensure viability of the entire industry has been computed and shared among all the distribution companies,” she told the banking operators.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the CBN governor, meanwhile also stressed that stable electricity would provide opportunities to move Nigerians out of poverty.

The apex bank governor said the efforts to assist the sector should not be left to the CBN alone, as it affects all the units in the financial services sector.

“Every regulator like the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Finance Ministry should come and assist because electricity is not about light but opportunities to move a population of 150 million out of poverty.”

Sanusi said the banks had not been helpful because of the failure of corporate governance and the fact that banks in this part of the world have stopped being an intermediary channeling financial resources to create jobs.

He assured prospective investors of the apex bank’s assistance to secure facility, but he ruled out equity participation in the emerging power plants.

Sanusi, who had also earlier observed the urgent need to unlock the idle funds in the country to grow the power sector in order to empower the army of unemployed youths now standing at about 49.9 per cent, said, “Fixing power is what we need now. Electricity is not about light. It is about the opportunity it provides Nigerians to move out of poverty into self sufficiency. It is what will enable the artisan do his job, the barber to concentrate on what he is doing and become self-employed. As at today, about 49.9 per cent of youths are unemployed.”

Restating the call on the Federal Government to unlock part of the pension fund into the development of the sector, the CBN governor argued that it would be of more benefit to spend such fund in growing the power sector than using it to subsidise petroleum.

He said the CBN could not bankroll the entire infrastructure in the country, adding that there was enough money in the pension fund, the capital market and the budget to develop some of these facilities. While pledging the apex bank’s continued intermediation role in the development of infrastructure, he advised that the Ministry of Finance should inject enough funds for the development of infrastructural facilities.

Also speaking, Barth Nnaji, chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, said the Federal Government reform in the last few months had boosted investor confidence in the sector unlike in the past when there was no funding and non-participation of the private sector in the system.

According to him, “Now, we ensure that investors have to be protected by government policies. The framework is intended to ensure that investors will be comfortable when they come. About a year ago, the reform was not going well, but today, government has moved forward to ensure investors come. Now banks are playing a role they did not do before.”

Lamenting the fact that no power plant is currently operating at full capacity, he argued that public support for the sector could become high if service delivery was good. On the issue of renewable energy, he said a lot of issues had to do with tariff, insisting however, that the cost of buying power was more expensive in this regard.

“It has to be a debatable government policy to buy power from renewable energy. NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) is coming up with the actual tariff for this,” he said.

For the far flung areas where the conventional system could not reach, there might be need to use renewable energy, Nnaji said.

The core investor sales to be carried out through international competitive bidding will cover the eleven electricity distribution companies in the country. They are: Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc. Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.

Meanwhile, the BPE has received 900 bids from 331 companies for the 18 unbundled companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc.

This was revealed by Amaechi Aloke, project manager, power, who spoke at the Renaissance Capital 2nd Pan-African conference, held in Lagos.

Amaechi said the bids were received from leading and reputable energy companies all over the world.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/22075-fg-delays-phcn-sale-fails-to-approve-eois

Forgery: FG charges Senator Igbeke to court
By Friday Olokor, Abuja
Thursday, 26 May 2011



The Federal Government has charged Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, representing Anambra North Senatoral District, before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly forging the result of the senatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party for the zone.



An Abuja Magistrates’ Court had earlier issued a warrant for the arrest of the Senator over a similar crime.



But the warrant, which directed all police officers to arrest Igbeke anywhere he was found, was later discharged by the court.



The two-count charge with No. FHC/ABJ/CR/44/11 and dated May 24, 2011 was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.



It was initiated and filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello (SAN).



The charge sheet, which was endorsed by a director from the office of the AGF, Mrs. O.O. Fatunde, read.



That you, Alphonsus Uba Igbeke (m) at about the 21st day of January, 2011 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria did make a forged document described as the Senatorial Primary Result sheet for the Peoples Democratic party (PDP)of Anambra North Zone knowing it to be false to wit: you falsely represented the votes scored by the aspirants as follows: John Emeka Jnr—156; Chief A. Igbeke—1173; Chief Denis Odife—15; Hon. Uzoka Okwudili—34; Hon. Celestine Ughanze—297 and Chief Tony Nnacheta—25, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under section 1[2] of the same Act.



That you, Alphonsus Uba Igbeke (m) at about the 21st day of January, 2011 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria did make a forged document described as the Senatorial Primary Result sheet for the Peoples Democratic party of Anambra North Zone knowing it to be false to wit: you falsely represented the votes scored by the aspirants as follows: John Emeka Jnr—156; Chief A. Igbeke—1173; Chief Denis Odife—15; Hon. Uzoka Okwudili—34; Hon. Celestine Ughanze—297 and Chief Tony Nnacheta—25, with intent that it may be used by yourself to buttress your prayer to the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/189/2011 to be declared winner of the Senatorial party primary to the prejudice of John Emeka the real winner and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under section 1[2] of the same Act.



No date has been fixed for his arraignment in court.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110526245160

Former Presidential Candidate John Edwards Faces Indictment for Campaign Violations

Published May 25, 2011

Reuters

WASHINGTON -- Prosecutors can seek an indictment against former North Carolina Senator and two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards for allegedly using campaign donations to cover up an extra-marital affair and love child, ABC News reported late Tuesday.

The network, citing sources, said the Department of Justice has given the go-ahead for Edwards to be prosecuted and the former politician has been informed of the development.

Edwards may now accept a plea deal or face trial.

Edwards, 57, has been the target of a lengthy federal grand jury investigation into allegations of campaign violations related to his relationship with mistress Rielle Hunter.

As Edwards made his second run for the White House, he began an affair with Hunter -- an aide who worked as a videographer on his campaign -- that was uncovered by the National Enquirer in late 2007.

Edwards finally admitted to the affair in August 2008, having initially denied that he was the father of Hunter's daughter Frances Quinn Hunter, who was born in February 2008.

The allegations in the federal investigation concern more than $1 million that was used to hide Hunter from public view.

The amount was paid by two big-time donors -- 100-year-old heiress and philanthropist Rachel "Bunny" Mellon and Edwards' 2008 finance chairman Fred Baron, who died in 2008.

Prior to his death, Baron admitted that he had paid money to help hide Hunter from the press, but denied that Edwards had any knowledge of the arrangement.

Former Edwards campaign aide Andrew Young -- who lived with Hunter while she was in hiding, initially claimed to be the father of the baby girl as a favor to Edwards, and has since written a tell-all book about the campaign -- has said that Edwards definitely knew about the money, and even solicited it.

A prominent trial lawyer before being elected to his North Carolina Senate seat in 1998, Edwards came second in the 2004 Democratic primary race and was then selected by the eventual nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), to be his vice presidential running-mate.

Edwards' wife, Elizabeth Edwards, died late last year after a battle with cancer.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/25/report-presidential-candidate-john-edwards-faces-indictment-campaign-violations/?test=latestnews

Playmode,

Can you educate us on the service delivery issues in SA?

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[b]Why Don't Men Like Schwarzenegger, John Edwards Use Condoms?[/b]By Susan Milligan

Posted: May 18, 2011

The revelation that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child a decade ago with a woman who was not his wife—a disclosure that comes just a couple of years after we learned that onetime Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards had done the same thing—begs an important question:

Exactly what century are we in?


The issue here isn’t even why a married person would have sex outside his or her marriage, which is not an infrequent occurrence now or at previous points in history. It’s not even about how a public person thinks he or she could behave that way without anyone finding out. Edwards, after all, was castigated for doing something so reckless and foolish during a time when he was under intense media scrutiny. But the fact that Schwarzenegger was able to keep this a secret for the entire time he was in the governor’s mansion is astounding, and suggests maybe Edwards wasn’t as delusional as some people thought. [Check out a roundup of this month's best political cartoons.]

But has it not occurred to these men to use a condom? Birth control is readily available. It’s legal. It’s simple to use. And it limits the fallout from an affair. Learning of a past sexual dalliance would understandably be very upsetting to a spouse. Learning that a child was produced from the union is devastating and adds a living, breathing reminder of the episode, a pain compounded by the fact that it is not the child’s fault that he or she is a walking symbol of marital betrayal.

But seriously, if a woman approaches a man and says, "you are so hot," as Rielle Hunter reportedly said to Edwards, does it not occur to the man that she might not mind having a permanent connection to the candidate a child would secure? And what was Schwarzenegger thinking when he had sex with someone who actually worked for the family? Did he not consider the possibility of pregnancy? [Read 10 things you didn't know about Schwarzenegger.]

Perhaps the use of birth control adds to any guilt the men might feel; if the episode is planned, it is more difficult to convince oneself that passion was to blame. It’s sort of the counter-argument to those who believe that providing birth control to sexually active young people will give them ideas about sex they wouldn’t otherwise have. More likely, they are thinking about sex, and while it may not be wise to engage in sex at a young age because of the emotional implications, the physical consequences of sex without birth control are far more serious. One would think adult men would know that by now.


http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2011/05/18/why-dont-men-like-schwarzenegger-john-edwards-use-condoms

[b]Why Don't Men Like Schwarzenegger, John Edwards Use Condoms?[/b]By Susan Milligan

Posted: May 18, 2011

The revelation that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child a decade ago with a woman who was not his wife—a disclosure that comes just a couple of years after we learned that onetime Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards had done the same thing—begs an important question:

Exactly what century are we in?


The issue here isn’t even why a married person would have sex outside his or her marriage, which is not an infrequent occurrence now or at previous points in history. It’s not even about how a public person thinks he or she could behave that way without anyone finding out. Edwards, after all, was castigated for doing something so reckless and foolish during a time when he was under intense media scrutiny. But the fact that Schwarzenegger was able to keep this a secret for the entire time he was in the governor’s mansion is astounding, and suggests maybe Edwards wasn’t as delusional as some people thought. [Check out a roundup of this month's best political cartoons.]

But has it not occurred to these men to use a condom? Birth control is readily available. It’s legal. It’s simple to use. And it limits the fallout from an affair. Learning of a past sexual dalliance would understandably be very upsetting to a spouse. Learning that a child was produced from the union is devastating and adds a living, breathing reminder of the episode, a pain compounded by the fact that it is not the child’s fault that he or she is a walking symbol of marital betrayal.

But seriously, if a woman approaches a man and says, "you are so hot," as Rielle Hunter reportedly said to Edwards, does it not occur to the man that she might not mind having a permanent connection to the candidate a child would secure? And what was Schwarzenegger thinking when he had sex with someone who actually worked for the family? Did he not consider the possibility of pregnancy? [Read 10 things you didn't know about Schwarzenegger.]

Perhaps the use of birth control adds to any guilt the men might feel; if the episode is planned, it is more difficult to convince oneself that passion was to blame. It’s sort of the counter-argument to those who believe that providing birth control to sexually active young people will give them ideas about sex they wouldn’t otherwise have. More likely, they are thinking about sex, and while it may not be wise to engage in sex at a young age because of the emotional implications, the physical consequences of sex without birth control are far more serious. One would think adult men would know that by now.


http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2011/05/18/why-dont-men-like-schwarzenegger-john-edwards-use-condoms

Can I suggest that we also have list of OBJ's "achievements" on another thread?

And another one for UMYA?

You are very correct about motorists being apprehended on Eko Bridge.

As a matter of fact, if you are going up the bridge from Costain, the chances of not falling into the hands of those guys is 50:50 as they are ready to claim that you drove on some part of the lane before moving inwards.

I was referring to third mainland bridge when I said I haven't seen anyone apprehended.

LASTMA officials in some parts of Lagos are very notorious for apprehending motorists when unnecessary. These places include

1. Traffic light junctions between Falomo Bridge and Oniru
2. Allen Avenue/Obafemi Awolowo Way roundabout
3. Eko Bridge BRT Lane
4. Maryland-Ojota link Bridge BRT Lane

These guys should be called to order (as was done when the elections were approaching) or the traffic lights should be changed to show the duration between the transition in colour as we have in some other parts of Lagos. The LASG is only creating a bad image for itself and creating avenues for easy money for these rogues in uniform with these archaic traffic lights.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=668323.msg8332234#msg8332234

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These pictures show the BRT lane on the third mainland bridge.

As you can see both the buses and cars drive on that lane.

I have not seen or met anyone apprehended for driving a private vehicle on the lane.

This is the Lagos State Government's version of the AES/ENRON power plant story:

In 1999, the Lagos State Government (LASG) entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enron for purchase of electricity. This was the first Independent Power Project in Nigeria. The PPA divided the project into three phases; Phase I was for three barge-mounted electricity generating units, having an aggregate nominal capacity of 90MW. Phase II was the design, construction and operation of a simple cycle electricity generating facility with a nominal capacity of 548 MW. Phase III was another set of barge-mounted electricity generating units with an aggregate nominal capacity of 180MW. Phase II did not materialize; hence parties proceeded only with Phase I and III. The barges are located at Egbin near Ikorodu.

In view of the legal and regulatory regime at that time, the arrangement therefore was for LASG to buy power from Enron and for same to be distributed by NEPA to the geographical areas specified in the PPA. The purchased power was to be distributed to those geographical areas in addition to, and not in substitution for, any electricity that is generated otherwise than by the barges. These areas were Ikeja, Oshodi, Victoria Island, Marina, Lekki and Apapa.


The plant commenced operations in June 2001 with a total aggregate capacity of 270 MW injected into the national grid.

http://www.lagospowerprojects.gov.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=57

Here's a picture of the plant from the Marina Bridge. (Sorry, this is the best I could do).

It shows the Plant and the General Hospital. the State House is just beside NET/NECOM house.

As a matter the fact, there are two state houses there!

One is for the president (his official lodge when in Lagos, like last night and where he will host a corporate dinner this evening as part of the 2011 presidential inauguration ceremonies) and the other for the state governor.

It used to be one in the colonial days but I think it was split either when Lagos State was created in 1967 or when the  military heads of state started living in Dodan Barracks.

Anyway, what I am wondering is whether the plant will power only the Lagos State House and leave the 'Federal State House' in "darkness" until the FG does something about the power situation and will the president be staying behind in Lagos to witness the commissioning?

Just wondering. . .

Gunshots, Looting Reported in Mpls.


Updated: Sunday, 22 May 2011, 10:03 PM CDT
Published : Sunday, 22 May 2011, 8:30 PM CDT

by Leif Knutson / FOX 9 News

Rescue and cleanup crews are being protected by Minneapolis Police on the north side of the city as a curfew is in effect. There were also reports of gunfire and looting in storm-damaged sections of the north side Sunday.

The city of Minneapolis has issued a Curfew, effective from 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday for areas between I-94, Penn, Plymouth, and Dowling Avenues.

Residents are told to stay in their homes during that time — and not enter the perimeter if they are outside.

Police Chief Tim Dolan, who’s been with the department for nearly 30 years, claims this is the first curfew he has seen in the city.




Read more: Gunshots, Looting Prompt Mpls Curfew http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Gunshots-Looting-Prompt-Mpls-Curfew-may-22-2011#ixzz1NCAJLmso