₦airaland Forum

Na pray de man dey pray now!

"Father forgive them, for they know not what they post"

See today's edition of the Guardian - page 56

Investors are to be verified between Jan 31 and Feb 11.

Required are:
name, address, Gsm no and email of investors
Original and copy of tellers and receipts
Name and address of banks for collection of monthly returns


Hope this information helps someone.

See today's edition of the Guardian - page 56

Investors are to be verified between Jan 31 and Feb 11.

Required are:
name, address, Gsm no and email of investors
Original and copy of tellers and receipts
Name and address of banks for collection of monthly returns


Hope this information helps someone.

Lagos
Mamora Olurunnimbe Adeleke ACN Safe
Munirudeen Adeleke Muse ACN Safe
Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon ACN Safe


Safe? Only Solomon is "safe"

You have forgotten that Tinubu has reshuffled "his" cabinet?

New list:
Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos Central
Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East

They were not kidnapped!


They are there to register the spirits!

Minister Charges NIMASA, NPA On Wreck Removal
11 August 2010


Lagos — Minister of Transport, Yusuf Suleiman, has directed both the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to come together and harmonise their methods on the removal of ship wreckage exercise with the Lagos State Waterfront Agency.

He maintained that with the level of removal approaches of both NPA and NIMASA, it might take more than five or six years before the nation could salvage the whole wrecks and this portends danger to the shoreline and citizens of the nation.

The Minister, who spoke at a meeting between himself and Lagos State officials led by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Olasupo Sasore, also constituted a new committee to effect quick removal of vessel wreckages on the nation's coastal waters.

The committee comprises officials of NPA, NIMASA, Federal Ministry of Justice and Lagos State Government and was given a month to come up with the way forward.

Expressing worry over the danger posed by wrecks to the environment, he commended the concern of Lagos State Government, saying: "This is a very serious issue that affects our shoreline and needs to be addressed. It will take another five or six years to remove the wrecks with the approaches of the NIMASA and NPA. They must give clearer picture on their removal methods and harmonise them in such a way that will be acceptable to Lagos State. They must work hand in hand with the state."

Impressed by the promptness of the minister, Sasore said Lagos State had conducted its study on the wreckages and would appreciate working and sharing ideas with NPA and NIMASA on the problem. The commissioner said it is important to go after the perpetrators and hold them accountable for the ecological implication of their abandoned vessels, noting that the state and the ministry of justice, because of legal implication, must be involved in the committee.

Sasore said legal procedure would be taken against the owners of the wrecks to make them account for their deed and also a legal procedure would be initiated to back NIMASA and NPA on the wreck removal.

General manager, Marine, Captain Iheanacho Ebubogu who presented the efforts made so far by the NPA, said vessel wreckage has become a big challenge to the organization considering its implication to environment and easy vessel pilotage and dredging activity. He noted that there are 100 identified wreckages alone in Lagos port channels and others in other ports, maintaining that NPA had removed 21 while NIMASA removed only four.

"If we don't remove these wrecks, it may affect our aspiration of becoming a maritime hub for West Africa and portend Nigeria as irresponsible before the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Apart from this, these wrecks can be a hideout for hoodlums and cause environmental degradation to the nation", Ebubogu said, adding that it was unfortunate that all the wrecked vessels are owned by members of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) who have failed to develop scrap policy on their old vessels and never bother about having Protection & Indemnity insurance

http://allafrica.com/stories/201008120423.html

Suspended NIMASA DG honoured by maritime stakeholders .
Sunday, 19 December 2010 04:00 Shehu Abubakar .

The suspended Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Temisan Omatseye, has been honoured by stakeholders in the maritime industry for what they called his contributions towards the development of maritime activities in the country. The group, operating under the Marine Trade Awards Initiative, said the recent arrest and subsequent investigation of Omatseye by the EFCC over alleged financial misappropriation were caused by government’s decision to appoint non-professionals into the board of NIMASA thereby encouraging abuse of due process.

Speaking on behalf of the awarding board, chairman of the Marine Trade Awards Initiative, Chief Mazi Tony Ohakwe said, “Permit me at this point to comment on recent happenings within the nation’s maritime sector. For many years, the government of Nigeria has formulated policies and programs aimed at enhancing indigenous participation in the economic and development activities in various areas of the national economy. These policies which are based on sound economic models have been used successfully by peers in other jurisdictions to boost local infrastructure, launch technological and industrial advancement, create sustainable employment, grow international reputation and realize national development objectives.

“Happenings in the apex maritime regulatory agency of Nigeria (NIMASA) deserve some comments. Just as we do not support corruption, we are bothered that politicians and their cohorts appointed into boards of parastatals have found a common ground to always distort the smooth running of agencies of government. The high rate of turning out of Directors-General of NIMASA is indeed worrisome. This is mainly caused by government‘s decision to appoint non-professionals into these boards; the present NIMASA case is a serious one. NIMASA deserve a stable management team and knowledgeable board not contract seeking politicians,” he said.

The DG and the board of NIMASA were indicted in an audit report over alleged circumventing due process while awarding some contracts worth billions of Naira beyond the approving powers of both the DG and the board. The audit report on which the EFCC relied on to arrest and investigate Mr Omatseye says the DG and the board awarded contracts to the tune of over N5.3 billion between January and June when they have no right to do so.

Some top Custom officials that include the Comptroller General, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, a shipping agency, LANSAL, a port service provider, COTECNA and some Comptrollers of the Nigeria Custom Service were among those that were awarded for their various contributions to maritime business in Nigeria.

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5610:suspended-nimasa-dg-honoured-by-maritime-stakeholders&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26

Why is it that the DGs of NIMASA don't last in that position? Why is it that the agency is not living up to its responsibilities?

N4 Billion Fraud: Ex NIMASA boss, Omatseye, spends 8 days in EFCC jail, to be arraigned this week, As Waziri, Jonathan resist pressures for his release

Ex Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye, is spending his eight day in the Abuja detention center of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), as he awaits his day in court this week, over alleged misappropriation of N4 Billion, and award of rogue contracts.

Omatseye is alleged to have doled out dodgy contracts to several cronies, and party men. They include coastal surveillance, maritime security and maritime pollution.

Pointblanknews.com sources in Abuja hinted Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan, and the EFCC boss, Farida Waziri have resisted pressures from very influential people, especially some top party men who benefited from Omatseye's fraudulent contract jamboree, who want the rogue NIMASA boss freed.

Omatseye was arrested last Wednesday by operatives of the EFCC. This is his second trip the EFCC in barely a month. He was first picked up last month alongside his Director of Finance, Bulama Ago, and that of Procurement, Shehu Kabir. After few days with EFCC interrogators in Ikoyi and Abuja they were released.

But the Chairman of the NIMSA Board led by Senator Baba Tella insisted that Omatseye should be removed and prosecuted.

Pointblanknews.com sources said after he was indicted by the Board, Omatseye used his contacts in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to temporarily block his removal and eventual arrest.


According to top sources in Abuja, when Jonathan got wind of the maneuvers, he directed the SGF to fire him, and ensure every allegation of wrongdoing, fraud etc are investigated by the appropriate agency.

Said our source “there are pressures from very top quarters concerning NIMASA boss. The Chairman and the President have been inundated with strings of pressures to go soft on him, but they have refused to budge “

“ Omatseye has contacts everywhere, he awarded strings of contracts. The board of NIMASA could not check him, even when they removed him he ran to Abuja to press some buttons.”

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvnews/43580/1/n4-billion-fraud-ex-nimasa-boss-omatseye-spends-8-.html

Mr. Commissioner, thank you for keeping your word.
Better late than never!

Dismantling the wrecks on the seashore
By Ben Ezeamalu


December 28, 2010 05:05PM


The loud bang of metal on metal was the only sound punctuating the hiss of the ocean waves as half clad workers struggled to dismantle Mt Ray at Lekki beach, last Monday. The presence of Mt Ray, one of the ships swept onto the beach’s shore during a raging storm earlier this year, had forced the strong tidal flow of the ocean to eat deep into the receding seashore leaving destroyed vegetation in its wake.

As the Lagos State government begins to evacuate the carcass of the ships washed ashore on Lekki and Oniru beaches to forestall further damage to the sea shores, the workers at the site say they are optimistic they would complete the task in good time.

“As you can see, work is going on,” said the one of the workers at the beach who declined to give his name.

“We are working 24/7 to ensure we remove it before, at most, the next rain. We would have gone farther than this but the waves are a disturbing factor. Sometimes when they are high, we have to wait for it to come down before we continue work,” he said.

Long walk to evacuation

Since February when more than 10 ships drifted from the Lagos anchorage into the light house beach, a stretch of about five nautical miles to the West of Lagos Harbour mole at Tarkwa Bay, repeated appeals had been made to relevant authorities by residents as well as environmentalists to evacuate the vessels so as to salvage the rapidly eroding shoreline. A number of reports by NEXT also pointed at the urgent need to evacuate the submerged ships to prevent further erosion of the shoreline and overflowing of the ocean.

At the end of the second Lagos Climate Change Summit in May, participants promised to write a formal petition to the federal government stating that all the shipwrecks along the state’s coastline be removed.

The petition was part of a 34-point recommendation adopted at the week long summit which also advised the state to work closely with the federal government to tackle the maintenance of shipwrecks along the coast.

It also stated that both the state and the federal government should carry out a comprehensive assessment of shipwrecks and abandoned ships along the coast, how to remove them and how to prevent such occurrences in the future.

In July, concerned citizens staged a protest to demand a response from the government on the devastating effect of the erosion caused by the shipwreck along the coastline at Lekki beach.

However, after a long wait for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority, two federal government agencies saddled with the task of evacuating the vessels, yielded no visible results, the Lagos State government decided to wade in.

Lagos takes up the challenge
“There is no arrangement (between us and the federal government), I can tell you categorically that it is the state government that is executing that project,” said Adesegun Oniru, the state commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, whose ministry is overseeing the evacuation.

“When a vessel beaches like that, the first point of call is NIMASA; they are the ones that should find a way of removing it. But the state government will not just lie back and see the environment damaged,” said Mr Oniru.

Few months after some of the ships were swept to the Lekki and Oniru shores, the adverse effects of their presence became quite visible - more than 50 metres of sand gradually disappeared from different areas of the coasts due to the resultant erosion which also cut through the coconut trees serving as protection to the coastlines.

“The damage to the environment within the first few weeks of the shipwrecks was noticeable,” said Mr Oniru.

“We couldn’t leave them there. They have to be removed by the state government.” Prior to the intervention of the state government, environmentalists had continually highlighted the negative effects of the growing incidence of ship wrecks on Nigeria’s coastal waters, but, apparently, they got minimal attention.

According to Kunle Olawoyin of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation dedicated to nature conservation, relevant authorities have to work together and take a thorough look at the varied environmental challenges in a more integrated manner.

“It is regrettable that practical steps are yet to be taken to address the ecological challenges being faced by people living on the Nigerian coastline, in spite of our regular advocacy on climate change and its attendant effects on human populations and ecosystems,” said Mr Olawoyin.

“We have also highlighted the need for immediate action on the growing incidence of shipwrecks in our coastal waters,” he said.

The United Nations estimates that there are more than three million undiscovered shipwrecks in the worlds ‘ocean floors.

However, frequent disputes between Lagos State and the Federal Government over who has control of the Lagos waterways may have also contributed to the delay in evacuating the discovered shipwrecks, some observers noted, in addition to the enormous resources required for the evacuation.

NIMASA claimed it had already spent about N252 million to remove four of the vessels washed on Lagos shores; an average of about N63 million per vessel.

Efforts to reach the NIMASA boss were not successful; an official of the agency said that they were having a formal hand over to their newly appointed directors and could not comment on the matter.

“As far as we are concerned in Lagos State, we don’t have any problem (with the federal government). There is a law that put this ministry together and the law is very clear,” said Mr Oniru.

“There are so many vessels that are sinking in our lagoons that they (federal government) are not doing anything about,” he said. “What we are here to do is very clear and we’d do our work to the best of our ability. The law is there to back us up on all that we do in the state.”

Averting danger

While commending the efforts of the state government, Mr Olawoyin stated that the impending disaster posed by the ocean surge due to the abandoned shipwrecks may have been averted.

“Since the abandonment of the shipwreck a couple of months ago, the rate of beach side erosion has increased due to rapid collection of sand deposits by the sinking shipwrecks, resulting in changes in hydrology and water movement and subsequently threatening the sand-laden beach side,” Mr Olawoyin said.

“With the commencement of the removal of the shipwreck by the Lagos State government, we believe that the threat posed by ocean surge caused by abandoned shipwreck and which may result into an impending disaster will be averted.” The 3,000 metric ton Mt Ray, suspected to be leaking Automotive Gas Oil (or diesel) into the ocean, was washed ashore due to the unavailability of the standard two anchors required in every ship, according to the crew members of the ship, who spoke to NEXT in February this year, when the ship was washed ashore. We are cutting the metals to make sure the vessel is lighter before we pull it out,” said one of the workers at Lekki beach.

“It is hard work because the vessel is almost two storey deep into the water. If it had been removed immediately, it wouldn’t have been this difficult.” The workers said that though they have a timeline of completing the task before the onset of the next rains, they were at the mercy of the tidal waves from the ocean.

“We’ve been working on it for weeks and we’ve been able to remove the top part of the vessel,” said a welder who was cutting the metals into smaller bits.

“We are waiting for the wave to go down before we start work. We always have to pump out all the water from the vessel before we start again,” he said.

On how to forestall future occurrences, Mr Oniru said that it behoves the relevant federal government agencies to take their responsibilities seriously.

“A lot of the disasters that are happening, a lot of failed anchor and abandoned vessels, they end up on our shoreline in Lagos State,” he said.

“So if NIMASA and NPA and all those federal agencies that are in charge of these vessels and that collect the dues when these vessels come to our shoreline do what they should do, we shouldn’t have this problem.

“And even if we do as a matter of accident, there should be a time limit that you give these vessel owners to move the vessels. Because the longer you leave it there, the worse it is going to get and the harder it would be to remove it,” said Mr Oniru.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/XFactor/Features/5656291-147/story.csp

There was an analysis of NL members done on Nairaland about 2years ago.

It shows various member personality types with examples of real members who fall into these categories.

It was very instructive and interesting. I think the OP must be a psychologist or sociologist.

Unfortunately, I did not bookmark it.

Does anyone have the link or can the original poster provide us the link?

johnie:
We’ll repair Lagos-Ibadan Expressway before Christmas – Babalakin


He said, ”Between now and the end of the year, we intend to make the road passable by ensuring that there are no craters and potholes on the road that can hinder movement. By the time we move into next year, we would have commenced more extensive work.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101203317279

Can anyone confirm this?

woodcook:
In as much as I believe in quality education I am not a fan of paying so much so that a child can get the "best" secondary education. I believe that there are a lot of secondary schools out there that can provide quality education. I really don't give a poo about all the hype about Loyola and co. But one thing I must say is that even if you send a " not-so-smart person" to Harvard it wouldn't change a thing. So I will never rate Loyola or any school in its cadre as the best, because after Loyola lies the four walls of the University where the kid will go and wrestle it out with kids from other schools. Then there will be no more special teacher or the best private or public schools. What you would have then is the same reading materials and course content, you have to study and think then. No special teacher doing the trick anymore. I attended a secondary school without a name, but in my days in the university, those of them from the so called private best schools never saw my back. The first five in my class all attended secondary schools without rank or any name. so let's cut the crap on this ranting. It is only going to make the kids feel bad. A child that is a genius will still be one and a not-so-smart person will definitely be one no matter where he or she is schooled.

Thanks for your response woodcock. I do agree with you that the school does not make the child smart. You should however understand that my question is that "given you present level of income, what school would you consider best for your child?"

The school you attended may have provided you with just enough to make it along with your own individual brilliance and hard work but would you send your child to the same school if you have resources to send your child to the most expensive school?

The role an "expensive" school plays in developing the global outlook, self-confidence and valuable network (not just academics) of a child is very important especially when the child is not pampered at home.

What do you think?

I have just installed a Microsoft 2008 Server with the Enterprise licence. The server plays the role of a doman controller and file server.

I am about to install a second server to act as an internet gateway but be a part of the first domain.

Do I require a second (standard) licence for the second server?

Me self dey laugh

^^^
Fine, but are those words true of Nigeria today?

Please before I am crucified, let me state that this and all other military incursions were unnecessary in my opinion.

"OUR ENEMIES ARE THE POLITICAL PROFITEERS,THE SWINDLERS,THE MEN IN HIGH AND LOW PLACES THAT SEEK BRIBES AND DEMAND 10 PERCENT;THOSE THAT SEEK TO KEEP THE COUNTRY DIVIDED PERMANENTLY SO THAT THEY CAN REMAIN IN OFFICE AS MINISTERS OR VIPS AT LEAST.THE TRIBALISTS,THE NEPOTISTS,THOSE THAT MAKE THE COUNTRY LOOK FOR NOTHING BEFORE INTERNATIONAL CIRCLES,THOSE THAT HAVE CORRUPTED OUR SOCIETY AND PUT THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL CALENDER BACK BY THEIR WORDS AND DEED".

MAJOR PATRICK CHUKWUMA KADUNA NZEOGWU JAN. 15 1966.THE LEADER OF THE FIRST MILITARY COUP IN NIGERIA.

Watching the political scene today, I can't help but wonder if these words still hold true in present day Nigeria?

Yes. With a  child!

You want to apply?

Alake quits Senatorial race
Font size:   Our Reporter 13/01/2011 00:00:00

Former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Dele Alake has quit the Ekiti Central Senatorial race.

In a statement in Lagos last night, he said: "When I joined the race for the senatorial seat in Ekiti, I was motivated by the higher ideal of offering service and quality representation to the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District in particular, Ekiti State and Nigeria in general.

"I felt that my God-given intellect, talent, elocution and erudiction and articulation, experience, exposure, knowledge and vision would be best put to the service of my people in the National Assembly through a clean electoral process. I did not envisage that an intra-party primary would degenerate into malpractices, fraud, violence and brigandage. Given what occurred on Monday at the cancelled primary in Ekiti Central Senatorial zone, I have come to the painful conclusion that it will be an uphill task for decent people with a sense of propriety to be part of any such process again.

"In the light of this and after due consultations with well-meaning Nigerians across the geo-political divides and given the fact that I subscribed to the principle and value of playing the game by the rule and also the fact that I cherish the quality of my name, status, stature and my image , I have decided not to be part of any such arrangement because there is no guarantee that the same thing will not occur again. Politics, for me, is not a do-or-die affair.

"I do not believe that in order to serve the people you either induce them with money, buy their conscience or resort to thuggery, hooliganism and brigandage. I strongly believe that if one wants to serve, you offer yourself and convince the people with ideas, programmes, plans and manifesto. I do not and will not be part of a scheme that will hoodwink the public because I want to serve them. If anyone resorts to monetary inducement, brigandage and cohesion, then such person’s motive can never be to serve. I, therefore, withdraw my participation in any political arrangement that is not above board. I appeal to all my supporters and well wishers to be calm and law abiding as the Almighty God who sees our hearts and knows our intention is in absolute control."


http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/24533.html

Jubril go greet GEJ.

Atiku no go.

GEJ goes over to shake hands with Atiku and others. Obasanjo follows closely.

Na wa for these old men o!

Obasanjo, Anenih and Nwobodo no sleep o!

Now I get it.

The counted ballot papers are kept in the
brief cases.

Mama's one vote is the one she cast.

Can someone remind me of the surname of the chap wearing a blue shirt and face cap? His first name is gbenga and was one of the rabble rousers in the national assembly between 1999 and 2003.

I pity this policeman wey dey carry flag in front of the camera.

E be like say e don tire, won sleep or won piss!

Mama Jubril sef dey smile!

What are those brief cases some delegetes are carrying about for? I hope say no be money for the boys dey inside o!

And na wetin Tafida and Nnamani dey discuss?

Benue
Gej 72
Atiku 15

Atiku's agent rejects osun results!