Pakute: Governor Alex Otti has provided clarity on the proposed Abia airport project at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North, stating that the initiative is primarily a federal project.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday night in Umuahia, Otti explained that while the federal government originally planned to construct an airstrip in the state, his administration successfully persuaded the federal government to scale it up to a full-scale airport.
The state government has committed to supporting the project by building a runway, which distinguishes an airstrip from an airport. However, the Governor emphasized that the project remains a federal undertaking, with no shared financial burden between the state and federal governments.
The airport project is set to be launched on Tuesday by the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo. Governor Otti expressed his gratitude to the federal government for the initiative.
Regarding the forensic audit of his predecessor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, which revealed the alleged mismanagement of N10 billion on a non-existent airport project, Otti confirmed that investigations are still ongoing. He revealed that certain officials from the former administration have been questioned by anti-graft agencies, assuring that the matter has not been ignored.
On the decision to abandon the proposed airport site chosen by previous administrations, Otti explained that the location has now become a built-up area, making it unsuitable for an airport.
Constructing an airport there would require demolishing existing structures and paying compensation to landowners. The new site, he stated, is strategically located between Aba and Umuahia, and the state government plans to compensate the landowners.
The Governor dismissed the protests against the new airport site as politically motivated, claiming they stem from individuals who feel threatened by his administration’s success in accomplishing what they could not during their tenure.
Governor Otti also touched on several other state issues. He confirmed that the 2024 budget had exhausted allocations for road projects, including the Ariam Usaka ring road in Ikwuano, but assured that the project is included in the 2025 budget.
He further announced that the promised 13th-month salary for state workers will be paid alongside their December salary to ease financial strain during the holiday season.
On education, Otti revealed plans to establish 20 smart schools in the state to enhance the quality of education, one of his administration’s key development pillars. He also highlighted plans to recruit more teachers, particularly for rural schools, and is considering special welfare packages for rural educators.
zero8zero: Celebrating the Imo State first lady on her 35th birthday on Sunday, the 15th of December, 2024, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's wife, Oluremi Tinubu posted:
"Happy 35th birthday to a remarkable lady, Her Excellency Barr. Chioma Uzodimma @Chioma_Uzodimma
Ever since I met you, you have been a hard-working, wise, gentle and loving woman. I celebrate you on your special day..."
Germany’s annual budget is $2 trillion, while Nigeria’s is $40 billion.
Nigeria is a developing country like 80% of countries on Earth.
Building modern infrastructure on such a low budget is commendable and should be applauded.
You are not Germany. Ok?
The problem with you Nigerians is that you never travel to the REAL WORLD that comprises the 202 countries minus the less than 10 to 15 “advanced countries”.
So you end up STUPIDLY comparing Nigeria to “Germany”, “USA”, “France”, “Italy”, “UK”, “Dubai”, “Singapore”, COMPLETELY ignorant about how most of them acquired their wealth.
How many countries they invaded and slaughtered and looted for centuries.
No.
“Germany” is like this, so why is Nigeria not like that?
Totally shallow.
Tomorrow you will say you went to school.
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD START TRAVELLING TO THE REAL WORLD. From Cuba to India. From Jamaica to Honduras. From Brazil to Senegal. From Trinidad to Bolivia. From Mexico to Zimbabwe. From Angola to Sri Lanka. From Tanzania to Egypt. From Mongolia to Suriname. From Argentina to Colombia. From Gabon to Rwanda. From Madagascar to Myanmar. From Peru to Venezuela, and from Mozambique to Tanzania.
THEN you will know that Nigeria is not unique in having developmental issues. That the overwhelming majority of countries have bad roads, power cuts, and corruption.
That the world is far more than “Germany”, “U.S.”, “UK”, and “Dubai”.
You will stop feeling so inadequate and disgruntled.
The angle you are coming from in your convo above with the other Germany-based guy is quite interesting.
The Dubai (UAE) and Singapore you mentioned were as of recent history poor countries until visionary leaders came in to rapidly transform those countries or similar localities worldwide into countries with advanced technologies and high per capita income.
Back in the early 2000s I bought a copy of the respected Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore's over 800-page international best seller book, "From Third World to First: The Singapore Story" and it gave me massive insights about how Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and his cabinet transformed a LARGELY underdeveloped city-state in the 1960s with a majority Chinese population (80% of the Singapore population) who migrated mainly from Guangdong Province on Mainland China decades before into a major economic and technological hub that it is today WITHOUT fanfare. Just a quiet mobilization of the Singaporean people to effect massive change in a multiethnic society.
The economic and educational sequence used by Lee Kuan Yew uncannily largely mirrored the same methods used by the iconic London School of Economics and Political Science-educated lawyer, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR, SAN, in the 1950s who invested in education and built several Industrial Estates in Ikeja, Ilupeju, Iganmu, Isolo, etc, when these towns where still part of the Old Western Region which his Action Group Political Party governed (before they were carved out of Western Region and merged with the new Lagos State which was created by General Yakubu Gowon on May 27, 1967), and Oluyole Industrial Estate in Ibadan.
I remember that Babatunde Raji-Fasola visited Lee Kuan Yew in 2007 in Singapore (before he passed on) to bounce ideas off him and it became obvious that the former Governor of Lagos State was going to be a visionary leader and he did to a large extent. This is perhaps why Babatunde Raji-Fasola NEVER made a noise or used sirens to scare off folks while driving in his relatively small convoys unlike other politicians.
So, countries that did NOT colonize others like the European powers did [such as UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mauritius, etc], all had visionary leaders that LARGELY got things done WITHOUT much fanfare, so, the guy who lives in Germany has a point there which other developing countries or emerging economies have to key into as well BECAUSE you don't even have to copy Germany's example of commissioning new roads WITHOUT fanfare or making a noise like he said, BUT look right into how the UAE, Singapore and rest of the Asian Tiger countries in general rose to high social, technological, and economic status using a single global standard for success. The principles of success are universal and Lagos State including the rest of Nigeria must intentionally follow that global standard.
I trust that the brilliant technocrat, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu who rose to the rank of a senior bank treasurer before joining the Lagos State government in various roles will continue to raise the bar of governance at all levels. I CLEARLY observed from the pictures of those two roads that the quality of sidewalks construction is VERY poor, stained with dirt, and definitely was done by one Local Government contractor. These are the kinds of errors that MUST be corrected by using ONLY one high quality construction standard in terms of design and quality of construction materials across board to match the Julius Berger or Craneburg quality of road constructions. The new bridge looks newer and OK from my screen, BUT those 2 roads in the attached pictures in Alimoso are BELOW par to me compared to the high quality of roads done by the Lagos State goverment in other areas of Lagos that I have seen in online videos.
Kudos to 'Jide Sanwo-Olu and his team on other iconic projects that have been delivered though.
IfnobeGod20: You made some valid points in your comment but you missed one issue raised in the news. The news said DPO, a DPO is not a junior officer but you streamlined the offence to only junior police officer. Must of, if not all unconstitutional offences committed by these junior officers are aided by the senior ones. Meaning they are both culpable.
I read the original article very well before making my submission here and that's why in the first paragraph of my post, I emphasized on the DPO and his men in the 2018 episode.
I'm aware from reading media reports of some of the Nigerian Police (and military) high-handedness towards civilians right from the 1970s into the 1980s and beyond that lone wolf "junior officers" constitute the MAJORITY of perpetrators (without the knowledge of their superior officers), BUT there are instances of some senior officers and DPOs who are aware of some of these illegit situations.
I remember (while still living in Nigeria), the early 1980s to late 1986 case of the infamous Bendel State-based armed robbery gang of the 26-year-old Lawrence Anini, Monday Osunbor, Inspector George Iyamu (who sadly was supplying Police weapons and intelligence to Lawrence Anini's gang), etc. George Iyamu worked as a mole within the Police for his own selfish benefit while building choice houses and buying cars from the proceeds of his crimes and that led to the death of several Policemen and citizens who got trapped in gunfire exchanges, carjackings and bank robberies in Benin City and contiguous areas such as Agbor.I remember a White woman was even raped by Lawrence Anini's gang in a robbery based on media publications at that time and these relentless armed robberies spilled over into major interstate highways causing nationwide panic leading the then Military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to famously ask the Inspector-General of Police (Etim Inyang) in 1986, and broadcast on NTA Network News, "My friend, where is Anini?"
The armed robbery gang (including the Police Inspector George Iyamu and other Policemen) were eventually arrested in December of 1986 by crack detectives under the watch of the famous Gambo Jimeta and galant Police officers led by Superintendent Kayode Uaneroro before facing death by firing squad after trials in court. So, I am fully aware of the complicit nature of some senior officers in these crimes which goes way back to the notorious Inspector George Iyamu era.
nlfpmod: A UK-based Nigerian Engineer, Irish Naija, has supported Kemi Badenoch after she said the police in Nigeria robs people while recalling how the police stole her brother's shoes and watch.
Here is Irish Naija's story:
I used to run a kitchen in Yesufu Abiodun, Oniru, where I supplied food to banks and offices in Victoria Island, Lagos. My 15-year-old son often helped with deliveries, as he had just completed his WAEC exams in 2018. On one particular day, we had a delivery close to our house. Since it was nearby, he went without the driver, carrying the food and our POS machine.
Tragically, the Nigerian police abducted him, confiscated his phone, and took him to the anti-cultism unit in Gbagada. We searched everywhere in Victoria Island, unaware that he had been taken so far away. Eventually, they allowed him to call me, and his terrified voice broke me: “Mummy, are you on your way? I’m so scared.”
My husband and I, along with our lawyer, rushed to the station. At the gate, they took our phones, and then I saw my son—half-naked and sitting on the ground with over 100 others outside the station. I collapsed in tears. My husband, who is British, demanded to see the DPO and asked him directly: “What offense are you charging my son with?” The boy hadn’t been allowed to explain himself, yet the food and POS machine were right there at the station. The DPO’s response? “Because he dyed his hair.” That was it. Nothing more.
In the end, we were forced to pay for his release. This incident was a turning point for my husband, who decided that we couldn’t continue living in Nigeria.
What made this even more painful was the nature of our family. My children were homeschooled, had no social circles outside the family, and never went anywhere without us. They were raised in a closely-knit environment. At the time of this ordeal, I was seven months pregnant, and the trauma of the experience caused me to go into premature labor, resulting in an emergency C-section.
My son’s only “crime” was being a hardworking boy, helping with his parents’ legitimate business—a business that provided employment for Nigerians. For my husband, a white British man, to witness such injustice firsthand was a harrowing experience.
Many of us have bitter, painful stories about the Nigerian system. Yet when we speak out and tell the truth, we are accused of defamation or subjected to cyberbullying. It’s truly heartbreaking.
I personally say that Kemi should be left alone, she is saying exactly what she experienced and if I'm asked anywhere in the world the same question, I will narrate my ordeal, so will every member of my family! https://x.com/Irishnaija/status/1868175824160952588?t=NLBcV5jvipgRLNCG6TJ3Rw&s=08[/quote]This alleged 2018 Police arrest case of the 15-year-old and others should have been escalated right up to HIGHER Police authorities at the Police HQ in Lagos State and Abuja (including the electronic media) in order to seek redress and retrieve the money that was allegedly paid to the Police DPO or any of his men to get that boy released. Why telling this story NOW? That DPO and his men can still be investigated if there is a digital transfer of money to him and his men and the Police should return that money to either this lady or her British spouse (whoever among them paid the money for the boy's release in 2018). However, it's a FACT that certain demographics are usually OR discretionarilly profiled (must be done with decency) by the Police or Intel agencies worldwide especially if you wear hooded tops at night in unusual places, dye your hair in weird colors, have excessive body tats and body piercings, etc. It is what it is.
In any event, the genuiness of that IrishNaija X account and the woman that made this X post have to be duly verified because there are fake accounts and troll farms out there on X and other social media platforms spewing "cleverly" written FAKE news, toxic hate speech and more. If the story is indeed true, then it's important to take things even more seriously and embark on more reforms in relation to the way some junior Police, and junior military personnel relate to especially Nigerian youths with bullying tactics and illegal detentions as reported in the online media which indeed led to the horrendous 2020 ENDSARS protests. That protest itself led to reforms but reforms MUST be a continuous journey. Body cams and devices for instantly incidenting cases and legit arrests must be made mandatory for all special Police operations so as to prevent accusations of alleged extortions and intimidations of folks. That's the global policing standard that a country such as Nigeria must emphasize on. Period.
ultraviolet27: Maigarin is also a plateau name I know of someone who bears the surname
That's interesting.
What part of Plateau State is this person you have referenced here from?
If Maigari (meaning owner or "leader" of a town in Hausa language) is an indigenous male from Plateau State, then it adds to my body of knowledge. Besides Plateau and Kaduna States share common land boundaries, so, there's an inflow and outflow of people from both states on both sides of the borders. The former Nigerian military Head-of-State, General Yakubu Gowon is actually from the Angas ethnic group of Plateau State, BUT he was born in Zaria because his folks migrated there, hence some people assumed he hails from Kaduna State but he's ancestrally an indigene of Plateau State.
The OP's article post indicates that Navy Lt. Changfe Maigari's spouse is from Kaduna State and the friend I know from many years back with the surname of Maigari is also from Kaduna State (a Southern Kaduna non-Muslim family) hence my initial inference that Maigari is indeed a Southern Kaduna family name.
She realizes the white supremacy concept and she needs to appeal to it to remain relevant.
Is the Nigerian Police bad? Very bad! Are there good policemen in the Nigerian Police? Absolutely. The pain is that their good deeds are rarely reported.
Is the British Police bad? YES! Much worse than the Nigerian Police. If you place the Nigerian Police and the Metropolitan Police, ours would smell like enchanting roses. I should know because I have lived in both places.
Elsewhere, I argued as follows:
For those foolishly praising Kemi thinking they are doing Tinubu, some of your compatriots are international travellers doing legitimate businesses. With the garbage she spews, the documents of Nigerians will be checked and rechecked for applying for insurance, residence permits and asylum. In case some of you are not aware, some Nigerians are required to sign on something before using their credit cards in stores where they won't ask oyibos to do the same. If you want to pay with cash, they'd scan the cash under mercury light. And boy, Nigerians spend recklessly abroad as if they are cursed. If I am lying, observe blacks at airports with the most duty-free bags at airports. I recall waiting in line at a duty-free shop and one scruffy looking old man whose underwear was visible was about to pay for some drinks he brought. The cashier said €12,250. This man removed wads of €200 notes and counted them and dropped them on the table and continued reading his paper without a care. I have never seen a white man do such a thing.
But with Kemi Badenoch undermining the entire country and calling Nigeria a poor country, she is denying many of you opportunities abroad as your intentions may now be interpreted as driven by trying to escape poverty. We can abuse government and politicians, but we must NEVER abuse the country and citizens. Kemi is no different from those cultists in Europe who fight to stain the rest of us. She is no different from xenophobes in South Africa, except that she hates her own country.
Mrs Kemi Badenoch suffers from oikophobia. Many of you supporting her are oikophobes. It is a psychiatric issue. The treatment is therapy and counseling. That is what we try to do here most days.
Succinctly stated.
The alleged negative events Kemi referenced about Nigeria happened MAJORLY under the then highly corrupt MILITARY RULE back in the 1980s to the late 1990s and she left Nigeria at the age of just 16 years in 1996 for her A-levels in Wimbledon London where she was born. Kemi has to be CLEARLY told by even her spouse to STOP referencing her past and demarketing Nigeria in some of her interviews. Fortunately, her equally 44-year-old Scottish-Jewish spouse and banker worked in Nigeria as well so, he knows about folks of Nigerian descent.
Unknown to a lot of highly ignorant, obviously younger posters I have read here for over 2 days who are NOT critical thinkers OR did NOT watch that video interview, the 44-year-old Kemi actually LED a powerful British trade delegation in February 2024 on a 3-day visit to Lagos and Abuja as the then UK Minister of Business and Trade to boost international trade ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom which shows the importance of Nigeria as a major trading partner! It's completely irresponsible for any UK-based person such as Kemi in the international political and business space to make flippant and condescending comments such as the one she made in that interview with the White lady based off of experiences that occured in her teenage years on or before 1996. Democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999 till date, so, it's irresponsible to take the dynamics of events under Military rule to qualify Nigeria of 2024 under democratic governance where things are progressively taking shape since 1999. That young lady really has to see a professional mental health therapist to enable her to unburden and understand herself. ONLY semi-literates and ignorant people will continue to support Kemi's documented video comments on Colonial-era crimes, reparations, the condescending comments about Nigeria and Nigerians in all her video interviews and political campaigns, etc! Her grand focus MUST be on UK issues and the wellbeing of the British people and residents as the Leader of the Conservative Party. Period.
Edygrin: A former senator representing Kaduna Central has warned against the misuse of social media. He cautioned individuals using derogatory language on social media to always be prepared to defend their actions in a court of law.
On Sunday, Senator Sani wrote on his verified Facebook page:
“If you are using social media these days, just keep a lawyer close to you or make sure that you have evidence for anything you post or comment on.
If you have to call someone a bastard or call a lady a prostitute, just make sure you have the evidence to prove your claim.
“The number of people taken to court for libel or defamation is growing nowadays. And the lawyers will charge you so high before making an appearance in your defense. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Edygrin: Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Zyad Ibn Isah, says the UK Metropolitan Police is far from being perfect despite rising from its messy state in the ’80s.
Isah’s comments came on the heels of recent derogatory comments aimed at the Nigerian Police by UK Conservative Party member Kemi Badenoch, who accused the force of corruption and harassment.
Speaking on his social media account on Sunday, Isah maintained that the UK police had its fair share of a bad image in the ’80s before the introduction of David Rose’s reforms.
“I would recommend David Rose’s ‘In the Name of the Law’ to Kemi Badenoch. The truth is the London Metropolitan Police was a mess in the 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s.
“It was through various reforms and even a change of name that they became what they are today. If the questioner had asked a British citizen in the 1960s or 1970s whether they trusted the British police, I doubt they would have said yes.
“The situation was that bad. Nigeria and its police force are not perfect—we know that. But we will rise from the ashes, just like the UK and its police force. Aunty Kemi should enjoy her new pastime of denigrating her fatherland while it lasts,” said the Abuja-based Police officer.
The Guardian reports that Badenoch, in an interview with US media outlet, The Free Press, had lambasted the Nigerian Police and accused them of robbing citizens they were supposed to protect.
“The police in Nigeria would rob us. The police stole my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” began Badenoch.
“They took his shoes and his watch? It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem. That is not the bar we should use for the British police. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004, that was 20 years ago.” https://guardian.ng/news/uk-police-was-once-as-flawed-as-nigerias-force-asp-tells-kemi-badenoch/
What the Nigerian Police officer posted is online is a historical FACT. I'm familiar with the history of the British Police and they indeed went through phases of reformation to get to where they are.
Kemi's comments in that interview that I watched were completely off as the White lady who interviewed her simply asked her if she TRUSTED the UK Police. She answered the question BUT went off point and started rambling about her brother's encounter (which took place in the 1990s during the dictatorial and highly corrupt MILITARY RULE) with a section of the Police in Nigeria. Kemi left Nigeria for her place of birth in London to do her A-levels in 1996 at the impressionable age of 16 years and has lived permanently in England since then.
She further made comments in that interview about people in Nigeria doing all sorts of things while saying "NEVER mind, the country is a POOR COUNTRY anyway." Something is totally off about Kemi and I wonder if she is going through some kind of depression due to personal loses such as the death of her father 2 years ago and/or stress which have made her to be talking garrulously in interviews, while making references in her past videos to alleged negative events that happened during the years of MILITARY RULE especially in the 1990s to qualify Nigeria of 2024. There's clearly NO doubt that Kemi has to see a professional mental therapist because she is still trapped in the body of that impressionable 16-year-old who left Nigeria in 1996 for London with her subconscious biases.
This young woman (who is 44-year-old) was in Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria on a 3-day visit in February 2024 as the then British Minister of Business and Trade in order to boost international trade ties with between Nigeria and the United Kingdom while having talks and signing major documents with senior Nigerian government officials and business leaders. Kemi's comments in that interview came off as being "extremely irresponsible" and did NOT portray her as someone with clear emotional intelligence and leadership skills. If Nigeria is POOR as she sarcastically stated, WHY the hell did she lead that powerful British trade delegation in February 2024 to Nigeria in the FIRST place if Nigeria is NOT a major investment partner for the UK and any major country?
The Conservative Party will do well to monitor her properly as the Leader of that party and ensure she's in the right frame of mind to serve their medium to long-term targets. Period.
Truths9ja: The controversial leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has opened up about her faith.
Featuring in a podcast by the Free Press editor Bari Weiss, on Friday, Badenoch revealed that she no longer believes in God.
She clarified that she is not an atheist due to her lack of belief in God, emphasizing that she identifies as agnostic.
She described herself as a “cultural Christian.”
Badenoch said, “I don’t believe in God anymore. But I am not an atheist, I am agnostic. I used to believe in God very much but now I describe myself as a cultural Christian.
A lot of British folks don't identify as regular church goers but as agnostics, or they belong to other beliefs anyway contrary to the belief of African Xtians (especially Nigerians) who assume they go to the regular orthodox church and make a noise while speaking in tongues the way they do. This is why their is a culture shock when the pentecostal folks go to London and they start preaching in a public park loudly ONLY to get cautioned and/or arrested by the Police for public disturbance
Most European folks don't believe in that fossilized concept of a wicked God that sends you to the mythical hell fire or the lake of sulphur, fire and brimstone. We live in a world of vibrational energy subject to the laws of cause and effect. Everything around us is in a state of vibration and old ways of thinking are dropping off rapidly with the knowledge of comparative religion and how some of these orthodox religions were created by men (the clergy and rulers) in the male-dominated societies to have control over the masses!
It's mainly the elderly in Europe that go to those regularly orthodox churches and they don't get hysterical, speaking in tongues while praying but spend less than 1 hour on Sundays in church before going back home. Sunday is the day devoted to the worship of the Sun God (Sol Invictus) in the ancient world. The ancients knew they were worshipping the Sun because the all-powerful Sun provided LIGHT and made CROPS grow for the advancement of mankind. Several ancient pagan (OR indigenous) religions (based on astrotheology symbols such as the Sun, Moon, and Stars) in the ancient times from the great Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great who was a Zoroastrian, the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire, ancient Egypt all had religions based on the worship of the Sun God. The Sun God worship has survived till this day via institutionalization through Emperor Constantine of Rome.
Relics of paganism based off of Sun worship have succeeded till today! The days of the week from Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday are all named after the pagan Gods or deities of Europe and the ancient world. It's NOT an accident that this was done. Saturday is devoted to the worship of Saturn, Sunday is devoted to the worship of the Sun (Sun God), etc.
axglide: President Trump adds Africa’s biggest country, Nigeria, as well as Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and Tanzania, to his restricted travel list.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Friday added six countries to the nations facing stringent travel restrictions, virtually blocking immigration from Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, and from Myanmar, where refugees are fleeing genocide.
Beside Nigeria, varying degrees of restrictions will hit three other African countries, Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania, and one former Soviet state, Kyrgyzstan. Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya could also be caught in the crossfire. The total number of countries on the restricted travel list now stands at 13.
Immigrant visas, issued mostly to foreigners intending to live in the United States, will be banned from Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan. The ban would prevent immigrants from Sudan and Tanzania from obtaining diversity visas. Homeland Security and State Department officials said some immigrants would be able to obtain waivers from the restrictions.
The proclamation, which President Trump was expected to sign on Friday, will take effect on February 22.
The administration has argued that the ban, enacted in 2017 to restrict travel from Muslim-majority countries, is necessary to ensure that countries satisfy security requirements for travel into the United States, or face restrictions until they do.
The expansion of the restrictions, which already affected more than 135 million people in seven countries, is likely to hinder more than 12,300 potential immigrants from resettling in the United States or reuniting with their family. The effect on Nigeria, not only Africa’s most populous country but also its largest economy, could be particularly severe.
“I don’t want this country to turn into the one I ran away from”- Kemi Badenoch MP.
The Right Honourable Kemi Badenoch MP, former Minister of Women and Equalities of the United Kingdom and the newly-elected leader of the British Conservative party deserves to be tarred and feathered for the sort of things she says about Nigeria.
Apart from her insulting categorisations about Northern Nigerian Muslims, which I shall come to later in this contribution, this woman had the impudence to describe Nigeria, her country of origin, as a “living hell”, a place where she had to “walk one mile to get running water” and a country where “lizards run out of the taps!”
She constantly launches heavy salvos against the Nigerian people and our ruling elites including politicians, legislators, members of the judiciary and those that are in the private sector calling us thieves and labelling us as being corrupt and inept.
She snubbed the federal government on two occasions by ignoring them when they attempted to reach out to her through Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on the Diaspora, which provoked the latter to say that she was yet “to find the Nigerianess in her”.
As far as Kemi Badenoch is concerned Nigeria is a land of demons whilst the UK is a nation of angels.
She forgets that the country that she lives in has a long history of corruption, looting and barbarism and that London remains the world’s capital for money laundering.
Again, unlike the UK, Nigeria is not supporting the holocaust in Gaza and is not complicit in the genocide that has been unleashed on the Palestinians.
Sadly some of our people have not only applauded her for her offensive sentiments but have also become her loudest cheerleaders.
I suspect that those that do this may well be suffering from a disease known as “Stockholm syndrome”.
This affliction causes its victims to fall in love with their oppressors.
It compels them to cultivate an affection for those who seek to place them in servitude and who treat them with contempt.
AmazingGenius: Seplat Energy Plc has revealed plans to revive hundreds of idle Nigerian oil wells after completing its purchase of Exxon Mobil Corp’s onshore oil and gas assets in the West African nation.
A report by Bloomberg on Friday stated that the oil company is revitalizing idle wells and bringing them back into production. The report highlighted that only 200 of its 600 oil wells are currently active.
“Our immediate focus is rig intervention, short-term oil-generation activities, rejuvenating idle wells, and bringing them back to production. Only 200 of about 600 oil blocks are producing,” Chief Operating Officer Samson Ezugworie said in an interview.
On Thursday, Seplat announced the finalisation of the $1.28bn acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from ExxonMobil.
This was after the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission approved Exxon’s sale of the assets to the independent energy supplier in October.
The deal took advantage of foreign companies exiting Africa’s largest oil producer.
The report added that the oil firm paid $800m of the purchase price this week, following an initial $128m paid when the deal was signed in 2022.
It also deferred the transfer of a further $257.5m to December 2025 due to certain decommissioning, abandonment, and joint venture costs, the company noted.
“It’s just a little over half of the EBITDA for the full year, so it pays back itself very quickly,” said Chief Financial Officer Eleanor Adaralegbe, referring to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, which rose 25 per cent to $383m for the nine months through September from a year earlier.
Seplat, which is listed in Lagos, Nigeria, and London, views the acquisition as a good deal in terms of costs and returns.
The company also sees the deal doubling its production and said it boosts combined assets to 11 blocks in onshore and shallow water Nigeria, 48 producing oil and gas fields, five gas-processing facilities, and three export terminals.
Seplat’s goal is to lift output to more than 200,000 barrels a day, from about 71,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily now, Chief Executive Officer Roger Brown said in the same interview, without adding how quickly this would happen.
Impressive takes there. Let's hope Seplat can deal with the local issues (pipeline vandalisms and host community relations) that led ExxonMobil into exiting the onshore and shallow waters oil wells.
That Seplat logo has to be changed as well to a more dynamic theme emphasizing a renewal or reenergized perspectives.
MadPolitician: This is why I don't take these guys at Ohanaeze serious. For those of you who don't know, the so-called "leader of Imo State Council of Elders"(whatever that nonsense means), Cletus Ilomuanya, is a well known 419er. Since the early 90s. Oliver de Coque used to sing with his name. This guy together with the current supreme Court imposed governor, are well known in Imo state for their criminal activities. For whatever reasons, all the 419ers from Imo state have congregated at Owerri, and have now decided to dance skelewu ontop of Imo State finances. Cletus Ilomuanya from Ihite Owerri, Hope Uzodimma from Omuma and the late Okwelle Holdings from Okwelle.
These are well known fraudsters that have morphed into governors, traditional rulers and law makers, ofcourse with the help of the Nigerian state. I blame Rochas shaa. He had the time and goodwill to stop their menace but got carried away. The best way to destroy a culture is to impose criminals as leaders. Igbos should fight off these characters. All these guys do is to lodge at the best hotels at owerri with the most sumptuous IMSU girls and wait for month end to share the "allocation loot". Rochas fought them for a while and stopped. They started with Udenwa and they are still at it. Maybe Imo state will unleash another Otokoto riot before their enablers back off.
True that.
The early years of the criminal advanced free fraud (419) activities using fax machines and more was indeed from the early 1990s. The BBC even did a major undercover report (which I still have somewhere in my archives) on some of these young folks from the Owerri capital area in the mid to late 1990s who brought 419 activities into Festac Town in Lagos State by using the NITEL exchange within Festac to scam foreigners. They confessed that it was lack of employment opportunities after finishing school in Imo State that made them migrate to Lagos State to seek for survival. Anambra State also had the same issues with notorious fraudsters back then who got themselves into politics or sponsored shady characters into political positions.
I remember that the major investigative magazines such as The NEWS, TELL, etc, back in the late 1990s right into the 2000s ALSO published stories of the advanced free fraudsters in the East of Nigeria and the cases some of the people you mentioned in your post above (who have now morphed into traditional rulers, ruthless politicians, and so-called multmillionaires).The same thing involved some notorious Anambra State indigenes back then for advanced free fraud but they ALSO morped into traditional rulers, ruthless politicians, and more like the Imo State case with the protection of some of their friends in high places in Nigeria. Notorious international fraudsters people such as Fred Ajudua (from Igbuzo in Delta State), Ade Bendel, Emmanuel Nwude from Anambra State and his 5 other accomplices such as Christian Anajemba, Anajemba's wife, etc, who were charged with swindling $242m from a Brazilian bank in the BIGGEST ever 419 in human history back in the 1990s with Emmanuel Nwude going on a spending spree buying up high-rise buildings in Lagos State, buying luxury cars and building mansions and becoming a director in Union Bank and UBA. Those dudes flaunted ill-gotten moneys and had absolutely NO conscience at all with sponsoring criminals into political positions!
The notorious "Eze Ego" too was into armed robbery in the early days and his father disowned him for that. He ended up doing some other opaque activities such as fraud and more (while covering up with a few seemingly legit activities) till he passed on.
beerfraud: The authorities in Finland have frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Biafran agitator facing allegations of terrorism-related activities.
According to Yle, a local newspaper, the Finnish government also froze the assets of companies associated with Ekpa and four of his accomplices, who are also in remand.
The report said Ekpa is being held in the Kylmäkoski vankila, (Kylmäkoski prison), which is reputed to be one of the world’s toughest prisons.
On November 21, Ekpa was sent to prison for spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
A district court of Päijät-Häme remanded him after the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested him alongside four other men over alleged terrorist offences.
The self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.
He is accused of instigating violence and inciting terror in the south-east of Nigeria through his social media pages.
There have been calls for the arrest of the separatist following his alleged involvement in the Sit-At-Home that has relatively crippled economic activities in the South East.
The authorities in Finland had stated that Ekpa’s offence is not bailable.
dominique: Can people stop giving this woman undeserved attention? Seems she's enjoying the attention and it's making her feel important
Indeed, I agree with your angle here.
Most of the things Kemi complained about from her childhood and teenage experiences before she finally left Nigeria in 1996 for her A-levels in Wimbledon, London (where she was born in 1980) as an impressionable teenager of 16-years of age happened right under the corrupt military dictatorships.
A lot of posters here on this thread who are NOT well-informed about historical events and timelines WRONGLY think she's attacking the current political leadership BUT Kemi's direct past personal knowledge of Nigeria comes from the late 1990s as a teenager and she has schooled and lived permanently in England ever since.
Just this February 2024, Kemi even LED a powerful British trade delegation to Lagos State and Abuja on a 3-day visit as the then British Minister of Business and Trade to boost international trade ties between the UK and Nigeria. If Nigeria is worthless to her OR just a poor country like she stated in this video, she would NOT have visited Nigeria which happens to be the BIGGEST African trading partner with the British. Period.
UK Committed To Bridging Trade Deficit In Nigeria - Kemi Badenoch
I just watched the excerpts of this short video interview and her comments about the Nigerian Police was absolutely needless because the interviewer ONLY asked for her opinion about the UK Police.
Second, ALL the alleged negative experiences the 44-year-old Kemi gave in past videos (while campaigning to be the British PM) about living in Nigeria happened MAJORLY under the MILITARY RULE dictatorships and NOT under the democratic dispensation of the politicians (which ONLY started in 1999 till date). Kemi was an impressionable 16-year-old teenager in 1996 when she finally left Nigeria to do her A-levels in Wimbledon, London where she was born in 1980! She then proceeded to the University and has lived permanently in England since the 1990s.
The female interviewer in this current short video simply asked her what her opinion of the British Police is and Kemi said when her house in the United Kingdom was burgled, the Police where professional and got her items back.
However, the 44-year-old Kemi quickly went off tangent [off point] by chipping in the details of what the interviewer did NOT ask her... She spoke about her brother's experience with the Nigerian Police and when the interviewer asked her if what happened to her brother really happened, Kemi CONCLUDED by saying NEVER mind... it's just a POOR COUNTRY!
It's indeed a FACT that (based off of media reports) while some lower cadre of the Police in Nigeria have in the past engaged in acts that have led to them being sanctioned and dismissed from active service, there are other fine junior, middle, and senior-ranking officers of the Police who have done their jobs diligently especially with the right equipment and they have indeed busted many criminal gangs and recovered stolen items which is what Kemi said the UK Police did when her house was burgled. I personally know folks who have praised the Nigerian Police for their professionalism after armed robbery attacks.
Just as I stated yesterday, Kemi MUST learn to be circumspect, be LESS impulsive and control her mouth by saying things ONLY when necessary, so, as NOT to come off sounding like a PURE narcissist! She has to see a therapist to unburden her childhood past and the loss of her father 2 years ago in order to properly heal. Kemi MUST focus more on ensuring that as the leader of the Conservative Party, she focuses on what is BEST for the British folks and quit bringing up details of her childhood and teenage past in Nigeria into the British media space. For goodness sake, that's the hallmark of a good leader (male or female).
I MUST ALSO CLEARLY round off here (for many who don't know), Kemi actually visited Lagos State and Abuja in Nigeria on a 3-day visit this February 2024 and led a powerful British trade mission to Nigeria as the then British Minister of International Trade before her Conservative political party lost to the current one. She held talks with senior Nigerian government officials on how to boost international trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. If Nigeria which is a big trading partner with the UK is "just a POOR COUNTRY" like she unnecessarily blurted out in this video, she would NOT have led that powerful trade delegation to Nigeria in February 2024. Kemi MUST learn to be aware of herself when speaking so as NOT to burn future social, and economic bridges due to unguarded comments. Period.
UK Committed To Bridging Trade Deficit In Nigeria - Kemi Badenoch
Buccalcavity2: Nigeria has serviced its debt to the International Monetary Fund with not less than $1.22 billion over nine months, data from the Debt Management Office’s external debt service reports has shown.
The payments were made as part of principal repayments for three consecutive quarters, from Q4 2023 to Q2 2024.
The breakdown of the payments shows that $401.73m was paid in Q4 2023, followed by $409.35m in Q1 2024, and $404.24m in Q2 2024, amounting to a total of $1.22bn.
As a result of these repayments, Nigeria’s debt to the IMF has decreased significantly, dropping from $3.26bn as of June 2023 to $1.16bn by June 2024.
This reflects a substantial reduction of 64.42 per cent within one year.
It was earlier reported that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu is expected to pay off a $3.4bn owed to the International Monetary Fund during his tenure.
In April 2020, the IMF disbursed a $3.4bn emergency financial assistance to Nigeria.
The loan was approved under the Rapid Financing Instrument by the Executive Board of the IMF on April 28 to address challenges arising from the economic impact of COVID-19 in the country.
The loaned amount was disbursed on April 30, 2020.
A statement by the IMF on the loan read, “The IMF approved $3.4bn in emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Financing Instrument to support the authorities’ efforts in addressing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 shock and the sharp fall in oil prices.”
It was also reported earlier that Nigeria was expected to pay SDR373.81m ($497.17m), which included principal (SDR306.81m/$408.06m) and interest fee (SDR67m/$89.11m) on the loan.
Also, Nigeria was expected to pay a total of SDR1.32bn ($1.76bn) in 2024. This comprised a principal fee of SDR1.23bn ($1.64bn) and an interest fee of SDR94.76m ($126.03m).
In 2025, Nigeria will be expected to pay a total of SDR650.58m ($865.27). This comprised a principal fee of SDR613.63m ($816.13m) and an interest fee of SDR36.95m ($49.14m).
The country would be expected to pay a total of SDR25.56m ($33.99m) each in 2026 and 2027, which would be only an interest fee. This is the least amount during the repayment period.
In total, the administration of Tinubu would be expected to pay $3.19bn to the IMF, which further meant that the previous administration likely paid $320m on loan.
In its 2022 financial statements, the CBN referred to the loan.
It stated, “In 2020, the bank entered into a rapid financing instrument arrangement with the International Monetary Fund on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The loan is a 5-year tenor facility, repayable after a moratorium of two years and the interest rate is one per cent per annum.”
Indeed, loans with single-digit interest rates are the best and are required by governments worldwide, investors and companies to grow their economies and businesses. It's great that Nigeria is about to round off payments of the COVID loan facility.
The IMF interest rate is 1% per annum with a 5-year tenor.
Dalohad: Nigerian Navy dey fly for air. Air force dey sail for ship.
Nigeria, a land of irony and confusion...
Congratulobia, anyway..
NOT exclusive to Nigeria.
Most navies worldwide have complementary flying divisions including the armies and police with aircraft that can be used for combat and non-combat roles. Air power is vital for the operations of the various arms of the military and police.
The U.S. Navy for instance has aircraft carriers that are used for combat and non-combat planes to take off and land
Lt. Changfe Maigari has made history as the first female pilot in the Nigerian Navy since its inception in 1964.
Maigari, who is married with a daughter, hails from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State but was born in Kaduna.
Her journey began in 2016 when she graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant.
Subsequently, she served aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship Unity.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Maigari was presented with the ‘Pilot Wing’ award during the 2024 NN Ceremonial Sunset at the Naval Training Command Headquarters (HQ NAVTRAC) in Ebube-Eleme, Rivers, on Friday.
In an interview with NAN on the sidelines of the event, Maigari said that she achieved the milestone after completing her basic pilot training and fulfilling all requirements.
“I grew up in a military environment as my father was an officer in the Nigerian Air Force.
“From an early age, I aspired to become a military pilot and when the opportunity to join the navy arose, I did not hesitate,” she said.
She recounted how her dream of becoming a naval officer materialised when she was selected among the first group of 20 female regular cadets trained at the NDA.
Maigari said she graduated in 2016 as the Best Graduating Cadet in Academics, earned the Gold Medal Navy award, and in 2019, completed her Sub Lieutenant Technical Course as the overall best.
“There were moments during my training when it seemed I might not succeed in my studies or flight procedures, but I persevered.
“Becoming the first female pilot in the Nigerian Navy feels surreal and a significant milestone, not only for me but for all my female colleagues who can draw inspiration from this achievement
“I also hope my success motivates young civilian girls aspiring to join the military, particularly the Nigerian Navy, to persist because perseverance can overcome any challenge in life,” Maigari advised.
She expressed gratitude to God, her colleagues and her family for their unwavering support in helping her to achieve the milestone of becoming the first female pilot in the Nigerian Navy.
Presenting the award, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, commended Maigari and other award recipients for their exemplary achievements.
PUNCH Online reports on Sunday that Deputy Superintendent of Customs (Pilot), Olanike Nafisat Balogun, made history as the first female pilot in the Nigeria Customs Service. Source: The Punch
That's an impressive FIRST from the Nigerian Navy since inception in 1964. Changfe is one of the brilliant female minds from different states of Nigeria who have flown military airplanes.
Congratulations to Lt. Changfe Maigari and her folks from Lantang in Plateau State. My OG from many years back, Ganfa who's a proud Lantang dude will certainly have a big grin when he reads this feat.
Maigari is indeed a family name that's popular in Southern Kaduna, so, that is where her spouse comes from based off of the article info.
Nigerian Female Amazons with the Military Wings of Steel BELOW:
1]Blessing Liman from Zango Kataf, Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State (FIRST ever female military pilot in the Nigerian Air Force in 2011. She flies Nigerian Air Force transport planes and also flies the Presidential Air Fleet. Blessing is the FIRST EVER female Presidential Air Fleet Captain). Blessing Liman doesn't fly Air Force combat jets and this is where Kafayat Omolara Sanni comes in right below.
2]Kafayat Omolara Sanni from Ogun State (FIRST ever female combat fighter jet pilot in the Nigerian Air Force in 2019). Kafayat has been on active air combat and bombing missions against terrorists and insurgents. She was born in Kaduna State.
3]Tolulope Arotile from Kogi State (FIRST ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force in 2019). Tolulope took part in active air combat against terrorists and insurgents but passed on due to a freak car accident in the Air Force base in Kaduna. Tolu's memory will remain indellible in the sands of time.
4]Olanike Nafisat Balogun from Osun State (FIRST ever female Nigerian Customs pilot in 2024). The Nigerian Customs is a para-military establishment.
5]Changfe Maigari from Langtang, Plateau State (FIRST ever female Nigerian Navy pilot in 2024).
NOTE: As of today, the Nigerian Air Force has produced a total of 7 female military pilots since 2011 when Blessing Liman became the FIRST EVER female military pilot in Nigerian history. Some others exclusively fly combat fighter jets, others exclusively fly Intelligence Reconnaissance Surveillance (IRS) and transport planes on non-combat missions such as Oluwabunmi Ijehu and Genevieve Nwaogwuwu.
One noticeable thing I discovered over the cumulative years of reading about ALL the brilliant, young female military pilots listed in the original numbered list right above is that they were all born and grew up in the North (Kaduna State) which is what they all have in common with Kaduna State. The Kaduna military and aviation environments indeed left indelible imprints in their minds and motivated them to become the FIRST EVER female military pilots in their various military roles.
zero8zero: The renowned legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola SAN has pleaded with the Federal Government to grant approval to the Afe Babalola University Industrial Park, Ado-Ekiti.
Babalola said that the 132 units of the ABUAD industrial park was enough to turn the story of Nigeria around, if well annexed, and utilised.
The elder statesman made the plead on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, when playing host to delegates from the China-Nigeria Consortium, on Industry and Education, held at the ABUAD-China Partnership Forum Meeting.
Babalola who described as discouraging and embarrassing the continued refusal by the federal government to issue a free trade certificate to ABUAD, said that the approval would have enabled foreign companies to establish businesses in the park, thereby boosting Nigeria’s economy.
The legal icon stressed that a free trade zone would facilitate international trade and industrial activities, ultimately contributing to the country’s economic growth.
He lamented that such progressive ideas would have been embraced, under the defunct regional government system, while also reiterating his call for a people-oriented constitution, to foster national development.
“In 1999, I traveled to China. At that time, China was a very poor country, but the Chinese people were very wise. They created an area, called free trade zone, which allowed countries like the United States and Germany to set up industries there.
”Unknowingly to those countries , the Chinese, learned from these foreign industries, which eventually contributed to their remarkable global development.
“However, for the past two years, i have applied for the same concept here, but the government has refused to grant us a free trade zone certificate”, he said.
He added: “There is an American company, ready to begin manufacturing cars in my Industrial Park, but the lack of this certificate has stalled their plans.
“If we still had the regional government system that we used to have, we would be more developed than we are today. This is why we need a new constitution.”
In her address, Ms. Wendy Wang, the Secretary-General of the China-Nigeria Consortium, on Industry and Education, who spoke through an interpreter, commended Afe Babalola for his visionary achievements in education, engineering, and health.
She described ABUAD as the best institution in Nigeria, highlighting its integration of cutting-edge technologies in its curriculum.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde commended Babalola, for allowing the partnership between the university and ABUAD to thrive.
She described the visit, as a replica of the one, earlier made by her and a select ABUAD team, that Babalola sponsored to China in a working tour recently.
The bolded section of the article above further emphasizes the major role of the world-class research-based educational institutions including the private section in leapfrogging the economy of any country... From Singapore, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, the United States, etc, all went through that route.
By the way, for those who don't know, the female Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde mentioned in the article is Ifedayo "Freeze" Olarinde's Romanian biological mother. She's a brilliant lawyer and got married to Freeze's Osun State-born medical doctor father in Romania back in the mid-1970s when he was in Romania for his medical studies.
femisplash: It's disingenuous for anyone to downplay Tinubu's role in making this deal happened. Upon his assumption of office, he gave a directive for faster approvals from the regulatory authority. He also gave similar approvals for acquisitions to Oando and Odinmim for sale of assets of Eni and Equinor respectively. Moreover, you're very wrong to say NNPCL got 10%. SEPLAT 's stake still stands at 40%.
Here's a like from Reuters, enlighten yourself on the declaration of the President in May, when he took over power.
emkz: with their massive, frames making them even more intimidating.
With their intimidating appearances and violent histories, the prisoners in Kylmakoski show no remorse for their crimes.
Most of the prisoners committed crimes while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, making them even more dangerous.
Newcomers often smuggle in drugs, including subutex, cocaine and amphetamines, as well as cell phones. Subutex is a popular Finnish drug.
A prison officer confirmed the troubling trend in the video, noting that dealing with such violent, drug-affected prisoners was a major challenge for the prison system.
Prison issues
A first major problem with the prison is the persistent issue of drug smuggling, which has continued despite efforts to stop it.
Also, a female guard was sacked for having affairs with inmates. According to Yle, the officer was fired in May 2023 over an inappropriate "relationship with a number of male inmates."
Okay. Now that's the part of the whole article that caught my attention. Female correctional officers MUST never be sent to male facilities because they can easily be manipulated by dominant male prisoners and hence compromise the security of the entire prison facility through having inappropriate sexual affairs or smuggling in banned substances such as drugs as we have seen happen in several U.S. and some UK facilities.
Female officers can be very weak when sent to oversee male correctional facilities despite the presence of CCTVs and then the blackmails of the females by the males convicts begin from there until things spiral out of control like we have seen in the past.
Metrix147: Governor Alex Otti has reiterated that the proposed Abia Airport is primarily a federal government project, with the state government providing the necessary support to ensure its successful execution, ABN TV reports. He clarified this during the December edition of the monthly media briefing tagged "Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians."
Addressing questions on the state’s involvement, Governor Otti explained that the project is not a joint venture where parties co-own the initiative and share responsibilities equally. Instead, the Abia State Government’s role is limited to facilitating and advising where needed to enhance the project.
“The airport is largely a federal project,” Otti said. “What we did was to intervene to say, ‘Instead of doing this, why don't you do this?’ And if you need us to contribute, we are happy to do so. But it does not mean that we own the project. No.”
The governor further disclosed that the primary difference between the federal government’s initial plan and the state’s input lies in the length of the runway, highlighting that Abia State’s suggestions aim to optimize the project for better outcomes.
Governor Otti assured Abians that the airport project is on course and will be completed as planned. “Rest assured that the project is going to take off and is going to be delivered,” he affirmed.
ogododo: “If the BRICS feels they are going to have their currency to trade, it is all well and good, and if Nigeria decides to join BRICS, it will be better for it because BRICS has major economies and Trump’s threat will not have any effect at all on Nigeria if the country decides to be part of BRICS.
“If Trump carries out his threat, it is also going to have a ripple effect on the American economy because international relations is reciprocatory and other countries will also do the same for America,” Abolutin said.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, however, called for caution, urging Nigeria to prioritise its national interests over aligning with global power blocs.
“If Nigeria intends to challenge the dollarisation of the global economy, it must ask itself critical questions: Is this genuinely in Nigeria’s national interest? Or is it aligning with a foreign agenda?” Farounbi stated.
He tasked the Nigerian government to focus on national interest and ensure that its decisions on international matters were borne out of patriotism.
Farounbi said, “It is assumed that BRICS nations are acting in their national interests. However, Nigeria must ensure that it is truly prioritising its national interests and not serving those of another power.
“For Nigeria, such an alliance raises important concerns. How does this benefit an economy reliant on crude oil, one that produces little, consumes heavily, and struggles with basic infrastructure? How does it address the country’s lack of adequate electricity, potable water, roads, schools, and job opportunities?
“Nigeria must focus on its own national interests. As the late Obafemi Awolowo said in 1979, ‘If I become president of Nigeria, I would not travel out of the country for four years because Nigeria’s problems are right here.’”
This article has been overtaken by events. The Russians themselves are less hawkish in their comments on the proposed new BRICS currency arrangement with the Presidential win by Donald in the United States and his threats of raising tariffs by 100% if BRICS went ahead with the plan.
However, anything can still happen if Donald experiences missteps while dealing with Russia and other key members of BRICS especially China which has the biggest currency reserve in the world!
BuharisBoy: We pray to the fall of the Dollar, Trump should stop the frequent printing of the USD without any gold backing when sworn in, Here are five quotes from Robert Kiyosaki about the U.S. dollar.
1. **On the USD and Hyperinflation**: “BRICS nations are driving the USD into hyperinflation. Buy gold, silver, and Bitcoin before the coming depression.” (*Kitco*, May 2024).
2. **On Fiat Money**: "The U.S. dollar is fake money—fiat currency backed by nothing. Gold, silver, and Bitcoin are real money." (*Finbold*, January 2024).
3. **On the End of the American Empire**: “All empires come to an end. It’s the end of the American empire. When cash ends, war follows.” (*Nasdaq*, December 2023).
4. **On Protecting Wealth**: “The best investments in 2024 are gold, silver, and Bitcoin. These are the only ways to safeguard your wealth against the government’s financial mismanagement.” (*Finbold*, January 2024).
5. **On the U.S. Economy**: “America’s economy is in serious trouble. The dollar is losing its global reserve currency status, and hyperinflation is coming.” (*Kitco*, May 2024).
These quotes highlight Kiyosaki's concerns about fiat currency and his preference for tangible and digital assets as a hedge against economic uncertainty.
Kemi "Omo" Adegoke can't be BANNED from visiting Africa, BUT she MUST learn the art of subtlety, be more introspect and guarded in her future conversations based off of some near-horrendous comments she has made about reparations for colonial-era crimes which we've seen clearly in videos and the media. She should focus more on British issues as the leader of her Conservative Party for now while working for the advancement of everyone.
The 44-year-old Kemi was INFACT in Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to interact with senior government officials in February 2024 while leading a powerful British trade delegation to advance British and Nigerian international trade interests as the then British Minister of International Trade, so, she MUST learn to maintain cordiality with ALL friendly countries of the world and stop being impulsive sometimes! Period.
God1000: South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law earlier this month. On Saturday, the country's National Assembly voted by 204 to 85 to impeach Yoon and suspend his powers and duties, the Associated Press reported.
The motion required the support of two-thirds of lawmakers to pass. Yoon had survived a first impeachment vote last Saturday after most of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted it.
Yoon issued a martial law decree on December 3, which caused political turmoil across the country. It lasted only six hours as the country's parliament voted to block the decree. South Korea's Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether to dismiss Yoon as president or restore his powers. If he is forced out, an election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
Yoon's refusal to resign and his insistence that he was right to declare martial law convinced some lawmakers from his own party to cross the aisle and meet the two-thirds majority, or 200 votes, required to oust him, The Washington Post reported. Yoon justified the martial law declaration as a move to thwart "anti-state" activities by the opposition parities controlling the National Assembly.
He sent hundreds of troops and police officers to the parliament in a bid to block its vote on the decree. He said on Thursday that his decision was an act of governance, and accused the main liberal opposition Democratic Party of being a "monster" that had tried to impeach officials and undermine the government's budget bill
Korean democracy has survived a close call, and other democracies with a presidential form of government should take heed of the lessons from this episode," said Tom Pepinsky, government and public policy professor at Cornell University. "President Yoon's attempt to declare martial law reveals the fragility of the rule of law in divided societies, especially those with presidential governments in which the chief executive cannot be easily dismissed by the legislature," he told Newsweek. Pepinsky said it was fortunate that the martial law declaration was decisively opposed by the country's National Assembly, as well as the media, civil society, and the rank-and-file members of the military who opted not to use violence against protesters and lawmakers.
Politics › Re: Abia Airport Is FG Project, State Supporting With Runway Upgrade – Otti by Konquest: 12:52am On Dec 17, 2024
