₦airaland Forum

Kobojunkie:
I believe the proper question to ask is why the federal government is now into the road transport business. Why?

It makes no absolutely no sense for the federal government to now decide it should inject itself into this when the major reason our road transport industry is not thriving is because the same Federal Government has failed at maintaining our federal roads.

Counting the cost of a Greek gifthttp://news2.onlinenigeria.com/news/general/132041-counting-the-cost-of-a-greek-gift.html

By Staff06/01/2012 13:38:00
By Charles Kumolu

ISAIAH Danmaliki (not real name) works with one of the Federal Government parastatals in Lagos State. But for the recent increment of the national minimum wage he lived on a monthly salary of N18,000 before now.

Following the 2010 salary increase his whole activities in Lagos were now benchmarked on his new wage, which is now about N23,000 higher. Instructively, his monthly take home after tax is about N42,000. On a daily basis, the level three civil servant, whose office is located on Lagos Island, spends N600 and N400 on transportion and feeding respectively. Baring other unforseen expenses, the father of three, spends about N30,000 monthly on transportation and feeding at work.

This amount, however, did not include the money expended to run his family of four and his younger brother, who lives with him in his Abule Egba home. For Danmaliki, residing  in this outskirt where a room apartment goes for N3,000 monthly was borne out of the harsh reality, that houses within the city are  beyond his ability to pay. But the decision is also a challenge to him, as living far away from work implies that he usually pays more to work from his meagre income.

This combination of high cost of living and poor remuneration, has left the Kaduna State born civil servant without life savings, given that his take home can hardly be described as subsisting. With the recent removal of fuel subsidy and its multiplier effects, the forty three year old Secondary  School Certificate holder is contemplating quitting his job and moving back to his village.


*Labour coalition against the removal of fuel subidy by the government

He told Vanguard at a newspaper stand in Satellite Town, Lagos: “How can I cope with this, I am happy that you are a news man and you know the implications of what we are going through currently. I am just an ordinary level three civil servant, I have given you the breakdown of how I survive on what  the Federal Government pays me, if the general price hike does not go down, I will move my family back to the village.”

Nura’s story speaks volume about the fate of the average Nigerian, following the over hundred percent rise in cost of living as a result of the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. From the creeks of the Niger Delta to the savannah  regions of the North, prices of petroleum products and good and services have hit the rooftop. In fact since this announcement through a statement  by  the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, socio-economic activities  have witnessed high level of inflation.

Short term inflation

Although, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Lamido Sanusi had in December last year, said that the planned removal of fuel subsidy would not trigger high inflation rate in the country, events of the last six days have proved the apex bank governor  wrong. “If inflation remains at about 10.5 per cent and if subsidy is removed, we expect it to be at about 12.5 per cent, which is just an addition of two per cent,” Sanusi said at the third Bankers’ Committee retreat in Calabar.

He said the apex bank was aware of consequent inflation as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, “but most of what is said is exaggerated,”adding that “inflation impact will be present in the short term, but over the long term the benefits of the removal will outweigh it.”

Whether the rate will be temporary or not, does not matter to Nigerians, who have been going through untold hardship accentuated by poor leadership and alleged  institutionalisation of corruption as government policy before the  January 1, 2011 removal of subsidy, Vanguard gathered.

Already, the  worst hit is the transport sector, where commuters and transporters are  experiencing hard times.

Most affected in this regard are commuters, especially those, who travelled for the Christmas break. As at the time of this report, millions of people who departed their cities of residence for their various villages to celebrate the Yuletide season, are stranded.

Activities yet to pick up in Lagos: This have led to availability of few people in most cities across the country. A drive round Lagos metropolis revealed that people are yet to come back from their festive trips. even those who had managed to come back rarely come out because of exorbitant fares.

The situation is unlike in the past when normal activities pick up in Nigeria’s economic hub from January 3 of every year. Similarly, reports from Abuja indicated that most civil servants and workers in federal ministries, departments and agencies are yet to resume at their duty posts. Most of them are reportedly stranded in their hometowns after the yuletide festivities owing to the prevailing hike in fares.

It has made nonsense of minimum wage: In like manner, further investigations indicated that prices of foodstuff have equally skyrocketted. A  bag  of  rice  now  goes for  N10,500 against the previous N7,000  and  N7, 500.

Other items like tomatoes have gone up with a big basket selling for N19,500 and N18,000 as against the former price of between N8,500 and N9,000. Prices of fruits like oranges, pineapples and banana have risen with a bag of oranges now selling for between N7,000 and N7,500 from the  previous N4,000 and N5,000.

A big bunch of banana now goes for N1,5000 and N2,0000 from the previous N700 and N1,000 while the price of water melon has increased from N400 to N600. Prices of frozen fish, and vegetable oil have also increased. The cost of frozen fish has increased with a medium sized fish selling between N300 and N450 as against N150 and N200, previously.

Regretting  this development, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Emeka Ngige said: “The destiny of Nigerians is on their hands. From what is happening, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that people might protest in the days ahead.

The situation is so bad that it is affecting everyone. As I am speaking to you, I experienced the ugly side of this subsidy removal today. When I got to the village, I wanted to buy tyre for my car before Christmas and was told that it was N18,000, I didn’t buy it then because I wanted to buy it after Christmas when I would be leaving the village, but surprisingly, when I went to buy it today, we discovered that the price is now N25,000.

So, you can see how bad it is. If they are claiming that subsidy removal would not bite hard because of the new minimum wage, that does not make sense. This policy has even made nonsense of the minimum wage.”

Imposition of death penalty

The position of  Ngige was also substantiated by Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria. Festus Okoye, Executive Director of Human Rights Monitor, noted the removal of  the subsidy on petroleum products, was described as insensitive, callous and a declaration of war of starvation on the Nigerian people.

Okoye said: “The decision has left thousands of Nigerians who travelled home for the Christmas and New Year holidays stranded in their hometowns and villages in different parts of the country. This is because most of them cannot afford the increase in rates being charged by motorists.

It has also left the Nigerian people despondent, afraid and nervous at what the future holds for them given the irresponsibility of the political elite and their penchant for aggravated mismanagement of the Nigerian economy.

“The decision of the President to remove the subsidy on Petroleum products can lead to generalized lawlessness and endanger democracy and a democratic Nigeria.

Government has been and continues to be insensitive to the plight of the ordinary people of Nigeria by asking citizens who have been groaning under increased and increasing hardship to make additional and back breaking sacrifices while government officials wallow in obscene opulence and are not called upon to make similar sacrifices in the form of reduction in their salaries, allowance and other perquisites of office.”

While stating the position of the CSOs on the issue, Okoye maintained that, “civil society groups and the Nigerian people will hold the President, his kitchen cabinet and the cabal around him personally responsible and accountable for the current deaths and destruction of properties across the country.

Civil society groups and organisations will join forces with all democratic forces to make sure that the imposition of the death penalty on the Nigerian people through the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products does not stand. We call on organised labour to take the lead and organise the Nigerian people to massively resist the current imposition of hardship and death on the Nigerian people.”

Reports across the states

Meanwhile, reports across the states, have shown that the multiplier effect of this policy, is bitting harder by the day. From Gambarou Ngala border town in Bornu State to Nembe creeks in Bayelsa State, the story is the same. Suffering  is the word.

Lagos: In Lagos, fares to most parts of the state were increased by over 100 per cent. Fare from Oshodi to Mile 2 was increased from N100 to N200 and N250. Same also is Oshodi to Ojota, which jerked from N100 to N200. Transportation between Ikeja and Yaba now costs N250 instead of the previous N120; Obalende to Oshodi which used to be N70 is now N200.

Ojodu to CMS is now N400 from N150. Commuters travelling to Abuja from Lagos now pay between N9,000 and N8,000. At the Mazamaza Bus terminal,  fare to Port Harcourt is now N7,000 from the previous price of N2,500. Many Lagosians are reportedly staying indoors due to the increasing transportation costs.

Ebonyi: Reports from Abakaliki and its environs revealed that most filling stations in Ebonyi State witnessed long queues, as they sold the product to motorists between N150 and N200. per litre. There were long queues in filling stations that sold the product at N150, while those that sold at N200 per litre recorded low patronage.

The situation had led to increase in transportation fares in the state, and made some travelers to be stranded. A journey from Abakaliki to Enugu, which cost N300, now cost N1, 000, while Abakaliki to Afikpo, which was formerly N250, now cost N900.

Bauchi: It was gathered that from Bauchi to Abuja now costs N2,500 from N1,300, while Bauchi to Jos is now between N800 to N1000 from the previous price of N500. Intra city transport, especially in Bauchi metropolis which is mainly by taxi, buses and Achaba (commercial motorcycles), the fares has increased to over 100 per cent.

Kano: In Kano, fares rose as okada riders  now charge a minimum of  N100 instead of N50, while transport from Bata to Gidan Murtala in a taxi now is N200 and Gwarzo to Kano is now N400 instead of the previous N200. Kano to Kaduna is now N2,000, Abuja is now 4,000.

Anambra: Apart from the NNPC mega stations that sold at N141 per litre, other independent marketers, including OANDO, Mobil, Texaco and Conoil sold at N145 and N150 per litre in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ihiala, Ekwulobia, Aguleri and other towns.

In all the major towns in Anambra State, fares have increased by 100 percent. Taxi drop from Awka to Enugu which used to cost N600 is now N1000, while Keke NAPEP has increased from N30 to N60 per drop within the town.

Plateau: In Plateau state, commuters travelling to Lagos from Jos now pay between N7,000 and N8,000 depending on the type of car they want to board. Jos to Kano is now between N1,500 and N2,000, up from N1,000. Jos to Yola is also now N3,000 from the previous fare of N2,200.

Also, Jos to Abuja now costs N1,500 from N1,000 and Jos to Bauchi is now N1,000 from the previous price of N500. For intra city transport, the widely used Okada now take a minimum of N50. The previous minimum was N30. Taxis plying the Jos to Bukuru axis now charge between N100 and N120 while the buses charge between N80 and N100.

Abuja: In the Federal Capital Territory, fare from Suleja to Abuja which hitherto ranged between N150 to N200, is now  between N300 and N350; Suleja to Zuba is now N150 from N50; Area one to Jabi is now N100 from N50; Apo bridge to Kabusa is now N200 from N100 and Berger to Jabi is now N100 from N50.

A bus ride from Area 1 in Garki to Berger, Arab and Jabi which used to cost N40 naira now costs N100 naira. A taxi drop from the Federal secretariat to Wuse which before now cost N200, now costs N400 or more, depending on the time of the day. Fares from Zuba to Lokoja, Okene and Edo now stands at N1,500, N1,700 and N3,000 respectively. These prices represent a double of the former fares.

At  Jabi Park in Abuja, cost of transport from Abuja to Kano is now N2, 500 as compared to N1,500. Abuja to Bauchi now costs N2,000 as against N1,150. A trip from Abuja to Lagos now cost N6, 500 as against N4, 400. At the Peace Mass Transit Park, a trip from Abuja to Aba which cost N1, 800 during the festivities now goes for N2,800. Abuja to Enugu is now N3,500 as against N2,500. The subsidy has reportedly reduced  the tempo of economic activities in the state.

Zamfara: The situation is not different Gusau. Gusau to Abuja which was previously N2,500 is now N3,000; Gusau to Kano is up to N1,500 from N1,000; Gusau to Kaduna is now N1,500 from N900 and Gusau to Jos is now N2,500 from N2,000. Passengers to Lagos from Gusau now have to pay N5,500 instead of N4,000 and N4,500 to Ibadan from the previous price of N3,500.

Bayelsa: In Bayelsa, taxi drivers now charge N600 against the former price of N400 between Yenagoa and Ogbia. Yenagoa to Sagbama which was N350 is now between N500 and N600 while Yenagoa to Port Harcourt is now N1,500 against the former price of between N800 and N1,000. Yenagoa to Lagos is now N3,500 from N2,200.

Fuel stations were not helping matters as some of them sell between N150 and N180 per litre. For commuters using riverine transportation, boat drivers now charge N2,000 and N2,500 from Yenagoa to Brass and Akassa against the old fare of N1,500 and N1,800. The southern Ijaw axis now goes for as much as between N3,000 and N3,500 against the former prices of N2,000 and N2,500.

Niger: The cost of travelling from Minna in Niger State to Kano is now N2,000 from N1,200. Minna to Abuja is now N1,500 from N1,000; Minna to Kaduna is now N2,000 from N1,200 and Minna to Lokoja is now N2,200 from N1,500. Minna to Jos is now N2,500 from N1,700 and Minna to Makurdi is now N2,500 from N1,500.

Kaduna: Bus fares have been increased from N50 to N100 in Kaduna. Taxi fare from Kaduna to Abuja is now N1500 as against N1000, Kaduna/Kano route N1200 as against N800 before the removal of the subsidy. Also, Kaduna to Sokoto now costs N3200 as against N2000 while Kaduna to Jos now goes for N2000 from N1,300.

Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.

Jeel:
NLC,TUC and other groups behind them will soon collect some millions for bribe and keep quite only to come out and speak bogus grammer.Strike has never bent the Nig gov't ask Adams Oshiomole(the king striker)they will always find a way to do what they have planned eg.todays impromto bill is a distraction and a good tactics from FG to cool down the pressure tomorrow.
Any one thinking this strik will change any thing is only dreaming not after IMF,UN other foreign bodies and Gov's most reps and sen been solidly behind him and greater of all the great Ngozi Okonjoiweala.

Beaf:
^
Provide an itemised blow by blow list of costs; also show us how you know govt is sourcing funds for each project.
Until then, stop flying around, lying and chatting shiit plucked out of your backside.

PointB:
Please Nigerians should protest so that Tinubu/Oando and Co. continue enrich themselves with free oil from Niger Delta while oil producing states continue to be deprived of developmental funds!

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=24894

As the nation faces another round of industrial action arising from the fuel subsidy removal, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the weekend, reiterated his earlier warning against military take-over of governance just as he advocated the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to curb the crises facing Nigeria.

Aregbesola sternly warned ambitious power seekers who might attempt to hide under the fuel subsidy protest to subvert democratic rule to have a rethink and note that the political class will not allow any military rule a foothold in Nigeria anymore.

In a speech he delivered at the close of a three-day seminar on Budget and Budgetary Control organised by members of the Osun State House of Assembly in Ejigbo, Osun State at the weekend, Governor Aregbesola also decried the lack of transparency in the handling and management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

His words: “We must sound a note of warning to whoever wants to use this opportunity of normal protest of Nigeria people against the policy on fuel subsidy that we will never allow military rule in our territory again for whatever reason. We will never tolerate military rule; we shall fight it, we will never allow military to rule us again”.

The governor said that for Nigeria to be properly and peacefully governed, there is the need to gather all stakeholders to agree on a formula of co-existence in Nigeria.

He said: “For Nigeria to be really properly structured, appropriately governed and peacefully run, there is the need to have all the concern stakeholders in their various compartment to come together and agree on a formula of co-existence, which is only possible in a Sovereign National Conference.

When convoked, Aregbesola submitted that the SNC should derive its power from the National Assembly so as to guarantee the peace, harmony and stability of the Nigerian polity.

He lashed out at antagonists of SNC saying “those who claimed that such conference is incompatible with democratic setting are mischievous. Democratic structures can run parri passu with a sovereign national conference, after all, the conference will have its own power derived from the National Assembly.

In the light of the various challenges of nation building facing Nigeria, Governor Aregbesola submitted further that the Sovereign National Conference remained the “surest way to guarantee peaceful, productive, harmonious and stable co-existence and when we have that, there will be no basis for all the rancours and crisis that we have periodically been experiencing in Nigeria, including that of fuel subsidy crisis”.

The governor pointed out the fact Nigerians are not merely protesting the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government by have been expressing disapproval of how the oil revenue of the nation was being utilised.

Aregbesola insisted that Nigerians reserved the right to know details of what was happening in the oil sector noting that accountability and transparency were lacking in how the petroleum resources of the nation were being utilised.

The governor declared that “the issue is not even whether the subsidy was removed or not, but the major problem is that there is no transparency in the petroleum sector of the country. Nigerians must know what is happening in the sector. Nobody knows categorically how much of our crude oil is being sold, not to talk of how much of it do we send out”.

While observing that many West African countries were not enjoying subsidised pedtroleum products, the Osun State helmsman asserted that “the distinction is the secrecy that surrounds petroleum management in Nigeria and the transparency that exists in all the other nations”.

According to him, Nigerians have only been hearing the story of trillions of Naira in oil revenue “without even knowing what we consume and how we come about it”.

He contended that Nigerians reserved the constitutional right to protest the policy of the government on the fuel subsidy, warning that this should not serve as a pretext for military take-over of governance.

Governor Aregbesola contended that while Nigerians exercise their right to protest the Federal Government policy of oil subsidy removal, anti-democratic elements should not hide under this as an opportunity to allow military rule in Nigeria again.

“In America, Britain, Greeks, Spain, Portugal and many other countries there are unrest, but nobody ever dream of military return and so why must simple expression of disaffection or rejection of the government policy be the platform of which the military would want to impose themselves on us”.

mens dept:
Actually I've thought it over, and frankly the states you mentioned can be divided by "Nigeria" whether they like it or not. And frankly, if there's going to be the obvious change, it's not going to be to carve microscopic "Nigerias" where there's no majority tongue or demographic and again more confusion.

[url]http://saharareporters.com/news-page/christian-youths-protests-boko-haram%E2%80%99s-killings-soldiers-shoot-two-adamawa[/url]

Posted: January 8, 2012 - 05:13
By Saharareporters, New York

The protest staged by Christian youths on Saturday in Jimeta, Adamawa State protesting the killing of Christians and the attacks on churches was partly responsible for the government’s declaration of a 24 hour curfew as a means of avoiding total breakdown of law and order.

Soldiers in the state shot two youths, one in the stomach and the other in the leg, and they were rushed to a hospital for urgent medical attention. The shootings compounded the situation in the state.

The youths were said to have been protesting the killing of 20 Igbo in Mubi and as well yesterday’s killing of about 14 persons in a CAC Church in Jimeta. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for that attack.

One of those killed was said to be the son of one Pastor Gabriel, who had earlier been killed in one of the outbreaks of violence in Jos, Plateau State.

Security agencies under the directive of Adamawa State government stopped all attempts to get photographs of the corpses, fearing that if any pictures got out, it would aggravate tension in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Barr. Bala James Nggilari, visited the mortuary along with the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev.Moses Tafarki, who played a prominent role in dousing tension by pleading with the irate youths.

In the events in Adamawa , there were attacks in Mubi, Jimeta and Yola, the state capital.

auwal87:
Arewa Republic
Odua Republic
Republic of Biafra

Nchara:
You see? Mere protest they are already betraying. How will they do when it comes to delaring secession from the North? Be careful other southern people. You have a bigger snake than you thought.

alj harem:
that is money speaking

please ignore dumb organisations such as this

TRUTHTELA:
Why can't they change? The other OLD INSATIABLE ( rouge ) FOOL went a loobied for the Chairmanship of Subsidy Reinvestment Comittee. Shame on him, they'll reverse the subsidy & there will be nothing for him to manage. Y'all should change your wayz. Disgusting!

TRUTHTELA:
The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, in a communiqué after a pro-subsidy rally in Abuja, directed its members nationwide to ignore the call for protests by a section of the labour movement.

RTEAN national president, Dr. Olufemi Ajewole, at a press conference in Abuja, pledged the support and loyalty of the association to the federal government.
He said his members had been directed to ignore the call for strike and continue with their lawful businesses.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lawyers-caution-labour-against-defying-court-order/106671/

Mr--Why:
Another noise maker always bragging about how much he is got.Come and fight, die for your country like the Americans, French, Russians, North Africans, South Africans and many other revolutionaries did for their country(the so called "comfortable environment" you are enjoying now) and then we will know. Stop quoting fiat money. The Libyans didn't when Medical doctors and big time businessmen and so on came back to liberate their country. Cowardly Boko Haram is trying to cause mayhem. What are you noise makers doing? All you know how to do is rant and ramble and curse your MOTHERLAND.

Do you know that a lot of Americans came back to join the military after 9/11? Man UP and stop giving excuses- we have heard all that before.

Can you think?

Beaf:
@OP
You pointed out a lot of things indeed! If you have followed discussions on NL very closely, you will find that practically all the organisers of the protest ran abroad the week before. Check it anywhere you can, here on NL, facebook, tweeter etc and you will find that they are ALL abroad.
That fact begins to draw questions of why they all ran away. There is genuine pain from the subsidy removal, no doubt, but that couldn't have made them run away and innocent people do not run.

As you pointed out, in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and the other places these folk love to echo; those in diaspora actually returned to organise the streets, supply services or hit the warfront as in Libya. Its strange indeed that "patriots" should run away to organise a protest.

manny4life:
There you go again with your one-eye opened statements. "The funny thing is that, they are not the real Nigerians feeling the pain. They sit in their "comfortable" environment and lament". You know what, people are not angry and bitter as you are, many people have conscience, I might not be the one lamenting, you're right, I'm in my comfortable environ, but how does that change the fact I cannot relate with what's going on? Again, people are not angry and bitter like you, I might not be home, but the important thing is touch lives , By the grace of God, last year thanksgiving and Christmas , my brother and I did, and I'm happy we both did and I really care any less what a an angry person says.

Mr--Why:
Most of our people especially gullible ones in the diaspora ran away because they couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen. Now, they want to tell us how to organize and run our country from a distant land? How sensible is that? At the outset of the North African revolution, many of their comrades outside came back to take active part despite the dangers on the ground. Some even took up arms in the case of Libya to fight.That is real Patriotism and passion to want to see their country change.

In our own case, we have our peeps shouting and cursing from afar.Internet brave men and women. If war broke out in Nigeria, they would be the first to say," Thank God I left that God forsaken country", while their hosts treat them as riff raffs.

Have you got integrity? Stop making the loudest noise.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/31672-naira-falls-against-us-dollar-on-strike-fears
Friday, 06 January 2012 14:53 Reuters

The Nigerian naira fell against the U.S dollar on the interbank foreign exchange market on Friday on fear the planned strikes and protests against a hike in fuel price could disrupt business activities next week.

The naira closed at 162.10 to the dollar, 1.32 percent weaker that the 159.95 to the dollar Thursday's close. "Some importers are buying up dollars because of the uncertainty on the likely impact of the planned labour union strikes and protests against the withdrawal of fuel subsidy on their business next week," one dealer said.

Nigerian trade unions threatened on Wednesday to call a national strike starting next week, which they said would shut down large parts of the country's businesses, including the banking sector, if the government failed to restore a fuel subsidy.

Traders said the naira currency was under pressure on Friday as some importers buy up dollars to secure their obligations in case the planned strikes disrupt business activities and the foreign exchange auctions next week.

"People expect the naira to lose value next week unless the central bank increases dollar sales to the market and clears all demand at it auction, provided the auction is held because of the planned strikes by the labout union," another dealer said

goksonjay:
Though it seems we are all passing though hard time,especially with the subsidy removal, but am very sure Mr. President cannot intentionally want to hurt Nigerians. I want to believe,he is actually fighting the Cabal that is eating us up. If we can be patient alittle, we will soon start seeing the reward of some of these policies.

CyberG:
The important question I would like to ask in response to this call is: HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES? Obviously, if an assailant attacks with guns, the least that is required to defend with guns! Better with advanced intelligence gathering to figure out what is happening before it happens!

jason123:
Again?? These Kano guy are resilient! New level of Respect!!!

BetaThings:
I have heard this several times. Bring proof that they said it
And also quote what Chief Edwin Clark said

ayinba1:
First, ,i seriously doubt the authenticity of the statement. It is poorly constructed and lacks diplomacy coming from an official of the UN. Similar to the manufacturing plant promised by some Asian country? Remember anyone?,

Second, why are some of you making excuses for GEJ? He was a senior executive in Bayelsa for how many years again? Was it the UN that also made him a looter, non performing position holder? It is true that the western powers have their agenda but the owner Of the calabash calls it a broken piece for his neighbors to use it as a trash can( or something to that effect)

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=24848

Thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from the Osun state government’s free train services as the effect of the sudden removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the Federal Government bites harder.

The free train service from Lagos to Osogbo and vice versa, came to the rescue of many commuters who had either travelled out of the state to Lagos or needed to return to Lagos and other various destinations after the New Year festivities.

Commissioner for Commerce Cooperatives and Empowerment in Osun State, Mr. Ismail Alagbada, while speaking with journalists in Osogbo Wednesday evening, disclosed that more than 500 passengers left with the train from Osogbo back to Lagos and other destinations after the New Year celebration when the sudden increase in transport fares left them stranded.

“About 500 passengers left with the train from here in Osogbo. These are aside hundreds of others who joined the train along the route to Lagos such as Ede, Ibadan, Abeokuta and others.

“The passengers were not only people from the state but those who managed to find their ways to Osogbo from Ilorin, Ofa and other places, having learnt of the free train services being offered by the Osun state government,” Alagbada stated.

The maiden trip of the train, called Omoluabi Train had arrived the state on Friday December 23 with more than 700 passengers who were received personally at the Osogbo station by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Since the first trip by the train, thousands of other Nigerians have benefited from the service which is a product of an MOU between the state government and Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The service is part of the state government’s O-HUB initiative, a Mid-Regional Market to ignite massive commercial activities in the state by drawing merchants of goods and agricultural products to the state for onward transportation to Lagos markets.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/oritsejafor-okogie-adeboye-renew-call-on-christians-to-defend-selves/
On January 7, 2012 · In News

FOLLOWING the latest attack on Southerners and worshippers at the Deeper Life Church in Gombe State where seven persons were killed as well as the Mubi killing of about 20 others, the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, have renewed their call on Christians to defend themselves in any part of the country whenever they were  attacked.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enock Adeboye, also expressed outrage, saying however that, “Nigeria’s future is very bright but the devil is only trying to hinder and prevent our progress.”

Wife of Pastor Johnson Jauro,of the Deeper Life Christian Church in the Nasarawa area of Gombe was among the six persons killed by gunmen who stormed the church at about 7pm during the church’s weekly revival service Thursday.

In his reaction, the CAN president, who was visibly angry, urged Christians to remain steadfast in faith, adding that the latest murderous attacks should strengthen their resolve to be vigilant and defend themselves whenever and wherever they were attacked.

According to him, the latest killing, “Has aptly confirmed what we have been saying that Christians should defend themselves since it has become obvious that the nation’s security agencies are either overwhelmed by the terrorists or the hoodlums have infiltrated their ranks and therefore lack the capacity to do their duty of protecting lives and property of innocent Nigerians.

“I will not subscribe to the notion that Christians should quit the North because of the ceaseless attacks; rather I will urge them to be vigilant and be prepared at all times to defend themselves, their family members and their churches, including their businesses with whatever is available to them.”

In a similar reaction signed by the Director, Social Communications, Very Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu,  Okogie described recent ultimatum given by Boko Haram for Christians to quit the North as not only callous but provocative and capable of plunging the entire nation into another round of civil war.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=248306618574358&id=209148572490163

Why, oh why does it appear that everyone who has any chance of affecting the outcome of this subsidy imbrogilio seem to be either attempting to make water flow up mount everest or have their heads in the clouds.

1. The government is implementing the right policy in the most pernicious and almost wicked way possible - there is no other way to describe an increase in the price of an essential commodity on an already down-trodden citizenry by 100% to 200%. It breaks my heart that a government that promises transformation can be so unfeeling and cruel.

2. On the other hand, the NLC, etc simply want to pretend that spending 25% of a nation's budget, whether fraudulently or genuinely, on one commodity is acceptable. People like Buhari are propagating the "false" economics that comes up with the conclusion that there is no subsidy on petrol in Nigeria.  Because you produce a commodity doesn't mean there is no subsidy on it. Fluidly traded goods, like crude oil, are to be priced at their international price if the nation does not want to turn out to be a loser in the global market - particularly when you are not a powerful producer in the market. It is as simple as that.

3. Having said that, the so-called palliative measures are nothing but a parody. These hodgpodge of programs have no bearing on the consequences of the subsidy removal on the welfare of Nigerians either in substance or in time. To insist this sorry excuse for palliatives is in my opinion to make fun of fun of Nigerians. It is a fallacy and the mere dreams of control freaks, who hired by Nigerians to do the simple job of directing their affairs, think they have become omnipotent.

4. Under a responsible government the issues being addressed by this shoddy and wushy-washy approach would have been foreseen and a 1-2 years program to adequately address all the issues employed. Delibrative, all encompassing, and most importantly based on the FIRST DO NO HARM PRINCIPLE the people would actually have praises for their leader by the time everything is said and done.

5. I believe we can still save the day by pulling Nigeria back from the abyss towards which we are headed here. I would make recommendations, but this cannot be done without adequate data, and implementation under such conditions can do more harm than good - just like with the current measures.

All in all, it might be true that "Reversing subsidy policy is suicidal for the economy" (see https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-839151.0.html), but the way GEJ is going about it it souns more like "Reversing subsidy policy is suicidal for the economy, I'll rather kill it myself". At the end of the day it leads to the same outcome - the economy will grow by 4% instead of 7% at the end of this year & GEJ would have lost the little amount of credibility his government has managed to retain after the bumbling and fumbling of the last few months. By the time the NLC & TUC, etc are on strike for 3 months and GEJ finally capitulates economic productivity in the first quarter would be null, and the rest of the year severely damaged.

Enough word for the wise - I hope for the oppressed people of our nation that GEJ listens to reason.

Beaf:
Are you too impaired to comment on the topic? LOLZZZ!

Obiagu1:
I get your point.

Beaf:
Unu go tek laf kill antelope o!

https://i.imgur.com/UPBvj.gif