₦airaland Forum

emiye:
hmmm  OK,  but something is puzzling, how come ghana now sell petrol @ 187/litre?

why have they not imported from the same legitimate place @141/litre?

savar:
Please Share

Video Footage of Police Officer's Attempt To Snatch Protest Register

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Um4nLLzjxDs

Beaf:
The register was finally siezed and Dino Melaye arrested.
I would advise everyone to watch that video to see how tiny the protest was, there is no point risking your life without a plan.

Beaf:
The register was finally siezed and Dino Melaye arrested.
I would advise everyone to watch that video to see how tiny the protest was, there is no point risking your life without a plan.

emiye:
I don't believe removal of fuel subsidies will substantially reduce smuggling to neigbhouring countries.

@65/litre , it was smuggled to countries to be sold at higher prices (say 120/litre)

Now @ 141/litre , those neigbhoring countries still have the same or higher demand, market forces will only make it attractive for fuel to be sold at a new higher price in those countries (say N200/litre).

The smuggler still has a market. Nothing really changes, Purpose defeated !

ogugua88:
A facebook page is up and running. Please join and share with your friends! Protest dates and locations can also be found there.

http://www./122409827877756/

Chrisbenogor:
and who are those supposed to go out?

The man who has his kids school fees to pay?
The teeming millions in this country who have no access to light not to talk of the internet?
The millions of people who never ever stepped out of their houses to vote?

Who really who?

I am sorry to burst your bubble but there too many reasons why no protest would work, just a scare of bombing alone sent people scampering from churches and your are asking them to come out enmass to be targets?

We were all fully aware of the ineptitude of the pdp government but people said vote GEJ not pdp, now like someone said here they should buy petrol but not the price

ekt_bear:
Lol. The post above by Beaf is exactly why I am second-guessing myself a bit regarding this policy.

No matter how good an idea seems to you, if you look up and see that the people also agreeing with you are scumbags, then you sort of pause and reassess.

Anyway, with all that said, I am cautiously optimistic.

ekt_bear:
If the prices of oil isn't cheaper in Nigeria than its neighbors, then there is zero profit in smuggling. Hence no incentive for anyone to do so.

If the prices at the McDonald's in my town are higher than that of the next town, nobody will trek over from there to here when they want a Big Mac.

Beaf:
There is a rumour that Wale Tinubu has been arrested for protesting the subsidy.

People like that only protest things that are not in their favour, Oando had no principles when it came to buying shares in Abacha's private refinery in Sierra Leone that was built specifically to milk Nigeria off through so-called subsidies.

Those venting off anger like baby volcanoes are really only slaves fighting to keep their enslavers.

hercules07:
The jump in Subsidy money happened in an election year with a wasteful president in place, you do not need a soothsayer to tell you what the 1.3 trillion naira was used for.
People keep saying government has no hand in business and I just laugh, Emirates airline is owned by the dubai government and just made billions of dollars, the government builds and maintains refineries and power systems in dubai and they are profitable, why can we not have a government that can do these things?
The transport fares have started doubling as at yesterday and I can not see in the budget of 2012 how our lives will improve as 75% of the budget is going to less than 1% of the country.

Nigerian police fire tear gas to break up fuel protesthttp://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5716441
Nigerian police fired tear gas on Monday to break up a protest in the capital Abuja over soaring petrol prices after the government launched a deeply controversial measure to end fuel subsidies.

Nigerian police fire tear gas to break up fuel protest
Video taken from the protest by local Channels television and seen by AFP showed police firing tear gas to break up the demonstration that included former parliament member Dino Melaye.

Police said they had dispersed people they said were blocking a road, but did not confirm whether tear gas was used.

"A group of people whose identities were not known were blocking a public highway, obstructing the movement of vehicles," said police spokesman Yemi Ajayi. "They were dispersed."

Former parliament member Dino Melaye had earlier organised the signing of a petition at the location near the capital's main parade ground, Eagle Square.

The video showed what looked to be security agents taking Melaye away as the demonstration was dispersed, with several hundred people present.

Earlier in the day, armed soldiers, policemen and anti-terrorist agents condoned off Eagle Square to bar more people from joining the early arrivals.

"The essence of this is to mobilise Nigerians to register their displeasure against the satanic increase of the pump price of petroleum products," Melaye told reporters earlier.

"It is also to kickstart a mass protest that will follow ,  The battle to fight this is a battle of no retreat, no surrender."

Pilotman:
The fuel subsidy removal is not a bad thing! It will be difficult at the beginning, I know, but, it's a great move. It is a great sacrifice for the betterment of our great Country tomorrow!

Our only concern now should be on the wise usage of the subsidy fund. The next thing we should talk about is the palliative measures to cushion the weight of the hike in the price of fuel.

Retrospectively, Who could have believed that a poor man could own a cell phone in Nigeria? Please, let us take it easy, it is for good,

Most of our neigbours are not on fuel subsidy. In Ghana for instance, fuel goes for about N184 (Converted), & they are surviving & making meaningful progress. Subsidy removal is not a crime but a way forward.

God bless Nigeria,

frosbel:
What a boring topic to begin with.

Many of us are not political, me included, but we can spot hypocrisy miles away.

You all gang up on a forum and viscously attack the president of our country. There is a big difference between constructive criticism and childish rants and abuse !!

It appears we have lost respect for ourselves, hence we dare insult the president and his government.

Nigeria is in it's current state because of the failed leadership of yesteryears not to talk of the acute disease of corruption that has spread like gangrene to even the smallest child.

You will do well to realise that the more complex the problems and the damage caused , the more time and care is required to rectify the issues.

Let us stop winging and whining and instead pray for out President , that God give him guidance, wisdom and direction for the benefit of us all.

Thanks.

Gbawe:
Unfortunately , very naive. They don't need to harm GEJ (and I sincerely hope they don't) to take power off him. When the clear identification is made of the 'bogeyman', then everyone is united in forgetting certain things all in aid of removing this 'ogre'. Even recent history showed us how Libyans, Western Nation and the world at large got behind racist rebels controlled by men who have spent their lives in the military like Ghaddafi. No one asked any questions because all agreed Ghaddafi had to go. When all are in agreement, because of suffering everyone can feel with zero "palliatives" in sight, that GEJ has to go, it will be obvious what people power can achieve if harnessed properly.

No one, after circa three months of suffering, for example will hate those who depose GEJ and immediately reinstate subsidy of N240 billion (the original approved NASS figure) limited to the original major marketers while the fraudulent "independent" marketers who swelled subsidy to N1.4 trillions are paraded in public with a clear establishment of how they actually scammed Nigeria, through round tripping, over-invoicing, redirecting locally refined oil back to Nigeria as "imported" fuel. All this done in collaboration with the NNPC controlled by the Petroleum Minister and the Government of the day. There is far too much slackness , the sort to justify all kinds of "desperate actions for desperate times" moves, going on under GEJ. There will be grave reperrcussions.

TRUTHTELA:
@ Koruji, The Northerners ruled Nigeria for almost 50 yrs, and they will soon be back, cos every Southern president makes the his Northern counterparts look like a SAINT.

frosbel:
Absolutely agree.

Nigerians have this sort of free for all mentality.

They want everything out of nothing.

djustice:
Koruji, it is easy enough to see why you would fight against a sensible subsidy removal. It directly affects your boss, Bola Tinubu, through his Oando, which was listed as one of the top beneficiaries of the subsidies. Yeye dey smell!

djustice:
Koruji, if you will lead the protest, I will follow you.

I notice you were conspicuously silent on the Lekki Toll Protest and the brutal way Fashola and Tinubu had it put down through their dongari, Supol. Hakeem Odumosu, the Commander of RRS.

What were you saying again about the right of the people to protest

freecocoa:
You think its childish to want to not die? If you are tired and ready for death,must you drag people along with you? I'm not ready to die especially not willingly, by sacrificing myself for a country that will not even know I died for its sake. You think its to sit in front of a computer and type trash?why not start it? I'm sure OP will follow,after all only 2 of you can make a difference, it took David just one stone to kill Goliath.nansense.

lagbaja:
Impact of subsidy removal on foreign exchange –Naira will be Stronger.

Facts

1. Subsidy removal will not impact on international price of crude oil.
2. Volume of crude oil exports will not be influenced.
3. By inference, government revenue from crude exports will remain same.

Questions

• What % of total Forex demand is used by the oil sector? 18% as at 2010, an increase by 23% from the previous year.

• Will demand for petrol imports increase or reduce?

Answers

1. It is an established fact that a huge chunk of the subsidized petrol ends up in neighboring countries through smuggling.
2. By implication of subsidy removal, the gap between the price of petrol in Nigeria and neighboring countries will be narrowed thereby discouraging further smuggling
3. Absence of smuggling will translate to reduced demand for foreign exchange.
4. Genuine demand for LC viz-a-viz demand for forex will also drop in the likely consequence that fuel consumption will reduce. This follows from the logic that higher price will translate into lower demand.
5. Overall, in view of an expected constant supply, a reduction in demand for foreign exchange will translate to a drop in price.
6. A stronger Naira will translate to a reduction in inflation because Nigeria has a high propensity for Importation.
7. As the naira becomes stronger, the price of imported petrol will drop.

freecocoa:
^
Easier said than done,"people will die for this" who is willing to die? I know I'm not especially for "ONE NIGERIA" ,its pretty glaring that this country is going nowhere,why should I perish with it? If we are talking about BIAFRA then call on me.

Bliss4Lyfe:


ROTFLMAO arise ko arise ni. My parents have good use for me that was why they made me, and not to perish for fat politicians.

frosbel:
More like Nigerian Youths arise and be massacred

freecocoa:
^
Guy abeg relax go drink one bottle,I'm sure your brain go settle after that.

sexy74:
@ freecocoa
It has nothing to do with cooling down with a bottle of beer but facing reality that's what am saying.
We have to change our ideology to move our life ahead, chickening out will not help so awake the fighting and strong will in you and opt for something good for your life and that of unborn children.

afam4eva:
Lmao @ arise and be massacred

Nigeria is one country I won't dare die protecting and I'm sure most Nigerians think the same way. Nigeria means relatively nothing to me. So arising aka killing my self does not suffice. Call me when you're ready to fight for the dissolvement of this union.

naijaking1:
Did you see a list of the companies enjoying these subsidies? Only one has a refinery, the rest are glorified petrolem product middlemen. When you want to remove a piece of cancer from the system, there is no sweet method to do it. From radical surgery to debilitating radiation, all cancer removing methods are unpleasant, but rewarding eventually. We need education in Nigeria, not some half truth slogans propagated by political opportunists who have obvious agenda.

(i)  On the demand by Ezillo people that Ezza – Ezillo should completely vacate Ezillo land Government accept the recommendation of the peace committee which views such a request as unjustifiable on the ground that it was Ezillo people that invited the Ezzas to assist them fight their Ngbo rivals over s disputed parcel of land at Egu Echara.

EZZA – EZILLO, ON THE FRINGE OF FORCEFUL DISPLACEMENT http://pointblanknews.com/artopn1214.html

BY OKECHUKWU KESHI UKEGBU

As public condensations continue to greet the dislocation of the Bakasi people from their ancestral home, the people of Ezza – Ezillo community in Ishielu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State are facing another possible dislocation from their ancestral home. The circumstances surrounding these two incidents are parallel. While the incidence surrounding that of Bakassi has international link, that of Ezza – Ezilo is more pathetic because they are going to be displaced by their own people and within a nation they have been part and parcel of for centuries.

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This fatal journey of the Ezza – Ezillo people began on 9 th May, 2008. on that fateful day a minor disagreement ensued over where to erect a stand for a phone booth between a young man from Ezilo and another from Ezza. The following day, the minor disagreement which could have passed for any other between two brothers degenerating to a wave of unprecedented attacks by the ezillo people on the Ezza – Ezillo people. Houses were destroyed and burnt, farm lands were invaded, people were maimed and killed. The people of Ezza – Ezillo retaliated in self-defense and the result was a communal conflict between the Ezillo and the Ezza – Ezillo.

Following the dastardly and blood-chilling conflicts, the Ebonyi state government set up a peace committee, which was headed by one Eze Chibueze Agbo of Ezzamgbo. The formation of the peace committee was vehemently opposed by Ezza Ezillo people, especially concerning the objectivity of the committee as it relates to its headship. For this reason, the Ezza – Ezillo people failed to submit any memorandum to the committee. This is contained in a save our souls message entitled “An SOS message on the unlawful / forceful relocation of Ezza – Ezillo community of Ishielu L.G.A by governor Martin N. Elechi of Ebonyi State to president Umaru Musaa yar’Adua. The message in paragraph 3 notes “The Immediate reaction of the Government of Ebonyi State was to set up what it termed as a peace committee made of Traditional Rulers, headed by one eze Chibueze Agbo of Ezzamgbo. Even though we were skeptical in the objectivity of the said peace committee, particularly as it relates to its headship; we nevertheless submitted our memorandum to it must as the Ezillo community did”.

True to the fears of the Ezza – Ezillo people even when the peace committee has not concluded its work, the Governor went ahead and adopted some of its recommendations. One of the recommendations which seems to reflect bias and partiality is the relocation of the Ezza – Ezillo people to another piece of land called Egu – Echara, which is not only small, according to the Ezza – Ezilo people but presently occupied by the Ezillo and Ngbo people.

In a text of a special broadcast by Governor Martin n. Elechi on 2 nd October, 2008. and tagged “The Tragedy of Ezillo and its new beginning the Governor decided that the Ezza – Ezillo people should relocate to Egu – Echara land. This is stated in paragraph 9(i) and (ii) of the said text. “Consequently, Government has decided to approve and implement the two key recommendations of the committee as follows

(i) On the demand by Ezillo people that Ezza – Ezillo should completely vacate Ezillo land Government accept the recommendation of the peace committee which views such a request as unjustifiable on the ground that it was Ezillo people that invited the Ezzas to assist them fight their Ngbo rivals over s disputed parcel of land at Egu Echara

(ii) The committee also recommended that for peace to reign permanently at Ezillo, the Ezza – Ezilo should relocate to Egu – Echara land originally allocated to them by Ezillo people through the customary method of land allocation (imaba ogbu) Government accepts that recommendations” the statement noted.

This proposal relocation has placed serious moral and social burdens on the government of Ebonyi state. Though the government contradicts itself in paragraph 10 of the said statement by acknowledging that the Ezillo and Ezza Ezillo people have co-inhabited for scores of decades now which has generated a very cordial relationship such as inter-marriages, it did not put these factors into consideration.

The question is where is Nigeria history has a people being abruptly dislocated from their socio-economic and cultural base. It is unfortunate that the solution, which the Ebonyi state government claim that it has preferred for peace to reign was never contemplated in the worst civil disturbances of the chambers – kutebs, Tivs – Jukuns of benue and taraba States respectively Fulanis – Tivs of plateau state, Ijaws- Itsekiri of Delta state, Umuleri – Aguleri of Anambra state; just to mention but a few. The most pathetic factor is that the dimension of the above riots could in no way be compared to that of Ezillo and Ezza – Ezillo.

Another pitiable dimension to the issue is that with the proposed dislocation of the Ezza – Ezillo people from their present base they would have to abandon 4 primary schools, 1 Health center, 1 secondary school and a good number of churches for a virgin land void of any social amenities. This is noted in a letter by counsel to the Ezza – Ezillo people, Barrister Uche Wisdom Durueke to president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, dated 23 rd March, 2009 and entitled “Plot to use soldiers to forcefully displace about Twelve thousand Ezza – Ezillo persons from their ancestral abodes in Ezillo Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by the Government of Ebonyi State. – Appeal to save the Ezza – Ezillo people oppression.” The letter reads in the first paragraph “as solicitors to the ezza – Ezillo community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Government chief Martin Elechi. That our clients numbering about 12,000 should vacate their ancestral lands for their neighbors, Ezillo people. Our clients were asked to move into a forest without facilities. There are no houses for resettlement, no schools for the education of their children, no hospital or clinic for their health care, no market for them to buy and sell, no churches or places of worship, no access road to link them with other town and communities. In all the decision was to spite them.

The letter also accused the Ebonyi State Government of an alleged plot of use soldiers from the 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu to forcefully eject the Ezza – Ezillo people from their homes and farmlands. “We are informed by our clients that there is presently a plan by the Ebonyi State Government to use soldiers from the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu to forcefully eject them from homes and farmlands. Our clients are deeply worried that their lives and properties are in obvious danger and that they are about to lose their lands contrary to the due process of law. The plot to use the Army against our clients is calculated to inflict more harm and humiliations on our clients. It is widely believed that the military action will be soon and swift. In view of the above, on behalf of our clients, therefore, we sincerely appeal to your Excellency as the Commander – in – Chief of the Armed forces to halt every use of the military against our clients. Furthermore, our clients are requesting that your office sets up a committee of experts to visit their area study the conflict and make unbiased recommendations to the government”.

To buttress the above claims, Mr. Solomon Ogbuewu Nwankwo from Ezza – Ezillo alleged that on the 17 th March, 2009 that they were forced by soldiers from the 82 division, Nigerian Army, Enugu in the pesence of the GOC to sign a document prepared by the chairman, Ishielu Local Government Council, Barrister Ali Onwa Ai that they have accepted the Ebonyi State Government’s directive that they vacate their ancestral lands for Ezillo people and moves into a forest area under duress.

Mr. Nwankwo further alleged that even while he indicated under his name that the signing was under duress that he was forced to cancel the form and indicate that he was the one that cancelled it by writing his name. According to him, all these took place after the GOC’s alleged meeting with Governor Martin Elechi.

In narrating his ordeal further, he alleged that he has received threatening calls from some soldiers since after objecting the signing of the document. He also stated that this has made him to relocate to an unknown destination.

The people of Ezza – Ezillo are blaming their ordeal on a number of factors. According to them, the decision of the governor to displace them from their present homes and farms is in line with the agenda of some forces in the state against the people of Ezza – Ezillo.

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According to them, this agenda has been the agenda of systematic suppression, oppression conscious, deliberate, malicious denials and discrimination from any government. In paragraph 9 of their SOS message to the president the noted this: “Till date, no Ezza – Ezillo man has occupied even such a lovely position as a councilor of a ward. The Ezza- Ezillo have been disenfranchised in all elections conducted in Ishielu Local Government Area even when we have the larger population tham the ezillia and have contributed more to the massive development of the council area. Ezza-Ezillo community and villages were denied water and electricity even though we contributed monies as counterpart funds for their provision, just because the GM of Ebonyi State Rural electrifiation project is an Ezillo man. The settlement of a quarrel between two Ezzaman in the home of another Ezza man is viewed at as an affront to the authority of the Ezeogo of Ezillo. We cannot even settle ourselves except on the consent of the Ezeogo of ezillo who often imposes heavy fines on our people”, the people asked.

Other analysts blame the ordeal on the influence of some ezillo men on Ebonyi Politics. Some influential men from Ezillo in Ebonyi State Political positions are: Hon Reginald Onwe (Commissioner for Finance); Hon Gabriel Ede (Member,, Ishielu South State Constituency Hon Sunday Omeri (Commissioner, Ebonyi Independent electoral commission Chief David Egbu (permanent secretary, Ebonyi State Government); Engr. Princewill Oke (general Manager, Ebonyi State Rural Electrification Board); Chief Joseph Ugbo (Chairman Board of Internal revenue Ebonyi State.

Also, the people of Ezza – Ezillo are alleging conspiracy on the part of the Local Government Chairman, Barrister Ali Onwa. According to them, Barrister Ali allegedly obstructed their effort to earn an autonomous community status through a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Enugu in 2001. The said suit restrained the Ebonyi State Government from granting Ezza – Ezillo an autonomous community.

On the other hand, the Ezza – Ezillo people allege that the appointment of Eze Chibueze Agbo an Ngbo man provided him the opportunity to pay the Ezza people back for their long-standing acrimony. According to them, the Ezza – Ezillo people and the people of Ngbo have been in a long-standing face-off.

The co-inhabitation of the Ezillo and Ezza people dated back to between late 1920’s and early 1930’s. During the time in review, the Ezillo people invited the people of Ezza – Ezillo to assist them in their war against Ngbo neighbors who were threatening to annihilate tjem from the surface of the earth.

The assistance of the Ezza people provided the Ezillo people the avenue to win the war. On the account of the victory, a covenant was made between both parties for them to live together and derive the benefit of protecting the Ezillo people against the Ngbo people. The land allocated to the Ezza people in the manner that they provided a buffer between the Ezillo people and their warring neighbors, Ngbo people.

Paragraph 18 of the Governor’s statement seems to portray the treatment of ezza – Ezillo people as second-class citizens. “Let it be known to all and sundry that the now land into which Ezza- Ezillo people are moving does not in any way constitute on autonomous community. The Ezzas there will continue to be known as Ezza – Ezillo and shall not import into their new settlement the names of markets or communities of their ancestral abode. Cultural observances, especially with regard to new yam festivals, will continue to be observed within the custom and traditions of Ezillo community that is the overall umbrella of the entire place. There is for now, only one traditional ruler for Ezillo community into whose cabinet the Ezza – Ezilllo will appoint their representatives. The issue of autonomous community will be looked into only if and when the Government decided to review such demands throughout Ebonyi State, “ the statement concludes.

The question remains will president Yar’Adua listen to the plethora of appeals made by both counsel to the ezza – Ezillo people and the people themselves.

OKECHUKWU KESHI UKEGBU, A JOURNALIST WROTE IN THIS PIECE FROM ABA, ABIA STATE.

okechukeshi@yahoo.com 08037453029

naijaking1:
People should be able to buy petrol in Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Chad, etc based on simple open market forces, why maintain subsidy that favor only the connected distributors. The trade unions don't understand simple economics. Populist rhetorics don't replace facts. How much of the 1.3 trillion will ever actually reach the common folks?

Onlytruth:
Please allow me to say the truth.
I know what I'm talking about, and I will post a map to show how close Ebonyi state is to Benue. I have also been to the area, and I know that it harbors fulani herdsmen - around Ehamufu area.

This act of killing women and children ONLY is an act totally alien to us Igbo.
We watched as kidnapping crept in from non-Igbo parts of Nigeria and siezed our land, and has not let go till date.
Now, this cowardly act of killing women and children.

Soon we will copy other evils such as bombing churches.

Nna please leave me alone. 

Onlytruth:
Why is it that we copy evil more than good? Why must any evil find its way into our land?
This killing of women and children was hitherto unheard of in any part of Igboland or even Eastern Nigeria. Please correct me if I'm wrong!  
Why are we copying strange cultures from other peoples in Nigeria?  
UmuIgbo, biko sikwanu nkiti zuo na ahia udele!  

You see why some of us are deeply worried about the Nigerian national CULTURAL cacophony; about being in the same country with groups whose culture directly conflict with ours.

Is this killing of women and Children part of our culture? Methinks NOT!

I don talk my own o.  

naijaking1:
For the interest of open market policy, we should all support fuel subsidy removal.