₦airaland Forum

Tensor, since when has it become anything but philanthropy to "help the poor"? And how, brother, can we equate this with providing social services? I say let the government do their jobs and stop all this alibaba stuffs going on with aplom in the land. Afterall the people of the BBC did a whole lot in the 18th and 19th century to eradicate the all those cesspits that were once notorioulsy responsible for all the contagious diseases all around the areas bothering the thames! I still maintain that the title was very apt!

How about this for a cleaner side of "afonja", !!! Anyone ever recall seeing this scene anywherelse but in naijaland? It is seemingly "little dots of dirts" like this that makes that title apt for that BBC documentary, wake up country people!

Remove this and post at Auto section.

Tunku, whats this? I don't get or see the connection here,

As real as the sun coming out the horizon. No satire!

Did I notice a trend in these arguements? Commentators who appeared to be Ibos seemed tilted towards "Ejoor, shameless liar" arguement while the others seem to be on the otherside. Any objectivity here? Whats that statement about prejudice? Me thinks the whole affair is a lot more complicated than what is being discussed here. And it dates back to pre-independence era. We all need to dig more, but honestly I have nothing against the Ibos. Given the circumstances, I think in declaring seccession, Ojukwu might have acted in good faith to his people. Certain events though, might have proceeded in a diffrent manner, if the principal actors were a bit older. How old were thay all, late 20s to mid 30s at the time. Perspectives! All in all, I think ojukwu is a hero of his people.

Hmm, Interesting. truely , truel interesting. The continent is blessed, truely. But how are we turning out with these sit tight visionless leaders straddling the length and breath of the continent?

Post source:

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=140609&ptitle=Invitation To Tender: Maintenance Of Generators At Aso Villa

Invitation To Tender: Maintenance Of Generators At Aso Villa
By Reuben Abati

DUE to a recent act of sabotage which resulted in power outage at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Umaru Musa Yar'çdua out of concern that this national security breach should never again occur anywhere near the seat of power has directed the Tenders Board at the Presidency to issue the following invitation to tender for the supply, and maintainance of generating plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply at the Presidential Villa, and to forestall such a situation as occurred on Wednesday, June 10, when the Federal Executive Council Chambers and the entire Presidential Villa were without electricity.

Although the incident lasted for about 10 minutes and was promptly brought under control by a combined team of the nation's ever-vigilant and loyal intelligence agencies, His Excellency has directed that the cause(s) of the power outage, remote and immediate, should be carefully investigated. Initial investigations by the intelligence agencies led by the National Security Adviser, all the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police indicate that the generating plants in the Presidential Villa may have been compromised by persons with Niger Delta, June 12, and opposition party sympathies. Mr President views this act of sabotage with all the seriousness that it deserves. To this end, a high-powered inter-Ministerial committee to be headed by the Hon. Minister of Power has been set up to submit its findings to the Presidency within two weeks. Members of the committee are permitted to seek technical support from any part of the world, including the prestigious Harvard University. Considering the seriousness of the matter still and the need to address it expeditiously, this invitation to tender is hereby issued under Presidential seal:

(1) Companies, individuals and other relevant agencies are invited to submit tender bids for the purchase, supply and maintenance of heavy duty generators with capacity to supply electricity to the Presidential Villa for 24 hours non-stop, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.

(2) The quotation for the aforesaid generators must include the cost of maintenance. Successful bidders may be awarded a provisional licence to enable them import diesel and petrol at concessionary rates for the exclusive use of generators within the Presidential Villa, and its environs, and to prevent such a strange situation as was reported that efforts "to put on standby generators were not successful" or that there is fuel scarcity at the Presidency.

(3) Please note that the Tenders Board is interested only in such generating plants that are rugged, capable of withstanding extreme pressure, and not such that may be prone to breaking down during Executive Council meetings or receptions for visiting foreign dignitaries.This government takes its job seriously and is determined to ensure that serious events such as Council meetings are not disrupted by power outages. We thank God that the power outage on Wednesday did not occur at a time when His Excellency was receiving a foreign dignitary.

(4) The Federal Government may at a future date consider the award of contracts for the supply and maintenance of generators for nationwide distribution as an interim measure to ensure the fulfilment of the President's honest promise of 6, 000 MW of electricity by December 2009.

(5) This release therefore marks the first step in the declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector.

(6) Respondents to this invitation to bid must be only persons of great patriotic commitment. Successful bidders must be willing to subject themselves and the generators that they supply to rigorous security screening. Where any whiff of sabotage or mischief is detected, the act shall be treated as an act of treasonable felony. Generators with Tokunbo, or used second-hand parts, are unacceptable.

(7) The Presidency is in the process of forwarding an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to provide legislative protection for all generating plants owned by the Government of Nigeria. These are classified as national assets, held in trust for the Nigerian people.

( The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces announced in May that his government will do anything to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country. The generator initiative is one of the many templates for fulfilling this promise to Nigerians. Suppliers of generating sets must be prepared to see their engagement as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

(9) Bidders must also note that the Presidency hopes through this initiative to create thousands of jobs for Nigerians as part of the government's employment generation drive. Presidential generators have up till now been managed by German contractors. The President now directs that bidders for the supply and maintenance of the Presidential fleet of generators must show proof of Nigerian citizenship.

(10) Proof of capacity to provide insurance cover for the generating plants will be an added advantage.

(11) Successful bidders may also be required to be members of a special committtee, soon to be constituted which would look into the modalities for incorporating this generator initiative into government's objective of making Nigeria one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.

(12) Special consideration may be accorded Nigerians in Diaspora with technical expertise, as part of government's determination to provide opportunities for Nigerians abroad. This should help them manage the challenges of the global credit crunch and insipre many of them to return to their fatherland. Many Nigerians abroad have been writing unpatriotic articles against their country on the internet. Government is interested in giving them opportunities to return home to be part of the great renewal that is on-going across the country.

(13) The bids may not include the notorious ten per cent and no price variations will be allowed once contracts are awarded.

(14) The bid assessment process will be confidential and fair and strictly in accordance with the rule of law. Interested parties are advised not to attempt to influence the Tenders Board. Traditional rulers, Pastors, Imams, spiritual consultants, and party chairmen are hereby strictly advised not to interfere.

(15) Six copies of the bid application should reach The Tenders Board, The Presidential Generating Sets Initiative, Presidential Villa, Asokoro, not later than two weeks from the date of this publication.

(16) Only shortlisted bidders will be contacted.

Finally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to his promise to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the country. Saboteurs in the power and energy sector who are thwarting this administration's attempts to serve Nigerians and meet their expectations are hereby advised that henceforth there shall be zero tolerance for their misdeeds. Our dear country Nigeria will be 50 years old as an independent nation in 2010. Now is the time to begin the preparations for the celebration of that grand occassion. A Presidential Task Force drawn from the elite corps of the Armed Forces, is being considered to provide special security for government-owned generators. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will soon be subjected to a process of audit, prelude to its likely disbandment. We cannot afford to fail in the delivery of critical infrastructure, the first item on the seven-point agenda.

We thank Nigerians for their understanding. Government counts on the support of the generality of the people as it wages war against the forces of darkness.


Chairman, Tenders Board in charge of Presidential Power Generating Sets

Sgd.

Hmm, More artists in residence (prospectives):

Dan Marayan Jos: University of Jos
Dan Kwairo, Ali Mai kafo: Bayero University Kano
Sir Victor Uwaifo: University of Benin (I gues he actually lectures there)
Sikiru Ayinde Barrister: University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola Univeristy
Kollington Ayinla: University of Ilorin
Wasiu Ayinde Marshal: Ogun State Univeristy Ago Iwoye
Mamman Shata: Ahmadu Bello University (I don't recall one in the home state of Mr President)
Alabi Pasuma: Lagos State University
Morroco: Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka


Can you fill the list?

Asha80, can you please send that link (Majekodunmi Adega's find) or the print to the Editor of Guardian Newspaper? Lets see how they perceive the investigation. Thanks for that anyway. Regards

Nairalanders:

Please refer source of post:

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article01/indexn3_html?pdate=110609&ptitle=The%20proposed%20Harvard%20training%20for%20governors&cpdate=110609

;d

I hope you guys understand that these fools are led by the self styled Mr Chairman of the governors forum, Bukky omo "Saraki Baba Bukola". He is a self styled polished governor who was once reported as querring his staff on assumption of office if any of them is a graduate of Havard or Oxford. He is looking out for your interest, the best is what you all deserve,

Check The Guardian of 11th June.

The proposed Harvard training for governors

THE Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reportedly signed with Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government recently by four state governors - Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State - on behalf of the ad hoc body called Governors' Forum, to train Nigeria's state chief executives on governance is offensive, self-demeaning, wasteful and most unacceptable. The MOU should be thrown into the dustbin where it rightly belongs.

It may be observed that rather than serve as a useful platform where state chief executives may compare notes on the challenges of governance, share experiences and generate broad-minded solutions that build their states and strengthen the nation, the Governors' Forum is now being promoted surreptitiously, not only as a lobby group of sorts, but as an institutional part of our democracy. But it is not.

A multi-billion naira secretariat of the Forum is in the works, and a director-general has been named. Where is the money for this coming from? We urge the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the NGOs, professional groups and citizens who seek probity in the conduct of state affairs to take an interest in this. What is even the legal basis of the Governors' Forum? Is it registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and if so, when was this done, by whom, when was it advertised, who are its trustees and officers and what are the details of its Articles of Association? Now that the forum has taken it upon itself to enter into agreements with foreign institutions, Nigerians would want answers to these questions.

Governor Akpabio while briefing the press in Calabar on the trip, regretted that 'in Nigeria, once you are elected a governor and sworn in, you are on your own, ' Of course, you are on your own in a job you willingly sought - powers and responsibilities, benefits and risks inclusive, actively campaigned for and swore to perform to the best of your ability and in accordance with a constitution you are assumed to have read and understood perfectly. So what is the whining about?

The details of the governor's press briefing is a sad comment on the process by which leaders emerge in Nigeria, it smacks of contempt for the judgment of the electorate. We should think that a man who wants to be governor, and who deserves to be one, must not only be willing but able and ready for the job and the tasks it entails. If capacity building is required, this should not be in the form of a lengthy foreign trip and the waste of public resources.

Besides, to seek to learn the art of governance after becoming a governor is akin to registering in a medical school after one has begun to practise as a doctor. It is fraudulent; the admission of lack of preparedness by state governors also explains the crisis of governance in the country.

But what really is governance, or to be more specific, good governance in the Nigerian context, that necessitates that state governors should register with a foreign college? The 1999 Constitution certainly gives adequate guide on this. Commonsense will guide any man to recognise the ethics of governance when he sees it - a clear show of moral leadership, a firm grasp of the urgent issues of the day, and a sense of direction. These will translate into jobs for the people, good roads, potable water, well-run schools and health care facilities, transparency and accountability in the polity, and the meting of condign punishment for a breach of the law, etc.

Good governance is not rocket science so, if at all the governors need teaching, we maintain that whatever knowledge they seek abroad is in fact here in abundance within the precincts of our universities. But, perhaps, there is some knowledge - whatever it is - that the governors cannot find in this clime. If so, it would be wiser and cheaper then to upgrade colleges of higher learning in their states so they can offer training locally not only to governors, but other high level personnel in the public and private sectors. Such thoughtfulness would be a mark of good governance.

In any case, how well would the teachers at Harvard understand the peculiar needs of the different states in Nigeria to design appropriate courses for and teach governance to their heads? Indeed, we would have thought that the teaching should be the other way round. Part of the proposal is that Nigerian state governors would travel to Harvard in batches with effect from October to attend workshops on leadership, good governance, education, and economic management. The authorities at Harvard describe the programme as the first of its type for African leaders. The money that will be spent on the training, including the huge estacodes that the governors and their aides will collect for travelling abroad would be better applied to the provision of facilities for the people's benefit.

There is even a national security risk implicit in this proposal. Thirty-six state governors - and possibly the FCT minister too - would attend courses designed by a foreign institution, write research papers and submit dissertations laden with the latest and most authentic facts and figures about their respective areas of jurisdiction. We cannot conceive of a more legal and cheaper way to gather intelligence than this, and to compromise the Nigerian State. There is a time for everything: a time to study and a time to govern. To our governors we say this is a time to govern, please get on with the job.

Pirates Free Nigerian Tugboat, Crew After 302 Days
By Kamal Tayo Oropo

SOMALI pirates have released a Nigerian tugboat after holding it and its crew hostage for 10 months, putting an end to the longest such hijacking off the coast of Somalia.

The hostages include Graham Egbegi (Captain), David Akpoguma, Namo Musa, Usman Ochoche Agida, Lucky Edoja, John Nkanu, Effiong Joseph, Emma Okon Timothy, Okuns Kalikio, and Bassey Etim. They are from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Benue and Nasarawa States.

The newly bought vessel was seized on August 5 last year on her maiden trip to the country through the Indian Ocean.

In a statement to The Guardian a few hours after the boat was released, the brother of the captain of the ship, Trigo Egbedi, said that the family received the news that the MV Yenegoa Ocean had been released on Friday night with 10 crewmembers off the coast of Caluula, northeast Somalia.

A Dutch navy statement also confirmed the release, saying the tugboat was freed at 18:00 GMT and is being escorted by a Dutch frigate.

Monitoring groups reportedly said the Nigerian sailors were the longest-held crew of any of those abducted by Somali pirates since a wave of ship hijackings off the Horn of Africa began. It was not immediately known if a ransom had been paid.

The fire-fighting and supply tug was hijacked on August 4, 2008, as it was returning to Nigeria from Singapore, where it had gone for repairs.

Marines from the NATO alliance's Dutch warship, De Zeven Provincien, boarded the tug before dawn yesterday, a NATO report said.

It added that one person was in need of medical attention and had been moved to the Provincien for treatment.

"His injuries are not life threatening , Overall, the crew are in a good state of health; they have only small problems," the report said.

NATO Lieutenant Commander, Alexandre Fernandes, on board NATO's mission flagship, Corte Real, said the Provincien was providing medical and logistical support, while escorting the tug at low speed to a safe harbour in Yemen, where it was expected to dock for repairs this (Sunday) evening.

At the height of the seizure, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sarki Mukhtar, was summoned to appear before the Senate Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior, along with Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, Interior, Godwin Abbe and Defence, Shettima Mustapha, to explain the circumstances sorrounding the seizure of the tugboat.

The pirates had demanded a $1 million ransom for the captives' release; failing which they threatened they would execute all of them.

The government had come under criticism for not doing much to aid the victims.

Mr. George Onokpite, the chief executive of ESL Integrated Services, which owns the ship, was also similarly criticized by families of the victims. He insisted that there was no way he could raise the ransom money as demanded by the pirates.

The Presidency reportedly set up a security committee headed by Mukhtar to co-ordinate the release of the ship. Its, however, unclear yet, the role the committee played in the eventual release.

Someone posted/initiated a thread that this nation is one of idiots, all began to curse and throw tantrums. How can u situate it that the leader of the most populous black nation (that represents 1 out of every 4 blacks) was not invited to grace the swearing in of the 1st black president of the bastion of democracy, that the leader of the 5th/6th oil producer (nay gas) and so called giant of africa shunned when invitations went to world leaders for the G20 summit, that all past two presidents of the US and incumbent chose to visit Ghana on their so called Africa Tour rather than Nigeria and some lazy good for nothing stale heads is throwing cheap blackmail about. How can anyone take this country serious when our leaders go cap in hand either soliciting for funds or begging to "please help us develop". GE of America is the latest to have a blanket development agreement (someone apparently forgets GE is a business dedicated to making profits) on everything from air we breath in to the soil we will end up in! Shame on Nigeria, its leaders and its led.

I have every reason to believe that Ghana will thread the cautious road once the wealth turns into riches. Ghanaians, generally by their nature, are simple, thruthful non flambouyant and modest people. And whats more, unlike us who have learnt nothings from our travails, Ghana has learnt very bitter lessons from their recent past (though not yet uhuru, everyone remembers the hard times of the late 70s to late 80s) and their recent multiparty elections that brought in Atta Mills is a testimony. Ethnic politics does not exist in Ghana,

, omnly thing I fear for this modest nation is their seeming isolation from all that is trouble that surrounds them (Cote D' Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, B' faso) and the seeming insatiable quest for the Nigerian Nollyshit (well so it seems for all blacks in diaspora in search of the "home" front as well). At least if it can be a model for the rest of the region (nay continent), perhaps we all might begin to make sense!

It should not be a shock, but its a shock! The Nigerian Police is the single most corrupt institution this nation has. But sadly, just as we get the leadership we deserve(!), the police is also a reflection of our society.

I once had a friend who told me a little story. According to him " , in the beginning, after The Almighty has finished creating the nations, He then started calling out, one after the other, each people (or Nation),
"America!, Sir!!, Your startup capital, superpower, even the colonialist will in the end bow at your feet.
"England!, Colonies, you shall conquer the whole world
"Spain!, explorers, you shall open new frontiers
"Italy, Technology, show the world what the meaning of applied science is.
"Ghana!, Gold, shine in the eyes of the world.
"India!, Mystical, hold them all in awe, aura till the end
"China!, resourcefulness, do whatever they did with such ease and few
"Arabia!, Hydrocarbons, flowing in abundance to drown their insatiable lust for power "
"Brazil, Samba!
, and so on until its gets to the turn of Nigeria (Nigerians), alas, the Almighty gave every single thing He has given all the others so that Nigeria ended up having it all! It was so much startup capital Nigeria was stumbling trying to gain a balance right there before the Almighty (perhaps till today?). All the other became jealous (rightfully so since the Almighty has said and promised them He is the just equitable God. But here they are, right before their very eyes and on the very first day of creation, He is singling out Nigeria (and Nigerians) for all His blessings. Protest! It has to be, they chorused, and so they selected a delegation amongst themselves and proceeded to ask the Almighty why He is reneging on His promise right there on the very first day. "To each of us", they said, " you gave a unique gift. But to Nigeria, you gave every single thing you have given us and some more things you have given nobody." they queried.
The Almighty then looked down at them and said, pitifully, " But did you see me give them people? For everything I have given Nigeria is in stock for you. Nigeria shall hold forth all your riches and growth and wealth. It is but a warehouse for you. You shall go there anytime you have the need and take whatever that you desire and you shall be obliged till kingdom comes!

Alas, the story and reason for the idiocy of Nigeria (Nigerians)!
Good piece my brother unfortunately, as in all things in this climes, it is lost on the idiotic lot you attempt to sensitise. The comments here in this thread is justification!

currently out of the country on assignment but interested. coming back in abt 2 wks. Whats the best deal. U didint post VIN,

Interested, seriously but post pics quick. Thats what will tell b4 nego.

this baby Lagos used, Itachi? No details?

Nice car. VW sure beats them all. whats the best deal and terms of payment?

Moderator please kindly ban all posting made by this Sanix or whatever he calls himself. You should as a matter of fact post a clear sign to would be members that this forum is not for yahoo yahoo boys, chikeina!

Deebeeg, u can actually resize the pics (foto editors or simply use paint in ur windows and choose "stretch/skew" from the image menu, then do 50% reduction using stretch, this shld give u 70 - 80% reduction in FILE size u upload). send more pics to ur buyers and goodluck!

Sai Anjiima.

, and boost foot productivity

Yes, foot productivity my foot! U know Kwarans were never having milk and nama before the arrival of "the chairman of Gulpnors". Milk flows aflenty in all gutters and drainage of kwara, so is food so secure you need a life coverage against hunger from LLoyds!

U see all these reporters and publishers for naija are sick. Anybodi remember Bolaji Abdullahi and Olusegun Adeniyi with their rants against politicians and polical leader on Thisday Editorial at the back page? They are the same chaps now "oiling" the egos and images of their master "Gulpnor" and "fresident" now, respectively.

Thisday should pack up and leave our shores. Nduka Obaigbena, u dey hear?

I dey berry berry angry now!!!

Sai Anjinma

Domishakin(g?)>

The way I look at it, Ur mentor , the great Bushman and im lapdog (i don't mean laptop), the blairing toni, after thier great adventures in warriorland(s) has succeeded in degrading u even further to nth class fellow for yonder, so u want an attempt at loot ko? Walahi, make i tell u, u don fail as all loot(s) is in the hand of the closely knit smart executhieves here. So I'd suggest u try new want-away republics like abkhazia and kosovo. Goos luck


Sai Anjinma!

campusbaba wetin dey worry u? if u no get better contribution for here, abeg carry ur cool ice pure water go joo!

i dey vex!!!


Jakumo, our guy don yab?

Osisi, kai walahi i go bex am por u now. How u go dey yab am por bauche say na only gworo im dey interested in when Awo and co dey loot in the name of national interest (see cocacola, leventis, apapa and all, )? Other area of interest to mutanen arewa includes "fresidents", "gominas", "chairmans", "Managing Directors" and all apex spots where other will toil with their brains and sweat,

, but AWO na billain (billionaire?), chikeina!

Sai Anjinma!

Jakumo, u can bet ur last babe the guy get the message, im go reply, but e be like im dey federal executhieves council meeting on loot allocation, make we wait