₦airaland Forum

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more images:

ANOTHER OFFER BELOW:

2005 TOYOTA MATRIX LE:    (ESSENTIALLY A COROLLA SPORTS WAGON)

VIN:  2T1KR32E55C854245
ENGINE: 1.8L 4CYL VVTi
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE:


OPTIONS:

PWR WINDOWS
PWR DOOR LOCKS + REMOTE
PWR STEERING
PWR MIRRORS
PWR BRAKES
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS)
CRUISE CONTROL
AIR CONDITIONING
AIRBAGS (MULTIPLE)
ROOF RACK


PRICE:  $7500.00
SHIPPING: $1500.00

TOTAL PRICE (CIF): $9000.00 SOLD

Interested parties should please email me questions @ midas02@yahoo.com

INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD EMAIL ME ALL QUESTIONS AT: midas02@yahoo.com

more pictures:

BELOW I ALSO HAVE:

2006 TOYOTA CAMRY LE:

VIN:  4T1BE32K56U648179
ENGINE: 2.4L 4CYL VVTi
TRANSMISSION: 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 95,500 miles


OPTIONS:

PWR WINDOWS
PWR DOOR LOCKS + REMOTE
PWR STEERING
PWR MIRRORS
PWR BRAKES
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS)
CRUISE CONTROL
PWR FRONT SEATS
AIR CONDITIONING
AIRBAGS (MULTIPLE)
STEERING MOUNTED CONTROLS


PRICE:  $9500.00
SHIPPING: $1500.00

TOTAL PRICE (CIF): $11000.00 SOLD

Interested parties should please email me questions @ midas02@yahoo.com

more pictures:

BELOW I HAVE:

2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO LIMITED:

VIN:  JA4NW51S03J034417
ENGINE: 3.5L V6 SOHC EFI
TRANSMISSION: 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 89,800


OPTIONS:

4WD OFF ROAD CAPABILITY
PWR WINDOWS
PWR DOOR LOCKS + REMOTE
PWR STEERING
PWR MIRRORS
PWR BRAKES (EBD)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS)
CRUISE CONTROL
PWR FRONT SEATS
HEATED FRONT SEATS
LEATHER INTERIOR
RUNNING SIDE BOARD
AIR CONDITIONING
WOOD TRIM
AIRBAGS (MULTIPLE)
DUAL/REAR AIR CONTROL/BLOWER
LUGGAGE RACK
FOG LAMPS
SPARE TIRE PROTECTOR



PRICE:  $12000.00
SHIPPING: $1800.00

TOTAL PRICE (CIF): $13800.00              SOLD

Interested parties should please email me questions @ midas02@yahoo.com

2004 Corolla LE

More pictures:

BELOW I HAVE:

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA LE

VIN:  JTDBR32E042019960
ENGINE: 1.8L 4CYL VVTi
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 105,800


OPTIONS:
AM/FM/CD Stereo System
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Power Brakes
Power Door Locks
Power Steering
Power Mirror
Power Windows
Wood Trim Panel

PRICE:  $7500.00
SHIPPING: $1500.00

TOTAL PRICE (CIF): $9000.00 SOLD

Interested parties should please email me questions @ midas02@yahoo.com

More pictures:

More pictures:

I am also offering:

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE:

VIN:   5TDZA23C24S110962
ENGINE:   3.3L V6 EFI
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 106,000 MILES

OPTIONS:
PWR STEERING
PWR WINDOWS
PWR DOOR LOCK + REMOTE
PWR MIRRORS
PWR BRAKES
CRUISE CONTROL
AIR CONDITIONER(A/C)
AM/FM/CD STEREO
LUGGAGE RACK
SINGLE POWER SLIDING DOOR
TILT/TELESCOPIC WHEELS
MULTIPLE AIRBAGS
7 SEATER VELOUR SEATS



PRICE:     $10200.00
FREIGHT:  $1700.00  (LAGOS)

TOTA PRICE(CIF): $11,900.00 SOLD
Interested parties can email me questions at: midas02@yahoo.com. Thanks

More picture of the interior:

With the new exchange rate, Car prices has escalated and Nigerians will have to dole out more money to get the same car they would have gotten last year for less!. In an effort to help reduce the sharp spike in cost, I have decided to start putting up deals that I have and offering it to Nairalanders at wholesale prices. Some of them will have higher miles but will remain in impeccable condition. Even though Nigerians (of recent) put a lot of premium on mileage, it is important to note that the environment and culture of use here in the USA is much more favourable to cars and therefore the condition of a 100,000 mile car here will NOT be comparable to that of a 50,000mile car that was used in Nigeria throughout its life.

Anyhow, my point is that given the prevailing economic realities and the unfavorable exchange rate, I want to make an effort to offer cars that make more economic sense on Nairaland. It remains my policy to only offer only cars that are mechanically excellent, have a clean title and no accident history and as always, I will make every effort to be transparent and forthright in my transactions. Many of the cars I offer will be available only for a limited time cos I will be trying to sell them here too and the whole basis of wholesale business is to generate high volume sales, thus I cannot afford to hold unto any vehicle for too long. Thanks.

With this in mind, I am offering:

2003 HONDA CRV LX:

VIN:   JHLRD68423C017149
ENGINE:   2.4l 4 Cyl DOHC EFI
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 103,000 MILES

OPTIONS:
PWR STEERING
PWR WINDOWS
PWR DOOR LOCK + REMOTE
PWR MIRRORS
PWR BRAKES
CRUISE CONTROL
AIR CONDITIONER(A/C)
AM/FM/CASS/CD STEREO
STEEL DECORATIVE WHEELS
TILT/TELESCOPIC WHEELS
MULTIPLE AIRBAGS



PRICE:     $9000.00
FREIGHT:  $1500.00  (LAGOS)

TOTAL PRICE(CIF): $10,500.00 SOLD

Interested parties can email me questions at: midas02@yahoo.com. Thanks

If you are going to spend 400K you might as well spend it well. For 400K you can fly Siena down from london for a week to fix your Mini cooper and still have time for his own fun! (if he agrees not to charge you for labor) Maybe you should talk to Siena (He might do it as a publicity stunt ). There is nothing more british than a Mini Cooper and Siena will be able to help. Wish you luck.

more interior pictures:

BELOW I HAVE:

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA LE

VIN:  JTDBR32E042019960
ENGINE: 1.8L 4CYL VVTi
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC
MILEAGE: 105,800

AM/FM/CD Stereo System
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Power Brakes
Power Door Locks
Power Steering
Power Mirror
Power Windows
Wood Trim Panel

PRICE:  $7500.00
SHIPPING: $1500.00

TOTAL PRICE (CIF): $9000.00

Interested parties should please email me questions @ midas02@yahoo.com

What the heck happened to Ivvie?? Was just browsing thru several threads and I noticed all his comments have been expunged and deleted! Just wondering what happened. With his notable absence, I bet the site will miss his 'interesting' contributions.

Giant koo, giant nii!

I pretty much responded to a similar discussion on another thread so I will paraphrase:

"Nigeria’s GDP (PPP value) has a current position that measures 38th in the world. South Africa and Egypt are 25th and 27th respectively. Having said this, it is important to remember that the 38th position is by no means a measure of the government’s performance or of the living standards in Nigeria. The 38th position was not achieved! - It is simply so by virtue of the fact that Nigeria is the 8th most populous nation in the world and the 6th largest exporter of petroleum. For a true measure of development and government performance in Nigeria, we have to look elsewhere. Currently, Nigeria ranks very low in the Human Development Index (HDI) as compiled by United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Report 2007/2008. Nigeria ranks 158th out of a possible 177 position! When using the much lauded "Ibrahim Index of African Governance", which was specifically sponsored and designed for sub-Saharan nations of Africa by Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF), Nigeria ranks an embarrassingly low 39th position out of 48 African nations. The 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa which we seemed to better were all countries that are either currently at war or are recovering from war, genocide or famine."

This pretty much tells the whole story. We are indeed the giant of Africa, the greatest giant failure of Africa!!!

I started a thread dealing with this topic but since you have this one going, I might as well paste my comment from the thread.

In the past few years, the Nigerian government has consistently proclaimed and fostered this concept of a Vision 2020, despite showing no evidence of an intelligent incremental positioning strategy. It boggles my mind to think how a nation can achieve any objective or goal, without putting in place and establishing a base for a calculated, intelligently designed, critically assessed plan and strategy for achieving set goals and objectives.

In simple terms, Vision 2020 is the objective of Nigerian government to grow the size of Nigeria’s economy from its current position of 40th to the 20th Nation in the world by the year 2020. Having said this, it is important to remember that the 40th position is by no means a measure of the government’s performance or of the living standards in Nigeria. The 40th position was not achieved! - It is simply so by virtue of the fact that Nigeria is the 8th most populous nation in the world and the 6th largest exporter of petroleum. For a true measure of development and government performance in Nigeria, we have to look elsewhere. Currently, Nigeria ranks very low in the Human Development Index (HDI) as compiled by United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Report 2007/2008. Nigeria ranks 158th out of a possible 177 position! When using the much lauded "Ibrahim Index of African Governance", which was specifically sponsored and designed for sub-Saharan nations of Africa by Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF), Nigeria ranks an embarrassingly low 39th position out of 48 African nations. The 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa which we seemed to better were all countries that are either currently at war or are recovering from war, genocide or famine.

In Nigeria, I have come to recognize an exaggerated and excessive culture, a diversionary method of governance, the use of which is prevalent and ubiquitous - The eagerness of the government and all its proponents to have visions, launch useless products, engage in talks, organize seminars, attend conferences, host workshops and even sponsor symposiums. The ostentatious display of 'capacity' and 'intentions' whilst remaining completely devoid of true knowledge and capabilities to actually accomplishment the set goals and touted objectives! In simple terms, our leaders are mostly charlatans - showy and pretentious without any real substance! I have no doubt that there are many who will not agree with my observations and that is fair. I however admonish you to watch your NTA news tonight and tell me if you will hear anything of substance outside of the usual barrage of Seminars, Conferences, Workshops, ‘Talks’ and the occassional meaningless 'Launching'. This unfortuate phenomenon has been going on for the past 15-20 years! – since the days of Babangida and his useless MAMSER program and nothing has changed. This strategy is used to shroud a thriving culture of corruption and incompetence! Sadly, Nigerian journalists, who are suppose to see through this thin veil and call the government to order, have become a proponent and an extension of this massive scheme of self delusion and fraud.

I recently read an article where the Nigerian government was making preparation and arrangements for nuclear power plant facilities. I laughed to the point of rolling on the floor (but it is a sad laugh too!). I have never been able to understand why we always feel the need to outdo and ridicule ourselves before a world audience!. Here is a nation that failed to maintain a simple coal fired powerplant and has NOT the organizational intellect to maintain a gas turbine plant (even as we speak), yet they strut around in obtuse ignorance and promenade, talking about Nuclear power - A technology that is capable of destroying an entire nation if mishandled! Currently, any nation that is using nuclear power technology, has had to develop it themselves! It is simply not a technology that one can buy on the shelf! It is as if what is going on with Iran and North Korea is totally lost unto us! We make ourselves the laughing stock of the world when we exhibit such ignorant and unschooled naiveness.

I often read statements left on threads and you can tell that Nigerians are angry, disenfranchised and frustrated - to watch their purpose, and dreams, and hopes for a better tomorrow slip away, hijacked by depraved and incompetent leadership! To look at the horizon and see a vicious cycle of corruption, greed of mythical proportions with no end in sight. To be raped, defrauded and demeaned repeatedly, again and again, by the very "leaders" charged with public trust and to see no justice. To be humiliated, rejected, mocked and demeaned in foreign countries and to come home and be subjected to worse treatments! To see acute immorality and corrupt perversions continuously rewarded and to watch true nobility, honour, hardwork and honesty, disdained and sent to the gallows, left to rot in misery. To listen to loud and lame speeches, endure grandiloquent plans that never come to fruition year after year and to see one's hopes, aspirations, future and God given resources wasted on white elephant projects, squandered on redundant and obtuse minded projects and to have your sensibilities assaulted with hopeless visions, proclaimed and promoted by doomed and God forsaken 'leaders' - It is the most painful thing in the world!! And I share in that pain!

And now, they talk about Vision 2020!!. What the heck is Vision 2020?? How can a president who failed to fix ordinary roads (even the one to his own hometown) in 8 years have any vision?? I guess it makes sense for a nation to move from the 158th position (out of 177 possible positions!) to the 20th position of the Human Development Index, in the space of 12 years!! Especially a 'great' country like Nigeria which has spent the last 20 years in absolute and complete failure! - failing to provide even the most basic infrastructural needs - national infrastructures such as oil refineries, power plants and road networks have gone to the dogs!. Industries and manufacturing bases have been devastated and have become extinct amidst inane, acutely constipated and convoluted government policies. And now the same pack of morons suddenly have a vision! Yar'dua was in London, talking about vision 2020 and I watched in dismay, as the Westerners in attendance mockingly nodded their heads. What irks me most is not just the ubiquitous failures and lameness, but the so called 'Vision' and the mockery and ridicule that such uneducated, unintelligent and unrealistic projections bring upon our nation! Take a simple look at the history of any developed nation and see how long they have been at it, understanding the systematic and intelligent application of scarce resources to achieve their objectives over time - this tells the whole story!. It baffles me that while we have not even shown that we are able to successfully accomplish what the Roman Empire accomplished 2000 years ago (Coliseum, Water Aqueduct, Roads, Bridges etc), much less what developed nations demonstrated 60 - 100 years ago (Industrialization, WW2 technology and social Organization), we are willing to strut around, in abysmal ignorance, consumed with 'epileptic fits' and moronic 'nuclear visions' of the year 2020!.

What "Vision" ? - How about showing us what Obasanjo did with the $200 billion oil windfall in his 8 years of misrule?? How about showing a little humility and learning to climb a tree from the bottom up, rather than this wasteful, senseless and unproductive synapses that lead us to believe we can do the unthinkable and climb from the top down!. We need to tell these leaders to stop having 'visions' and to start showing us productive, efficacious and intelligent, step by step plans - and it starts with fixing the terrible mess which 30 years of misrule and misdeeds has left the nation grappling with! It is amazing just how much damage a single generation of irresponsibility can inflict on a nation! If it took 30 years to utterly destroy the hopes and aspiration of a nation, it will certainly take a heck of a lot more than 12 years to fix it, even with a genius behind the wheels! - and we all know that the present crop of leaders are NO geniuses!!! (not even close)

Finally, the question in mind should not be whether Nigeria can accomplish the goal of becoming one of the 20 most industrialized nations in the world – of course, we can! (eventually!). The question should be what are we putting in place today, to ensure that we are strategically placed to become one of the 20 most important economies and industrialized nations tomorrow. It goes without saying that the days of shameless corruption and mindless incompetent leadership have got to come to an end. We must enter a new era of accountability, intelligent planning & projections and smart articulate leadership. For the day is far spent and the inevitable gloom of wasted and squandered potentials draws closer! If nothing at all, we should learn from history and from the contemporary example of a tiny nation like U.A.E, for beyond the horizon of current excesses lies the impending doom of an era of radically diminished crude oil importance! It will be calamitous and devastating to reach that point and have a nation that is totally unprepared and is still largely underdeveloped!

Blackspade & Kenezi,

While I appreciate your optimism, I must absolutely disagree with your prognosis. I just can't help noticing that we always prance about talking about plans and having blueprints! What happened to the plans that were hatched 20 years ago and 30 years ago?? And since when did china become the messiah that leads underdeveloped nations to fast development??.

Kenezi, Accomplishing military might is not the same as economic development. Russia achieved its military might at great cost to the people!. Do you have any clue how many people perished, suffered and died to accomplish Joseph Stalin's goal?? (and by the way, Russia was not a backward country!). Are you advocating for such or are you equating Nigeria's do-nothing government to Russia's communist machinery?? It is important to understand and be aware of ramifications when we make comments. You need to understand that there is a cost to everything and certain costs are undesirable. This is 2008 and not 1945!!

Blackspade, What China has accomplished has been in the works for 50 years and is still an on-going process!. More importantly, what China is today was envisioned by chinese and developed for chinese using chinese idiosyncracies, peculiarities and culture!. Most importantly, China accomplished its present status the only known way - consistent work, honest hard work and more grueling work!! Finally, China is China and not Nigeria or any other nation. While there are great lessons and wisdom to be gleaned from China's development, there is no known blueprint for the development of any nation. All Nations must develop, taking advantage of God given resources, natural endowments and peculiarities, building around the strength, culture and aspirations of its people, encouraging both native intelligence and acquired knowledge, showing great resourcefulness and enterprise, toiling, strifing, growing and holding together in common hope unto a better tomorrow. A little progress, even if attained with much sweat and hardwork, is better than a mountain of blueprints and empty talks!

My argument is not about the possibility or impossibility of achieviing Vision 2020 (that is a waste of time). My point is, given Nigerian government's history of perfomance and it's current level of incompetence and overwhelming corruption, can we reasonably expect anything to come out of Vision 2020 or any other vision for that matter. I am a pragmatist and one who bases my judgement on what I know and see, and not on what hasn't transpired!(that is called dreaming!). History is credible, history is truthful and you can not keep doing things the same way, over and over again, and expect a different result. Based on our history and what I see now - we will be lucky to be a Nation in 20 years much less being developed!

In the past few years, the Nigerian government has consistently proclaimed and fostered this concept of a Vision 2020, despite showing no evidence of an intelligent incremental positioning strategy. It boggles my mind to think how a nation can achieve any objective or goal, without putting in place and establishing a base for a calculated, intelligently designed, critically assessed plan and strategy for achieving set goals and objectives.

In simple terms, Vision 2020 is the objective of Nigerian government to grow the size of Nigeria’s economy from its current position of 40th to the 20th Nation in the world by the year 2020. Having said this, it is important to remember that the 40th position is by no means a measure of the government’s performance or of the living standards in Nigeria. The 40th position was not achieved! - It is simply so by virtue of the fact that Nigeria is the 8th most populous nation in the world and the 6th largest exporter of petroleum. For a true measure of development and government performance in Nigeria, we have to look elsewhere. Currently, Nigeria ranks very low in the Human Development Index (HDI) as compiled by United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Report 2007/2008. Nigeria ranks 158th out of a possible 177 position! When using the much lauded "Ibrahim Index of African Governance", which was specifically sponsored and designed for sub-Saharan nations of Africa by Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF), Nigeria ranks an embarrassingly low 39th position out of 48 African nations. The 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa which we seemed to better were all countries that are either currently at war or are recovering from war, genocide or famine.

In Nigeria, I have come to recognize an exaggerated and excessive culture, a diversionary method of governance, the use of which is prevalent and ubiquitous - The eagerness of the government and all its proponents to have visions, launch useless products, engage in talks, organize seminars, attend conferences, host workshops and even sponsor symposiums. The ostentatious display of 'capacity' and 'intentions' whilst remaining completely devoid of true knowledge and capabilities to actually accomplishment the set goals and touted objectives! In simple terms, our leaders are mostly charlatans - showy and pretentious without any real substance! I have no doubt that there are many who will not agree with my observations and that is fair. I however admonish you to watch your NTA news tonight and tell me if you will hear anything of substance outside of the usual barrage of Seminars, Conferences, Workshops, ‘Talks’ and the occassional meaningless 'Launching'. This unfortuate phenomenon has been going on for the past 15-20 years! – since the days of Babangida and his useless MAMSER program and nothing has changed. This strategy is used to shroud a thriving culture of corruption and incompetence! Sadly, Nigerian journalists, who are suppose to see through this thin veil and call the government to order, have become a proponent and an extension of this massive scheme of self delusion and fraud.

I recently read an article where the Nigerian government was making preparation and arrangements for nuclear power plant facilities. I laughed to the point of rolling on the floor (but it is a sad laugh too!). I have never been able to understand why we always feel the need to outdo and ridicule ourselves before a world audience!. Here is a nation that failed to maintain a simple coal fired powerplant and has NOT the organizational intellect to maintain a gas turbine plant (even as we speak), yet they strut around in obtuse ignorance and promenade, talking about Nuclear power - A technology that is capable of destroying an entire nation if mishandled! Currently, any nation that is using nuclear power technology, has had to develop it themselves! It is simply not a technology that one can buy on the shelf! It is as if what is going on with Iran and North Korea is totally lost unto us! We make ourselves the laughing stock of the world when we exhibit such ignorant and unschooled naiveness.

I often read statements left on threads and you can tell that Nigerians are angry, disenfranchised and frustrated - to watch their purpose, and dreams, and hopes for a better tomorrow slip away, hijacked by depraved and incompetent leadership! To look at the horizon and see a vicious cycle of corruption, greed of mythical proportions with no end in sight. To be raped, defrauded and demeaned repeatedly, again and again, by the very "leaders" charged with public trust and to see no justice. To be humiliated, rejected, mocked and demeaned in foreign countries and to come home and be subjected to worse treatments! To see acute immorality and corrupt perversions continuously rewarded and to watch true nobility, honour, hardwork and honesty, disdained and sent to the gallows, left to rot in misery. To listen to loud and lame speeches, endure grandiloquent plans that never come to fruition year after year and to see one's hopes, aspirations, future and God given resources wasted on white elephant projects, squandered on redundant and obtuse minded projects and to have your sensibilities assaulted with hopeless visions, proclaimed and promoted by doomed and God forsaken 'leaders' - It is the most painful thing in the world!!  And I share in that pain!

And now, they talk about Vision 2020!!. What the heck is Vision 2020?? How can a president who failed to fix ordinary roads (even the one to his own hometown) in 8 years have any vision?? I guess it makes sense for a nation to move from the 158th position (out of 177 possible positions!) to the 20th position of the Human Development Index, in the space of 12 years!!  Especially a 'great' country like Nigeria which has spent the last 20 years in absolute and complete failure! - failing to provide even the most basic infrastructural needs - national infrastructures such as oil refineries, power plants and road networks have gone to the dogs!. Industries and manufacturing bases have been devastated and have become extinct amidst inane, acutely constipated and convoluted government policies. And now the same pack of morons suddenly have a vision! Yar'dua was in London, talking about vision 2020 and I watched in dismay, as the Westerners in attendance mockingly nodded their heads. What irks me most is not just the ubiquitous failures and lameness, but the so called 'Vision' and the mockery and ridicule that such uneducated, unintelligent and unrealistic projections bring upon our nation! Take a simple look at the history of any developed nation and see how long they have been at it, understanding the systematic and intelligent application of scarce resources to achieve their objectives over time - this tells the whole story!. It baffles me that while we have not even shown that we are able to successfully accomplish what the Roman Empire accomplished 2000 years ago (Coliseum, Water Aqueduct, Roads, Bridges etc), much less what developed nations demonstrated 60 - 100 years ago (Industrialization, WW2 technology and social Organization), we are willing to strut around, in abysmal ignorance, consumed with 'epileptic fits' and moronic 'nuclear visions' of the year 2020!.

What "Vision" ? - How about showing us what Obasanjo did with the $200 billion oil windfall in his 8 years of misrule?? How about showing a little humility and learning to climb a tree from the bottom up, rather than this wasteful, senseless and unproductive synapses that lead us to believe we can do the unthinkable and climb from the top down!. We need to tell these leaders to stop having 'visions' and to start showing us productive, efficacious and intelligent, step by step plans - and it starts with fixing the terrible mess which 30 years of misrule and misdeeds has left the nation grappling with! It is amazing just how much damage a single generation of irresponsibility can inflict on a nation! If it took 30 years to utterly destroy the hopes and aspiration of a nation, it will certainly take a heck of a lot more than 12 years to fix it, even with a genius behind the wheels! - and we all know that the present crop of leaders are NO geniuses!!! (not even close)

Finally, the question in mind should not be whether Nigeria can accomplish the goal of becoming one of the 20 most industrialized nations in the world – of course, we can! (eventually!). The question should be what are we putting in place today, to ensure that we are strategically placed to become one of the 20 most important economies and industrialized nations tomorrow. It goes without saying that the days of shameless corruption and mindless incompetent leadership have got to come to an end. We must enter a new era of accountability, intelligent planning & projections and smart articulate leadership. For the day is far spent and the inevitable gloom of wasted and squandered potentials draws closer! If nothing at all, we should learn from history and from the contemporary example of a tiny nation like U.A.E, for beyond the horizon of current excesses lies the impending doom of an era of radically diminished crude oil importance! It will be calamitous and devastating to reach that point and have a nation that is totally unprepared and is still largely underdeveloped!

[b][/b]

Guys,
Thank you for the links. I am delighted to see that a similar idea is already proposed and its implementation is already in progress. I hope LAMATA is able to navigate the complex process from conception to completion, bringing this dream to its full potential. I believe Gov. Fashola is committed to doing the right thing in Lagos and hopefully, not too far from now, we will all be smiling and showing off our new Rail metro system.

I was just reading some statements left on this thread and got lost in thought. You can tell people are angry and fustrated! - to watch their purpose, and dreams, and hopes for a better tomorrow slip away, hijacked by depraved and incompetent leadership! To look at the horizon and see no end in sight, of a vicious cycle of corruption and greed of mythical proportions. To be raped, defrauded and demeaned repeatedly, again and again, by the very "leaders" charged with public trust and to have no relief in sight. To be humiliated, rejected, mocked and demeaned in foreign countries and to come home and be subjected to worse treatments!. To see acute immorality and corrupt perversions continuously rewarded and to watch true nobility, honour, hardwork and honesty, disdained and sent to the gallows, left to rot in misery. To listen to loud and lame speeches, endure grandiloquent plans that never come to fruition year after year and to see one's future, hopes and God given resources wasted on white elephant projects, squandered on redundant and obtuse minded projects and to have your sensibilities assaulted with hopeless visions, proclaimed and promoted by doomed and God forsaken 'leaders' - It is the most painful thing in the world!! And I share in that pain!

And now, they talk about Vision 2020!!. What the heck is Vision 2020?? How can a president who failed to fix ordinary roads (even the one to his own hometown) in 8 years have any vision?? I guess it makes sense for a nation to move from the 158th position (out of a possible 177 positions!) to the 20th position of the Human Development Index, in the space of 12 years!! Especially a 'great' country like Nigeria which has spent the last 20 years in absolute and complete failure! - failing to provide even the most basic infrastructural needs - national infrastructures such as oil refineries, power plants and road networks have gone to the dogs!. And now the same pack of morons suddenly have a vision! Yar'dua was in London, talking about vision 2020 and I watched in dismay, as the Westerners in attendance mockingly nodded their heads. What irks me most is not just the ubiquitous failures and lameness, but the so called 'Vision' and the mockery and ridicule that such uneducated, unintelligent and unrealistic projections bring upon our nation! Take a simple look at the history of any developed nation and see how long they have been at it, understanding the systematic and intelligent application of scarce resources to achieve their objectives over time - this tells the whole story!. It baffles me that while we have not even shown that we are able to successfully accomplish what the Roman Empire accomplished 2000 years ago (Colliseum, Water Aqueduct, Roads, Bridges etc), much less what developed nations demonstrated 60 - 100 years ago (Industrialisation, WW2 technology and social Organisation), we are willing to strut around, in abyssmal ignorance, consumed with 'epileptic fits' and moronic 'nuclear visions' of the year 2020!.

What "Vision"? - How about showing us what obasanjo did with the $200 billion oil windfall in his 8 years of misrule?? How about showing a little humility and learning to climb a tree from the bottom up, rather than this wasteful, senseless and unproductive synapses that lead us to believe we can do the unthinkable and climb from the top down!. We need to tell these leaders to stop having 'visions' and to start showing us productive, efficacious and intelligent, step by step plans - and it starts with fixing the terrible mess which 30 years of misrule and misdeeds has left the nation grappling with!. It is amazing just how much damage a single generation can inflict on a nation! If it took 30 years to utterly destroy the hopes and aspiration of a nation, it will certainly take a heck of a lot more than 12 years to fix it, even with a genius behind the wheels! - and we all know that the present crop of leaders are NO geniuses!!! (not even close)

Biiola,

I recently read an article where the Nigerian government was making preparation and arrangements for nuclear power plant facilities. I laughed to the point of rolling on the floor (but it is a sad laugh too!). I have never been able to understand why we always feel the need to outdo and ridicule ourselves before a world audience!. Here is a nation that failed to maintain a simple coal fired powerplant and has NOT the organizational intellect to maintain a gas turbine plant (even as we speak), yet they strut around in obtuse ignorance and promenade, talking about Nuclear power - A technology that is capable of destroying an entire nation if mishandled! Currently, any nation that is using nuclear power technology, has had to develop it themselves! It is simply not a technology that one can buy on the shelf! It is as if what is going on with Iran and North korea is totally lost unto us! We make ourselves the laughing stock of the world when we exhibit such ignorant and unschooled naiveness.

For a nation to build and maintain such advanced projects as 300km/h train, it should have been involved in less complicated railway projects for years (at least) and even at that, must be a nation with well horned maintenance culture and a high capacity for technological transfer. High speed train projects are very expensive and offer very poor return on investment. As a solution, high speed rail should not be so lightly suggested, at least not until other more feasible and workkable options have been exploited and exhausted. I would not say that it is impossible for Nigeria to build one however it is neither feasible nor viable at this stage of our development.

For any project to really succeed in Nigeria, we need to practice and understand the principle of K.I.S.S - which means "Keep It Simple and Straightforward". A Light Rail metro-system was suggested because:

- Lagos already has a railway right-of-way in all the right places!
- Light Rail based solution is the only solution capable of handling the required capacity
- Light Rail based technology is accepted, proven and tested worldwide
- Light Rail is cost efficient and is operationally low tech for easy sustenance
- Light Rail solution is durable, sustainable and scalable with urban growth
- Light Rail can reduce vehicular traffic and compliments existing urban infrastructure
- Lagos is a mega-city and rail technology is the established way to resolve transportation problems in such cities

I was just wondering if you Business minded Nairalanders will have something to contribute and add to the discussion on this thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-190268.0.html

I realize that the scope and scale of the proposed Metro-system project can be both intimidating and discouraging. However, we have to remember that nothing of this scale is ever accomplished in a short time. This kind of project could easily take even the best governments 6-10 years to complete. When you look at it in that light, one soon realizes that $4Billion is not such an unattainable or huge commitment! With this in mind, I propose that the Metro-system should be built in (4 or 5) phases. Each and every phase must be modular, integrated and completely independent of future phases in both operation and function.  ‘Phase 1’ should entail the construction of the “Red Line” which is the central line upon which the rest of the lines are built. The Red Line in 'Phase 1' will have 17 surface Stations, 40km of standard gauge railway track, 32 rolling stock DEMU units, a twin track concrete bridge into Lagos Island, a comprehensive maintenance facility and an integrated fare system infrastructure. I estimate that ‘Phase 1’ will cost about $380 million or there about (under $400 million!). This low budget is by virtue of the fact that 'Phase 1' is built entirely on an existing but neglected Right-of-Way that belongs to NRC. Incidentally, this is also probably going to be the busiest axis in the entire proposed Metro-system. ‘Phase 1’ is projected to have the capacity to handle 500,000 passengers daily in an 18hour operation cycle (5am – 11pm). Projected completion time is reasonably estimated to be 24-28 months.

Landis & Knowall,
The kind of Metro-system I have proposed does not use or need electricity.  If you read my initial and latter inputs, you will see that I specifically stated this. What I propose using is DEMU technology. This means Diesel-Electric Multiple Units and they essentially use diesel fuel.

Backslider,
Although we share a commonality in purpose, passion and zeal, I must however respectfully disagree with your proposal and methods. The USA is the most advanced and capitalistic economy in the world. Yet, even they, have not successfully tried to sell their roads to private enterprise!  I know that currently in Nigeria, there is ebbing and glowing enthusiasm for privatization, capital market enterprise and venture capitalism. However, we have to be careful and we must understand that privatization has limitations and has its place and there are simply some things that are best  done by the government! There is a purpose and social reason for which a government exists! Government social responsibilities and objectives are often projects and tasks that are not directly monetarily profitable, but are done for the common good (extremely rewarding in non-monetary terms). The reward for such laudable tasks come in other forms such as development,  growth, peace, security and improved quality of life amongst other things. I will take the time to explain why I think your prepositions are unworkable:

- Business ventures are only interested in getting the highest rate of return for their investments and we both know that with roads, that is very unlikely. Consequently, there will be little or no incentive to bid. (The rate of return on investment (ROI) in road construction is simply too low!)
- For a long time, the government has been incapable of holding Contractors accountable for default on road contract obligations. Can you imagine what will happen when these Contractors now own the roads?
- The traffic in Lagos is already hellish without toll gates. The system you propose is going to make toll plazas ubiquitous and traffic will make Lagos the hottest part of hell!
- Lagos state already has an environment of free capitalistic endeavor in transportation industry. Government has been encouraging & inviting companies to join the BRT program with little or no success.
- Why would any business want to spend N100 million to get a license for an opportunity that is currently available for free and there are still no takers?
- In approving 4 or 5 companies you will create massive monopolies while destroying the basic tenet of free market – this leads to price fixing, market strangulation and manipulation if not efficiently monitored by government (and you know how inefficient the government can be).
- Waiving taxes and duty is a federal prerogative not a state prerogative.
- Road tax on every car licensed in Lagos will only make most Lagosians go to some other state to register their cars. (Especially when the tax amount is outrageous). The only way this could work is if it is a federal decision.

It is important to remember that, even when faced with the most difficult tasks, the fundamental tenet and responsibility of a civilized government is to respect and protect the rights of citizens and to uphold human dignity, improve living conditions while keeping alight, the glowing torch of hope and aspiration for a better tomorrow.

(Below) An Alstom Citadis pulls into a station in Madrid, Spain. Notice the simple open air station. Stations do not need to be elaborate and should be mostly open air types with angled canopy for weather protection.

(Below) Two units of Bombardier Talent DMU (diesel Multiple unit) in a back to back coupling arrangement. Units operate between Bonn and Duisdorf, Germany. Notice the standard gauge non-electrified railway line. Each unit of this paticular example is set up as three (3) carriages.

Below is a 'DEMU' commuter train operating in Athens, Greece. This types of light train do not have to use overhead electricity or powered third rail (as someone mentioned earlier). DEMU (Diesel-Electric Multiple Units) are trains that use an onboard diesel powerplant to generate high voltage electricity which is then used for electric propulsion. The advantages of this arrangement with regards to Lagos use is obvious. DEMU's are used even in the most advanced countries because not every railway line is electrified, plus DEMU also allows for quick acceleration and deceleration, flexibility, reliability, reduced complexity and lower infrastructural cost.

Something else to observe in the image (below) is the simplicity and ingenuity of the train station. Notice that the train station is located in the median between a highway thus taking advantage of an existing Right-of-Way. For instance, this particular arrangement would be ideal for the proposed Orange Line - in the section running from 'Ojota Station' all the way to 'Gbagada Station' (see illustrated image in previous page). This section of the Orange Line is proposed to run in the median along the 3rd Mainland Hwy Axis (before reaching the actual bridge or water section). From satellite images, I was able to observe the wide unused median and possibly take advantage of it. From 'Gbagada Station' the line will have to swing inland and run through 'Bariga Station' on the way to 'Akoka Station'.

The DEMU train below is manufactured by Siemens AG and uses the Standard Gauge (1435mm) railway.