₦airaland Forum

kingoflag:
Wow! Ethiopians are smiling? Really?!

By the way: DO ETHIOPIAN SENATORS EARN UPWARDS OF $2MILLION+ EVERY YEAR?!?

Yes, Ethiopians are smiling. A little research would confirm that. While they don't have the best economy in the world, they are far better than where they were when they had subsidy. in 2010, Ethiopia had the 3rd fastest Human Development Growth rate as confirmed by the 2010 Human Development Index. They also had one of the fastest growing economy that same year. If we are ready to argue objectively and not sentimentally, the fact are there.

Akiika:
Where is the Petroleum trust fund? where are the Abacha loot money Abdul Salami/OBJ recovered? it evaporated into the thin air. Same will happen to the saved subsidy money, there will be nothing to show for it. There is no rule of law in Naija, politicians will steal money and still boast of it.

The Naija politicians would only be able to steal the money if we continue to shout 'I no go gree, I no go gree' rather than critically engaging the govt now to get guarantees and safeguards the way Ethiopians did. sometimes I think the problem we have is that we still think we are in a military regime where every action you don't like can only be challenged by taking to the streets.

Akiika:
There is no excuse for the fuel subsidy removal other than reserving more money to steal by the federal Govt. This is an ill-advised time to do such a thing, the economy is at his lowest ebb, there are no jobs (over 50% of Nigerians are unemployed), no electricity, no water (people dig their own bore holes in 21st century), no infrstructures, no schools, no roads, a lot of greedy politicians recycling themselves in power, and worst of all "no security", nobody is any safe, you can be kidnapped or bombed at anytime.
I have lived in the US for 7 years but i can still relate to what people are going through in Nigeria. I visited Nigeria 2 yrs ago and was shocked at how things were expensive.
I'm just praying for one ruthless no-nonsense military man to topple this charade called Govt., arrest and wipe out all of these greedy inhuman politicians.
To the poster of this topic, i'm sure all of your family aren't all in the US. You should be ashamed of yourself.

The situation you just described is actually the best time to remove subsidy. This is because the rationale for removiing subsidy is to save money with which to solve all or at least part of the problems you mentioned. If the whole money goes to subsidize fuel, which money would the govt use to fix the infrastructure, water and electricty?

In 2008 when Ethiopia removed fuel subsidy, some analysts argued that exarcebate inflation which was at 19% at that time. However, rather than take to the streets, the people engaged the govt on how the savings should be spent. 3 years later , Ethiopians are smiling as the move helped them to reserve scarce money resources which is being used to achieve food security, enhance health to the population as well as undertake infrastructural developments.

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=837639.msg9886088#msg9886088 date=1325589570]If Acn-controlled states are the only ones doing the protest,it means pdpd states do not care about the masses.[/quote]I essence, you are accepting that it is the ACN govs that are conducting the 'protest' on behalf of the masses since the 'care' for the masses?

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

If NLC wants us to believe that they have all the answers to Nigeria's problems, then I think the best example they can provide is to show us the wonders that Adams Oshiomole has performed in Edo state. Otherwise, they should keep quiet!
By the way, all the so called protests are in ACN controlled states so we know it is political and would not last

texazzpete:
My point is, subsidy or no subsidy, the much touted future where a myriad of private investors are falling over themselves to set up refineries is a lie.

Since this has been put forward as a very realistic future which would lead to a reduction in fuel price, I am keen on busting that lying balloon.

Forget this talk of private investors, let the Nigerian Government fix the existing refineries and even build a few more! Saudi Aramco puts the cost of constructing a new 400,000 bpd refinery at $6 billion. Ask yourself why the clueless GEJ happily shared out the $20 billion excess crude account to his cronies who frittered it away.

I'm surprised that anyone would suggest that a government ties down $6billion to construct refinery in this day and age.  This is 2012! Are you aware that public utilities owned by the government are a conduit pipe for corruption especially in Nigeria? Are you aware that the moribund NEPA, NITEL, NRC could not provide the required services despite huge sums voted for them? Are you aware that majority of Nigerians only had access to telephone when the govt removed its hands and gave licences to private investors? Are you aware that NITEL was also given Gsm licence but they have gone under now? You can suggest anything but pls don't advice govt to waste $6B to build a refinery that would end up as the rest.

texazzpete:
I'm tired of repeating the point that refineries are typically a low profit margin business. There's a reason why most of the oil companies are selling off most of their refineries. Read this

http://www.gtforum.com/gtf/research/2122391/refinery-divestments-story

Here's a quote from the article.

The IEA stated in its Oil Market Report, released October 12: “In the OECD, refinery consolidation continued apace, with refineries accounting for close to 1mbpd of primary distillation capacity completing or announcing extended shutdowns or refinery sales in September.
“Refinery margins deteriorated further last month, and were on average negative for 18 out of the 26 configurations surveyed.”


Anyone telling you that there will be a mad rush for private refineries is lying to you. Use your brains!

If I understand the article and your point, it actually supports why sudsidy should be removed. If refinery margins deteriorated  in the OECD ( where there is no subsidy), then who would come and invest in Nigeria with subsidy?

ma cherie:
@muami, there are several other ways of stimulating the economy rather than taking harsh measurement which may eventually result in the collapse of the economy. Why can't the refineries work?? isn't that a question we should be asking? The economy is virtually powered by fuel  as PHCN is also comatose and the sudden removal of the subsidy will cause a ripple effect leading to a high level of inflation. Letus  also not deceive ourselve by thinking that the Government will channel the subsidy to development of infratructure. It is all farce. We should rise up and challenge this inhumanity of man to man

Actually, our refineries are not working because of fuel subsidy. This is because, due to the price of fuel in Nigeria, private investors have been unable to profitably establish refineries in Nigeria.

coogar:
this is idiocy at it's sterling quality.

who travels on airplanes? elite? who uses laptops and blackberry phones? the elite.
my friend, all nigerians(rich, ugly and poor) would be affected by this subsidy removal of fuel. the ones who don't have cars would buy kerosene for their stoves or use public transport that heavily relies on fuel. some other ones must power their generating plants with this same fuel.

oil affects every individual in nigeria regardless of their class. . . . .you cannot say the same for air tickets, sony laptops or rim phones.
you should sue your teachers for mismanagement of your mental development.
what a troll!

You argument would have made sense only that in the UK ( which the poster is comparing), oil also affects every individual regardless of their class and any increase in the international market affects everyone whether rich or poor. so whats your point?

There is crisis today in Europe because past governments decided to borrow to fund lifestyles/policies that were not sustainable. Today, the governments are now implementing austere measures which has led to cuts in public services and loss of jobs both iin the private and public sector. Europeans are now migrating to developing countries such as Brazil and Angola in search of jobs while the EU is seekiing help from China for its bailout funds. Point is: countries that funded unsustainable policies because they did'nt want to 'punish' their citizens are now forced to 'punish' them while those that took the 'hard way' are now prospering. Removal of fuel subsidy is the 'hard way' to economic progress. We either do it now and make economic progress or we reinstate it and remain economically stagnant.

"Subsidies , encourage wasteful consumption, hasten the depletion of resources, and undermine the competitiveness of renewable and more energy-efficient technologies." (International Energy Association, World Energy Outlook 2010)

mendax:
@muami

Honestly, even though u sound objective in your argument, I still cannot contend or see any sense in comparing fuel price in the Uk and 9ja. Yes agreed PMS is an international product just like laptops, smartphones, airline tickets etc, but why does the UN have the index called "poverty line"? and the question then becomes what is the percentage of nigerians under that standardized POVERTY LINE compared with britons?

Let the truth be told, the systems in place in both countries will support the common man differently. Those that know anything about living in britain know very well that the system in place actually discourages owning a car. Even if PMS doesn't prevent u from driving, u'll have a barrage of MOT, road taxes, insurance, parking expenses etc. Moreover, anyday u wake up and dont feel upto it, u'll go enter public transport. Infact, a sizeable percentage of people utilize the public transport system even though they have their cars. So please, sticking to the OPs initial post, I believe it deserves all the criticisms it is getting on this thread.

I agree entirely with you on the issue of poverty and really, thats why I support the removal of the subsidy. This is because it is wrong for govt to subsidize fuel prices for rich people in a country where over 70% are poor. In other words, I support the removal of subsidy to enable the govt have more funds to help the very poor. Thus like a previous poster noted, our concerns should be on how the saved funds would be spent for the poor not to insist that the govt continues to subsidize fuel for EVERYBODY.

Sacarstic:
op Poster is UK an Oil Producing Country? Please do a research on Oil producing countries and post their petroleum price here,so we can compare and argue

On the contrary, it is you who needs to do a research about oil producing countries. If you had done so, you would not have asked the question whether Uk is an oil producing country.

bodeface:
I am dis-appointed at the way some people brain function and it is quite unfortunate that people that are ignorant of the subject matter are being allowed to post all sort of nonsense on Nairaland, anyway they are just showing off their foolishness in the public.
@Poster please answer this questions:
1. Is UK an oil producing Nation?
2. Is it only the cost of the oil that makes up the price of PMS in the UK?
3. What is the average income capital per head in the UK, what is Nigeria figure?
4. What is the present inflation rate in the UK and that of Nigeria? and the un-employment rate?
5. Do Nigerian Government compare to UK government and what do the government in Nigeria has to offer to it's citizenry
6.How many alternatives do UK have in terms of transportation compare with Nigeria?
7. What social benefit do you enjoy in the UK, how many of such do you enjoy in Nigeria?
8. What have we been able to show for the taxes we are paying except embezzlement?
9. Think deeply, close your eyes and look at it again?

Moderator, Pls this type of post does not deserve being on the front page, pls do something about it fast

Actually, it is you who just exhibited your ignorance in public. Your first question says it all. Ever heard of the North sea? or Aberdeen? or shell BP?

tlops:
Not necessarily! the micro and macro economic factors of each countries affect the cost of good and services in the respective countries.

You are right but localised factors are laregly irrelevant when the good/services is imported or when international prices are set for it.

texazzpete:
I thought about posting a long response to show you how brainless your comment was, but that would be humoring an i'diot.
Please wait until you gain some common sense before you start having kids, it would be unfortunate if you end up breeding a new generation of m0rons.

Actually, you decided against postiing a long comment when you realised that true to my view, all you had written down was just sentimental and contained nothing objective. When you do have something objective to post, you can post. Until then,

ADEBYTE:
@muami.u r definitely getting things wrong with d poster. Don't let us deviate from the fact that removing fuel subsidy at this time is not the right thing to do considering many factors which include the current situation of things in nigeria. Also let us ask our selves the rationale of removing the subsidy? Is the government not shying away from their responsibilities to nigerians or are they averting the subsidy to other areas of importance that will benefit all nigerians?

Actually, the rationale for removing fuel subsidy is simple and easily understood by everybody. It is the effect of the removal that I think everyone is against.

I think the poster is perfectly right in comparing the price of fuel in Nigeria with that of UK and the fact that standard of living or minimum wage in the UK is higher than Nigeria's does not diminish the argument. This is because fuel is an international product and the price is fixed internationally regardless of  the GDP or income of individual countries. Consequently, it makes economic sense to pay the international price for it, whether in Nigeria or UK.
Let me ask all those condemning the poster's argument. Can you go to an airline(both domestic and international) and ask them to reduce their prices in Nigeria simply because minimu wage in Nigeria is low? All of you that are using Blackberry phones, did you get it for a lower price than what it is sold for in the UK? What about your laptop? Did you buy it for less in Nigeria? I can go on and on but I see little need for it because I have observed that most of the arguments against the removal of the subsidy has been more sentimental than objective!

tom28:
If the USA and Britain threaten to cut off all aid to nigeria i wont be surprised if the Govt retrieves the anti man-lover marriage bill

They already threathened and the speed in the enactment of the bill is in responve to that threath. in other words, we don't need their aid. They should give it to countries like Greece, Italy, Ireland etc

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's Senate voted Tuesday to criminalize gay marriage, instituting prison terms of more than a decade for violations in a nation where gays and lesbians already face discrimination and abuse.

The bill heads to Nigeria's House of Representatives, who have to approve the bill and send it to President Goodluck Jonathan for his signature before it becomes a law. However, public opinion — and lawmakers' calls for even harsher penalties for being gay — shows wide support for the measure in the deeply religious nation.

"Such elements in society should be killed," Sen. Baba Dati said during the debate.

Under the measure, couples who marry could face up to 14 years in jail, and witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars. That's an increase over the bill's initial penalties.

Homosexuality is already technically illegal in Nigeria, a country evenly divided between Christians and Muslims that is nearly universally opposed to homosexuality. In the areas in Nigeria's north where Islamic Shariah law has been enforced for about a decade, gays and lesbians can face death by stoning.

Across the African continent, many countries have made homosexuality punishable by jail sentences. Ugandan legislators introduced a bill that would impose the death penalty for some gays and lesbians, though it has not been passed into law two years later. Even in South Africa, the one country where gays can marry, lesbians have been brutally attacked and murdered.

The proposed law also has drawn the interest of European Union countries, some of which already offer Nigeria's sexual minorities asylum based on gender identity. The British government also recently threatened to cut aid to African countries that violate the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. However, British aid remains quite small in oil-rich Nigeria, one of the top crude suppliers to the U.S.

International opinion also didn't seem to trouble lawmakers. During the debate, televised live from National Assembly in Nigeria's capital Abuja, Senate President David Mark said Nigeria would not bow to international pressure on any legislation.

"Anybody can write to us, but our values are our values," Mark said. "No country has a right to interfere in the way we make our laws."

Its all over the news that fog led to cancellation/long delays of many flights from Heathrow on saturday and sunday.While I agree that Arik's Air still has a long way to go in terms of service delivery, I think its quite unfair to use an act of God to crucify them.

iyaore:
justwise
I applied for a student visa and dependent visa for my children. My student visa was issued but my children's visas were denied because we do not satisfy Paragraph 319H(f)i of the Immigration Rules HC395.
I am a returning UK student (I satrted my programme in 2006 and my children went to the UK with me. We only came back to Nigeria in 2011 to renew my student visa). I have one more year to finish my programme

At the time we applied in 2006 my husband was in Nigeria but he has now relocated to America.

I plan to reapply for my children but how do I satisfy the rules?

Just to add to whatever advice Justwise may have. Para 319H(f) was introduced to tackle child trafficking. By that paragraph, it is no longer possible for a parent of a child(ren) to apply for a dependant visa unless the other parent is already lawfully in the UK or is applying at the same time. In other words, as long as your husband is alive, you cannot get dependant visas for a children unless your husband applies at the same time with them.
The only way around it is for your husband to apply together with the kids, bring them to you and then return to the states.

I hope this helps

This is great news. I have been reading Reuben's articles for over 20 years now and I must say, he is one the best journalistic hands we have in Nigeria.

This excerpt from Thisday's report on his imminent appointment shows how eminently qualified he is for the job. My best wishes goes to him

"Abati is a first class graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar. He later obtained a master’s degree and a doctorate degree from the University of Ibadan, at the youthful age of 24. He then went into lectureship at the Olabisi Onabanjo University for a short while before joining the Editorial Board of the The Guardian, after a stint at Hints (a soft sell) magazine.

Abati, a celebrated columnist, about five years ago, rose to become chairman of the newspaper’s Editorial Board.

As a writer, he had used his Friday column in the newspaper to advance the course of democracy with his sizzling and fearless commentaries on national issues.

Erudite and articulate, Abati almost led a sub-career in book review, as he was almost always the choice of authors, planning to launch their books.

He was a regular face and voice at public fora, including TV talk shows and at elite gatherings.

At 46, Abati's fame has preceded him, and thus comes to public office with a huge resume of a credibility built on intellectual power over the years."

dapachez:
[b]Wetin e wan go find 4 dat country se[/b]f.mtcheeew.

I agree with you. He should stay and face the boko haramites that they have encouraged instead of running away. Lol

[quote author=Mt.naija link=topic=703053.msg8624908#msg8624908 date=1309461134]I guess you are disappointed not to see FAT account like Bode, Bankole, Patience Jonathan and other PDP thieves. 400 pounds per LYING scholar!
Shame on PDP and all their supporting thieves, children and relations.[/quote]Are you in anyway implying that nobody has a decent account in Nigeria without stealing from government's coffers?