₦airaland Forum

Next I will quote my posts from the Super Tucano thread.

I wrote this on November 3rd, 2025.

Yesterday's conversation

The conversation won't fit into one post, so I'll make many short posts about it. I can't remember exactly where it started, but I'll start here.

They said

I seriously doubt if this kind of terrorist activities would have taken root during the military regime

I said that it would make no difference. I said that the only reason that the Boko Haram insurgency took root was because of the internet and satellite TV. I said that I was getting ready to go somewhere, but that the person should google Maitatsine.

When I got where I was going I discovered that the person replied with:

I know about Maitasine and how it was decimated in less than a month after they had been operating for several months

I said that I watched the Maitatsine problem with my own eyes and it began during the Murtala era (he tried to use negotiations),

continued during the Obasanjo era (Obasanjo held meetings with religious leaders and in fact, it was one of those meetings that lead to the formation of CAN. Christian leaders like Archbishop Okogie met somewhere after they left Dodan Barracks and decided to create a Christian Association of Nigeria).

There were also clashes during the Shagari era (Shagari used mobile police against them).

Then there was that big clash during the Buhari era (Buhari personally flew to Kano and used overwhelming military force to destroy them).

I remember that 1985 clash really very well and I'll tell you why in another post.

The person said that that was what they was referring to, "overwhelming military force".

I said that Yar'Adua used overwhelming military force against Boko Haram in 2009 and it would have destroyed the group like Maitatsine was destroyed, if not for the internet and satellite TV.

I also said that Buhari boasted about his 1985 destruction of Maitatsine during the 2015 election campaign, but he could not destroy Boko Haram the way he destroyed Maitastine because we now have the internet and satellite TV.

I did not get a chance to explain why I kept referring to the internet and satellite TV, so let me tell you why.


Yar'Adua ordered a crackdown on Boko Haram in 2009. The crackdown went viral. I have told you about the video of mobile policemen killing the Boko Haram suspect. Mohammed Yusuf was also killed.

Olusegun Adeniyi was Yar'Adua's spokesman and he has written about what happened afterwards. Yar'Adua was supposed to have a press conference with a visiting leader (I think it was the Indian Prime Minister). Mr Adeniyi said that he knew that journalists would ask Yar'Adua about the extra-judicial killings of Boko Haram suspects. He told Yar'Adua to condemn any extra-judicial killings, but Yar'Adua got very angry.

Yar'Adua said that these people (Boko Haram) took up arms, attacked police stations, killed innocent people, etc. and Olusegun Adeniyi was telling him to condemn the action of the security services. As far as Yar'Adua was concerned, Boko Haram deserved to be destroyed.

Yar'Adua was so angry that Olusegun Adeniyi realised that he could not bring up the issue again. However, he knew that foreign journalists would ask the question, so he wrote a short response and put it on the lectern for Yar'Adua.

Yes indeed a foreign journalist asked the question and Yar'Adua used Olusegun Adeniyi's response. He commended the security services for ending the violence, but he also said that there would be an investigation into whether any extra-judicial killings had taken place and any culprits would be punished according to the law.

Response of international terrorists

As I have often said, the kind of thing that happened in 2009 has happened many times in Nigeria (Maitatsine is just one of them). They usually end after the security services use overwhelming force. Boko Haram should have died after Yar'Adua cracked down on them.

But things had changed. We were now living in a global village. Al Jazeera and other international satellite TV agencies broadcast videos of the killing of that Boko Haram suspect. The videos went viral on Facebook.

Middle Eastern terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and their allies in Somalia (Al-Shabab) and North Africa (AQIM) released statements that the Nigerian Government was killing Muslims. They reached out to Boko Haram and revived it with injection of funds, arms and training. Boko Haram that should have died in 2009 became even stronger than it was before 2009.

Most of these stadiums were originally built bu regional governments.

Lagos:

The Lagos Executive Development Board, LEDB (the forerunner of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC) was developing Surulere in the 1950s. Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, a multi-millionaire businessman who was involved with the Olympic Committee, put a lot of pressure on the LEDB to build a stadium in Surulere to allow youths to engage in sports.

Chief JK Randle was made chairman of the fund raising committee and the Surulere Stadium was opened in 1958.

Lagos was to host the All-Africa Games in 1973, so the Federal Government took over the land, demolished the Surulere Stadium and built the National Stadium to host the event. That stadium was Nigeria's main stadium from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

Western Region:

The Western Region Government broke ground on the site for a new stadium in 1958. The stadium was completed in 1960 and it was called the Liberty Stadium in honour of Nigeria's independence. It was the main stadium in Nigeria in the 1960s (Dick Tiger fought championship matches in this stadium).

The Federal Government eventually took over the stadium.

The stadium was renamed the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in 2010.

Enugu:

The ground in Enugu was the sports ground of the Railway Corporation in 1959. It was taken over by the Eastern Region Government which renovated it.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was eventually taken over by the Federal Government, but it was returned to the Enugu State Government in 2013.

Kaduna:

The Ahmadu Bello Stadium was built by the Northern Region Government in 1965. It was eventually taken over by the Federal Government.

Background

There were certain stadiums that were designated as national stadiums when I was a kid. These were the National Stadium Lagos, the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu and the Liberty Stadium Ibadan.

These stadiums were taken over by the Federal Government and the nigerian national teams played their matches there. Indeed, at a point during military rule, the Federal Military Government made an order that nobody should use these stadiums without permission from the minister of sports (I was wondering how the stadiums would make money if they were only used by the national teams).

These stadiums were also the main venues that Nigeria used when it hosted international events.

However, these stadiums fell into bad shape after 1999. The Federal Government had a lot on its plate (health, education, security, etc) and it couldn't spare the time and money to maintain these stadiums. Furthermore, most of these stadiums were built in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and they had become old and required upgrades which the Federal Government could not do.

The Federal Government developed a programme through which these stadiums would be handed over to state governments or concessionaires. The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was handed over to the Enugu State Government and talks began about handing over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to the Kaduna State Government.

FG hands over Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium to Enugu govt
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-hands-nnamdi-azikiwe-stadium-enugu-govt/

The Federal Government also wanted to hand over the National Stadium to the Lagos State Government and the LASG was ready to take over the stadium, but talks broke down because the Federal Government expected the LASG to pay to take over the stadium, while the LASG expected that it would take over the stadium for free, since it was in a bad shape.

The Liberty Stadium Ibadan and National Stadium Lagos main bowls have been in bad shape for a long time.

Ozo-1 @OzoMusty

Governor @UbaSaniUS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising the transfer of ownership and handover of Ahmadu Bello Stadium from the Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, to the Kaduna State Government, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Governor signed on behalf of Kaduna State, while Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, signed for the Federal Government.

The Commission’s leadership commended Kaduna State for setting the pace in sports development for other states to follow. Governor Sani said the move will reposition sports as an economic driver. The 1964 stadium is undergoing a total reconstruction, being upgraded to FIFA standards, with capacity expanded from 16,000 to 32,000 seats, boosting sports development, tourism, jobs, and investment. #WorkingForKaduna

https://x.com/i/status/2027315860084236566

Bashir Ahmad, OON @BashirAhmaad

The iconic Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, is currently undergoing a comprehensive overhaul under the administration of Gov. @UbaSaniUS, transforming it into a modern, world-class sporting facility. When completed, the upgraded stadium is set to serve as a major football hub in the North and a potential home ground for @NGSuperEagles, bringing top-tier national matches closer to millions of passionate fans across the region.

https://x.com/i/status/2027405722112213034

Photos 1 and 2) Current view of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Photo 3) Proposed look of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium

Senator Uba Sani @ubasanius

Today, We formalise a decision of enduring institutional consequence: the transfer of ownership and handover of Ahmadu Bello Stadium from the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Sports Commission ably led by Alhaji Shehu Dikko, to the Kaduna State Government, subject to agreed safeguards graciously approved by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the national interest.

This milestone underscores our firm resolve to reposition sport as a disciplined instrument of economic growth and social renewal. Since its commissioning in 1964, the Stadium has not undergone the depth of structural modernisation required to sustain its status as a premier sporting arena. That era of deferment has now yielded to deliberate action. Comprehensive reconstruction is underway to expand capacity from 16,000 to 32,000 seats, positioning it as the second largest stadium in Nigeria after the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and among the finest of its kind in the country.

Our purpose is precise: to stimulate economic activity, strengthen sports tourism, generate employment, and attract investment. Beyond commerce, however, the Stadium will remain a shared national asset, open to our national teams, federal sporting programmes, and events of collective importance. Its gates will continue to welcome all Nigerians.

It is gladdening to add that the leadership of the National Sports Commission has commended Kaduna State’s prompt alignment with the transformation agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to establish sports as a viable economic driver. Kaduna has set a clear example; others are now embracing this strategic direction.

I extend profound appreciation to the Federal Government; our great leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the National Sports Commission, and all stakeholders whose diligence has enabled this transition. We are confident that the renewed Stadium will stand for decades as a testament to partnership, foresight, and responsible public stewardship.

Senator Uba Sani, CON
Governor, Kaduna State
February 26, 2026

https://x.com/i/status/2027161552181420123

ZombieDredd:
How many times will subsidy go?

someone once said "subsidy is gone".

Or didn't it go that time?

Do you know the difference between electricity and petrol??

Sangoamadioha1:
Sorry for yourself. You see the other guy engaging me in a matured way but you are just being unnecessarily condescending.
I now know why it is the empty barrels that display unnecessary pride to cover their deficiencies.
Shift.

I return the energy you give. Go back and read your first post to me.

Sangoamadioha1:
Was subsidy removed when Dangote started his refinery? You want to tell me that he started and invested so much based on promises by politicians.
If subsidy was still in place Dangote would still be doing his refinery business.

When Nigeria's generation reached 5 thousand+ MGW was there any improvement reaching the masses In terms of power supply?

Mr man! You don't know anything!

OK, let me help you a little by breaking it down.

1) Government says that the masses cannot afford rice (Shagari), petrol (Goodluck Jonathan) or gas (Bola Tinubu).

2) Government tells the private companies that are selling these things to sell them below cost price. So if the thing costs 5 naira, the company will sell it for 2 naira.

3) Government will promise to pay the balance of 3 naira to the company (this is subsidy).

4) The reality is that government cannot afford to pay these things for such a large population. Government always ends up owing the companies.

Government is owing electricity generating companies trillions. They can't afford to pay for gas, buy equipment and pay their workers.

Do you really think that Dangote would have sold his petrol below cost price based on a promise by government to pay? Government that is always owing??

5) And some companies engage in corruption. They don't produce anything, but they will demand subsidy payments from government.

Electricity generating companies need to buy gas, pay workers, buy and maintain equipment in order to generate electricity. If they are not generating electricity, then what are you transmitting, fresh air??

Sangoamadioha1:
1) Under the reduction in fuel scarcity is due to local refining of petrol.

2) Transmission of electricity is our major problem. Upgrade the transmission facilities and the situation will get better.

The annual funds being released to the power ministry is enough to remedy these things.

Oh, you don't even know anything! You think it is power ministry that is funding these things!

Kai! I'm sorry I ever engaged you.

Sangoamadioha1:
1) Under the reduction in fuel scarcity is due to local refining of petrol.

2) Transmission of electricity is our major problem. Upgrade the transmission facilities and the situation will get better.

The annual funds being released to the power ministry is enough to remedy these things.

Hahahahajjajaja

Thank you for entertaining me. You actually believe that Dangote would have accepted fuel subsidy? That he would have sold his product below cost price based on a government promise to pay? You are a good comedian.


Once again, the system operator is telling you that gencos can't buy gas and you are talking about transmission. What are they transmitting, fresh air?

Another is talking about "eating the money". Is it the private gencos that are eating the money??