Image123:


That was how ffk was flexing on Facebook and Twitter and on the dailies until his time came, wait for your time.
NOI cannot school Adeosun. Remember, Noi was already borrowing to pay salaries and complaining of headaches and high blood pressure. If she was still coordinating the economy, she'd probably have developed cancer by now. Allow her and her feeble unsustainable paper Economics to go please. We're tired of paper weight growth.

Eager to talk bad about everyone but this administration. You can't take it away that she held on absolutely fine during her watch as head of the finance team, in the words of oby ezekwesili "the economy is now your problem".
No offence to present company, but Okonjo and Kemi are miles apart on issue of competence.

Dear TonyeBarcanista what is selfish about their calling for a cease-fire?
Concerned people wanted them to come to the table, which they have, but not without demonstrating that they have the upperhand by giving conditions of status quo (no repairs) and genuineness in the part of FG without which they will sink oil tankers( this group has obviously made good all their threats).
They also requested for independent mediators to be nominated by IOCs.
http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/145062/Nigerian_Militants_Insist_on_Foreign_Mediators_for_Talks_with_Government?utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2016-06-14&utm_content=&utm_campaign=industry_headlines_2So far to me this is the closest to sincerity this Niger Delta struggle has come.
They haven't made any further demands that are self serving or against the interest of the region, so so far I give them the benefit of doubt.

PS: I never saw anywhere the AVengers said they will not dialogue, their statement only buttressed the fact that at the time they were not in any negotiations and whoever government was negotiating with was definitely not them.

I remain highly interested in this case to see how it all fizzles out, while at the same time advising government to view this as a low hanging fruit they can quickly grab to save the situation, some demands are unrealistic others are beneficial to the region, that's why it's called a negotiation or dialogue, people meet each other in the middle and the outcome should be a win win for both parties with no party feeling exploited or weaker at the end of the day.

Happy belated birthday ma, to think some ignorant ones have been here saying you can't dare to step foot in Nigeria and you had their yams. You not only came in to Nigeria you came to celebrate.
Bad news for haters, "some people no go fit sleep",

please I beg you Ma. since you are in Abuja kindly give Kemi some schooling before you travel, obviously somebody needs a crash course of MIT lessons to guide and steer a 21st century Top 25 economy.

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81DEsbwAJ3g

Amaechi, the enemy of the Niger Delta doesn't let any opportunity pass him by, to show disdain to the place he professes to hail from.

2 pages of senseless comments.
These boys so far have proved to be different from the other selfish groups that have got themselves entangled with corrupt politicians traditional rulers and the corrupt employees of the IOCs.

The fact that they requests for independent mediators lends credence to their integrity, if they were after money they wouldn't have had any need to cause this much destruction.

All the same I am interested in seeing how this new bit of information reshapes the geopolitical scene in the coming days.

PS: government should approach this with all genuineness of purpose, these boys demands can relatively easily be negotiated with a beneficial outcome for all parties.

Long live a restructured Nigeria, Long Live all regions of a restructured Nigeria.

wirinet:


I am tired of trying to educate children without basic economic knowledge. I provided proof that oil revenue last year (when crude prices were still relatively high) was just 11% of GDP. I showed you that in this years budget, oil revenue is less than 20% of total revenue. I also showed you that almost all government revenues in Nigeria is spent on servicing less than 15 million civil servants and politicians and that ordinary masses do not feel the effect of government revenue and you are here talking about forex, capital controls, disposable income budget projections etc?

Are you aware that during Abacha regime crude prices hardly went beyond $12 per barrel, at one point it was $8. Did the Nigerian economy collapse, despite international sanctions and massive looting by Abacha and his cronies?

The are two major problems that affect Nigeria; that is problem of electricity and petrol. The importation of petroleum products account for close to half of our foreign imports and hence the value of the naira against the dollar. Refine petrol in Nigeria and the exchange rate would reduce by half. Secondly, complete mambila hydro dam (which will add up to 3,500 MW into our grid) and coal power plants in the east, and demand for petrol, diesel and kerosene would reduce drastically.

What do you mean expose banking sector? Banking in Nigeria is simply scam. They simply collect government money and play around with it. They borrow back the money to Government at 10 - 14% in the guise of buying government bonds and use the rest to engage in forex round tripping ( buying forex from government at official rates and selling to public at black market prices). They engage in very little proper banking activities. At the end of the year they declare billions of Naira profit. They even scam the general public by deducting money from their accounts without justification. (imagine they deduct interest from my wife's savings account account monthly instead of paying interest)
Then ask yourself, How many Nigerians use banks? According to a 2015 world bank survey, less than 25% of Nigerians own bank accounts;



The problem with you guys is that you stay in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcout or other capital cities and feels Nigeria begins and ends with your environment. You are oblivious of the fact that many more Nigerians feel no government impact at all in their lives; no electricity, no bank, no internet, not even tv.

Anyways it's not about writing plenty of words on here, thing about nairaland is everyone deems themselves professors of some sort and refuses to learn.
Sorry I am unable to write at the moment.

meccuno:
am even ashamed of the Nigerian airforce......and I can bet you that its either a MIG,AlpHÀ jet or Donier air craft....when the worLd has gone F-15 and F-16. And these are the least........they should stop disturbing us with those irritating jet sounds

I saw the junk flying around and like you was ashamed. No wonder boko haram was bringing those things down to the ground with relative ease. I even get scared this thing doesn't malfunction and fall to the ground.

SleekAboki:

You still don't get the domino effects of lack of petrol dollars to a mono economy as Nigeria?

Do you understand that your your roadside Berber and akara seller can feel the impact?

I'll plead with you to ignore that guy. They come on here ranting up and down forgetting that indirectly everything in an economy like ours is tied to oil.

Less oil production---lower revenue---less forex---increased capital controls----adverse effect on commerce----reduced disposable income---exposed banking sector----reduced tax receipts and customs receipts---inability to meet budget projections--increased social unrest---etc.

hucienda:
Interesting.

Should resource control be implemented and the Niger Delta remain as is, then they would have no one but themselves to blame.

Only one way to find out.

Link to an interesting article on the subject, for those who care to read:
http://www.medwelljournals.com/fulltext/?doi=sscience.2010.246.253


Lalasticlala I wonder why justice hasn't been done to this thread. Can we have a wider read please.

Thanks
NavierStokes

I am Currently in port harcourt. The Airforce jets have been flying around for the past couple of days (2 days back) probably on reconnaissance IMO.

There are no militant camps within the city of port harcourt and possibly not many critical surface pipelines coursing the city ( except that going to bonny) So for people like Quotasystem who are expecting some sort of war, if there will ever be one, it can not be from within the city. All these goes to reveal the people who know nothing about the Niger Delta and just type nonsense from their bedrooms in a faraway land.

The airforce jet to me is a single jet on reconnaissance, I even took two videos from Thursday and Friday.


Ps: don't even bank on that piece of heavy WWII junk metal, flying subsonic to Perform magic if it ever gets to that.

It was only 2 days ago I was suggesting to someone that Boroh should be sacked and Dr Tuodolo should be given that position which he rightly deserved but was given to Kingsley Kuku. Tuodolo is the one these militants will all listen to and not Timi Alaibe. Tuodolo Felix birthed the struggle, founder of the IYC past president-Europe of the INC, and co signatory to the Kaiama declaration.

No one at this time is better placed to engage the youths of the region.

It was only 2 days ago I was suggesting to someone that Boroh should be sacked and Dr Tuodolo should be given that position which he rightly deserved but was given to Kingsley Kuku. Tuodolo is the one these militants will all listen to and not Timi Alaibe. Tuodolo Felix birthed the struggle, founder of the IYC past president-Europe of the INC, and co signatory to the Kaiama declaration.

No one at this time is better placed to engage the youths of the region.

I need to know too

busyfishing:
came out with a 2.1 From school.am a software engineer.. I make roughly $1500 every month..the $ means dollars.My low IQ gave me all that. Thanks be to God

Alright God be praised!!!

You can never defeat an idea with force, rather you defeat an idea with a superior idea.

Government should comeout and let us as citizens know why true federalism can not work otherwise they should return the system to true federalism from where we all started.

Using force will only be shifting the goal post or saving the battle for another day.

vickylincon:
OK. We've heard you. But what is the reason for this post. Is it to further put more petrol in the fire coz you know Nairalanders just love jumping into conclusion and start fighting for no reason. Though I know you wanna educate the enlightened ones as to the root cause of this problem. I agree to fiscal federalism as well but what will happen if the governors continue embezzling.. No one to stop them again

I have aptly pointed out in another thread, true federalism is not an end in itself rather it is a means to an end.

tempest01:
The solution to this issue can only be achieved from the confab report which was thrown to the archives.

"The Archives" is not an incinerator, moreover even if it were, there are copies out there that can easily be printed. we can contribute money for printing if the government has no ink.
On a lighter note, the President is at liberty to look at it, take the progressive parts and jettison the areas that were not addressed properly, but to shred a 9billion naira document capable of bringing rapid peace and development to the country, I don't see that happening.

Babacele:
international sabotage no b small allegation ooo. the truth is we have people here who claim responsibilities for all these whether they are sponsored or not....maybe u have forgotten the meeting between d FG n d ND govs few days ago

Those people like the Avengers stated are speaking for themselves, I doubt these Avenger guys have been in any talks whatsoever with the government.

How and when did we get it wrong.........
HOW CRUDE OIL TAXES WERE SHARED FROM 1958 - Kalu Aja.
Well before the independence of Nigeria, as at 1958 this was how crude oil taxes were shared…
1958:
1. Oil Producing States retained 67.4% of Mining Rents and Royalties
2. Federal Government got 20% of Mining Rents and Royalties
3. Non-oil states got 12.6%
So the crude oil and gas was owned by the oil producing states, that how the British left it.
In 1970, General Yakubu Gowan passed decree No 13, this was how crude oil taxes were now to be shared.
1970
1. Oil Producing States retained 45% of Mining Rents and Royalties
2. Federal Government got 55% of Mining Rents and Royalties
3. Non-oil states got 0%
So in the military’s wisdom, the non-oil states did not deserve to get any share of oil revenues. Oil was only for the oil producing states and the Federal Government.
Then 1975, General Murtala Muhammed introduced decree 6, this is how crude oil taxes were shared
1975
1. Oil Producing States retained 20% of Mining Rents and Royalties
2. Federal Government got 80% of Mining Rents and Royalties
3. Non-oil states got 0%
Again the military decided the oil producing states should “manage” 20%. of oil revenues non-oil states got zero…
In 1976, Gen Obasanjo created a technical commission called the Aboyade Technical Commission, this was the result
1976
1. Oil Producing States got 0% of Mining Rents and Royalties
2. Federal Government got 100% of Mining Rents and Royalties
3. Non-oil states got 0%
Obasanjo, also introduced the Consolidated Revenue fund aka FAAC, thus, the oil taxes were centrally pooled, then shared to all states.
This was the important junction in Nigeria fiscal federalism, this was when crude oil was federalized, taken from the states, managed by the federal government then shared back to the states. In essence, crude oil was no longer based on derivation but on metrics like equality, fiscal efficiency and absorptive capacity…
In 1979, President Shehu Shagari set up the Okigbo Commission, to review the sharing of oil revenues. The Commission agreed to retain the Obasanjo 0% allocation to oil producing state and continue with FAAC but they tweaked the sharing formula in FAAC…. they came up with
1979
[center]Equality of States 50%
Population 40%,
Land mass 10%[/center]
So here we see population of states and land mass introduced
in just 9 years, the oil producing states saw their share of crude oil taxes go from 67.4% to zero. It took until the year 2000 for the implementation of 13% back to the oil producing states.
So in summary, its 67% to 0% to 13%.
Oil revenues were in essence transferred from the states to the federal government by decree, even today, if Exxon Mobil pays VAT on operations in an oil producing state, that VAT is shared by the federal government to all states of the federation. Oil is a federal baby….
What is the effect? Well massive inefficiency in the oil and gas sector.
It’s fair to say the FGN has mismanaged the oil industry, NNPC is essentially broke…can’t manage its assets to return a profit
We still flare gas, i.e. we legally “burn” money, The FGN has taken the oil wells but can’t pay Joint Venture cash calls...the FGN can’t clean the oil spills, they can’t even pass a PIB...
So why hold the oil? If they can’t manage it? Well because the FGN has built a massive bureaucracy funded by crude oil, the FGN pays for primary education and primary health care, then also funds religious pilgrimages and football.
These powers the FGN has given to itself outside the constitution have been made possible because the FGN has grabbed a hold of the oil wealth of the nation. for instance primary schools are the function of the Local Governments and the Constitution recognizes that and allocates money to them, but the revenues for the local governments are paid to the states….via a "joint" account.
Right now, we have a problem, there is no more oil and salaries must be paid, salaries that had been paid by crude oil.
The Federal Government enjoyed a monopoly on telecoms in Nigeria, the result was that a phone became a luxury, only for the rich, in 2001, the FGN left the business of communication, became a regulator and tax recipient, and today everyone has a phone, I mean everyone…
What is the fascination in crude oil that the FGN still wants to own it? if the Federal Government can hand over Telecoms, regulate and tax the telecoms companies...why not do the same for crude oil? Before 2001, the FGN funded NITEL, today the GSM companies fund the FGN.
Thing have to change. Nigeria can’t say its practicing a federal system of governance without fiscal federalism, that will be like driving a car without wheels.
So what should we do? It’s a no brainier, give the oil back to the people, Tax the oil business....simple
1. The FGN has to get out of business, and set itself as a regulator of business and recipient of business taxes, the gains are obvious, its costs are reduced, and its revenues go up.
2. Give the oil and non-oil assets back to the states and local governments, let states retain the proceeds of exports from their states. In essence if cocoa is exported, the state or origin of that cocoa get a share of the Company income tax by derivation
This is not just a call for resource control, it’s a call for responsibility allocation, as long as the FGN is responsible for collecting 95% of taxes and Local Government are paid their allocation via states, we can’t really expect and demand much.
“To him who little is given…little is expected”
It’s our problem, we can fix it...
By: Kalu Aja"

lalasticlala OAM4J allow the people to know a little of history and how we found ourselves here!!!

olusogo:


What is the reason for agitation? You agitate for oil your fathers did not put in the land. Rivers, land, sea and whatever resources found are created by God for a government to control on behalf of citizens. We suppose to be agitating for good governance and not secession. If we have good government and leaders, Nigeria can be better than any of European countries. NDA are not agitating for anything apart fromavenging for Jonathan because he lost election. Think of it, God did not make mistake by putting oil in Niger Delta when, when He puts oil in abundant in Saudi Arabia, a desert full of rocks and mountains.

For the former your line of reasoning stems from the law made by a decrees initiated by a wicked fellow in khaki uniform, if the resources are not a blessing to the people on whose lands it is found then it becomes a curse and the people will have to do something about it (as they are currently doing).
As per the latter you are getting it all wrong, as I believe will become clear to all in the coming days that the avengers are nothing like has been seen before, I see that already and wonder why those in government haven't seen it as different.
If these boys wanted peanuts they would not have gone this extent, right now I see a group that has crossed the Rubicon and must go all out against "pompey".

Shukuakukobambi:


I agree wholeheartedly with all you wrote.

This country is cursed with useless politicians who know the only way their crimes against the populace will continue unchecked is for the centre to continue to be in total control.

There's no way a local politician under a regional system will have this much leverage to act with all impunity. The citizens will demand their rights when power is closer to them.

The difference between the first republic and the 2nd is enough proof that this system will never work.

Sorry for my typos and lack of punctuation, it's baffling when something capable of bringing lasting peace, progress and prosperity becomes a "recurring decimal" from year to year from one government to the next. Bring power closer, make the states become more competitive and watch each region progress. Then let's see the local politician who will sit in peace while everyone around him Is yet to have breakfast. Only by having some small change in the midst of the poor you will feel unsafe not to talk about when people I is you are sitting on their wealth just within their community, they will eat you alive. My community where I come from in delta state we never have reports of anyone usurping what is due the community my brother they will descend on you.
This is the age of enlightenment and people are becoming more political aware of their rights and it's not enough to use the military approach of the last to whip them into line. If that approach had worked we will not be here today.
On a serious note I get scared seeing the angry look on people's faces when I drive around town now you can only "ball" when far away and lie low at home, how much more politicians.

Shukuakukobambi:


Jokes apart, this your post is one of the most honest I've seen. Agip has more Niger deltans (Ijaws in particular due to Dr Owei's work in recruitment) than any other IOC.

If they decide to start redundancy, na Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta indigenes go suffer pass.

Like I've always said, the Niger Delta environment and its people will be the collateral damage in the quest for a new Nigeria.

The bombers should go ahead. Na their land and na their oyel.

Yea but I'm a serious note as one Nigeria the government should do more to engage these communities, tow the last of true federalism and allow them have a greater shake in their resources. Doesn't make sense where a place you and I can not stay for 2 hrs to work, is home to owners on these vast resources.

Some of those swamps in Bayelsa are no go areas for a sane human but home to these people.

Babacele:
it is an option but don't forget the 'Iranians' would have Western business n interests to engage in this n d western would share Intel n logistics with us...

Well let's see how it all goes.

ozimec:



This feeding bottle system of government we are running in this nation is the cause of all these problems. We need to end this feeding bottle structure that we practice which encourages neocolonialism. There is so much injustice, inequity, subjugation, marginalization, winner-takes- it - all. I seriously doubt it there can be peace under this structure, and if there is no peace there can't be unity or progress. In as much as I don't support this distardly act, I am in total support of true fiscal federalism where every zones contribute a token to the centre and take their future and pace of growth in their own hands, and express their cultures and religion freely, and practice their vocations unhindered. I strongly believed that this is the only way to end this madness. Dialogue is just a short term solution besides, the demands of the various groups of these agitators are not reasonable therefore, cannot be met by the federal Government.
So, I want to urge all Nairalanders and well meaning Nigerians to support the proposed fiscal federalism as recommended in 2014 National Conference. Let's stop this tribal statements and insult because, it will only cause hatred and more agitation for self determination.
Everyone must be made to feel involved, protected and represented for there to be first, a sense of patriotism, then unity.

Hear hear, rightly said bro

farihafaheemah:

I'm proud of where I come from, we don't carry gun or weapon for any agitation. We use pen to demand for our right. Proudly oduduwa

Well culture is relative, don't be ethnocentric my friend. Else where people settle scores with other means especially when the first means isn't even heard.

You haven't really had your rights trampled upon by an oppressor. I give you an example, rampaging fulani herdsmen, you cry to the authorities they say nothing rather try to beat you to silence, you continue writing? I leave you to answer that bro.

Like I said injustice is injustice no matter how it's painted, I may be comfortable but what about others who can not access clean water, or education even light despite siting on humongous gas reserves.

agitator:


me too read am for nairaland oh, all the aisha rices eaters no allow pesin see anything again.

Like it's said, if the government does the right things they wouldn't have to struggle to list achievements. It will be clear for all to see.

farihafaheemah:

You spoke well Bro, but come to think of this agitation of NDA, where the two elephant fight, the grass suffer most. NDA are contributing more to the environmental problem of Niger delta, pollution of ur sea and land. What u people are fighting for is not justifiable. First why can't you ask ur leaders what are they using the revenue from FG to do? You all remember Alameisigha and James Ibori how they looted ur treasury yet u see nothing wrong in that. You people are just cowards. Tufiaka. Bunch of fools

You personalized your response to me bro ( I am not an avenger and by God's grace should I chose to be selfish will never have a reason to agitate, but then I am one lucky mate out of millions), so i will assume my response on a personal note too.Which part of this country hasn't had her leaders loot their commonwealth. For you to say the agitations are not justifiable shows you lack empathy. The question should be what has Nigeria done with 87% given to her by the Niger Delta, has your state governors turned your land into an Eldorado?
The blame transcends to many fronts, everyone has a share of the blame to take (locals, politicians, federal iocs Britain etc) But restructuring should be a starting point not an end in itself.

bgates:

brother i tell you oo
feel like crying
i work with Agip ob/ob
that is my office ooo

Mehn it's a whole new level, the gas plant or the oil centre?

Deen77:


Only a foolish government will compromise with militants. Any good government will change Nigeria by diversifying and wait for them to bleed without Oil.

When you blow everything, let see what next.

Diversifying with what? Urine?

The same beans whose ban was reported to have been lifted due to Buhari's foreign trips?
The authorities should do the right thing and Buhari wouldn't need to travel to negotiate beans export as our trade partners will buy naturally.