cap28: The handwriting is on the wall for the US dollar, it is now in its final death throes, no amount of printing of money by the Federal Reserve will save the US dollar from its imminent crash.

Nigeria is not the only country that is trying to dump the dollar, there are many other countries doing that behind the scenes and I can only imagine the level of panic going on now with the US govt.

This is definitely a good move by Nigeria and it indicates that many other country may already be doing the same thing.

For those who keep sayign that the crash of the US dollar will pull down the Remnimbi with it please be aware that China is currently trading with other far east asian countries, the EU , Australia and many african countries using its own currency , therefore its loss of the US market will not be as detrimental as many think,.

Many keep talking about how the Remnimbi is manipulated by the Chinese - so ? isnt the US dollar manipulated by the Federal Reserve? Why does the Federal Reserve keep printing money in order to assist the US govt in paying its bills - is it normal for a country that spends more than it earns to print money in order to pay its debts - is that not a form of currency manipulation and anyway the Chinese do not manipulate their currency they simply peg its exchange rate to the dollar in order to keept its exports cheap and affordable for its export market.
Which is worse? - printing your currency because you dont earn enough money thereby artificially inflating the value of your currency or keeping the true value of your currency low in order to increase exports of your products?

This situation was predicted about 2 years ago by many leading US economists and it is happening just the way they said it would.

Why should China and the rest of the world continue to trade with a country that purchases most of its imports on credit ? The US has been cheating the world and growing fat off the sweat of other countries of the world simply because the dollar is the world reserve currency and that is now going to be brought to an abrupt end.

The US is just going to have to learn to cut its coat according to its cloth, you cant keep buying things on credit and expect the world to keep you afloat, the US is simply not earning enough to keep up with its ridiculous spending sprees and now many of its creditors are finally coming to their senses and they are saying hey, enough is enough, if you dont earn enough then we are going to cancel your credit card until you learn to conduct your affairs like a responsible adult.

It will be interesting to see how the US reacts to Nigeria's move - i forsee extreme hostility on the part of the US govt.

You conveniently ignored two key points in your analysis:

Firstly, Chinese exports over $450 billion worth of goods to the US every year. Which other market in Asia can absorb potential loss for China should the US currency collapse?

Secondly, China holds $1.1 trillion in US treasury bonds because they are confident the US will always meet its debt obligation. Besides, where else can they park their increasing export revenue?

So China will do anything (including praying) that the US dollar does not fall relative to Rhimbibi. Yet, our too-clever-by-half theory only CBN economist are betting that dollar will collapse.

A collapse in dollar will send world economy into a tailspin. FACT

According to Aregbeshola, if Osun State had benefitted from the scheme, his administration would not have spent about N1bn on fertiliser purchase for the farmers.

Why is he spending such a huge amount on fertilizer? To fertilize cassava and maize? really? That figure is ridiculously high. He needs to check with his Agric commissioner to ensure funds aren't been diverted (stolen, misappropriated) for other things

plasgidy:
my dear, i did'nt say we ar'nt corrupt but corruption is corruption and i did say most things the observed about nijar if fact but in his country corruption is obvious as well. My friend i live and work with this ppl i know them very well, why are we called third world is all this things we will get there nigeria is fifity yers old while britain is over. 400 yers old its a very big gap ok..

You assume we'll catch up with the Brits or Americans. We may not if the level of corruption remains unabated. You think those countries are slowing down?

For instance capacity utilization rate in those economies is near 80% and Nigeria is less than 50%. Why? corruption is dragging us down.

First thing first; disinfect the corrupt Nigerian society, than maybe we can aspire to catch them

plasgidy: Most things this guy abserved about nigeria is truth, however corruption is corruption when ever where ever, in uk his country there is corruption serious one's as well their mps are claiming thousands of pounds in expensis and accomodations which never existed.

Years back when i was working with js sainsburys there was a manager his position was very high this guys was rocking some serious deals such as saleing company vehicle i mean brand new truck heads and trailers of plasma tvs and he will simply declear them as missing stocks, this deals went on for years b4 he was ask to resighn.

Their are so many things like this in uk but vnnnntime. Not let state all, what shop lifting

Seriously? you're comparing a British MP who inflated his expense account to corruption in Nigeria?

Dude, corruption has infested every facet of Nigeria, the country is almost grinding to a halt. From young to old every Nigerian is feeling the harrowing effects of this uniquely Nigerian corruption Fact: A British citizen is living a far superior quality of life than an average Nigerian.

vanitty: Crap, please take religion out of this. Useless government we have.

Any time there is a football match, concert or whatever happening lets say for example at Wembley park or race or whatever they dream up, the TFL takes responsibility and ensure there are plans put in place.
Will you tell Rihanna, Chelsea or whoever to arrange alternative transport for their fans!

That is why Nigeria is in that mess it is, the responsibilities should be put FIRMLY where it belongs. The Government. No two ways about it.

The government knows without fail, that there is always problem on that road every first Friday. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE ABOUT IT?
The road and ensuring the safety of it, is the TOTAL responsibility of the state, afterall the drivers on the said roads are her citizens, even if they don't pay road tax, the stupid amount of money collected by the same government (police) says something!

The organisations are already there, they paid for that rights, They are not "renting" so can't be chased away like KICC and the likes. They may be their forever and a day!

Any solution offered by any organisation on that expressway that paid for the right to be there is totally out of goodwill.

Great talk bro! The Ogere trailer park is also fast becoming a nightmare for motorist on that same expressway. I've spent up to 1 hour in traffic in that place. Lack of enforcement is so apparent there.

Again, result of lack of planning and vision by elected leaders. A dual carriageway called expressway. How many billions has been budgeted to expand that expressway? We're just hearing billions of naira but pothole keep expanding. Don't they know that with population increasing and more usage expanding the road is top priority.

AjanleKoko:

How can you say churches are not to blame?

Why did govt give permission to build those massive churches close to the only expressway out of Lagos?

Churches are not to blame. Nigeria is in the throes of a massive population explosion, but we refuse to plan to accommodate this. Now this is just one of the results.

There's intense pressure on infrastructure: roads, hospitals, market etc. When the expressway opened 29 yrs ago, our population was 64 million. Today it's 160 million and projected to reach 200 million in 10 yrs

Only mass transit and coordinated environmental planning (local, state & federal govt) can solve the problem. Political leaders know this, but can't see beyond the next election cycle to come up with long term solutions. Our leaders just "kick the can down the hill" and let the next President or Governor deal with the headache. Churches can only do short term fixes and beside they don't have legal authority to enforce regulations.

Gbawe:

You are insulting Nigerian leaders based on your own misunderstanding of what is reported here. These brilliant students gained admission abroad themselves and appealed to Fayemi for help. He has chosen to help some of them. This is commendable as a stand-alone act of philanthropy.

I don't see why Fayemi, for a private act of charity, should now be insulted and held responsible for all that is wrong with Nigeria. The point is that those who have the means should be encouraged to do more through charitable actions. No one is excusing the rot in the education sector or denying that we need to work towards hosting world-class institution of learning but those issues are not intrinsically related to this act of philanthropy from Fayemi.

Charity huh? Fayemi is the chief executive of Ekiti not a private citizen. Any charitable act by him should be focused on uplifting all students of Ekiti state, not just a few regardless of the selection criteria. He must be seen to have the best interest of all at heart. As a governor, it's a thin line between private charity and public act.

It smacks too much of "show and tell", regardless of his intention

Besides why give scholarship to study law or engineering abroad? These courses are offered in most Nigerian universities. Nigeria already has too many lawyers. Why not select students that want to pursue rare and life changing scientific cousres such as Neuro physics, molecular biology etc. We need more scientist not barristers

Krasid: You see,Nigeria is not the only age cheating country in the world.Almost all countries cheat in football.

Agree but we do it so regularly. They resort to juju and intense prayer so they don't get caught. A Nigerian U-17 or U-20 is never complete without couple of over age players.

olumidazz: When did citizenship in nigeria become such a problem that senate are thinking of amending, how many people from other places have taking up nigerian citizenship, our citizenship instead is being renounced day in day out, it is assumed every black person on earth is a nigerian so our senate should stop fooling themselves.

I guess only people outside the country. But if you renounce citizenship and live in Nigeria, then you become illegal and immigration can deport you. But to where? Trust Nigerian immigration, they'll just throw you to Seme border

Babalegba: okay okay, we have heard you and we accept that your level of education and erudition is impressive BUT we will still shout at grown men hiding behind religious laws and tradition to molest children.

Initially, I also thought it was a child marriage bill. The first time I saw the story was on Facebook. But the amendment is not about child marriage. My point is that because of prejudices against Northerners, people didn't bother to find out more.

Now we know! We now know that Twiiter, Faceobook is all we know and do. Nigerians can no longer read. Again, that amendment did not endorse nor encourage child marriage. It looks like that because social activist and well educated celebs told the equally educated southern masses, that a child marriage bill has just passed in the Senate. And every nook and corner of social media was filled with "No to child marriage"

We cannot even discern, analyse & interpret a simple Senate amendment. Of noteworthy, every senator from the North voted to retain sub section 4 b. Does this make them all pedophile, illiterate old men or do they just believe that Sharia law is sacrosanct to them and must be defended by all means? Are we just tribal bigots that believe all Northerners are sub humans? Sobering thought amidst all the noise

naptu2:

1) There were already many underage wives when Aminu Kano made the proposal in 1979 and there was no Child Rights Act. Also note that the subsection does not legalise the act of marrying a child. It only addresses the issue of girls that are already married.

2) Read this article. It has a list of states that have passed the Child Rights Act and those that have not. It also speculates the reasons why it has not been passed in some states.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/nigerian-child-and-the-child-rights-act/

Does section 4b really encourage more underage marriages or does it offer some protection for girls in these relationship?

if it confers the right to renounce citizenship then what other rights can be advocated to empower these disadvantaged girls? Right to education, own asserts etc

Yetima may be a Poster boy for underage marriage, the practice is well entrenched in Northern Nigeria. So how do we enforce any legislation?

Civil rigth advocates should focus on "empowerment of the girl bride" and over time make it more difficult for the practise to continue.

greenhope: I am a contract farmer and you don't need to buy lands to farm because there are farm settlements in Nigeria and all you need is to pay for the cropping period per hectare. In Ekiti where I have planted 29 hectares this year with TMS 30572 cassava variety all we paid was N4000 per hectare. (An hectare is 15 plots).

Interesting. What was the yield per hectare you got after harvesting? How much did you spend on labour and herbicides?

Jeez! I thought she was going to bust a vein. Why are you so angry Stella? Not on some stuff? are you? that aside...

Let me get this: The Senate amends a bill on the right to renounce Nigerian citizenship ...we are talking about the right not to become a Nigerian. What right does Nigerian citizenship even bring self? (debate for another day)

Then all hell is let loose because Yerima (a known cradle snatcher) surreptitiously tries to legalize his habit of marrying young girls. Has he succeeded? Senators are confused, people are confused... no clarity on what it means. Yet Nigerians remain passive about the root cause of underage marriage: POVERTY

Stellla and her cohorts should be angry about the excruciating POVERTY in Nigeria: 11 million Nigerian kids out of school, millions of graduate are idling away; people dying everyday from curable illness. This a just a sideshow that gives Yerima attention

I guess anything to get attention on social media for a couple of days is worth it

A-40:

Its not about them not wanting to tank its about them not having a choice! Gasol is on the downturn so is Nash more or less. Kobe won't be back till November at the earliest maybe later its not looking good for the Lakeshow
As for the Mavs I don't think they are in tankmode! You don't spend 15 million dollars to upgrade your back-court if you are not at least trying to win


Naa the Celtics didn't have much choice! Allen bolted! Pierce well he wasn't exactly ready to take a paycut same as KG
Doc was obviously not willing to rebuild so really their hands were tied. A draft pick and cap flexibility may not guarantee success but hanging on to old ninjas like Pierce and KG wouldn't either
The key is not losing Rondo IMO


KG would be 39 next year
Paul Pierce would be 36 or 37
JET would be 37 next year

Those niggas too old

On the Mavs: Monta Ellis & Calderon? That Mavs move was just a ruse; that team is not playing to win. Once they lost the Dwight sweepstakes there was no hope. Wait till the Feb deadline and Dirk may even want out

On the Celtics: Thing with Ainge? he's too smart for his own good. Why break up the team instead of a smoother transition to a new generation. Yes, get rid of Jet but hold on to Doc, Pierce & Garnett for maybe 2 yrs to help the young'uns establish a winning culture. Suddenly C's are in same class as Bobcat, Wizards and other scrubs. Even the Cavs & Raptors are ahead of them

On the aging Nets stars: I believe these guys can still ball. They can hold their own against Heat and with experience overcome Pacers. With Deon Williams & Joe Johnson, its a solid teanm

A-40:

Its ironic that [b]two of the winningest franchises in history are contemplating going on full tank mode [/b]well at least one of them is. There is plenty talk about the 2014 draft class being the best since 03 with Andrew Wiggins touted as the next once in a generation player
I won't be suprised if the C's are already looking for who to dump Humphries and Gerald Wallace's contract on problem is without Rondo to sweeten the pot I don't think anyone would even listen to them

Are you referring to the Lakers? The Lakers will never tank; not in their DNA. Luxury tax means nothing to the Lakers. The second prime suspect is Mavericks. Yes Celtics & Mavericks are definitely in tanking mode.
A shame Celtics have not learnt from the past. Pierce almost bolted town before Garnet & Allen joined him Ripping out the heart of your entire team (the core of your identity) for salary cap flexibility and draft picks is a huge gamble. Theirs no guarantee a top draft becomes a star

The Nets may even ride on the back of these aging stars to the conference finals and give Miami fits (or even win). Spend to win now or Build to maybe win later We'll see which philosophy prevails

Roland17:

My brother, i have prepared my self for the worst this coming season, what are we going to be doing with Humphries, Brooks is very poor defensively so i don't even believe he can change, How many points can Bogans give us.

My bro, i have accepted my fate as it is right now, i think the Nets and the Pacers would make some noise this season.

The C's can tank this season and pray the ping pong God answers their prayer. I hear the 2014 draft is pretty deep with talent.
Or pray Humps, Brooks & Rondo become the new big 3

In any case, only divine intervention can save this franchise

.

Jarus: Yeah, Ade Bendel, Fred Ajudua and the one that was later elected into House of Rep and later died.

And these guys spend all these monies on musicians: Kwam 1, Adewale Ayuba, Obesere and co.

You mean Morris Ibekwe. Naija musicians turned this scumbags into celebrities

... And Nets starting five:
- Garnettt
- Pierce
- Lopez
- Deron Williams
- Joe Johnson

Now this looks like the 3rd best team in the East; after Heat & Pacers. Definitely at par with Bulls

It'official: Celtics are in rebuilding mode. No wonder Doc couldn't wait to get out asap.

Back to the Celtics era before the Big 3. Bad basketball and stinking the joint. unless they can get a decent coach. But who wants to coach a team whose core will be Rondo, Gerald Wallace. Humphries, & Brandon Bass?

Oh boy! C's fans will endure a long period of crying, teeth gnashing and agony

Amaechi's action defies common sense. Do you have to say "hello" to the President when he's seated with his foreign guest? And when you came in late to an event, just go to your seat. Simple. Why cause more distraction by trying talk to the President. If its that important he can request to see the Jonathan after the event or arrange a meeting later.

Loathe him or love him, Jonathan is still the President of Nigeria and he must be accorded all respect that befits that position.

Amaechi played this one like a rookie. Leaders play smart, not to the galleries.

Deep Sight:
There is absolutely no need to rationalize or defend the intended British Policy, as every nation's foreign policy must be dictated by its self interest and the interest of its citizens.

As such, the United Kingdom is free to implement the said policy, just as surely as we are free to implement a similar policy with regard to them.

Since the per capita income of the UK far outweighs that of Nigeria, we should place a bond on their citizens in exact proportion to the difference in per capita income. Thus, if the income of the average Nigerian is $10, and the income of the average Brit is $300, then, given their bond of 3000 pounds, the bond we will impose on them would be 90, 000 pounds.

Now there is no need to rationalize this in any way, shape or form: we are merely catering to our national self interest. If they cannot live with the bond we impose, then they would have to revisit the bond they have imposed.

This way, Nigeria will be taken more seriously in international affairs. They would be very wary of waking up tomorrow with any other such ideas of bonds. Its quite scandalous already, the amount of money they make from mere visa application fees.

Now, as President, I will go further. I know very well that Nigeria is a large nation by any parameters anywhere in the world. I know very well that we are strategically placed enough to hold our own diplomatically with any nation in the world, and we have done it several times in the past with this same Britain, South Africa, Russia, the USA and others.

As President, I would press the issue by directing that our 90, 000 pound bond takes effect next week.

I would further direct that all Britons currently in Nigeria have to remit the bond within one week, or be deported immediately.

Strategically I know that they cannot take same retaliatory steps because their interests far outweigh ours in every respect.

I would go further still. Not publicly, but privately, I would have my ambassador inform the British authorities that this will end very ugly. Businesses would be affected, oil mining licences withdrawn from companies with British equity, and many more. These people would think in their interests. During the Abacha years, Nigerian airlines were barred from Britain on safety grounds. The FG promptly barred BA on safety grounds. They blinked first, and they blinked immediately.

I tell you, we can more than hold our own diplomatically. The very first sneeze from the FG, if well targeted, will make the Brits cancel this instanta!

During the Yaradua years, these people were in a panic because the Chinese and Russians were making strong bids for Nigerian Oil Mining Licences that were about to expire. I would play dirty. As soon as I issue my directives on the bond for British Citizens, their intelligence services would simultaneously notice hectic and consistent visits of Russian and Chinese officials and businessmen to the Presidency in Abuja, and NNPC.

Dem no yet see bad boy presido, I tell ya.

In reality Nigeria has no leverage nor can we force our will on most nations. Years of been ruled by visionless and corrupt leaders has consigned us to the heap of powerless nations. Think the Brits can impose such policy on South Africa or Brazil?

Any tit for tat will ultimately hurt ordinary Nigerians. Our leaders will only blow hot air and back off to save face

Besides, asking visitors for bonds is just creating avenues for our corrupt immigration officials to fatten their pockets. Egunje will be rampant at the border and life will be made more difficult for ALL visitors not the Brits only

Game 6. Spurs fans will never forget. 29 seconds to go up by 5 and blew it

The Manu turnovers again!

Nada three for Green so far

Spurs offense missing tonigtr; Heat defense back

Epic meltdown by Spurs. Missed free throws, Manu turnovers & huge mistakes by a great coach.

Still looking for the headband. Yes missing Lebron headband confused the Spurs

Unforgettable game! Heat looking good to win all

A-40:

I find it quite curious that Spo didn't use Birdman in any of the 3 road games! He's someone the Heat could probably have gone too for easy buckets when Wade and Lebron where searching for their J's! Roleplayers tend to struggle on the road so I guess that's why he was left out or he coulda been injured too

True.

In any case, Bosh has declared that Green will not get open shots tonight. After 5 games and 25 made 3 points! well we'll see what the Heat plan tonite

Fhemmmy:

Lol . . Spurs are well talented too oh, so it is hardwork + Talent * God's blessings = The Championship ring

championship rings? lol a bit early to pop the champagne! The Heat may still win = drinking ogogoro instead of champagne

Fhemmmy: The day is finally here for Miami to show what they are made off, and for the Spurs to make a statement that they are the low-key Champs with not too much talking . . .

Yes! Win or go home. Fun series so far. Its been like a chess match, each team making adjustments after a loss. So what will the Heat do? Insert Birdman into the starting five and bench Mike Miller?