₦airaland Forum

adebanjou:
SO DO YOU WORK FOR OIL COMPANY.

ARE YOU IN AMERICA WHY WOULD YOU SAY CALIFORNIA

I never knew I had to work in an oil coy before I knew about issues regarding MY COUNTRY. Maybe you should pay more attention to the news. And I believe you know what's called the internet. Use it.



Regarding California, maybe you should see this:

FINANCIAL TIMES

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8cabc57a-7721-11de-b23c-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1


California faces legal action by cities over cuts
By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles

Published: July 23 2009 03:00 | Last updated: July 23 2009 03:00

Cities and counties across California are preparing to sue the US state to stop their funds being used to close a $26.3bn deficit, saying the move will weaken essential public services and deepen the impact of the recession.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, reached agreement with the state government this week on a new budget deal that cuts $15bn (€10.5bn, £9.1bn) in spending from public programmes such as healthcare and education. The deal includes a measure that diverts to state coffers $4.7bn of funds earmarked for cities and counties.

This has prompted an angry response from local governments struggling to address their own deficits. In Los Angeles, California's most populous county with more than 10m residents, state officials plan to divert road taxes and funds -earmarked for city redevelopment.

"For the state to balance its budget on the backs of the state residents most in need of help . . . is fiscally reckless and morally bankrupt," said the Los Angeles county board of supervisors in a statement. "Taking advantage of counties that serve the elderly, ill, mentally ill, disabled and the impoverished is wrong on its face, and it is illegal."

Elsewhere the California branch of the Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 95,000 state workers, has asked members to authorise "concerted job actions . . . up to, and including, a strike".

The union represents a range of public employees, including clerical workers, auditors, information technology professionals, teachers, librarians and nurses.

"The ballot is a reaction to what Schwarzenegger has been doing to us for the past year," said Jim Zamora, a union official.

Members of the union have in the past few months absorbed two days per month of unpaid leave: the new budget deal will see them take a third day off, equivalent to a near 15 per cent pay cut. Mr Zamora said the third day was a "a tipping point".

The provisional budget deal includes new rights for drilling off Santa Barbara, angering residents and environmentalists. But the state is desperate for revenue and Mr Schwarzenegger is keen to avoid tax increases. There have been protests over a decision to raise California State University student fees by 20 per cent, only months after trustees had approved a 10 per cent increase.

TIMES ONLINE:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1147044.ece

THE ECONOMISTS:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13998608

CNN:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/02/pf/retirement/vallejo.moneymag/index.htm


`still not satisfied? How about a video?

CNN:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju5dbYskWw0


Now let's check other videos.

BLOOMBERG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2n3o8zToQ

CNN (Again):
http://www.youtube.com/user/CNN#play/search/1/-shklWwEGHE

adebanjou:
ocelot2006 (m),

what wrong with you. how can you compare nigeria with the USA.

New york budget is $134 billion 6 times nigeria budget.

California budget is $95 billion that is nearly 5 time Nigeria budget.


http://www.budget.state.ny.us/budgetFP/q1_update/2009-10JulyUpdate.pdf


http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/BudgetSummary/SummaryCharts.pdf



with the way you people are, this is why yorubas people want to join benin republic.

You think I don't know that already? Still, it does not change the fact that Carlifornia, the richest state in the US, is about to go bankrupt. Maybe they should keep their own house in order before coming to preach to us about ours.

whobemumu:
u say na joint venture na im nigaz be , really ?

big name , small dog .

Once again, the proposed NIGAZ is going to be a Joint Venture between the NNPC and Gazprom. If you doubt it, look it up. Besides, what's the big deal there?

adebanjou:
ocelot2006 (m),

what wrong with you. how can you compare nigeria with the USA.

New york budget is $134 billion 6 times nigeria budget.

California budget is $95 billion that is nearly 5 time Nigeria budget.


http://www.budget.state.ny.us/budgetFP/q1_update/2009-10JulyUpdate.pdf


http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/BudgetSummary/SummaryCharts.pdf



with the way you people are, this is why yorubas people want to join benin republic.

I strongly suggest that you read my post again. When did I compare Nigeria with the US? I was simply responding to someone's post regarding the position of the US in the world today.

By the way, I'm not a Yoruba man, but an Annang man (Akwa-Ibom).

Yaradua may go for a 2nd term, but he is definitely not going for a 3rd term. The tendency of "Stay put" leaders in Nigeria ended when OBJ chose not to run for a 3rd term. No one will allow it.

yuppydon:
We don't actually need to make HC look like a savior, our President and Ministers should be busy enof not to have the time to usher a mere secretary of states. When our ministers from Nigeria visit America on Official duty, do you see Obama or Bush at the airport to give a warm reception? They are not gods.

THANK YOU, MY BROTHER!! Tell them about that. I'll give you an example. Whenever your president travels to the USA for an official visit, he arrives at Andrews Airforce base. Apart from the Nigerian diplomatic corps that comes in to greet him along with Nigerians that reside the US, the US state department sends either protocol officers or an Assistant Secretary of State (if lucky). The president of the US (POTUS) or the Secretary of State will never be there to recieve him. Even at the very doors of the Whitehouse the same thing occurs (`though it may be different at the State Department/Foggy Bottom). So please, everyone should stop whining.

Maybe the US should focus on their own financial problems and health care crisis they face back home before coming over here to lecture us in Nigeria. Fine, we have A LOT of problems in Nigeria from leaders that are thieves to decayed infrastrures. But what most people fail to recognise is that we've at least made to advances. For example, on the case of corruption, we've always been rank among the top 5 most corrupt countries. But I dare ANYONE to look at the current Transparency International Corruption Perception Index for 2009 and you will see that we don't even make the top 25 for the most corrupt countries in the world.

wirinet:
I think our greatest problem apart from corruption, is that of pride and over blown ego. I think we need to employ Japanese or Chinese people to school us on humility, even the Europeans are more humble than us.

Fact whether we like it or not, The US is still the "Numero Uno" nation on earth, militarily, financially and any other wise. So if countries like Japan, Germany and even Great Britain, readily acknowledge that and begs US for assistance every now and then why are we so pompous?.Even China is not claiming to be on the same level with the US.  I think the oil we have in the Niger Delta is giving us false pride.[color=#990000][/color]

As i said I am not a very great Fan of the US, but i would prefer to deal with the US than China, who do not care about anything other than their narrow parochial  interest. I even trust the US than Britain or France.

In this world you have to be humble, diplomatic, astute, and relevant to succeed, either as an individual or a country. That is why the Israelis are always on the side of every world power the world had ever produced, they humble themself.

Our politicians, footballers, professionals, religious leaders, everybody needs to be humble.

I suggest you take another look at the international geopolitical and global economic trends in the past years. Believe it or not, there is no "NUMERO UNO" in the current world that we live in. Granted, the US is still the undisputed military power in the world with a current of over $400 billion. But ask yourself, where does the money come from? For that answer, you have to look at the far east at the Peoples Republic of China. The US is basically on a credit card, with the loans provided by the PRC, thus resulting in a budget deficit that contnues to grow and grow. All the Chinese have to do is stop buying dollar bonds and dump the dollar, then the US will be f$@ked. And in what way has their military strength helped them? The current battle theatres in both Iraq and Afghanisatn has shown that overwhelming military strength hasn't helped the US. Right now, the US is fully stretched to its brink, and everyone knows it. There are even calls within the country to close down their bases in Germany so as to provide more manpower as the men & women currently serving are fully worn out serving multple tours.  And did I mention that these operations cost billions of dollars (money thats's borrowed from the Chinese)?

Now let's look at other major players in the international geopolitical arena. In the far east you have the dragon and the newest economic power rising (China). Then you have to look at the caucus to see that the Bear and member of the BRIC nations (Russia) is fully awake. Oh, did I mention that the Russian Federation is currently the undisputed Energy power (oil and gas) in the world? You only have to visit Western and Eastern Europe to see how effective the Russians have been able to wield their influence. Then let's look at countries seen to be traditional allies of the US. In the UK, the initial support Gordon Brown had at the start of his tenure as the PM of the UK was based on the fact that he was going to chase a foreign policy independent of US. Then you have France that has always kicked against US influence in its policies from the initial tenure of Charles de Gaulle to the current tenure of Sakozy. Why do you think that the US never had any military base in France? And then there's France and Germany overtly opposing the war in Iraq. And you have the same major European powers pushing for a reduction of US influence in Europe.

Let's also look at the US's won backyard, i.e. South America. If you've been following the trend there, you will see that there's been a major shift in govt. from the right-wing to the left-wing, with govt. friendly to the US voted out the citizens of their respective countries. To make matters worse, the US military was kicked out of Ecuador (Manas airbase) and the major oil producer (Venezuela) is solely in the hands of the Chinese.

Finally, focussing on the US, do you know that right now the richest state in the US (Carlifornia) is almost going bankrupt? And that's on top a growing national budget deficit and a healthcare crisis that's costing the nation billions of dollars, leading to the loss of more jobs as businesses move their operations to, that's right, the EAST (China, India).


Face it, we no longer live in a UNIPOLAR world with the US calling the shots, but a MULTIPOLAR world with the US power & influence waning continuosly. The days of the US being the NUMERO UNO is long gone, and you want us to still bow to them.

Hey, maybe you've not been following the news back in Nigeria, but we just had an uprising in 5 northern states by a terrorist groups (boko haram). Then there's the amnesty move in the Niger-delta region. Right now, the country's on a very high level security state. And then, there's the current recession. Do you think we have the bloody time to throw a fanfare for a mere secretary of State? If u're so eager to kiss her ass & that of the US, then pls feel free to head to the US consulate in abuja.

Jeez, heads of States have been to Nigeria & no one said jack. But a mere secretary of State comes, and everyone's whining like crazy. It's no wonder the americans look down on us.

Besides, the last time I checked, we had far more important economic & security issues to attend to. Running after the US Secretary of State, playing boiboi, and kissing the behind of the US isn't one of them. My country is not a vassal to the US.

vigasimple:
The way 'our leader' run this country is a joke.

I watched on AIT (focus Nigeria),and it was shameful, Hilary clinton was being met by tarmac staff in their uniforms(about 5 of them), and from the Nigerian governemnt ( deputy Ambassador and another junior officer). That is serious matter in diplomatic circle.

Nigeria we pay for it, unfortunately it will only affect the ordinary people. our politicians and leaders are master scammer, fraudsters, and chronic corrupt who cannot run an ordinary nursery schols let alone run a whole country. They are whinning like school children who have been chastised for their ugly behaiour which is true.

And what will they do? Place sanctions on us? Invade us? Abeg,

whobemumu:
@all who criticise my post

not becos they are gods but becos they are simply the most powerful nation on earth

even the uk trembles to america and much of nigerias probs can get some assistance from themm ,


training of manpower and aid , but those folls wont see it like that


instead they have signed awway naija gas to russia

why cant we sell it ourselves ?

The UK tremble at the USA? BULLS@#T!! So because they're powerful, we should kiss their ass? The then Bristish PM (Tony Blair) cossyness towards the US was the very reason he almost got kicked out of the job. It's the very reason Aznar of spain and Howard of Australia got kicked out of office. Also look at the world scene. It's now a multipolar (multipower) one with the rise of China. The US may still be a military power, but it definitely isn't an economic one as that power has shifted to the East. Besides, with two battle theatres, the US military is fully stretched.

By the way, we researve the right to trade with whoever we want, be it the US, Europe, Russia or China. Our market is not meant solely for the west. And our gas was NOT traded off to the Russians. Nigaz is a JOINT VENTURE between the NNPC and Gazprom. Maybe you should read about that.

whobemumu:
a bunch of fools

u dont snub the US

for any reason

Because they are Gods?

[quote author=emeka_gh link=topic=308838.msg4342123#msg4342123 date=1250111275]Hillary Clinton was received at the airport (that I saw on TV). If not by Nigeria officials, then I wonder who it was then who received her. But I'm very sure it wasn't the MEND boys or Boko Haram thugs.

It is not compulsory that our President must personally welcome a Secretary of State at the airport. That is protocol.[/quote]Oh, so she was actually recieved at the airport? Then why all the noise here? Na wa o.

oshkosh:
Truth is that Clintons behaviour has a lot to do with America's perception of our president today. Unfortunately, he just doesn't command much respect. He's dull, un-intelligent, ineffective, unwell, compromised, complicent, coniving,

Fortunately, the American goverment (led by the charismatic Obama) is just too smart to be respecting symbols. For him, I'm sure, nothing short of constructive and progressive interactions will do.

Simply because they don't trust our goverment's ability to get anything right, including providing security. I bet if she had her way, she wouldn't have stopped over in Nigeria at all, but I guess that would have just been too obvious after visiting all other African countries. [color=#990000][/color]

I'm so so ashamed of our leaders, to be honest.

We've hosted a number of presidents, prime-ministers, and monarchs, including 2 presidents of the US. I think we'll be fine security-wise.

cooljade:
It's a shame that Nigerian diplomatic dept can say that they were not aware of her coming when common nigerian like me knew 3 days before, even CNN hinted on it.

What else do you expect from a bunch of unprofessionals? political criminals only after their interest

The US embassy and the State Department chose not to inform us of her itinenary. That on its own is a dipomatic NO NO and an insult to the host country. I can't just come to your house without informing you on the time of my arrival and my plans (or at least a glimpse of it) . I won't lose any sleep over this event.

mccloud224:
Emmm, i think you're mixing fan fare and diplomatic relations in one cauldron.They are two different things (well, i do understand that fan fare is an "African thing".We seem to have this "slave mentality" imbibed deeply in our roots).That's by the way though.The "leaders" out rightly shunned her and nothing more.Trust me, they wouldn't have the guts to pull that stunt if it were Bush or Bill in those shoes.

Did you watch the reception given to President George Walker Bush the very day he arrived Nigeria on his official visit? I suggest you do so, `cos you'll be suprised.

ocelot2006:
Let's see, the payment of funds to government officials in return for political favour/future government contracts is what? That's right, CORRUPTION.

And speaking of Iraq, what sparked the killing and secterian violence over there? That's right, the US invation and occupation of a sovereign country. And how about the illegal detention and torture of Iraqis (Abu-Ghraib)? Oh, and did I mention that the actions of the US lead to the further radicalization of the middle-east as whole, and action that have the deaths of thousands of people from Pakistan to Yemen? But no, the US, in your eyes, is without blemish. They can do no wrong. It's no wonder these guys continue to look down on us.

mccloud224:
YES, bribery/lobbying is in the[b] U.S AS WELL AS EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.[/b]I'm sure you've heard the term "politics is money".To win people over, you need to influence them with money.For goodness sake, supporters raised over $600 million dollars for the Obama campaign and you can bet your life that all those funds didn't go into propaganda alone.Some people had to be bought over.It's the norm everywhere (your point is baseless)

Secondly, THEY DON'T DIP THEIR HANDS public coffers and loot the treasury like it's their piggy bank.They have other means of compensating themselves e.g Bill Clinton commands a minimum of $1 million dollars to make a speech in public (do your findings).Talking about Iraq?Who is killing who?Is it the U.S soldiers setting bombs and wiping out families daily?

Hmmm.Speechless.

Let's see, the payment of funds to government officials in return for political favour/future government contracts is what? That's right, CORRUPTION.

[b]Why is it that Nigerians base their opinions on ego massaging and sentiments, instead of the reality on the ground. In foreign policy issues, the Secretary of State is very important, if not more important than the president. A serious government should have taken advantage of Clintons, visit to ask for assistance, in the area of the aspects she has problems with; namely, the Niger Delta crisis, Electoral Reforms ( after all it was the US that gave the world the modern form of democracy practiced in the world today), Educational, Technical and Technological Assistance, even financial assistance.
We have to face reality, every country ( especially developing countries need the US), go ask the Israelis,( who seeks the support of the US in every thing the do),  the south Koreans, the Japanese. The difference between North Korea, and between the former East Germany and West Germany is US assistance. It was even the US that help Europe win the World War 2 and help the reconstruction of Europe after the war. So those of you saying to hell with the US must be a relative of Yaradua - Clueless. I am not particularly a fan of the US, but when the US sneezes, the world catches cold.[/b][color=#990000][/color]

About Saudi Arabia, I do not think the US can impose democracy into a nation that had been autocratic for hundreds of years if not thousands. The US can only help the citizens if they clamour  for democracy. Are the Saudi people clamouring for democracy?. Also if the Saudi's run into problems like they did under saddam, who do they run to? - The US of course.

Look at Libya, a more organized country than Nigeria, what happened after being a US antagonist for over 20 years, they retraced their steps and became an allay.

The funniest thing is that most of those abusing America today, would be ready to lick her foot ( Mrs Clinton) if she says come and collect a green card. Also most of or Government official's children hold's US Passport or Green Card, so if there are annoyed at Mrs Clinton, they should withdraw their children from US and burn their passport, so as to experience "the lies" being told by Mrs Clinton.

Ehm, the countries you mentioned in your second paragragh are basically client states/stooges of the USA. The last time I checked, Nigeria was a non-aligned nation. That means that we do not stoop down to the demands of any of the world powers (EAST or WEST). Therefore, we can afford to be friends with any country, provided we personally have nothing against them.

mccloud224:
@ocelot2006

Nice comment.We could say that she assumed that everything would follow through considering the fact that LEFT is "RIGHT" in Nigeria and UP means "DOWN".lol.

On a serious note, i strongly believe that the actions of these leaders wasn't based on diplomacy at all.It was a way of getting back at the U.S for choosing Ghana as a hallmark of democracy in Africa and also, these "old men" consider women less important than cattle.To meet with her is "beneath them" thanks to their billionaire status from looted funds.Think about it, if it were Bill Clinton, would they have shunned him the way they did to his wife?Please think about and be honest with your reply.

If Ex-President Bill Clinton came under same capacity as secretary of state with the US embassy acting they way they did, then I'm afraid the same think may occur again. Besides, Bill Clinton has been to Nigeria for a lecture in Abuja (after his tenure as president ofcourse) and there were no fanfares or our Minister of Foreign Affairs running to the airport to pick him up.

And to those talking about the USA being far better than Nigeria moral/corruption wise, maybe you should take a look at the lobby groups (or bribers as they're known in Nigeria) that have EVERY US govt. official in their pockets, and as a result control govt. policies. And how about undemocratic govt. like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others that the US props and supports overtly with tonnes of funds?Oh, and let's not forget Iraq where close to a million people have been killed (with 2 million displaced) as a result of oil, sorry, I meant weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Nigeria is definitely not better, but please stop portraying the US as a "holier than thou" country.

And if I may add, the US did exactly the same thing to our then Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice (during Obasanjo's tenure) when he visited the US Justice Department in Washington DC. So why're we all complaining?

ocelot2006:
Protocol hitches as Clinton visits Nigeria
From Martins Oloja and Oghogho Obayuwana (Abuja)

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/aug/12/17.html

NIGERIAN officials yesterday alleged being kept in the dark by the United States (U.S.) Embassy in Abuja in the preparations for the visit of American Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton.


The officials also decried her purported condemnation of Nigeria in Kenya ahead of her visit last night. They accused the American embassy of keeping matters of protocol itinerary of the visit away from the host country's officials.

The Guardian confirmed last night that the actions of the embassy and security officials may have led to the Senate President David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole not being involved in the reception formalities.

Even the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad, who was billed to organise traditional rulers for a parley with Mrs. Clinton on the platform of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIRC) was alleged to have cancelled the deal last night because of the poor treatment of even the Foreign Affairs Ministry officials, who were reportedly spurned by the embassy's Protocol Department.

The American Ambassador to Nigeria, Renee Sanders, was said to have earlier asked for a list of traditional rulers to meet with Clinton, but the Sultan believed to be the arrowhead of the arrangement allegedly declined.

A Presidency official, who lamented the shoddy treatment of even Nigeria's security community, said: "Nothing about this visit passed through any Nigerian official. We have not seen a thing like this before. It is even embarrassing to us that there is no security clearance or cover for anything and if there is any emergency, the Presidency would be blamed. But it should be noted that it is the American government and the embassy that have planned security for the whole itinerary.

"What is more, we even heard that instead of meeting our own security chiefs, the officials here invited our chiefs to their office for talks, which is not the due order. Of course, our security chiefs declined the demeaning invitation. They would not accept that in Washington if even our President were to visit.

"There were recent arrangements when even the Presidents of Finland, Russia and Premier of Spain came here. Specifically, when the Finland's leader came, there was a security arrangement whereby our operatives worked with the Finland's advance team. But for the Americans, nothing like inter-agency co-operation even for security arrangement," he said.

Clinton will hold discussions with President Umaru Yar'Adua, after meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, by 9.30 a.m. today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the high point of Clinton's visit would be an interactive session styled after the American Town Hall meetings with a broad session of Nigerian civil society at the Musa Yar'Adua Centre.

But the list of civil society and other activists' groups has not been made known officially. The visit, according to diplomatic sources, is laced with non-governmental activity.

Diplomatic sources said yesterday that much of her movements and meetings were kept under wraps owing to the fact that "this time, the Secretary of State wants to listen more to the Nigerian people who are outside of government, "

Information Officer at the embassy, David Renz, told The Guardian that "specific details of Hillary Clinton's visit have not been released. This information will be released by State Department when available."

The Abuja visit is part of Clinton's seven-nation tour to South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Cape Verde.

If the news article is true, then I'm sorry but the US Secretatry of State had it coming. With regards to the shoddy treatment of staffs of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the the religious leaders she was meant to talk to, I can't say that I'm suprised. It's the very reason why I stopped visiting the US embassy.

Protocol hitches as Clinton visits Nigeria
From Martins Oloja and Oghogho Obayuwana (Abuja)

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/aug/12/17.html

NIGERIAN officials yesterday alleged being kept in the dark by the United States (U.S.) Embassy in Abuja in the preparations for the visit of American Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton.


The officials also decried her purported condemnation of Nigeria in Kenya ahead of her visit last night. They accused the American embassy of keeping matters of protocol itinerary of the visit away from the host country's officials.

The Guardian confirmed last night that the actions of the embassy and security officials may have led to the Senate President David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole not being involved in the reception formalities.

Even the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad, who was billed to organise traditional rulers for a parley with Mrs. Clinton on the platform of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIRC) was alleged to have cancelled the deal last night because of the poor treatment of even the Foreign Affairs Ministry officials, who were reportedly spurned by the embassy's Protocol Department.

The American Ambassador to Nigeria, Renee Sanders, was said to have earlier asked for a list of traditional rulers to meet with Clinton, but the Sultan believed to be the arrowhead of the arrangement allegedly declined.

A Presidency official, who lamented the shoddy treatment of even Nigeria's security community, said: "Nothing about this visit passed through any Nigerian official. We have not seen a thing like this before. It is even embarrassing to us that there is no security clearance or cover for anything and if there is any emergency, the Presidency would be blamed. But it should be noted that it is the American government and the embassy that have planned security for the whole itinerary.

"What is more, we even heard that instead of meeting our own security chiefs, the officials here invited our chiefs to their office for talks, which is not the due order. Of course, our security chiefs declined the demeaning invitation. They would not accept that in Washington if even our President were to visit.

"There were recent arrangements when even the Presidents of Finland, Russia and Premier of Spain came here. Specifically, when the Finland's leader came, there was a security arrangement whereby our operatives worked with the Finland's advance team. But for the Americans, nothing like inter-agency co-operation even for security arrangement," he said.

Clinton will hold discussions with President Umaru Yar'Adua, after meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, by 9.30 a.m. today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the high point of Clinton's visit would be an interactive session styled after the American Town Hall meetings with a broad session of Nigerian civil society at the Musa Yar'Adua Centre.

But the list of civil society and other activists' groups has not been made known officially. The visit, according to diplomatic sources, is laced with non-governmental activity.

Diplomatic sources said yesterday that much of her movements and meetings were kept under wraps owing to the fact that "this time, the Secretary of State wants to listen more to the Nigerian people who are outside of government, "

Information Officer at the embassy, David Renz, told The Guardian that "specific details of Hillary Clinton's visit have not been released. This information will be released by State Department when available."

The Abuja visit is part of Clinton's seven-nation tour to South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Cape Verde.

@ poster, I think your friend ought to be reasonable about her bride price. The marriage won't end only with the bride price as there're other things like her upkeep and the future family they will have together. As for the Dubai issue, Nigeria is not the UAE. Besides, after paying very are sums of money for very expensive dowries, the women married end up being treated as prized possessions instead of wives/confidant/best friend/partner.

Guys please read the article again. it's not a contract, but rather an aid. That means that the Chinese are footing the bills, not Nigeria. That said, I truely have to commend the Chinese for the aid. This is one of reasons china has bn able to make inroads within developing nations, gaining market concessions and access to raw materials. Unlike western nations,chinese aid don't come with any preconditions.

The best thing for us Nigerians to do is STOP WHINING. We need to drop all these slave attitude and tribalism, and place the country first. If you think the attitudes I mentioned are good, then maybe you need to migrate to war-torn countries like the congo; with your mindset you'll really fit in.
We are the only ones that can make Nigeria better, not the americans or british. Nothing stops this nation from becoming an economic powerhouse, but that responsibility falls on us Nigerians. We need to stop whining, get the hell up, and contribute our own quota in making Nigeria better.The malaysians & singaporeans did so, and are reaping the rewards of their hardwork.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBIfK-5wAro

Give a rat a piece of cheese, and it will later demand for milk. It's time the Federal govt take drastic action against these thieves. Enough is enough.

Good riddance of bad rubbish.

Beaf:
[As for whether Lagos is a Yoruba city, whether the new Tejuosho market is doomed to fail, etc., I will do my best to respond to those comments on my blog rather than here.] - seanjb

When you can't get a simple thing like the phrase "how far" originated from Niger Delta Pidgin as against a translation of ba wo ni. How can you get anything right.

You think pushing out false information is the best way to promote your f.u.cking blog? You want to be the next authority on rubbish "facts" about "Africa"?
We will fight you.

Seriously, SHUT THE F@#K UP! What's your problem ?!