They came for the Jews i was quiet, they came for the Asian i was quiet, they came for the black i was quiet when they came for me there was nobody to help, cos they have killed everybody.

How can fashola support such a thing, would he have gone to school if Awolowo didnt run free education. how can you increase fee by 900%, i keep sayin this guy is running an elitist govt, nobody believes me, he wants to make university education exclusivity of the rich, even if it doesnt affect the stalites the freshers are they not nigerians.

I tire for this man.

this is serious, we are always quick to condemn our own and support foreign govt.

For the second time in two weeks, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu deviated from the THISDAY culture of using its back page to present to its readership, incisive and well-researched opinions on burning national issues. Incidentally, the two issues Nwogwugwu wrote on relate to Aviation.

The first on October 31 was titled “Aviation in Reverse Gear”, in which the writer, without any grip of the actual details of the controversial and intriguing BOT document that brought MMA2 into being, proceeded, on the basis of arrogance of non-existent knowledge, to arrive at conclusions that are most untenable in the face of, not just the facts, but also their facticity.

In the second article, back page, Monday, November 7, titled “Retaliation against BA was Rash”, Nwogwugwu, based on self-acclaimed deft knowledge of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and United Kingdom, proceeds to analyse and draw conclusions on the action of the Federal Government which cut down British Airways’ (BA) weekly frequencies to Lagos from seven to three in response to the induced stoppage of Arik Air Abuja five weekly frequencies to London Heathrow.

Like a python wets its victims before swallowing them, Nwogwugwu, in her opening paragraph, without presenting her case, berates appointed government officials running ministries, departments and agencies as ill-informed, ignorant and arbitrary in their decisions and inconsiderate of the implications of their decisions on the image and interests of our country. Can Nwogwugwu be right? Let us look at the critical facts of the Heathrow slot issue vis-à-vis the Federal Government’s response.

Slots denote the period between the arrival and departure of a flight at an airport. Slots are products of frequencies, frequencies are products of routes and routes are created by Air Services Agreement whether bilateral or multilateral. In the case of UK, Nigeria has a BASA.

The BASA established the air service operations between Nigeria and UK, thus creating routes. For the route to be well served, frequencies were enshrined. As at today, there are 21 frequencies each for Nigeria and for UK. And these frequencies become rights of each country whose prerogative it is to utilise as it deems fit. In addition, BASAs make it obligatory for each contracting party to facilitate the operations of the BASA by the other party. That is, Nigeria should create a conducive atmosphere for UK to operate the BASA frequencies and UK should do the same for Nigeria.

Going by the above, it follows that slot, frequency and route are immutable and constitute the kernel of BASA or MASA. Any discussion therefore on slot that does not stem from frequency rights in BASA is imperilled and bound to end up in faulty analyses and invalid conclusions.

This is Nwogwugwu’s predicament in her write-up. Because she did not see this vital nexus and the larger picture involved, she proceeded, not only to talk about slots as an independent issue, she also put so much strength in her write-up on the analysis of slots by a well-known financial analyst, Bismark Rewane, who also believe that slots are independent of frequencies and therefore, have nothing to do with BASA. How faulty? The truth is that Nwogwugwu and Rewane, like the blind men of Hindustan, who went to see the elephant, on touching the tail, concluded that the elephant was very like a snake.


The fact of the matter is that slot, frequency and BASA belong inextricably in the domain of aero politics and not in the realm of financial analysis. To consign it to the latter and use it to explain the present crisis is an invalid extrapolation and a use of irrelevant authority. Citation of irrelevant authority leads one further away from facts and truth into deeper ignorance, and thus ends one in two fundamental fallacies; ad verecundiam and ad ignorantiam, irrelevant authority and ignorance. Nwogwugwu’s write-up is guilty of both.

In the article in question, the writer misrepresented the facts when she referred to the quarrel between Arik and British Midland
International (BMI). It is not true. Arik dealt with the Airport Co-ordination Limited (ACL), which manages allocation and selling of slots.

The slots that Arik paid 1,460,000 pounds sterling for belonged to BMI but were sold by ACL. If Nwogwugwu cared to find out, she would have found that Arik’s petition talked about ACL and British Authorities not BMI denying its slots on the Abuja frequencies based on the BASA with UK. Arik’s petition showed clearly that the BASA was being infringed based on unacceptable alibi of independent ACL. The minister acted on it in clear protection of Nigeria’s interest. This is the point Nwogwugwu missed in castigating the minister and officials of the Aviation Ministry as well as all government appointees as it were in her opening paragraph.

To further prove how wrong the writer’s perception or rather understanding of issues is, the minister’s response has led to intervention at the highest level of governments in both countries. If disruption of flight operations were purely business calculations of private airline rather than issue of bilateral agreement, as you pointed in your picture, why would Prime Minister David Cameron or President Goodluck Jonathan become involved? Why are the two countries now locked up in resolution meetings? Nwogwugwu, BA, Virgin Atlantic and Arik are no doubt private airlines but they represent their countries in the BASA and therefore as the Warri man will say, are “government pikin”.

It may interest Nwogwugwu to know that the attempt to separate slot from frequency is a recent development which is pioneered by European airports facing congestions in their main entry points. These airports, because of space and environmental concerns, can no longer be expanded. But the development is vehemently opposed by developing nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America and ICAO has a ruling on the issue.


Also, contrary to Nwogwugwu’s assertion that Nigeria has pen skies with UK, the concept of which she strandedly tried to define, Nigeria does not operate open skies with UK but with the US. Rather, we operate a “Limited Skies” that allows 21 frequencies each side. One also needs to point outthat the present problem started in 2009 when Arik sought to operate the Abuja-London route. Arik
brought it to the attention of the then Minister – Babatunde Omotoba – who in turn engaged the then British High Commissioner.

In their meeting, the High Commissioner suggested that Arik should make a provisional arrangement for six months during which he would sort the matter out. Arik tried to make a six-month arrangement but ACL insisted on one year and Arik had no choice but to pay 1,460,000 pounds sterling for one year. Since then, for two years, this matter has lingered on to the detriment of our country and Arik.

For Nwogwugwu and those who think the government action is rash, is two years not enough for the UK authorities to give effect to Nigeria’s rights in the BASA the way Nigeria has done? Did they have to wait until this crisis? Today, they want to resolve it via BASA talks in one week because a major British interest – BA has unfortunately been hit. But for Nigeria’s interest and Arik, they slept on it.

Perhaps, it would have suited you if the Aviation Minister and her “illinformed officials” went to sleep. But I am certain you would have accused them of indolence. All these aside, we are only talking about five weekly frequencies which will bring the total in use to 12 by Arik out of Nigeria’s 21, leaving a balance of nine slots/frequencies. What happens to them? If we don’t resolve this issue this time, we will face it as the government’s development efforts begin to yield fruits.

No doubt, as Nwogwugwu pointed out in her write-up, slots are priced assets, particularly in congested European airports as Heathrow. But not only slots; routes and frequencies are priced assets and commercial commodities as well. You do not need Deloite and Touch to know this. As far back as the 1990s, when PANAM was liquidating, it made so much money selling and leasing its routes and frequencies.

In 2002, IFC Document on Privatisation of Nigeria Airways singled out its prime routes on the BASA as one of the eight most valuable assets to woo investors. Even before Nwogwugwu’s article came out, all the slots of BMI standing at 8.4 per cent of the over 9,500 slots at Heathrow were bought over by BA, thus bringing its total slot holding at Heathrow to 50.8 per cent. Nwogwugwu should have known this from her sabbatical years in BPE or would it be a case of “pervasive ignorance” since she was then briefly a public official?

True also is her assertion that there are EU laws on slot allocation and that is transparent. What a “wonderful dish” from Europe on airports and legacy carriers. She should please go and read the laws and see how they are skewed in favour of EU member carriers.

The laws are “justiceable” in Europe and not in any other country. This is why non- European airlines insist on BASA and reciprocity.
It is Nwogwugwu’s figment of imagination that the minister’s action has embarrassed the nation and made us a laughing stock. Contrarily, all developing nations who oppose the detachment of slot from BASA as well as ICAO see Nigeria as a test case and are watching keenly. Unknown to Nwogwugwu, the ministry is in touch with ICAO and we are in touch with the global aviation industry.

The writer’s view is the figment of convoluted perception arising from unsubstantiable premises, irrelevant authorities, non-sequitur and fixation, abinitio. Finally, I will enjoin the writer to run a check on the number of abusive words she used in her two articles under reference in castigating appointed managers and officials of ministries, departments and agencies. Some of these include: arbitrary, illinformed, pervasive ignorance, foolish, rash, unguarded, irrational, uncouth cowboys, lacking conscience and undiscerning, to mention but a few.

This is a deviation from the culture of the reputed back page columnists of THISDAY. It may be necessary for Nwogwugwu to read more of her back page columnist colleagues whose deft analyses are incisive, cultured and devoid of ad hominem. Better still, she could go to the archives and read Nigerian Classics in Journalism; Alade, Sad Sam, Jakande and Machebu.

I also enjoin her to go into discussions with some of these officials she disparages and find out how mentally little she is. Please just try out the Permanent Secretary, Aviation. I will on a last note leave it to her to judge between herself and government officials who have acted on this matter, who actually merit all the disparaging “accolades” and withering invectives she so much used in her write-up. Who is ill-informed, rash, foolish and uncouth?


•Aligbe is Chief Consultant, Belujane Konzult

B.sc.ed is a combination of science and education. You can fit into both teaching and office job. I graduated with b.sc.ed and i have worked in a multinational company and telecom, it has never been an issue, it also help you to specialise in education in case you decide to go that way. it is only that Nigerians in their usual way wants to stigmatize educational courses

what is cypher??

I am happily married with two kids a girl and a boy. We have a very close family in which things are jointly done. House chores are shared between me and my wife. I bathe the children in the morning and get them ready for school while my wife prepared meals. Sundays I prepare breakfast while my wife dressed the children for worship.
I am bothered about how my children are raised. The question is, I dressed naked in the presence of my children my daughter inclusive. Likewise my wive, is this right? Could it affect my children growing up rightly. Though they tend to ask questions. Does anybody have this same scenario.

Regards and stay blessed

You must be living in dark age because of this your warped thinking, i don't normally abuse on nairaland, but YOU I will abuse today, you are retarded in your thinking on this matter, if you lose your life because of a man who will look after your children and what will happen when he marries another wife when you are late. This is what happens to women when they share their family info wit other gossips, it is either you are not learnered or you refuse to dwell on what you learned in life. Please moderator should remove this post immediately. If your children get to know about this your shallow thinking i am sure theywill despise you for life. better take stock of your life again.



olumide

Euro
A whole lot of what I got to do where gathered from talking with people, I kept talking to anybody that cares to listen about my project without fear of someone stealing my ideas. Abbey started well by makingenwuiroes. But one on one gives a lot info than cyber discussion cos people tend to give more info when they talk. I will suggest we all gather together and share info and compare notes. I am not a consultant but I have network of people we work together . Whatever info i also give to you will be at no charge but borne of desire to see others doing well.

Hello abbey,
I am happy with the progress you are making. But do not be deceived farming is more rewarding when u form groups to share experience. That is y I prefer group meetings where it more interactive. Always remember that management of input cost is one of the. Key responsibility of a farmer.
your land is costly at 250. I got my land not too far from LAGOS at 100k per acre with electricity and tarred road up to d land. I am presently into piggery. And cattle farming. I still insist u call me I wont charge u nothing but give u candid advice

This team is not as bad as Nigerians made it look or sound, what do you think.

The Team:

President Jonathan recently announced his team who will drive the economy to achieve desired results. Members of the team are men and women of integrity, professionals of high standard expected to change the ways things have been over the decades. They are expected to introduce measures that will boost the economy in all ramifications. Such measures will address infrastructural decay, power sector quagmire, bad roads, corruption and now threatening issue of Boko Haram and other sect or religious upheavals.

Dr.Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister:

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a woman of esteemed vision. She is a technocrat and a woman of strong will. Those who worked with her in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo can tell better. At 52, she is leaving World Bank as Managing Director to come and offer her contributions to her fatherland. She is expected now with all her experience to come and drive economic development. With the dwindling world economy that has affected all countries, including Nigeria, she is indeed a good choice for the ministry. She holds Doctorate Degree in Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in United States. She is equally a product of Havard University. Her father was a renowned economist and professor.

She is expected to join in the war against economic indiscipline among ministries and states, including corruption among public officers who collect allocations for job execution and end up diverting them to private pockets. She is expected to introduce fiscal measures that will boost the economy, check inflation, and boost the economies of the finance industry. Okonjo-Iweala who has received many awards, spent three years in Obasanjo’s administration during which she left an indelible mark. She negotiated with the Paris Club to secure a debt relief of $18billion for Nigeria. Many believe that her second coming as Minister is a big boost to Jonathan’s administration considering her transparency in all economic issues. Among the challenges is for her to enforce reduction in recurrent spending and deficit budgeting.

Senator Idris Umar; Transport Minister

Umar, former member of the House of Representatives for two terms, senator from 2007 to 2011, is a lawyer from Gombe State. He is coming at a time when the Transport industry is facing a lot of challenges. He is expected to champion the establishment of National Transport Commission, as a regulator in the transport sector. The commission is expected to perform roles that will checkmate all operators in the ports industry, including concessionaires and shipping companies who are being accused of imposing illegal charges on importers. Born December 28,1959, Umar is also expected to continue with the rail projects, to such an extent that major cities are linked. All the ports in the country are expected to be linked with rails to ease the congestion in the roads leading to the seaports. The current nightmare being suffered by workers and business men in Apapa is also a challenge to the Minister. Among others, he is expected to influence an end to this nightmare through the completion of the ongoing road project on roads leading to and out of the Apapa port. The development of the nation’s shipping industry is also a challenge to the minister in terms of ensuring that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) performs this statutory role. NIMASA was established specifically to drive indigenous shipping development in the country. Seen as a grassroot politician, many believe that he will introduce policies that will lift the transport industry.

Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi – Aviation Minister:

At a time that the aviation industry is described as having many difficulties with airlines not breaking even, and currently collecting bail-out funds, Princess Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, no doubt has an enormous task ahead. The infrastructure decay in many of the airports, aviation fuel scarcity and workers’ warpath with some of the concessionaires are among these challenges. Although she is an expert in the petroleum sector, she does not seem to have experience in the aviation sector. This means that she will have to study the industry. She will be expected to tackle safety issues and other key infrastructure in the airports. She is expected to introduce modern touch at the airport facilities to bring them in line with world standards. She is also expected to ensure that airfares are brought under control for customer satisfaction without compromising profitability of the airlines. She was born in 1962 in Onitsha, Anambra State, and holds Master’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. She established Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited after leaving NNPC in 1992.

Petroleum Minister: Diezani Allison Madueke

The petroleum industry remains the engine room of the nation. It holds key to the survival of the nation’s economy in many respects. A brief profile of the Minister, Mrs Diezani Allison –Madueke, shows that she is no doubt equipped for this task. Mrs Allison –Madueke is returning to the petroleum industry for the second time. She is an alumna of Howard University and Cambridge University in the United States of America and Britain. She had put in several years working for Shell before she was appointed as Minister of Transport in 2007. She was later redeployed to the Ministry of Mines and Steel before she was moved to the Ministry of Petroleum.

One major task confronting the Minister, is how to make the refineries work permanently. This means also that the country will have to end the decade of refined petroleum importation. She also has the challenge of the Petroleum Industry Bill and the planned removal of oil subsidy.

It also expected that her Ministry has to sustain the availability of fuel as against the scarcity that Nigerians suffered in the past. She also has the task of ensuring that the scam going on in the oil industry in terms of crude oil theft is checked.

Chief Emeka Wogu: Labour Minister

Emeka Wogu is coming to the Labour Ministry for the second time. The task before Wogu is ability to control the volatile labour which remains in a position to bring down any government if not well handled. The first challenge that government appears to have handled is the issue of the N18,000 minimum wage. Yet, the matter is not over, as some states appear not to have fully agreed that they can pay the new minimum wage.

But beyond this, the labour Ministry has to work hard in addressing the unemployment situation in the country. It is a terrible thing that many graduates have over the years remained without jobs. Expectations are that the Ministry should work on ensuring that the various measures being made by the Federal Government to provide employment for the teeming unemployed youths are realistic and not just on papers. At the end of the administration, Nigerians will be taking a stock of how many people were able to gain employment.

Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa: Minister of Environment

The issues of climate change and flooding of many areas in the country are among the challenges of the new Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa. There is also the issue of erosion in the South East and other parts of the country.

In the past few weeks, it has been a nightmare for some residents in Lagos, Ogun and some parts of the North, including Rivers State. The effect of the flood is poverty, homelessness, possible scarcity of food as some farmers in the North have already said their farms were destroyed. Expectations are also that the Ministry lives up to its statutory roles of protecting wildlife, air, water and forest. It is expected that the objectives of Environmental Renewal and Development Initiative, which include taking full inventory of all natural resources to assess the level of environmental damage introduced by the Ministry are realized. Those who know the Minister when she was a staff of M-Tel and the Nigerian Extraction and Transparency Initiative, say she is capable of the task before her Ministry.

Dr Olusgun Olutoyin Aganga – Minister of Trade and Investment

Aganga was former Minister of Finance before his current appointment. He had to give way for the Managing Director of World Bank, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

As the new Minister of Trade and Investment, there is no doubt that Aganga has a lot of challenges. He is expected to attract a lot of investments into the country, and improve bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and other countries. Aganga was Born in 1955 at Sabongida Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State . He attended University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he obtained a B.Sc Degree in Biological Sciences in 1977 . He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983. He also attended the University of Oxford, United Kingdom where he obtained a degree in Theology in 2000. He has worked in Arthur Young in Nigeria, Ernst & Young in London UK, and Goldman Sachs International in London, where he was Managing Director in hedge funds. He was also a Board member of the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission Technical Committee on Nigerian Capital Market Structure and a former Chairman of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) Prime Brokerage Committee. Aganaga also established the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) in Nigeria. With his wealth of experience, it is expected that he will deliver in the President’s transformation agenda.

Elder Godsday Orubebe Minister of Niger Delta

Orubebe has no doubt contributed immensely in achieving peace in the Niger Delta in the past one of two years. His second coming as Minister is seen as the tonic to sustain the relative peace that has been achieved in the zone. Expectations are that he should pursue the many developmental needs of the Niger Delta. During his screening at the Senate, Orubebe said the framework for the development of the Niger Delta has been completed. It is expected that he will ensure that this is implemented. This will give the people of the Niger Delta a higher sense of belonging and permanently heal the wounds of the past.

One task before the Minister is to address the issue of the disconnect between his Ministry and development agencies in the area. Although, he claimed that there is no disconnect, it is expected that there should be greater synergy between his ministry and NDDC, OMPADEC. There are about 1.450 youths that are currently undergoing training in oil and gas, maritime and agriculture to make them self reliant and dissuade them from taking up arms as was the case before. It is expected that this programme should be sustained.

Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi – Minister of State, Niger Delta

Kuchi was until her appointment a business woman. She was President/Chief Executive of Daralkuchi Group of Companies. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Shea Alliance, an association of industry stakeholders in the shea sector. She is described by those who know her as rich managerial skills. It is expected therefore that she will contribute immensely in driving development in the Niger Delta to sustain the peace there. It is expected that she will join in identifying the developmental needs of the people and address them in what will heal the wounds of decades of marginalisation that gave rise to the militant attacks in the past.

Mrs Omobola Olubusola Johnson – Minister of Communication:

Mrs Johnson is the first to head Ministry of Communication which was created recently as part of the transformation agenda of the government. Until her appointment, she was Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, earlier known as Anderson Consulting which she joined in 1985. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical an Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester. She also holds a Master’s degree in Digital Electronics from Kings College, London. Among the challenges of the new Minister is how to drive the broadband revolution to achieve cheap and efficient communication. She is expected to consolidate on the gains recorded over the past decade that GSM came into the country. She is expected to make realistic the broadband policy, so that it can be used to drive the economy.

She is also expected to find a solution to the multiplicity of agencies that have clashing roles in both the communication and technology sectors. These agencies include Nigerian Communication Commission, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, Galaxy Backbone Plc, National Spectrum Board and Nigerian Communication Satellite Company. She is equally expected to ensure that telecoms companies are up and doing in their service delivery.

Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai - Minister of Education

Prof Rufai is believed to have shown sign of performance as immediate past Minister of Education, and many believe that this was what may have earned her a second time as Minister of the same Ministry. She was former Dean, Faculty of Education at the Bayero University . She was former Commissioner of Education and Science, Jigawa State .

Prof Rufai has so much challenges with the falling standard of education in the country. The results announced by NECO and WAEC in recent past have not been impressive. Similarly, many have noticed falling standard of education in the tertiary institutions. The Ministry of Education is expected to work hard in addressing this problem.

Besides this development, the education enrolment in the Northern part of the country gives much for concern. This is something the Ministry of Education can improve by working with the states involved.

The other issue is the national policy on education which is currently suffering a lot of bureaucracies.

Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe - Minister of Water Resources

As a human rights activist, Mrs. Ochekpe, will no doubt do so much for the country in the area of provision of pipe-borne water for the people. She is expected to introduce water projects, including dam irrigation projects for agricultural use. Born in 1961, in Benue State , Ochekpe is married to Mr Ochekpe,an indigene of Plateau state. He graduated from the University of Jos , where she obtained Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degrees in Political Science.

As Minister of Water Resources, Ochekpe is expected to play a vital role in hydro-electric projects, including the proposed Mambilla power plant.

Hajiyya Zainab Maina – Women Affairs Minister

Hajiyya Maina is coming on board of Jonathan’s administration at a time that women are clamouring for more engagement in politics. Perhaps, it was this agitation that may have contributed to the appointment of 13 Ministers by the present administration. But Maina has more challenges getting women to accept the realities of politics, and that is that politicians are not spoon-fed, they work for it. The Women Affairs Minister has the task of convincing women to even support their own sex, as this has been the opposite, recalling the last PDP presidential primary when Mrs Sera Jubril never got any vote from women ,except her own. It is often said that women are their own enemies in Nigeria , and this is what the Minister has to correct. Maina is from Adamwa state. She attended Kaduna Polytechnic where she got a Diploma in Administration and Higher National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management. She also holds Certificates in Secretarial Studies and Institution Building Activities from the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna and Centre for Development and Population , Washington DC , United States . She has been board chairman of many financial and educational institutions. She has the task of improving education for the female sex in the Northern part of the country.

Ms. Amal Inyingiala Pepple – Minister of Lands and Housing

With rich background in the Civil Service, the choice of Ms Pepple as Lands an Housing Minister is not misplaced. She was Director of Federal Civil Service, Director Economic Affairs Office, Presidency. She was also a former Lecturer in Political Science, Rivers State College of Education where she started her career. She was also Deputy Secretary, Constituent Assembly, Secretary National Assembly Provisional Office, Clerk Designate Senate National Assembly. She later became Clerk of the Senate. She graduated in 1975 with a First Class in Political Science, from the University of Ife , now Obafemi Awolowo University. She also obtained Master’s Degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London . She was former Head of Service of the Federation and retired in 2009.

One of the challenges before her is to ensure that the Land Use Act is reformed. She is also expected to transform the housing policy in the country with provision of low income houses for teeming civil servants.

Olajumoke Akinjide - Minister of State FCT, Abuja

Born in 1959, Olajumoke is the daughter of the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide. She holds Bachelor of Law from Kings College , London and Master’s Degree in Law from Havard University. She was in 2001 appointed Special Assistant to the President on the Federal Capital Territory . She contested the senatorial seat in Oyo in the last general election but lost. An indigene of Oyo, she also practised law in her father’s law firm, Lagos , and London before she was appointed Special Assistant to the President in 2001.

She is expected to contribute in restoring the Abuja Master Plan.

Erelu Olusola Obada –Minister of State, Defence

Erelu Obada is trained a lawyer, an immediate deputy governor of Osun State . With the current security threat in the country following the latest Boko Haram episode, there is no doubt that so much is expected from the Ministry of Defence. So much is expected of the Defence Ministry, even in ensuring that the Niger Delta remains peaceful for investors to do business. While the crisis in Plateau is coming down, the Ministry of Defence has the duty of sustaining peace in the area.

Prof Viola Onwuliri –Minister of State,Foreign Affairs

Onwuliri is a professor of Biochemistry and was running mate to former governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State . She will work with Amb.Olugbenga Ashiru as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The recent general election has no doubt improved Nigeria ’s image abroad. But so much still needs to be done in projecting Nigeria ’s image abroad. This is the task before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry is expected to continue to propagate the nation’s transformation agenda to the international community.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi – Minister of Youths Development

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Kwara State under the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki, was also a senior Editor with Thisday Newspaper. He holds BSc degree from the University of Lagos and Master’s Degree (Distinction) in Governance and Development from the University of Sussex. Abdullahi, brilliant and outspoken is 42 years old. He had a success story for the period he served Kwara State as Commissioner. He is coming to the Ministry of Youths Development at a time when many graduates are roaming the streets of Nigeria without jobs. He is expected to introduce youth development programmes that will address the issue of unemployment in the country.

Haliru Bello Mohammed Defence Minister

Bello was a former Lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Born in Birnin Kebbi, 1945, he was Commissioner for Agriculture between 1977 and 1979 in the old Sokoto State. He was also Vice Chairman, PDP, North-West Zone. He was also in 2008 Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.

Among the challenges before Bello is to bring to an end the massacre being perpetrated against innocent people in Maiduguri, Borno State, and other parts of the Northern State. There is also the Plateau ethnic and religious crises that need to be checked. It is also expected that though the Niger Delta is calm, there is the need for the government to keep an eye on the area.

Abba Moro –Minister of Interior

He was a former Students Union activist at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was also former Chairman, Opokwu Local Government or four terms. He equally served as Director General of David Mark’s re-election campaign organisation, He is expected to also work hard to address the issue of security in the country. He is expected to consolidate on the reform agenda in the Nigerian prisons.

Bukar Tijani Minister of State, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Before his appointment Tijani was the National Project Coordinator, Third Fadama Development Project, a world bank funded project. He is expected to contribute his wealth of experience in agric development in the country. This is moreso with the climate change that may affect agriculture. Already, prices of food items are on daily basis shooting to the roof as a result of poor yields from farms. But above all, the Ministry of Agric is expected to introduce a programme that will make the country have food sufficient instead of relying on importation.

Prof Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, Science and Technology Minister

Ewa is an indigene of Oron in Akwa Ibom State. He is purely a member of the academia.

He is expected to introduce programmes that will see Nigeria as boasting of technological advancement among developed countries .

Bala Mohammed – FCT Minister

Mohammed who hails from Bauchi is former Minister of FCT Abuja. He is expected to ensure that the Federal Capital Territory is developed like other advanced countries in the world. As former Minister of FCT, Bala is no doubt in a familiar terrain. He is also expected to ensure that the Abuja master plan is realized.

Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu – Minister of Health

Chukwu who hails from Ebonyi State was former Minister of Education. He is professor of medicine. He is a fellow of West African College of Surgeons and a fellow of International College of Surgeons. Born in 1962 in Yaba, Lagos, Chukwu is expected to transform the nation’s health policy. One major concern of many Nigerians is the rising number of people who seek medical attention outside the country as result of dearth of medical facilities in our hospitals. Chukwu and his team need to change this trend by equipping teaching hospitals in the country and also making medical services affordable to all.

Mike Onolememen - Works Minister

He was a member of the Interim Management Committee of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He was said to have supervised the PTF Directorate of Project Management. He is described as scholar, politician, teacher, architect and project manager. As the Minister of Works, so much is expected of him at time when most of the Federal Government roads are in a state of disrepair. He is expected to take up the Ore-Benin-Onitsha- Enugu Express road among other federal road projects in the country. In the past, the government spent hundreds of billions of Naira on roads without anything to show for it. Expectations are that this trend is not repeated under the present administration.

Shamsudeen Usman – National Planning Minister

Shamsudeen was former Minister of National Planning and also Chairman of the Steering Committee on Vision 2020. He was also former Minister of Finance. Born in 1949 in Garangamawa, Kano State, so much is expected of him with his health of experience. The nation’s data base is said to be nothing to write home about, a development, experts say affects our planning. The new Minister is expected to address this issue for the economic development of the country.

Mohammed Musa Sada – Minister of Mines and Steel Development

Sada, politician, hails from Katsina State. The importance of mines and steel cannot be over-emphasisized. This is considering the many needs of these natural resources. One expects that the new Minister will embark on an aggressive programme to develop the steel and mines sector because of their importance to the national economy. With coal in Enugu, Kogi and Benue, among others, one expects that the Minister attracts investors to develop the sector.

Mohammed Adoke (SAN) – Minister of Justice

Adoke is an indigene of Kogi State. He was a legal practitioner in Kaduna State. He was also immediate past Attorney General of the Federation. Born in 1963, he graduated at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is expected to pursue the law reform programme of the government, and ensure that the justice system works in the country.

Mr Labaran Maku – Minister of Information

Maku was one time Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State. He was also former Minister of Information. He served former President Umaru Yar’adua before his reappointment in Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He was former students union activist, and a senior Editor in Champion Newspapers. He was also Commissioner for Information in Nasarawa State in 1999. Apart from the information dissemination of the government, Maku needs to promote the FOI law in the federal government ministries and parastatals because of the bureaucracy in the civil service.

Samuel Iorer Ortom, Minister of State , Trade and Investment

Chief Dr Ortom is from Gbajimba Gumba Local Government Area of Benue State. He admitted that he was once a motor tout before he went to the University. He was national auditor of PDP. With his background, it is expected that he will contribute immensely in the economic development of the country. He will join in promoting trade and investments in the country that will in turn usher in job opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths.

Olugbemga Ashiru – Foreign Minister

As a career Diplomat, Ashiru was also Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa. He holds BA Degree in History from the University of Lagos in 1972. He is expected to repackage the country’s foreign policy as well as improve the nation’s bilateral trade agreements with other countries. In the past, Nigeria’s image abroad has been so bad, and he is expected to disseminate the current democrat dividends as well as allay the fears of many foreigners that Nigeria is not in crisis as some may see Boko Haram episode.

Olusola Obada – Minister of State, Defence

Obada was immediate past Deputy Governor of Osun State. She ceded her senatorial ambition to former Senator Iyiola Omisore. She is also expected to contribute her quota in ensuring security in the country. She will join in addressing security crises like Boko Haram and keep a close watch on security threat across the country.

Dr.Lawan Yerima Nganga –Minister of State, Finance

He is a professional banker and worked as Director, Diamond Bank before his appointment. Nganga who hails from Yobe also worked in First Bank. With his background coming from the finance sector, he is seen as suitable is his new position. He is expected to contribute in introducing an economic package that will improve Nigeria’s foreign reserve as well as other economic measures that will make the country buoyant.

Bashir Yuguda, Miniser of State, Works

He was former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He hails from Zamfra State.

The task before him include the worsening state of the federal roads. With many federal roads now death traps, expectations are high for the Works Ministry to make Nigeria proud by tacking this problem once and for all.

Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman – Sports Minister

Suleiman was Transport Minister before his redeployment to the Spots Ministry. He was also former Director, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). He was born in 1963. Suleiman hails from Sokoto, and was first appointed Minister in 2010. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained B.Sc Degree in Business Administration in 1986. He also obtained MBA from the same university in 1989.

Dr Mohammed Pate – Minister of State Health

Pate who hails from the North East, was the former Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, a position many believe may have equipped him so much in the present position. He is expected to join Prof Chukwu in changing the current state of poor health facilities and services in the country.

Mr Nyesom Wike – Minister of State, Education

Wike was former Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He was also Director-General of his re-election campaign. He is expected to contribute in addressing the crisis in the education sector, especially the falling education standard.

Dr Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina – Minister of Agriculture

Adesina was former Associate Director at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Agricultural Sciences Division. He is a renowned economist with over 20 years experience in African agriculture. He has a B Sc in agricultural economics (first class ) from Obafemi Awolowo University. An indigene of Ogun State, he holds PhD in Agricultural economics from Purdue University, USA. With his wealth of experience, he is no doubt equipped for the agric revolution in the country.

Mr Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism

Duke is from Cross River. He is a tourism expert. He is expected to transform the country’s tourism industry. Shortly on assuming office, he was quoted as assuring that he will transform the sector. He described tourism sector as a goldmine that could be a ‘frontier of growth and development of the nation's economy’.

the boy is a stupid and ungrateful child. if he had been allowed to die at tender age will remember is biological parents. rather be grateful to parents that nurtured him. EWU, GOAT, OMOLELE to ba gbe won si ori bed won ajabo si ile.

This Yar' Adua man, was a confusionist.

Power Sector: Yar'Adua, Obasanjo and I

21 Jul 2011
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By Foluseke Somolu

I write with regards to the column by Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi titled ‘Yar’Adua, Obasanjo and Power Sector’ which appeared on the back page of the 7th July 2011. Segun mentioned that one major problem the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had was that his predecessor, President Olusegun Obasanjo did not give him a hand-over note, especially as concerned the power sector. While I confess that I do not know what form handover notes from one president to another takes (or should take) I am aware, however, that in the period between his election and the actual swearing in date, all government departments, ministries, parastatals, etc. made presentations to President-elect Yar’ Adua on their activities, structure, on-going projects, funding, what problems there were, etc. In addition to the presentation, they also submitted written reports, with then President Obasanjo in attendance and directing affairs. Questions were asked and clarifications made as necessary. I am not sure Segun had assumed duties at this time. Furthermore, shortly after resuming as President, apart from the presentation to him by Engr. Makoju, I, as coordinator of NIPP, also gave the new President a presentation on the NIPP. So I am convinced Yar’Adua had enough opportunities to get as much information about the sector as he would want, and to further continue to seek clarification as he needed.

President Yar’adua’s confusion as to the role of GE, as reported by Segun, did not need arise at all. NIPP consisted of contracts with companies in their areas of strength and comparative advantage. GE builds and sell generators and gas turbines and they were contracted to supply all the generators and gas turbines for the NIPP. They also had contracts to supply technical support for installation and commissioning to the respective Engineering-Procurement-and-Construction (EPC) contractors for all the power stations under the NIPP as well as the long-term service on the units.

Segun also gives the impression of apparent total confusion in the concept and implementation of the NIPP project, mentioning the non-availability of gas pipelines and gas, inadequacy of road bridges, etc. as examples. This is not the case. All these challenges mentioned are routine in power projects and are routinely overcome. In the case of NIPP, where gas pipelines and/or additional gas were required were identified before hand and contracts were awarded (or in the process of being awarded) for the pipelines when Yar’Adua got in charge. Negotiations were also held with NNPC and the oil companies and assurances were given that there would be gas when the power stations would be ready. Slips do occur when two parastatals are cooperating on a project. For example, Egbin power station was commissioned in 1986/87 almost two years before the gas pipeline from Utorogu to Lagos was completed. Something like this almost happened too when Olorunsogo (a.k.a Papalanto) was commissioned because the gas pipeline installation was still in progress, but NNPC were able to deliver gas from their pipeline feeding WAPCO’s cement plant at Ewekoro. And that arrangement remained in place for quite some months after that. The suggestion by Segun that a tanker was used to deliver LPG for the commissioning is preposterous. A typical NEPA gas turbine consumes an average of between ten and twenty-five million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day at a pressure well above fifteen bars. Use of tankers could not meet up with this rate of consumption and delivery pressure.

As for the inadequacy of some bridges to support the weight of turbine generators crossing over them and ferrying by barge having to be resorted to, again this is not such a strange situation and it is a problem that is being solved every time a power station has been built inland in Nigeria, beginning from Kainji (1968) through Shiroro, and Jebba (early 1980’s), Geregu (2006), etc. when railway was used where available, and some sections of road had to be improved and bridges reinforced to allow road transportation. Hard and fast provisions were not made in the NIPP contracts because the condition of roads and bridges change all the time and roads and bridges that may be okay or nearly so may deteriorate drastically between tender submission and contract award and implementation. Contractors are therefore usually wary about making firm commitments on such details. The provisional sums to meet such incidental expenses as these would entail were included in the contingencies sum in the funds approved for the NIPP project management which unfortunately was not released to the project team by the time the generators started arriving because of Yar’Adua’s hesitancy.

True, the gas turbines arrived well ahead of the site works completion. This was because there was a huge worldwide demand for gas turbines at the time the contracts were awarded and all reputable manufacturers all over the world had very long queues and tight delivery schedules. GE had a window in their manufacturing programmes at that time, and it was either we took advantage of it or be prepared to wait years to be served. If the disruptions of the Yar’Adua era did not take place, the units would have been delivered to respective sites where GE had contractual obligation for regular inspection and preservation pending their installation and commissioning instead of being left at the ports.

The controversy over how much had actually been expended on the NIPP did not need arise at all. Yar’Adua had access to all the people who would have given him the true picture if he would believe them. He should have known that telling the world (and Nigerians) that $10 billion had been expended on power projects and “there was nothing to show for it” would raise the type of reaction he got. There is a huge difference between $10 billion and $5 billion. And if the functional available generating capacity in the country was raised from about 1500MW (15 available generating units) in 2000 to 4000MW (36 available generating units) with constant daily generation above 3000MW from end of 2001 even right up to 2007 when Yar’Adua came, and contracts were in place and being implemented to raise that capacity to about 8000MW with corresponding reinforcement of the transmission and distribution networks to all states of the country under the NIPP, the $5 billion was more than justified. I find it difficult to see how all these could be swept off as amounting to “nothing to show for the expenditure that had been committed”. And this is more so when the bulk of the $2.2 billion for NIPP was in letters-of-credit opened by the CBN and still then largely not yet drawn down.

Segun claimed that “while Somolu was correct (in his assertion that only $5.1 billion had been spent) so was Yar’Adua who was talking about the general expenditure (a figure that turned out to be more than $10 billion)”. Now what is “general expenditure”? At my “trial” in the president’s office, after Yar’Adua had raised the poser “exactly how much was really spent?” and the Accountant General of the Federation, DanKwabo (current Governor of Gombe State) had given figures identical to mine, the president appeared rattled before other people present – Minister of Finance, Permanent Secretary (Power), and some others – supplied the rest of the so-called general expenditure. These, according to them, included the amount spent by the oil companies on their joint-venture IPP’s (put at “not less than $2 billion”); the budgetary allocation to Energy Commission of Nigeria (put at “some millions of dollars”); and NEPA’s internally generated revenue (put at “not less than $6 billion). I was amused and angry at the same time. Angry that Yar’Adua was only trying to find out exactly how much had been spent after he had been making his explosive public statement, and amused that he believed those who came to his aid by supplying what were unsubstantiated and unaudited, and irrelevant (in the circumstances) expenditure figures. I wonder why they had not also included all the money Nigerians spend to acquire and run standby generators as part of the “general expenditure on power”.

I negotiated the power purchase agreement for Agip’s Okpai NIPP, the only joint venture IPP then actualized and in operation and knew the cost of their installation was about $500 - $600 million, and NNPC’s share of this cost (which at that time had not been paid) would only be about half of this figure, very far from $2 billion. Including the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s expenses was nonsensical and deliberate falsehood to say the least. The Commission is a research institute and had nothing to do directly with the power sector. Also just as ridiculous was the mention of NEPA’s internally generated revenue in the period which is normally spent to pay staff salaries and other emolument (pension, medicare), offices rental all over the country for marketing units and fault reporting centres, operation-vehicles acquisition and running costs, gas purchases and general maintenance of the system, etc. These expenditures would still have had to be met whether there were new facilities built or not. They are fixed overheads. It is like someone complaining that his under-sized generator cannot carry his house-load despite that he spends so much on maintenance and diesel. Until he buys a bigger generator or additional one, all of his house-load will still remain unserved.

Segun then added that Somolu intervened in a manner that created the impression Yar’ Adua had accused his predecessor of corruption in handling the NIPP. This is not true at all. First I did not make a public statement. I only wrote to the Chief Economic Adviser, Mr Tanimu Yakubu, who had made a presentation when GE visited Yar’Adua that $10 billion had been spent in the power sector and there was nothing to show for it (similar to what Yar’Adua himself said) to tell him the records available to me did not support such assertion, and I supplied a list of all contracts awarded in the power sector by NEPA and the Presidency on NIPP which totaled $5.16 billion. THISDAY newspaper carried my letter verbatim after I was fired by Yar’ Adua (I don’t know their source) on 19th February 2008, and it is clear what I said or what impression I created by my memo.

As for me making an apology for my letter, I did not make any. After all the people at my “trial” had supplied all their spurious figures of “general expenditure in the power sector” showing that the expenditure was “more than the $5.16 billion I had quoted, Yar’Adua then asked what I had to say, I told him I did not see the need for this meeting and that all I would have expected was a reply to my memo pointing out what other expenditures I might not have known about so we could examine their veracity. After all Tanimu and I were colleagues in the Presidency. This made all the people burst out with shouts of “hear what he is saying instead of apologizing”. But I stood my ground since I did not see what there was to apologize about and kept repeating my statement till the President then said the meeting was over and everybody dispersed. Yes I stayed behind to tell the president that it was unfortunate he felt embarrassed about the whole controversy but I assured him my memo could not have been the cause of any press controversy since it was an internal memo. Beyond that I offered no apology for my position. I could not have. There was nothing to apologize for. I knew I was right. The Accountant-General of the Federation confirmed I was right. Even Segun in his column said that much. Why then would I be apologizing?

• Engr. Somolu, former Senior Special Assistant to Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua on Power Sector Reform, and Coordinator of NIPP, wrote in from Lagos

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1. Automechanics

What is your view Guys

Electricity: Getting It Right Finally

22 May 2011 ( This Day Newspaper)
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No policy initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan has excited as much public interest and the imagination of the international community as the launch on August 26, 2010, of the Road Map for the Power Sector Reform, a compendium of short-, medium- and long-term measures-- as well as the costs and timelines—to provide robust electricity in Nigeria. Nine months into the Road Map, the public expectations seem justified. There has been a substantial improvement in power supply across the country. Nigeria now generates 4,000Megawatts. Though this is only 10% the 40,000MW produced by South Africa, it is the greatest quantum of power ever generated in our history. In other words, Nigeria has, under Jonathan’s leadership, generated an additional 1,000MW in just one year. This is impressive by every account.

Yet, the improved power supply we have noticed in the last two months in particular does not owe to only increased power generation. There are two critical factors at play here which are often ignored in popular discourse, namely, system stability and adequate attention now paid to other critical sections of the power supply chain such as transmission and distribution, to say nothing about marketing or revenue generation. System stability may sound abstract to non-technical people or to those outside the power sector, but in elementary terms it refers typically to a situation where the biggest power generating unit in a given environment is set aside as a back-up or reserve margin, that is, it comes up only when there is an unusually high demand or a disruption in the quantum of power ordinarily given out, and the disruption is consequently corrected within a split second. Public electricity supply, as a result, remains stable. Until recently Nigeria used to experience system failures at least twice a month, with all the severe consequences for equipment, plants and appliances and even the people running the system because there was no reserve margin at all. But we have recorded only two system collapses this year. This means that power supply to many Nigerian cities and towns and communities is now stable, a log leap from the days of wild fluctuations. Quite a number of places now receive up to 18 hours of daily supply. The situation can only get better.
The other issue often overlooked in public commentary on the improved supply in Nigeria is that this is the first time in our recent history that considerable attention has been devoted to parts of the power supply chain other than generation. Right from the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, Nigerians have been made to believe that the only solution to our perennial power crisis is to dramatically increase the quantum of power produced in the country. Hence, public discourse has been abuzz with “5,000MW this year”, “10,000MW next year”, etc. But experience has eloquently demonstrated that this is wrong. Last August, for instance, 3,800MW was generated, then the largest quantum of power ever produced in our nation, but no one felt it. In fact, it lasted for a few minutes. The system collapsed. Why? Because the transmission infrastructure was too weak, too dilapidated and too old to wheel this quantum of power from Egbin, Sapele, Kainji, Afam, Jeba and other generation facilities to different parts of the country. It is, therefore, reassuring that Jonathan has approved the installation of the Super Grade transmission facility in Nigeria.
The distribution network has not been wonderful, either. Basic things like distribution transformers, feeder pillars and cables have been neglected over the years. Still, without distribution facilities we cannot have light in our homes, offices and factories. No less important is the marketing arm, which provides revenues for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). It is gratifying to learn the other day from the media that the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) is leading the PHCN to recover billions of naira owed it across the country by consumers, especially the federal and state governments and their agencies. The PHCN, as a business, should be as self sufficient as possible by effectively and efficiently relying on its internally generated revenue.
So much is currently going on in different sections of the power supply chain. Some parts are being replaced, some repaired, some upgraded, new ones added and some others are being modernised. About 3000 distribution transformers, for instance, have been installed in recent times throughout the country. Ironically, these works have in many instances meant cessation of power supply to affected areas for several hours, days and even weeks as the case may be. PHCN officers seldom explain to the people affected, let alone apologise for the power interruptions.
Things are, indeed, looking up. Power generation will jump to 5,000MW by the end of this year from the present 4,000MW. It will climb to 6,000MW next year, to 10,000MW in 2013 and 14,000MW in 2014. No wonder that buoyed by the business prospect in the power, as many as 331 firms took part in the Expressions of Interest (EoIs) when the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) called for them as the first step in the privatization of 17 PHCN successor companies. No less impressive is the calibre of the firms, which include Essar of India, a $15billion company which last October at the Presidential Retreat at State House, Abuja, pledged to invest a whopping $2b in our power sector if we maintain the reform momentum; Tata, also of India, which recently acquired the world famous Rolls Royce of the United Kingdom; Manitoba Electricity Corporation of Canada; and the Israeli Electricity Company. Not to be forgotten is NRECA , the world’s largest electricity distribution company which accounts for 10% of the one million megawatts produced in the whole of the United States. These international firms, apparently, do not want to miss out on Nigeria as Vodacom did in 2001when it refused to invest in the Nigerian GSM telephony market, only to bite its fingers endlessly when it saw how smaller companies like the MTN, Glo and Airtel were cleaning out, as the Americans would say. Return on investment in Nigeria remains among the highest in the world.
With President Jonathan receiving an overwhelming mandate in the April 16 election, he has to accelerate the pace of the power sector reform. The privatisation of all 17 PHCN generation and distribution companies has to be concluded this year. Good a thing that labour issues are all but concluded. PHCN employees have received N57b for the monetisation benefits denied them since 2003. Over N147b has been provided in the budget since last year for the prompt payment of benefits when government’s stake in the PHCN successor companies is diluted considerably this year. A substantial percentage of shares is being reserved for them so that they can become part owners of the PHCN successor firms. The issue of thousands of PHCN employees remaining casual workers for years, which is unacceptable, is being sorted out. With the private sector now driving public electricity supply, more and more people will be employed in the power sector and they will enjoy pay and conditions of service comparable to what their colleagues in the MTN, Airtel and Glo enjoy. What is more, they will work with state of the art facilities, apart from having the experience of travelling abroad from time to time.
The Presidential Task Force on Power has inspired the confidence of all Nigerians. Could have done so if it been headed by a professional politician, rather than a technocrat of international renown, Prof Bart Nnaji? Given the critical nature of power in Nigeria, there is no justification for upholding the bizarre tradition where the Ministry of Power has always been headed by greenhorns in the power sector, a tradition that makes the ministry underperform from year to year. Jonathan should chart a new direction.
•Chief Makanjuola, an engineer, is coordinator, National Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria and Chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority Welfare Association, Lagos State Chapter.
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I am bothered about my Job and relevancy, new management and everything is happening very fast. I am looking for life line.

Please i am looking for where to get piglets urgently for my farm
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Tunde Bakare’s house burnt
• Another bomb blast rocks Kaduna
By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
Saturday, April 23, 2011


[b]• Bakare
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Barely one week after the presidential election, tragedy struck the household of vice presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, when his Lagos home was gutted by fire yesterday. No life was lost.

Saturday Sun gathered that the fire, which affected a section of the building, on Abiodun Olaiya Street, off Adefowope, Awuse Estate, Opebi, Lagos and caused substantial damage. It started at about 4pm.

Family members could not say exactly where the fire started or its cause, but revealed they suddenly discovered thick smoke. According to them, before help could come, the fire spread and affected at least three rooms in the building.
Sources revealed that as soon as the fire was noticed, the fire service was alerted, but before fire-fighter arrived, great damage had been done.
When Saturday Sun visited the area last night, two fire buses were leaving the scene after putting put out the fire.

Attempts to gain entry into the compound proved abortive, as policemen and other aides of the pastor of Latter-Rain Assembly stopped visitors. They only allowed people they could identify into the compound.
Speaking to Saturday Sun yesterday, on phone, from Abuja, spokesman of the presidential candidate of CPC and former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said that the cause of the fire had not been ascertained.
Also commenting on the accident, police public relations officer, Lagos State Police command, Mr. Jinadu, said the cause of the fire was not yet known. He confirmed that policemen had been drafted to the place to ensure security.

Last night, friends and associates of Bakare trooped in to identify with him. Most of them, who came with police orderlies and other security personnel were allowed in. It could not be ascertained if Bakare was in last night, but a young man, who came out of the compound, told Saturday Sun that the pastor-turned politician would make a statement on the fire later. At the time of going to the press, the pastor had not spoken.

In a related development, a bomb last night exploded in a private house in Rafin Guza, Kaduna, near the quarters of the state’s legislators. Three people were feared killed in the explosion, with many others injured. This is coming one week after a bomb exploded in a hotel in the city.

It was gathered that the bomb went off at about 7pm. At the time of going to press, our reporter could not ascertain the owner of the building owing to curfew, which was imposed on the city following the violence that rocked Kaduna after the release of the presidential election results.

The police, however, told Saturday Sun that a team of the bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the area immediately news of the explosion was received.

[/b]




At least he should fell what others in the north feel wit is Extremist Boko Buhari

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Visafone Acquires Multilinks in Landmark Deal

03 Apr 2011
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Jim Ovia ,Visafone Chairman

Visafone, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing mobile operators, has further strengthened its market position by acquiring Multilinks Communications Limited’s CDMA mobile assets.
The Multilinks acquisition further cements Visafone as the leader of all CDMA mobile phone operators in Africa. Multilinks is arguably the oldest mobile phone company in Nigeria, having been in operation in the country for over 15 years.

Multilinks has an enviable, high quality subscriber base, some of which have been on their network before the mobile telephony explosion in Nigeria.
The combined entity of Visafone and Multilinks creates a total active subscriber base of 4.2 million. This new union now amasses a coverage area that cuts across over 85% of Nigeria’s land mass.
Jim Ovia, Chairman and Founder of Visafone, is strategically redefining and reshaping the CDMA mobile marketplace in terms of both voice and data.
In a signing ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday, March 31, 2011, with Jeffrey Hedberg, Chief Executive Officer of Telkom, the parent company of Multilinks, Jim Ovia stated that “Visafone recognises that this deal will solidify its position in the Nigerian marketplace and is committed to offering world-class voice and data solutions to existing Multilinks customers.
“This transaction brings us closer to achieving our target of 10 million subscribers within three years. We believe that the superior technology offered by CDMA, combined with a subscriber base of 4.2 million active subscribers will enable Visafone to continue as a game-changing innovator in the Nigerian marketplace.
“Multilinks customers will be afforded the same high quality of network and customer service as existing Visafone subscribers enjoy.”
Multilinks has assured its customers that it would continue to offer high level of service and support during this transition period.
Tags: News, Nigeria, Featured

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Visafone Acquires Multilinks in Landmark Deal

03 Apr 2011
Font Size: a / A

Jim Ovia ,Visafone Chairman

Visafone, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing mobile operators, has further strengthened its market position by acquiring Multilinks Communications Limited’s CDMA mobile assets.
The Multilinks acquisition further cements Visafone as the leader of all CDMA mobile phone operators in Africa. Multilinks is arguably the oldest mobile phone company in Nigeria, having been in operation in the country for over 15 years.

Multilinks has an enviable, high quality subscriber base, some of which have been on their network before the mobile telephony explosion in Nigeria.
The combined entity of Visafone and Multilinks creates a total active subscriber base of 4.2 million. This new union now amasses a coverage area that cuts across over 85% of Nigeria’s land mass.
Jim Ovia, Chairman and Founder of Visafone, is strategically redefining and reshaping the CDMA mobile marketplace in terms of both voice and data.
In a signing ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday, March 31, 2011, with Jeffrey Hedberg, Chief Executive Officer of Telkom, the parent company of Multilinks, Jim Ovia stated that “Visafone recognises that this deal will solidify its position in the Nigerian marketplace and is committed to offering world-class voice and data solutions to existing Multilinks customers.
“This transaction brings us closer to achieving our target of 10 million subscribers within three years. We believe that the superior technology offered by CDMA, combined with a subscriber base of 4.2 million active subscribers will enable Visafone to continue as a game-changing innovator in the Nigerian marketplace.
“Multilinks customers will be afforded the same high quality of network and customer service as existing Visafone subscribers enjoy.”
Multilinks has assured its customers that it would continue to offer high level of service and support during this transition period.
Tags: News, Nigeria, Featured

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link, www.businessdayonline.com

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a centrist, non-ideological “rally” has dominated Nigerian democracy since 1999. Having controlled the presidency, National Assembly and most state governorships and legislative houses for 12 years, it often has not acted as if it fully appreciates the weight of its moral and political responsibility! PDP can claim to be the party of national unity (evidently the bonds of power and money are deeper than tribe, tongue and faith!), economic reform and international acceptance. In the South-South, North-Central and South-East, PDP is the default party, and in the North, it is often the party of the mainstream establishment.

Ex-President Obasanjo reformed telecommunications; negotiated Nigeria’s re-acceptance into the international community and restored a sense of nationhood that dangerously tethered on the edge during Abacha’s days of terror. In his second term, Obasanjo assembled a strong economic team leading to the elimination of Nigerian foreign debt; pension reforms; banking consolidation; macroeconomic stability and strong fiscal management. He was less successful on social reforms with education, health and social infrastructure remaining sub-optimal and poverty endemic. Even though he eventually developed the right template for power sector reforms (Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005), Obasanjo failed in its implementation. Umaru Yar’adua’s tenure recorded only one major achievement-the Niger-Delta amnesty.

The PDP’s greatest failings are the quality of democratic practice, shameful elections conducted in 2003 and 2007 and deepening of corruption in Nigeria. Fortunately for the party, its opponents cannot claim substantive qualitative difference as politicians cross from party to party opportunistically such that sensible voters have now learnt to evaluate candidates for political office on the basis of individual assessments. When President Goodluck Jonathan became substantive president in May 2010, just 10 months ago, I wrote “Memo to Goodluck Jonathan” in which I argued (consistent with opinions expressed by other commentators and newspaper editorials) that given the short time at his disposal, he should concentrate on limited priorities-power, electoral reform and Niger-Delta. On each of these, the president scores an A!

He unveiled an excellent power sector road map designed to place the sector under private sector ownership and management; and executed it leading to expressions of interest from over 331 credible local and international investors. I will personally like Jonathan and Professor Barth Nnaji to conclude the implementation of this road map!!! Especially as his main opponents do not seem to understand what is required to reform the sector. In the short term, power production has reportedly risen to 4,000 MW. Current oil production figures of 2.6million barrels per day are a clear indicator of success of Jonathan’s Niger-Delta policy, (in spite of the activities of a strange “MEND” whose strategic objectives seem to tally with those of the “Northern Political Leaders Forum” (NPLF) rather than the Niger-Delta!!!) Jonathan appointed Professor Attahiru Jega INEC chairman and has conducted fairly credible elections in Anambra (where PDP lost) and Delta States. He provided every funding requested by INEC and freed up the political space, including by restoring ACN candidate Nuhu Ribadu’s AIG rank and permitting him and Nasir El-Rufai return from exile.

I do not know the point at which public opinion (or mass hysteria?) evolved into expecting Jonathan to solve in ten months all the problems of the Nigerian state accumulated over 5o years of independence, a clearly irrational expectation!!! But surprisingly Jonathan has recorded other successes. Education-new national secondary curriculum; highest budgetary allocation for education in 2011 budget proposals; a policy of establishing centres for entrepreneurial development in all federal universities; “Almajiri” education policy; and establishment of nine new federal universities; transportation-revival of rail systems; upgrading the Enugu airport to international status; achieving total radar coverage and US Category 3 status permitting resumption of direct flights; new terminal building at Aminu Kano Airport Kano; labour-new minimum wage and constitutional amendment on National Industrial Court.

Gas and Energy-”gas revolution” policy framework for leveraging gas for industrialisation; $3bn Oando/AGIP gas processing plant; petrochemical plant and several fertiliser plants in conjunction with foreign investors; refineries reportedly working at capacity and absence of fuel queues; roads-multiple ongoing road projects, including East-West and Coastal Road; citizens engagement on Facebook and proactive actions to rescue Nigerians in Egypt and Libya; revival of textile sector through government support; several industrial intervention funds for aviation, SMEs, entertainment, manufacturing, power etc; foreign policy-sensible diplomatic posture leading to strong roles in ECOWAS, UN and bilateral relations. Despite permutations, he united the PDP behind him trouncing the formidable Atiku Abubakar during the party’s primaries. In spite of severe provocations, he successfully navigated minefields during the Yar’adua vacuum and thereafter. He may yet deliver on important legislations-Sovereign Wealth Fund, Freedom of Information, and Petroleum Industry Bills and has already passed AMCON, minimum wage and money laundering/anti-terrorism bills.

Jonathan can claim to be the candidate of national unity, a federation of co-equal nationalities and national integration, freedom and openness, power sector reform, education and critical infrastructure. His major weakness is his party, but in spite of that, I think he is the sensible choice in these elections! I score him 7 for personal qualities; 6 on vision and leadership; 7 for policy platform and manifesto; 6 on economic management; 4 on anti-corruption; 8 for international relations; 8 on national unity and stability; 8 on democracy and institution-building; 7 for human rights, press freedom and open society; 6 for administration and execution and 6 bonus marks for his running-mate totalling 73 out of a possible 110 marks.




WHAT IS YOUR VIEW?

Oolumide, you're so dumb, your ignorance is shocking, repulsive, and above all, extremely offensive. You've come into this thread trying to cheaply sell yourself as an exceptionally 'rationally' reasoning individual far above other Nigerians, but ironically, the instance you quote has only come to show how ignorant you are. How can you quote the PMAN incident when you have zero knowledge on the issue?
Thankfully, here's a link to Banky W's Facebook note on the incident, adequate to put you and your juvenile intelligence to shame:

www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150099996064089

Please, in case of next time, learn to read and research on issues before exposing us to your underdeveloped knowledge.


Dear Seun Osewa,

I am sure when you set out to bring nairaland to Nigerians, you mite not have thot that it may get this large and continue to grow, however, I thank God for your life and initiatives, and i hope this project continues to grow.

Above is a fellow nairalander response to my comments on this particular post. I don't know WHO the fellow is, but i say to you somedays back i thot very well about nairaland and i thot of boycotting the site. That was even before i read this, but i had a mind of writing directly to you first.

Severally I have wondered why many nairalanders abuse several nairalanders on issues that shoudnt be, severally making contributors to abandon the main discussion and focus other negative comments emanating from abuse and deriding discussion.

I wonder why the poster here should use such abusive words like this on me, check my records, i rarely post on nairaland except on issues i feel very strongly about, however, i am always on nairaland from morning till nite, In the past 8 months there is no single day that i do not visit nairaland cos it is always one of the few avenues through which i keep abreast of happenings in Nigeria and world over.

But Seun, I am getting tired of Reading abusive comments on this site, you must do something about it or you will lose a lot of people on the site.

My not visiting nairaland will not mean a thing to you and your team, because it will be a lone voice in the wilderness, but then, it is worth paying attention to, I think you should make this site a zero tolerance on abusive speech. I hope you read and respond to this post

Back to this poster, I implore you to please desist from abusing people but rater address issues, you don't ave monopoly of such speech, but i will never succumb to your ploy to drag me into such, i wis you well in your endeavors