₦airaland Forum

I have been observing the reported military onslaught on the Niger Delta, and I'm left with some disturbing observations.
Honestly, I am begining to doubt our military's true capabilities.
These questions keep ringing in my head:

1) The[b] JTF/Military[/b] claimed to have dealt a heavy blow on the MEND/Militants.
My question: How come no militants have been arrested? How come there are no dead bodies of the militants? How come there are no figures to the number of militants killed.
On the other hand, there are numerous reports that the military has lost almost 20 soldiers if not more.

2)[/b]How come the [b]MEND/Militants were able to destroy five critical flow station pipelines yesterday when the JTF/Military is said to have taken over the creeks.

3)[/b]Why haven't any journalists, local or Foreign been allowed to independently assess the situation in the creeks? To the best of my knowledge, in the heat of the Iraq war, CNN, BBC and the likes were allowed freedom to film and report as the war proceeded. This is not even a war, how come no journalists are  reporting.

I'm neutral. I care less about the[b] military or the[b] militants[/b], they are both fighters and killers, but I'm  thinking the Militants are acting more responsibly than the military. Bad that they are kidnappers, but they haven't killed innocent citizens like the JTF is doing.

The Government labels the militants Oil theives! What immorality. A pot is calling a kettle black.
If theft of oil is a justification for attacking the militant camps, then the first place to attack should be politicians homes in Abuja.
The biggest thieves in Nigeria are the politicians. Their theft is responsible for all the problems Nigeria faces. We read daily of billions they steal. We see it in the houses they build, the cars they drive and and stashes of foreign currency they place in offshore bank accounts.

My Fear however, is the mentality of these Abuja/ Yar Adua types. By Abuja I mean the politicians in the executive and the legislative arm of Government from all states in Nigeria. By Abuja/YarAdua types I also mean the Northern Cabal that has held and keeps holding the Nation Hostage for selfish reasons that haven't been able to lift their citizens from abject poverty.
Why is it much easier to plan and execute a military operation , than to plan and execute a proper development program not just for the Niger Delta, but for the whole nation.

I see a very tactical blunder by Abuja in their decision to attack the militants. If the MEND succeeds in diminishing the country's capacity to export crude, where will Government get the finances to pay salaries, to import crude, to finance the already hugely deficited budgets, etc?
The cost to the Nation would be enormous and we might then begin to understand that the Niger Delta really lays the eggs that feed the nation.

The Federal government said (even b4 the present crises) it loses approximately N9 billion daily to the crisis in the Niger Delta.
That is N90 billion in ten days and N900 billion in 100 days.
In a year that is a whooping 3.3 trillion Naira! These are real figures, they aren't made up!

If you take just a quarter of that amount say 800 billion and expend it judiciously on infrastructural and human capacity development in the Niger
Delta, I bet you, the problem would be solved for ever. The citizens of the Niger Delta would be the first to throw stones at any militant that dares to kidnap even a monkey!

My point is simple. No amount of ammunitions on the part of the Federal Government would solve the problem. The solution lies in one word! Sincerety! A sincere desire to solve the problem is all it takes.
If it is easy to use N247 billion on just one road in Abuja,  why should it be so hard to expend judiciously in the areas that contribute the most.

A sincere desire to solve the problems would lead us to true federalism. True federalism doesn't necessarily mean full resource control.
True federalism would allow each and every area develop itself to its full capacity. That should solve to a large part, the problem in the Niger Delta.

biina:
Thai Obayashi is a Thailand based construction firm. http://www.thaiobayashi.co.th/
Though that doesn't preclude the location from not being lagos, as I cant recognize any of the structures in the background

The word "Thai Obayashi" is not the full reason I feel it is in Thailand.
The inscription beneath and besides the word "SAFETY" is written in Thai alphabets. That is enough reason to prove that it is a construction site in Thailand.

Pictures speak a thousand words. Using a wrong picture to support the story puts doubts in the minds of the reader as to the authenticity of the article.
"Maybe the State Government isn't transforming Lagos into a huge construction site, since there are no pictures to prove it".

[quote author=Sammy107_d link=topic=276337.msg3922019#msg3922019 date=1243277541]is that lagos in d pic?[/quote]The attached part of the pic seems to prove this to be Thailand!

Man, comot your address from there. Your email is sufficient. It's called precaution. You never know who is watching!

Nice. At least, compared to other state government sites.
How come you don't have pictures of Imo state in it?
And, I'm thinking a slightly darker shade of green might work better(I'm not certain).

beavers007:
Please don't send Resumes/CVs.

Aren't resumes one heck of an unnecessary necessity??

@Topic
As much as I agree with you that many State Governors are just building Airports so that they themselves would be able to fly direct to Abuja, I do think that we need new airports in Lagos, an upgrade or a new one in Port Harcourt , and the upcoming Asaba Airport is good for the Onitsha & Anambra business community.
For those South Koreans, at least they have one of the best societies in the world already! Hopefully someday those Airports would be useful 2 them.

JJYOU:
benin has an under utilised airport . these are the kind of madness we are talking about.  why must he spend money building airport in  asaba that would be used mainly by onitsha business men?  is he giving warri / effurn business community another one?

these are the curse of politics in nigeria

@JJYOU
This is ignorance in action.
Did you say Benin Airport is underutilised?
Benin Airport is now the 4th busiest airport in Nigeria after Lagos, Abuja and PortHarcourt.
Also U seem unaware that Warri has an airport. Warri Airport is not only the Fifth busiest airport in Nigeria, it is the best in terms of the quality of facilities.
Both Warri and Benin Airports are so busy that if you don't get to the airport on time you'd hardly get a flight.
The Asaba Airport is very strategic. Onitsha, which is the largest and most commercial city in the east is just 10 minutes drive from Asaba. When that Airport comes on stream, I expect it to become the fourth busiest airport in the country.

That is the best answer I've heard in a while. What an answer!!
Now I like Farrakhan!!
"How dare you call Nigeria the most corrupt Nation in the world". . . . . . . then he fires America in Mike Wallace's face!!!!!
Wooow! I'm sweating!!

Thanks.
I would probably not have learnt this anywhere else. Thanks Blacksta.

@Biina
I must admit, I underestimated ur intellectual capacity,assumed you are a layman, so I kind of stated my points on a weak platform, so u've appeared to have nailed them with ur response.

On the real, How do you assess performance?
You'll judge either based on actions on the Job description, Peer Review Mechanism or on a much higher level, you'd assess performance based on innovativeness and ability to turn theoretical representations into implemented realities.

Based on all four criteria for assessing performance, Soludo has an oustanding record.
First, his job description simply put includes Issuance of Legal tender (Money), Management of external reserves,maintenance of monetary stability(Inflation control), The Federal Government's bank, and finally Lender of last resort to our commercial banks.
Based on the Job description stated, you cannot fault Soludo. Infact, he out performed.

Secondly, using peer review mechanism, his predecessors are no match in any way and I wouldn't want to argue that because it is so obvious.
If you want to take it further and compare him with other Central Bank Governors worldwide, you'd definitely find him in the top tier. He was given an award to that effect by a reputable organization not too long ago.

On Innovation, his theories are not only original, they are micro targeted to the specific needs of the Nigerian economy.

And finally, and this is the single fact that distinguishes him from the rest. He designs a theory that looks impossible on paper, pushes it through all the hoops associated with the Nigerian system and implements it successfully. Only then do the skeptics start coming on board.
Very few thought the consolidation would be a success, very few thought any banks would be able to beat the deadline. But today we have the results.

Soludo,I must conclude is the best thing that has happened to the Nigerian economy ever.

Did I just hear Psquare say they earn $100,000 per show in African countries? WoooooooooH!!!
So just ten good shows and they have a cool million bucks!!

Asides,
@Blacksta
How do you embed videos onto a website? Abeg teach me!

CNN seems to be changing their reporting style on Nigeria.

For once this looks more like reasonable reporting.

Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O8fVW7znc8

biina:
Why do people keep on saying someone has done a great job and yet fail to list exactly what he has done that is great

Nigerians need to learn to objectively evaluate politicians and political appointees, and not just echo the sentiments of others.

Ok Biina. .  . I'm gonna help you!
I 'm going to bore you out by listing 10 great things Soludo did!

1)Banking ConSOULDOtion
The banking consoludotion is the best thing that ever happened to the Nigerian economy. The concept and implementation of the Soludo's strategy is going to be studied in universities and top class economic institutions worldwide for ages to come.

2) Increase in loan/credit ratio.
Loans/Credits given to Nigerians have risen from 1.1 trillion Naira before Soludo to above 7 trillion Naira as at last year. That's an outstanding increase by whatever measurement.

3) Strengthening of our Local banks
Pre-soludo, the 89 banks in Nigeria put together were smaller than the 4th largest South African Bank (I think Nedbank). Post-Soludo, any of our top five banks singularly can compete favorably with NedBank and other big banks.

4) Exchange rate stabilization
For the first time in almost 30 years, Nigeria witnessed a strengthening of the Naira against major currencies for a large part of Soludo's tenure. The recent decline is global and cuts across all countries, hence cannot be faulted on Soludo. This happened in less than 5 years.

5)Fastest Growing banks in The world.
Nigerian banks have moved from oblivion to becoming the fastest growing banks in the world. All this is as a result of a carefully crafted policy implememtation orchestrated by General Soludo. We now have 5 banks in the top 500 worldwide.

6)Micro Finance banking.
By Soludo's design, Micro finance banks have lit the Nigerian landscape and are dishing out loans to the poor. This in itself serves as a massive economic stimulant for the nation.

7) Jobs, Jobs ,Jobs.
Pre-Soludo(Banking Jobs)-Probably Less than 30,000.
Post-Soludo(Banking Jobs)- Over 100,000 and much more to come.

FSS 2020 Strategy.
If you read with understanding Soludo's FSS 2020 strategy, you'll be awed. But I'll permit you if you can't understand it, as only those that understand the theory of development would appreciate the strategic design of that document.

9)African Finance Corporation.
Although, it has been slowed down by YarAdua, this is another of Soludo's feats in the making.

10)Finally, but there are many, many more.
The spread of Nigerian banks across the world. Starting with Africa, Nigerian banks are going global and moving into Europe and America.
Just a reminder- Pre Soludo there was no real, strong and operational Nigerian Bank outside our shores. Now the list of nations is endless. UK, US, Cayman Islands, South Africa, throughtout West Africa, Rwanda, and a host of other countries.

But for space, I wouldn't mention the growth in the use of ATMs from less than a million cards pre-Soludo to over 45 million cards last year, or the numerous awards Nigerian banks have garnered internationally, or the preservation/accumulation of our largest Foreign reserves ever for use on a rainy day like today.

Hey Biina. the list is endless but I don't wanna bore you out already.

I would think Cyprus is very open and tuition cheap, but living expenses are quite high.
UAE and Qatar might also be good. They are very international.
Then Turkey might be cheaper, especially if you study outside the larger cities.

Nairawise: Dbanj

Dollarwise: Tuface

Nonsense!!!
Just because she acts responsibly and hasn't given herself to all the guys around, now you call her gay!
Nonsense!
The Lady Asa is the biggest star Nigeria has produced internationally and it won't be long b4 she's nominated for a Grammy.
Badbelle ain't gonna stop her!

Still the best and even better!!

Its addictive!

What areas do you invest in.

Get a real estate agent. They should help.

Look for a company to hire it from you.

I think it depends on the city they operate.

Hmmmmmmmm!

Daaaammmmmnnnn!!
The dude makes Pidgin English sound even cooler!!

[quote author=Frank-C link=topic=267770.msg3808620#msg3808620 date=1241191737], and our beloved Yar'dua is helping us apprehend them. Can we just take a step backwards, look towards the scene and try to interpret the political equation with more logic and less emotions?[/quote]Thank You!

OKEYCHIVIV:
Our President-Ya'adua has spent two years in the office.All these while,he has tried to impliment his 7-point agenda that will turn Nigeria around for good.How do you rate him,if his stay in office depends on your judgement,would you want him to stay or step down.Please judge him-OBJECTIVELY.

No. Point of correction. All the while he has talked about the seven point agenda.
There is a strong difference between talking and implementing. Funnily he hasn't even taken steps to implement any programme, talkess of implementing. In my opinion, he only talks about seven point agenda.

Implementing is easy to see. Fashola is working on his Mega City goals and everybody can see the process of implementation.
My grade for Yar Adua on a scale of 100 is 15 points. And I'm giving him those 15 points on sympathetic grounds considering his health.

Badriyyah:
I hope it stays like that. I don't think Nigeria needs something like this right now.

I hope so too! I also hope to are prepared for even the remotest possibility.

[quote author=*Toyinrayo link=topic=267680.msg3806889#msg3806889 date=1241139547]A N
Y W[/quote]G
Bed!!!
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to


@Topic
The press is a mess!!

ElRazur:
Muslims are terrorist.

Ghanaians are dark black and have a funny shaped-head.

Hausa are nothing but cattle rearers.

[Only a few would see what I did there]

It is called stereotyping! And it is a form on which majority of us humans base our judgements, ElRazur inclusive!
I do think stereotyping, for the sake of discussions is fair game!


@Topic
I am Nigerian and I think I've met/seen more of the wrong type of Nigerians than the good ones. The bad does outweigh the good, especially offshore. But still there are a lot of great Nigerians
Sometimes,  a dose of the truth pill does taste bitter.

I'll give it to Fashola for the simple fact that he knows where he is going and has a pretty good idea of what he wants to achieve.

I don't know much about Jakande, aside some dilapidated estates named after him  in Lagos. To the best of my knowledge, Lagos got most of its infrastructure through Gowon during the 70's Oil boom. He must have been good though.

For Marwa, I think considering the fact that he was not an Indigene of the state plus he was military,  I'd give him kudos for the little he did .He tried!

And six weeks later, Intercontinental Bank is still standing strong.

And for the Dayo Coker guy,  below is the last posting on his blog:

I wish him well!