₦airaland Forum

topsyking: Wat do u mean abut lay low..wat do u no..d only tin I can say tinubu did for me when he was d governor, was the payment of our NECO exam fee..our sets 2000 was the first to start NECO exam and tinubu paid for us then

topsyking: Foooools who told u he is from Osun ....he is a lagosian..born and bred frm lagos.
It didn't surprise me a bit cos na his former commissioner be d governor there....very soon he will go to oyo for the Aare Ona kakanfo title...

The re-elected governor of Ondo State Olusegun Mimiko, Labour Party candidate.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega has admitted that there were some irregularities and imperfections in the October 20, 2012, governorship election in Ondo State.

In an interview with LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in Washington, DC, United States, on Thursday night, Jega said: "To be honest, there were some imperfections and irregularities during the just-concluded governorship poll in Ondo State. The irregularities were very few compared to all the other elections we have conducted since April 2011.

"For example, in Ilaje area, we had a situation where some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members disappeared on the election day and we had to cancel results in about 25 wards; the number of wards cancelled did not affect the final result but it is an unfortunate thing that there were such irregularities because these are people who have signed up for election duty and they disappeared when they were needed."

The INEC chairman stated further that there are always irregularities in any election but noted that the most important thing is that such irregularities should not constitute factors that can affect the success of elections.

Speaking on the allegations of the opposition parties that the election was rigged in favour of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Jega said: "You know politicians can say anything they like and you cannot stop people from making accusations or allegations, but if they have any evidence, let them go and prove it in the court.

"It is clear and the fact of the matter is that we trained corps members. We knew they were supposed to come and collect materials and, suddenly, they did not come to collect those materials; they disappeared. And you know there was nothing we could do than to make sure that no election took place in the affected areas. If election did not take place, you couldn"t declare results in those places."

Earlier at a seminar tagged "Towards the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria", held at the Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, Jega said that the electoral body was striving to make 2015 elections substantially better than 2011 by drawing lessons and factoring them into the commission's preparations for the polls.

He also berated Nigerian politicians who often make use of their resources and influence to exhibit what he called "do or die mentality", stressing that INEC would continue to work on such politicians in order to achieve remarkable improvement in the 2015 elections in Nigeria.

He also said that electoral offences are often committed in Nigeria with impunity, adding that this was the reason the electoral body supports the calls for the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal that will be handling the prosecution of electoral offenders.

Speaking on the preparations of INEC for the 2015 elections, Jega promised that it would improve on stakeholders' consultations, increase civic and voter education, refine and improve use of technology and accreditation, improve in the training of electoral officers and increase transparency and integrity of the country's electoral process.

dayokanu: Vote ke? I am a citizen of Ogbomosho

funshint: May oyo state never go back to d locust years of Ladoja-Adedibu-Akala PDP led administration; can I hear a resounding Amen!

The Osun State Government and the State of Saxony-Anhalt in the Federal Republic of Germany are working towards a partnership on agriculture.

At a dinner in honour of seven German experts in agriculture, held at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said he was eager to see how the experts could improve agriculture in the state.

The experts are on a week’s visit to the state to return a visit by officials of the Osun State Government, led by the governor, to the German state in May.

Aregbesola said: “I am full of expectation of the prospects this relationship will bring to our people and your state. At the end, the potentials of our state would be harnessed for rapid development.

“The state is full of potentials that can be tapped. We have abundant mineral resources and a rich culture. I am eager to see how your expertise can enhance farming here through the transfer of knowledge by training and technology.

“I am full of expectations and believe your visit will be mutually beneficial to both parties.”

He urged the experts not to limit themselves to farming, but to exploit other potentials of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the experts, the Dean of the Martin Luther King University, Halley, Prof. Peter Wycsk, assured the governor that their visit would lead to an effective collaboration between both states and improve Osun’s economy.

Wycsk said they would study Osun’s agricultural programmes and suggest ways to improve them.

He said: “We have come here to give you our best and that is not money, but knowledge.”

The experts will tour the Cattle Ranch at Oloba Farm, the Iwo Farm Settlement, the Toro Farm in Iwo and the Feg-Agro Farm in Iloko-Ijesha, among others.

There will also be a technical review session involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment and the Osun State University.

Based on the impending global food shortage, German experts have assured the government of the State of Osun of its assistance in improving agricultural practice in the state.

The team of experts made up of 7-men was drawn from German agriculture sector, farmers' co-operative system soil scientists, animal husbandry and other areas. The partnership is said to be between the Government of Osun and the German State of Saxony Anhalt.

This came to fore when Governor Rauf Aregbesola received the team at the Government House on Sunday, saying that the collaboration effort between Osun and Saxon Anhalt State hinges mainly on how to improve agriculture and food security of Osun.

Aregbesola hinted that his visit to the German state earlier in May 2012 brought about the agreement and the visit of the experts.
The cooperation, described as first of its kind in Nigeria, is expected to concentrate on how to modernise, mechanise and improve on the existing agricultural activities of the state, and also guaranteeing increased food security for the people of the state.

During their one-week stay, the German experts will visit the Cattle Ranch at Oloba Farm, Iwo Farm Settlement,Toro Farm in Iwo and Feg-Agro Farm in Iloko-Ijesha to mention a few.

Also, there will be technical review session involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives and empowerment and the Osun State University.

The governor therefore solicited for the help of the Germans noting that the state was well endowed with resources yet untapped in the area of agriculture.
"The state is full of potential that can be tapped. We have abundant mineral resources and rich culture.
"I am eager to see how your expertise can enhance farming potential of our people through transfer of knowledge by training and technology.

"I am full of expectation and believe that your visit will be mutually beneficial to both our people and your people; our state and your state and our country and your country," Aregbesola stated.

On his part, the spokesperson for the delegate, Professor Peter Wyscle said they would engage and discuss intensely on the existing agriculture efforts of the government and proffer possible solutions.
Wyscle affirmed that his team expected to see impressive situations on how thing are and seek possible improvement.

He added, "We've come here to give you the best thing we have. And that is not money but knowledge.”
Already, the team, led by officials of the state government has commenced its state-wide tour of agricultural projects in the state today (Monday).

By Festus Akanbi;

There are indications that Nigeria’s trade policy has placed it above other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa as it accounts for about 30 percent of the entire exports of the Sub-Saharan African countries to the outside world.

However, the international financial advisory firm, Renaissance Capital, which made the disclosure said the sheer volume of Nigeria’s exports makes the country vulnerable to the current global economic downturn.

Rencap, in its latest report titled “Sub-Saharan Africa: Export Patterns-How Trade Dependencies Have Changed,” said Nigeria is SSA’s biggest exporter to the rest of the world.
“Almost 30% of SSA’s exports outside the region originate in Nigeria, and three countries – Nigeria, SA and Angola – dominate extra-regional exports, accounting for 70% of the total, implying that SSA’s exposure to a global downturn through trade is concentrated in these three countries. We believe the impact on Nigeria and Angola is mitigated by their limited exposure to the EU.

Nigeria is said to have exported non-oil products worth over $1.40 billion this year. The figure represents about 11 per cent decline from the over $1.43 billion recorded over the same period last year.

Value of the exported goods for January was put at $161.6 million dollars compared to $307.2 million realised a year ago.

The Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), David Adulugba, had put the value of non-oil export for the first and second quarters of the year at $660.1million and $686.2 million as against $818.8 million and $676.2 million recorded for the same period in 2011.

According to him, Nigeria exported non-oil products worth $242.9 million in February, this year compared to $273.6 million recorded in the same period last year, adding that Nigeria exported non-oil products worth $255.7 million and $220.6 million in March and April, this year, as against $237.9 million and $250.6 million recorded for 2011.

Meanwhile, the nation’s growth was said to have softened in 2012 to less than 7% on the back of a slowdown in the non-oil sector’s activity, particularly Agriculture and wholesale and retail trade, owing to insecurity in Northern parts of the country.

Rencap explained that floods have also threatened to further undermine growth in 2H12. “We project growth of 6.3% in 2012, down from 7.4% in 2011. Floods also increase the upside risk to inflation, with inflation likely to return to the low double digits and the policy rate likely to remain flat at 12% in the short term,” Rencap said.

In a similar vein, watchers of the unfolding scenario in the global market said trade is the channel through which SSA experiences the most severe effect of a global downturn.

Rencap in its report maintained that SSA economies like Nigeria that largely trade with US, which is facing the challenges in its fiscal policy, may experience slower demand in 2013, whereas the region experiencing the worst downturn – the EU (such as Southern Africa) – and/or have high export/GDP ratios (such as the Republic of Congo) are most exposed to the slowdown in global growth we expect in 2012 and 2013.

As at today, China is now SSA’s biggest bilateral trade partner. This is because the country in 2009 surpassed the US to become SSA’s biggest trade partner.

It, however, singled out countries (such as Angola) with greater exposure to emerging markets (EM), particularly China as those that will not be unaffected, given the softening of growth in these economies, which has challenged the decoupling argument. “The US fiscal cliff implies that SSA economies that are big exporters to the US may experience slower demand in 2013,” the report stated.

Port Harcourt — There have been good neighbours for decades, but the age-long bond is being tested by disputed oil wells at their common borders.

Unless there is a middle ground at the end of the meeting called by President Goodluck Jonathan to broker peace in the on-going crisis between Rivers and Bayelsa States over the disputed oil wells, the situation may degenerate into anarchy, concerned indigenes of the two sister states feared.

Weekly Trust learnt that youths from the two feuding states are already moblising for confrontation and only consensus from the outcome of yesterday's meeting between the President and the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as well as his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, will calm the fraying nerves.

Within the week, a paramount ruler from Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State has raised an alarm over the possibility of the face-off degenerating into a bloodletting, while calling on the Federal Government to immediately step in.

Worried by the turn the battle for the oil wells has taken, Jonathan has arranged for mediation between the two states through their chief executives. The meeting, Weekly Trust learnt took place at the Aso Rock Vila yesterday.

The mediation is coming on the heels of an intervention into the lingering controversy over ownership of some blocks between Enugu, Anambra and Kogi states last Wednesday.

As if waiting for the President to step into the Enugu, Anambra and Kogi imbroglio, chiefs and community leaders from Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt, the same day to protest over what they called a calculated plans by the Bayelsa State government to cede ten oil bearing communities in Rivers State to President Jonathan's home state. Traditional rulers and elite of Kalabari Kingdom decked in their traditional etibo regalia matched from Isaac Boro Park to government house where they presented a protest letter to the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru.

The Amayanagbo of Abonnema, Israel Bob-Manuel who spoke on behalf of the protesters said prior to the present crisis, Rivers and Bayelsa States had enjoyed a robust relationship. He said "the plank of our petition is essentially to protest against the malicious , myopic and selfish interest of certain well placed officials to willfully balkanize and excise virtually all the oil and gas bearing communities of Kalabari Kingdom which include but not limited to Kula, Soku, Elem Sangama, Idama and Abissa and all their fishing settlements which from time immemorial have been in Kalabari communities in Rivers state with which they share common linguistic, cultural and ancestral shrines and also consanguinity."

India will showcase products at the Lagos Tafawa Balewa Square
 
A business delegation from India will be showcasing new products at the Lagos International Trade Fair, says the High Commission of India.

The Commission, in a statement signed by its First Secretary of Commercial, Kurma Sharma, in Lagos, said an India Pavilion of about 150 square metres, would be opened at the fair.

The statement said that the Trade Fair, scheduled to hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, will afford the delegation opportunity to display their new products.

It said there would be exhibition of newly produced cooking utensils, clothes, costume, jewellery, craft works, steel fabrications, paint works, furniture, foot-wears, medicine, and polythene products.
The statement said that India’s participation in the fair was aimed at strengthening relations between both countries.
“India is currently Nigeria’s second largest trading partner.
“It is hoped that India’s participation will further enhance our bilateral trade,’’ Mr. Sharma said.
The statement enjoined Nigerian businessmen and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the product exhibition.

peope must stop using their emotions/heart and think with their head

I HAVE been to Lagos just once but it was enough to convince me that if Nigeria ever got its politics right, it would become Africa’s biggest economy. It has always been a powerful political force on the continent but through years of mismanagement and conflict — especially in the oil-producing region — its economy has always disappointed.

Despite all the bad choices made by that country’s big men, who were influenced by the Cold War, there’s always been the potential for Africa’s most populous nation to overtake South Africa economically. US bank Morgan Stanley said last year that it would do so by 2020.

Being as competitive as I am, I like South Africa’s number one status — as I am sure many others do. So the thought of Nigeria actually taking over that mantle in my lifetime was, and still is, rather disconcerting.

The year 2020 seemed a very, very long way away — never mind that it’s just eight years — which gave me a degree of comfort that local economic conditions would improve in time to keep us ahead of the pack.

I had some level of confidence that the populist policy choices touted by the African National Congress Youth League and others would fade in time.

But the time frame for Nigeria’s ascension to the number one economy on the continent has shifted. Instead of 2020, London-based Capital Economics expects it to happen by 2014.

The forthcoming rebasing and revision of gross domestic product (GDP) data in Nigeria, "will change little on the ground, but it could leave the country on track to overtake South Africa as the region’s largest economy in 2014", the agency said.

Nigeria is set to release its revised GDP series at the end of next month, with two key changes. The base year for real GDP will be altered from 1990 to 2008 to better capture structural shifts in the economy, giving more weight to sectors such as retail and telecommunications. The second change will be improved methodology and surveying techniques.

As a result of the revisions, measured GDP in Nigeria could rise by up to 40% in nominal terms, Capital Economics estimates.

Following similar revisions in Ghana in 2010, the country’s GDP was shown to be 60% larger than initially thought.

The change to Nigeria’s GDP has just brought forward the inevitable. Nigeria’s higher growth rates mean we aren’t talking 2020 anymore. It’s here(2014).

The year I visited Nigeria was 2005 and at that time it was the South African economy that was the toast of the continent. China’s insatiable appetite supported the commodity "supercycle", along with our big trading partners in Europe and the US.

As a young black man driving through crater-like potholes in Lagos, I arrogantly wondered just when this economy would come close to being as strong as that of South Africa. Well, it’s around the corner.

Nigeria still has its economic challenges, such as corruption, but its higher growth rates and the slowing rates in South Africa have speeded up the handover. Most disturbingly, the words sung by one of Nigeria’s most beloved singers, Fela Kuti, are starting to ring true in South African politics: "Teacher don’t teach me no nonsense."

...

EUROPE and its health have fallen off the radar as we in South Africa bleed from strike action in one of our most important sectors and in the US everyone’s eyes are on the election and the "fiscal cliff" — not to mention Hurricane Sandy.

But the uncertainty and concern over growth in Europe are still high; Tuesday’s data do not ease nerves either.

The common monetary union remains in a serious recession. The European Commission’s eurozone economic sentiment indicator declined to 84.5 from 85.2, driven by yet another serious deterioration of confidence in the manufacturing sector.

"A rebound seems unlikely before next year, when fading financial market tensions, an improving global environment, as well as slowly receding austerity should combine to allow the currency zone exit recession," said Berenberg Bank senior economist Christian Schulz.

Seeing as the state of the European economy feeds into the strength of the world’s biggest economy, the US, as well as emerging market economies such as China, we can lay to rest any hopes of a recovery in the global economy this year.

In the first quarter of next year, markets will be expecting to see some signs of improvement in the global economy. It’s pretty much the same way we felt towards the end of last year.

bittyend: Next time, feign intelligence and read between the lines before you quote me.

The point I was trying to make is that, rather than whine and agitate for Biafra, this place is a prelude into what Biafra would look like because those running this state are Igbos.

I'm just trying to educate them about misplaced priority!

CAMEROONPRIDE: RIP TI ALL MY NIGERIANS BROTHERS....MY PEOPLE ARE GOING TROUGH THE SAME FLOODS UP NORTH..TOO BAD OUR GOVS NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE WORD PREEEVENTION...PREVENT IS BETTER THAN CURE.

bittyend: WTF is this?

And you guys still want Biafra lmao.

This is Biafra!!

The waters from the dam caused massive flooding in various states across Nigeria, killing hundreds of people and displacing hundreds of thousands.
 
The Director of Dam Services at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Emmanuel Adanu, said the Cameroonian authorities did nothing wrong when they released excess water from Lagdo dam and caused massive flooding in communities along River Benue banks in Nigeria.

Mr. Adanu said this on Tuesday when the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, led a team of Journalists to the site for the construction of a multi-purpose dam at Otukpo, Benue state as part of the National Good Governance Tour being undertaken by the Ministry of Information.

“The Cameroonians did nothing wrong,” he said. “When there is excess water in a dam the safest thing to do is to release it in order to avoid breakage, which is more dangerous.”

Mr. Adanu said Nigeria will do the same thing whenever any of its dams is stressed.
The Director had earlier told the Good Governance team that the Federal Government awarded the contract for the construction of Otukpo dam to SCC Limited in March 2010 at a total cost of 17 billion naira only.

He said so far ten billion naira has been certified, out of which the government paid six billion, 800 thousand naira only.

The director said when the Otukpo dam is completed, it will impound about one hundred million cubic metres of water.
He said the dam is multi-purpose because it will provide water for domestic use and house a hydro power station that will generate 3.3 MW of power sufficient for Otukpo and other surrounding local governments.
“Otukpo dam will also be used for irrigation and fishing purposes,” Mr Adanu said.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the construction of the dam in Otukpo is one of the major projects being executed by the Federal government in Benue state.
Mr. Maku called on the contractors to ensure they meet their delivery period in 2014.

He also advised the contractor to desist from unnecessary redesigning of the dam with a view to asking for variation of contract sums, which he opined appeared to be the new vogue for contractors handling government projects.
“One of the problems we face at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, with respect to dam construction is that contractors bring all sort of new designs and you find the job being prolonged for a long period,” Mr. Maku said.