Reference's Posts
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Please can we get back to the thread. This is serious and involves billions in investment if she gets back her chair. I'm really anxious, certainly after all the losses of the last few years. |
The chicken stared him in the eye, , mean bird. Next time wear a balaclava. That's why fire arms must be legalised, at least hunting rifles. Even when they take flight you can always bring them home. Haba, you're made of royal stuff. You hunt with air guns and dog packs not medieval rooster butchery. ![]() |
evilspirit:Reclaim our position , reclaim our position , reclaim our position as what, for what, to what end . When will these guys ever come down to our level. |
In Nigeria today any formal audit internal or external can and will be compromised. The most effective means is to do the opposite arrange a sting operation. All transactions have a human face at one point or the other. Set them up and watch how they react. Tag cash, cheques, invoices or other instruments and follow the trail. |
Just tie a long rope around your waist. One quick jerk and we will all pull you out. Good luck. ![]() |
Still does not exonerate the man for the violence meted out whether to his wife, any member of his family or anyone for that matter. It still remains an embarrassment to the foreign ministry and the government of Nigeria. Like someone mentioned if one cannot handle his family how can he be entrusted with matters concerning the nation. It should not be covered up. I hope this incident will severely warn our authorities on how and who they appoint to public offices particularly when they represent us in countries that don't share our values. If he was located anywhere in the west it would have been much worse for him. |
I sincerely hope they put the cart before the horse. How they intend to arrive at tariffs without privatization really beats me. It will be something akin to announcing GSM tariffs in 1998. |
Do I suppose this is across party lines ![]() |
Rivers State already has the most extensive independent transmission and distribution networks in Nigeria. Started way back during Peter Odili's tenure and has been expanded gradually ever since. Their IPP's have been working albeit with some challenges for longer than any other state I know. If it comes to power they are the closet thing to independence. |
shawonlese:Actually that is precisely what an IPP should be. If you are willing to invest in transmission and distribution then you're on and you should technically seek approval. However the power business is very much like any mass market high value business. Inputs are very expensive and rely on scale for effective turnover. You may not be able to break even quickly with just a couple of villages. What the government should have been doing while it fixes the power problem can be modeled after what happens in developing countries whereby folks are paid to inject power into the grid on a commercial basis. If for instance I have a large industrial complex and a very powerful plant I can be paid for injecting excess power into the system not taxed for it as it currently happens. This will encourage smaller scale investments which can hold sway while the bigger plans come on stream. Just my two cents. |
They have lifted one side of the carpet to sweep the issues under it. What do they mean by investigating to find out if its true. The fellow should be met at the airport if deported by the police with a prosecutor in waiting. To learn that the foreign ministry still has anything to do with him till now is highly regrettable. This is one of those institutions that should guard its image very, very jealously. The IMF were very quiet about Strauss-Khan when the story broke and he had the civility to resign his appointment to protect the banks' image. I'm sure this man will still be masquerading as an ambassador and will probably try to intimidate the poor and wretched immediately he steps off the plane. Sad. |
This is a very good stand and I respect Senator Pius Anyim for accepting to serve this government. He has a wealth of experience, a good consensus builder and great for the east. Senator Ken may have been better but I only feel he should be reserved for the very top. |
As long as weddings, pregnancies, cement prices and bank interest rates have all booked a ticket aboard the same ship you may as well rename '6 -month rent edict' the Titanic. Haba, this is economics 101. |
There are three distinct patterns that top teams have tried against Barca recently which have not enjoyed much success. The stand in your face as exposited by Mourinho in Chelsea, Inter and Real, the tippy tappy straight 4-4-2 by the Prof. and the tactical, play my game of Sir Alex. Barca have read them all and succeeded against them all. I think what makes Barca successful is that they stay absolutely true to their philosophy. They believe they can beat anyone and it sticks. United has the better of the earlier exchanges but Barca remained calm. They remained calm in their loss to Inter in the Copa. But once the pressure was of them against United it was here we go again. If teams are able to maintain their patterns for long enough whatever you play you might as well beat Barca. Inter did it in the San Siro. You need 100% conviction. So you may ask who has the better tactical discipline, United or Arsenal. ?? |
For anyone to bet against Barcelona in any match has well prepared to ![]() |
I think we should put things in proper perspective. Lagos state may be able to establish good and acceptable infrastructure but what Lagos state cannot do is to raise standards of 'living'. This is a national thing. I have read a few reasonable posts on this. We must admit it is one thing to build it is another thing to maintain. Maintenance is running or operational costs and is related to 'usage' and 'payment'. Just like your phone. I can buy a Nokia Bleep the same day as yours. If by reason of affluence I let the phone sit idle all day in an airconditioned room it will surely last longer than one in the sun, rain, dust and sweat particularly if it is the only phone. The BRT buses are not enough, the machines, drivers, mechanics are all shot. The stress is incredible. Why won't it degrade. Honestly you need to give kudos to all concerned that these things are still moving at all. How much do people pay for these services compared to the 3,000.00 the lady is referring to. The 3,000.00 is the real amount you need to pay for first class services. How many Lagosians can pay for that. If MTN or some other private organization was subsidizing their services to the tun of 50, 60 70 or 80% how long can it survive. The BRT accountants have to square the circle, the Lagos state government has to increase capacity and expand routes while building a rail network all at the same time. BRF has to catch up with decades of non-investment in public transport literally overnight with no help whatsoever from the Federal government. The task is huge. He alone cannot tackle poverty and the purchasing power of Lagosians so services will suffer. Wetin concern poor man with seat cover or no hanging straps or the environment for that matter. That is why the Federal government has to help. It must help. It must revive the macro economy to take the heat out of Lagos. But what I also think the Lagos State government can do is to run a two tier system. Within the ambit of BRT or transport in general it can seek a stake in upmarket, more expensive transport. Partner these cabbies within locations such as the island to subsidize the system in general and close the gap between income and expenditure (for stuff like upkeep). We must remember pure social systems can only last for a while. Lagos State government must keep an eye on its exit strategy or it will go bankrupt. |
No wonder, I thought the world had ended a few days later than scheduled .; after rolling out my personal arsenal of all available lines only Visafone worked. Kudos to them. Na now I know say phone dey important. |
kodewrita:I don't even think that's the logic. Anyone familiar with large scale high value/risk investments such as this will know that you offer services (which will initially be expensive) starting with those who can afford the high initial costs. They will then inadvertently subsidize the product for the less well off down the line. Just like the GSM thing. Roll out started in the principal cities of Nigeria where commercial activities are high. Any attempt to start in villages will only lead to economic disaster. We must all realize that capitalism is the only realistic hope in Nigeria for economic liberty and real anti-corruption which with time will lift the bottom line. I also feel starting in VI may be a strategic decision in persuading the elites that such independence can work. Who else will 'have the mouth' to challenge Abuja and central control of power in Nigeria. Smart move by Fashola. I only hope it will be properly privatized at the end of the day when all dues have been paid. Negris Hmm.What he should do after completing the plant will be to raise the pollution rates and slap heavy emission penalties on companies on the island. Believe me they will hook on. I tell you solving the problem of infrastructure in Nigeria is not that difficult, it only takes the kind of honest commitment the BRF government has shown. |
Sorry to monopolise the thread. I rarely post but I made one a few months ago in the post banking crises and asked this simple question. When Pastor and Madam were giving the banks' fund wings to Dubai and the UK did they act alone. No they will have a chain of support from managers to porters who most now the implication of such acts. How the thing never leaked out remains a mystery to me. Conclusion - collusion, top to bottom. Same thing for Shell Oil and manipulating crude oil export, collusion, Niger-Delta problem, collusion, everything collusion. When you talk the very masses will run you down. Religion, ethnicity and all sorts of vagrancies will come in. We sometimes behave as if we are not tired of this thing. That is why I repeat, it cannot be a political party thing or a head of state thing but a social thing. If it could succeed we would have burnt Babangida alive and let Buhari have his way but even Babangida had his supporters and Buhari was not entirely squeaky clean either. Jerry Rawlings wasn't squeaky clean either. Ghana did not succeed because of him alone. Ghana succeeded because Ghanians wanted it to and the day they are tired of change they will decide to return to the pit. I asked the question then and I ask it again. In your office if your boss is corrupt and your salary is the product of corruption will you forgo that job for unemplyment. If you are a petrol attendant and the station owner bribes his was to allocation will you resign. If you work in the bank that has given loans to bankole contrary to CBN's regulation will you squeal. If you work in Julius Berger (hmmm, let me not talk here sef). If you work in Sheel Petroleum believe me you have a lot of questions to answer (God help you). I will not talk of politicians, law enforcement or some lawyers (they know where they are headed) In summary, if you will squeal or quit honestly raise your hand. God is watching oh. |
AjanleKoko:Yes, but what does this have to do with a simple transaction between one man and the other in the village. Do you need SWAT, snipers and all to tell the simple truth. This is a classic chicken and egg situation, who blinks first the masters or the masses. If you staggered from a flaming wreckage what would your priorities be get the fire out or call 911 for assistance?? The solution to pressing problems starts at home if we truly feel it is a critical emergency. Unfortunately most Nigerians will rather play the ostrich because they feel corruption doesn't concern them. Other tacitly approve of it. Tell me how you feel when a cop stops you and lets the next guy through because he drops a fiver knowing fully well you're in better standing. How do you feel when other jump the queue because they know the cashier at the bank. Tell me what has this got to do with government or we need cops in the banking hall too. What is the legal punishment for queue jumping. These may seem trivial but over the long run they amount to much and they engrain themselves so much in the national psyche taking it to the next level (which is what our elected officials do) seems natural. Someone mentioned the late Murtala here and I laugh, you only need to have known him, some other day we will mention Abiola, very similar, tomorrow we mention Tinubu and there will be much debate. Have these three not contributed immensely to the common good we think but when it comes to 'real' standards they all pale into significance and will all be in jail in other societies. That is it, the people's tolerance decides how corruption runs in any congregation whether country, state, village or family unit. Heaps and heaps of praises have been rained on the Japanese in the aftermath of the devastation for the orderliness of society. Even the Americans we look up to could not believe the looting post Katrina would not happen. Is that a government thing. No. They are incensed at they perceived inept government but as a people have decided to remain civil. We should all decide likewise then selection or election of credible leaders from amongst civil people will become a lot easier. |
This is exactly what I am saying the corruption thing that way heavily flogged during the elections has presented us with a good test case to see its structure and how wide it is dispersed. I said it then that it was not a political party thing and as such could not be changed by changing political parties. The graft in the houses occured in the full view of all political parties. They collect the same salaries, the same allowances and partake in the same bribery and corruption. Now we have CPC members in both houses the question remains will they together with ACN members refuse these allowances and what will they do about it. Today the question has been partially answered we will carry on with PDP excesses. By extension if all PDP members were voted out of office will the opposition carry on as usual. That remains to be seen. I will not speculate on that but if we observe states and other federating units where there is total non PDP control do we have better accountability, Lagos for instance has a question on its House leadership, their wages are sky high as well. I will not even speak of the executive, its very serious. I think the problem is more fundamental than we think. Corruption is a problem that transits parties one we all need to tackle simultaneously. For goodness sake why will a newly elected official willingly receive 1 million a day when he's just coming in from the 'cold'. Let's watch as the new legislative season opens shortly whether the opposition will raise issues of financial recklessness before we conclude the problem is political and of political parties or individuals and our collective value system. |
Guess it depends on what industry you work. If you work in some pansy pad where you wear shoulder pads you might as well break down and cry your eyes out but if you are a genuine blue blood from factory floor through construction to the extractive industry 'don't be silly' means hello and if you're in the military it means 'hello dear'. Once had a brief stint in the military. There was a nice chap nicknamed 'sergeant Bleep sh//t'. Need I tell you why. |
Just another reason why I won't be going back there anytime soon. What a mess. |
There is not one product or service in Nigeria today of any worth that is not expensive. Name it: phone calls, satelite t.v., housing, food, transport land, sea and air, everything. Our economy is not just competitive enough so I won't bother to compare the prices of chinese cement, american corn, indian telecoms or camerounian onions. Our infrastructure, the skeleton of development is decayed, corruption is rife and typically we think too short term. If there are those who can produce cement cheaper than Dangote or Lafarge by all means step up and prove it. If cheap chinese products are the way out then forget industrialzation and while you're at it ask the EU or the US what cheap products are doing to their economies. I have and will always be an advocate of promoting what I can do and forgetting what I can't. Nigerians amaze me. This is the only country where demand NEVER stimulates supply but rather complaints. Everything is expensive yet we point fingers and quarrel until we are swept away by south africans, indians or chinese and then more complaints. A few days ago there were complaints of Indian punishment on Nigerian Airtel staff but we lauded a few months ago tariff slash. What exactly do we want. If things must be cheap in the long run there must be short term pain. If we cannot exploit the vast market potentials to establish more production now do not complain in ten years time (when we have killed the few industries we have and sold our birthright to china for a bag of 20 naira cement) then when our youths begin to carry AK47's because of no jobs we turn around yet again and grumble to government. Remember it was just a few years ago that government was fully into cement production - BCC, CCNN, Ashaka and the likes. The industry is still very young in private hands thus the dearth of useful competition. But to panic and flee to chinese captivity will never bring us closer to redemption. Initial private telecoms was expensive so was airport terminal so is Lekki highway so will initial electricity, initial private refineries, steel mills and so on, but with time, competition and investment all these costs will fall. Let us look at the bigger picture, the industry n general and stop hallucinating about Dangote. He is just a man. Folks the potentials abound. Let's get to work. |
There's something else to european soccer particularly the EPL that makes it highly magnetic. An undercurrent that is absent in most global leagues and that is the 'entertainment' value. Modern soccer in England has transcended mere sport to become the stuff of holywood. Every week is another episode of soccer's greatest act. I think it started with the media, SkyTv to be specific and their potrayal of the game when compared to ITV and the likes back then. Players and managers got so much airtime, their post match lives colourfully displayed it turned many to celebrities. Then came the Mourinho factor and Abrams millions. Suddenly more news, views and interviews came and the whole thing snowballed. That's why Jose never felt comfortable in Italy because there was just no spin. The press was largely uncoopearative and sterile to his jibes focusing rather exclusively on the game. He's tried the same again in Spain but surprisngly instead of buying into it the likes of Pep choose to remain media shy. That is what brings in the mega bucks and keeps the likes of United topping the earnings chart - TV. TV is all about entertainment and entertainment is all about drama and good drama has a good script. In the EPL - players, managers, owners and the FA are all in it. Today it is Ferguson getting the rap for touchline tantrums and we love it, tomorrow its JT's off field antics. Where else will you get it. Do you know what Messi does after a game or who Iniesta is dating. Who cares but in England that is football and it makes big, big bucks. They've learnt from pro-boxing to build larger than life characters and every match a duel eagerly anticipated even when the quality is most times suspect. That's why a kid in Obudu will easily reel off Chelsea's first eleven before he can count to eleven and that's why you cannot travel ten minutes in the remotest parts of Nigeria today without a dish in sight. The EPL is sucking revenue in billions through Multichoice and others from areas even MTN hasn't heard of. Now how does the impoverished Nigerian league tap into this - simple, the media is THE biggest asset. Listen to them and let them pull the puppet strings short-term. Create good drama. That is the tool. Of course you need a cast of colourful characters to match (oh how we missed Westerhoof in his prime). We need sparkling commentators back on radio an tv - the likes of Y. Craig and the other colourful FRCN chap (from the east) of blessed memory and not these half baked federal character- assisted wannabes loitering around today). Before Roman Abrahamovich we had MKO Abiola and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwuand boy what a rivalry on and off field. Today its all political jobbers and goat herders commanding clubs. Where is John Masteroudes of Leventis United. If he was involved in the NPL today in any capacity; with the kind of tv funds we have available today I say forget Eurosoccer. But what do we have today. Even to conduct simple elections is a bridge too far for us and then we get dour, inept and corrupt folks in charge. Boy our league sure is ugly. Spare a thought for Samson Siasia. He went to the NFF secretariat was it on monday to submit his list for the upcoming friendlies only to find out there was not a single soul in the technical department on seat to receive him. But come elections they will fight tooth and nail to get there. |
AjanleKoko:Yes oh it happened. But what can you say of our league. On extended break because of elections (can you imagine the monumental losses incurred by any broadcaster on satellite programming alone) and now they are back Bayelsa United has gone to the dogs. Players on strike, carrying placards to government house protesting outstanding wages and sign-on fees and intimidation by a management led super crackdown with MOPOL and soldiers while management alleges players have run amock turning the club grounds to down town Benghazi or is it Fukushima, looting, burning and philandering. One can only guess whose telling the truth. Tell me why my poor gunners with their recurring blowouts aren't a better proposition. |
AjanleKoko:This is shocking. You really mean you don't know people have been killed for blues, devils and cannons. Are you sure you are really in Nigeria. Multiple stabbings, arson and culpable homicide involving blue joy riders in Calabar the afternoon before J.T.'s bad CL penalty miss. Never will forget that day. Lost the cup and a couple of faithfuls. What greater vanity. For me thanks to Le' Prof. I'm permanently delivered from addiction. So if you want to be free you know which club to support come summer. |
I say they should remove the subsidy and government get out of the industry NOW!!! not tomorrow. Do we know how much petrol used to cost when this IMF debate started in the eighties N4.00 a litre. Now its N65.00. Has the heavens fallen. No. Instead of properly administering this subsidy wahala Nigerians have resisted proper pricing and the government has resisted proper investment, yet the price has crept up. Whether we like it or not if crude prices remain north of 100 dollars the price we pay for petrol will get to that much feared N100 per litre sooner or later. Our oil industry is on life support and we keep postponing urgent surgery for short term palliatives. Nigeria needs the private sector. That is the future. Let's stop kidding. Government cannot handle this thing. Its time we hold them to account. Yes we will pay more for fuel if NNPC and all its assets are sold but the rewards are clear. Efficiently run refineries and distribution by the likes of Shell and AGIP. Then if government wants subsidies it will be paper for paper. You tender your poverty card and get stamps. For those who say crude oil is cheap or free so petrol should I simply laugh. If a river runs through your backyard does that equate to the whole town lining at your door steps day and night for free water. It will cost you something to serve them. The Niger-Delta has paid a higher price than we care to admit. We should pay properly to have their environment put right and the peoples properly compensated. Once it was said private telecoms will kill us all. We know better today. We pay our bills without subsidy. If we cannot afford cards we do without it. So is electricity, fuel, food or anything else. I refuse to accept electricity or petrol is any different. Nothing is compulsory in the quantities we wish. Crude oil is not oxygen. It is not free. Use what you can afford and run your life according to your abilities. I will also liken the call of some for the present subsidy to exist while the same government builds new refineries as a family that cooks and eats out regularly. Collosal waste. If you can buy and sell refined products at any price like Saudi Arabia, then why bother refine. Refineries like home cooking are for those who have the basic economic sense, desire independence and have an eye for quality. The IMF is not asking us not to refine. It did not tell us to import. It is we Nigerians out of greed and profiteering that ended up like this so why blame IMF for telling us the truth. Dear forumites if we are going to spend $350 million a month on subsidies and $5 billion dollars a year on new refineries at the same time then when the next thread on power supply, education and roads comes let us ask where we expect the government to get all this money simultaneously and spend it without causing the inflation we are so worried about particularly when we don't want to pay for it. Let us start a culture of paying properly for what we use whether rich or poor. There are poor people in every nation as there are subsidies in every nation as there are proper businesses controlling economies in every nation. There is in the US too the rain of $4.00 dollar petrol with some not covered by social security. Are all our fellow forumites out there in Yankee covered by US subsidy too. If we don't learn how to develop our economic muscles by taking the horns of tough financial decisions now, the day this crude oil will finish, hmmmm, |
Good for him. Now I hope the other smaller players with bigger heads can learn what a bit of professionalism can bring. Btw I really do not know just how many Premier league clubs match the pedigree of AC. Take away marketing. Let's be honest. Which one.?? |
[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=663363.msg8288789#msg8288789 date=1304984454]I'm a little concerned by this Transmission Company of Nigeria. Already, it is appearing to be the weakest link. I'm starting to think that it should be privatized too, lest it slow down progress elsewhere. Also, how will Nigerians react if/when the price of electricity is revised upwards by 4X? It is a necessary step, but they might respond poorly.[/quote]You see, when I was saying it just last month sovereignty fears were expressed. You will never get service from civil servants. The y should face regulation, period. You cannot have government controlling regulation and operations in the form of transmission just as you cannot have the private sector regulating itself. Government should simply sell all its assets and move to the other side of the table please. They want to increase tariff for what, power that is still not stable. Nobody will buy a faulty product. What makes us pay so much for mobile telephony is because it is reasonably reliable and choices abound. When the private sector takes over and rolls out its infrastructure then it will tell us how much we are to pay, NERC steps in to make sure the tariffs make sense. But to set tariffs before privatisation is futile. Potential investors will not accept this neither will the public who will invariably be subjected to another hike down the line. While I appreciate governments efforts at boosting power they should realise that for every dollar spent, 50 cents is lost. At the end of the day no one will value these assets at the bloated costs they were established. They just want to have that last feeding frenzy before the most valuable enterprise in the history of man - PHCN is finally put out of its misery. GEJ should put the horse before the cart and boldly open up the sector the way OBJ did. NITEL was in a better state than PHCN when he finally buried it. The government should know that one day PHCN will be sold and when it goes Nigerians will clearly see the difference between what government claims it has spent and what the true value is. |
otokx: an who be dia papa and mama ?? |
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, reclaim our position 

