₦airaland Forum

DeLaRue:
The federal government needs to allow importation of cement.

Like it is with petrol.

Cement price increase happen synchronously between Dangote Cement and BUA to such an extent that they have become an anti-competitive oligopoly.

Let cement be imported otherwise these oligopolists will strangulate the economy.

Another one.
Told you so event.

When folks were trumpeting the BUA oil refinery coming into play I said it was almost a case of two sides of the same coin.

The only way for Nigerians to protect themselves is to demand that certain products are given the status of 'commodities' to so that the power to set prices is taken from producers and handed to markets, to bourses like the those in London trading metals, energy and agric products.

By this there is a lot more price and production stability and prevents issues like price gouging and the sort of gang ups amongst a few producers.

Told you guys what problems inflation causes. Inflation this government has never acknowledged as a serious problem warranting a state of emergency.

Now since cement is a fundamental commodity, top of the engineering food chain just as flour is to the confectionery/food industry watch how this price increase impacts and sends shockwaves down the entire Industrial, engineering and property sector affecting everything from the cost of housing to the increase in the budget deficit as concerning public works.

Mr. Atiku, there is nothing fundamentally wrong in helping to create institutions to deepen and broaden democracy like the APC was established. Indeed if the PDP was in power all those years, from 1999 till now, I speculate that the country will have been in a much worse situation than it is now.

Mr. Atiku, there is nothing fundamentally wrong in helping to vote out the Jonathan Goodluck government. Because it was clear at that time that it had reached its elastic limit of performance and the indices of life and living in Nigeria at that time were in decline. He did not deserve to continue based on issues of quality of governance.

Though I questioned at that time (very clearly in public and on this forum many times), the choice of candidate in Mr. Buhari but the issues were clear, the PDP's time in government had run its course.

What has happened since however has been an unfortunate over turning of what I thought was genuine reasons for democratic change.

Today, government performance is as questionable as in 2015, institutions are worse of than in 2015, and the functionality of independent arms government is virtually eroded. In a nutshell the engine than can bring progressive change of government has suffered catastrophic failure. It has knocked.

This is the serious concern.
Such that If by any shred of possibility a Goodluck Jonathan is found in government tomorrow, he will certainly not be removable.

So it is not about the individual. It is about the failure of the citizens of this country to be first, vigilant to see where they were in 2014 and where they are in 2026, and out of this vigilance to act to restore democratic capability to change governments they are dissatisfied with.

In a nutshell, in 2015 it was possible to walk into the tuck shop of Nigeria's democracy and choose between an egg roll and a meat pie. Today the same tuck shop offers only caviar (so claimed).... But how many desire that even if they can afford it. How long will that shop remain in business. Is it a surprise that voter turnout is continually declining and headed for the zero percentile.

This morning on Sky (I watch SkyNews in the morning in my office, when I can), the Green Party just won a landslide victory at the bye elections. The ruling Labour party losing that parliamentary seat.

What are the issues. The general dissatisfaction with the way Keir Starmer is running the country. How did she win. She campaigned primarily on the basis of the cost of living crisis. Things that matter to the people.

That is people voting for reasons THAT AFFECT THEM. Will this be possible if the people sat by and allowed the Labour party for instance to have shrunk the political space to nothingness. Then where will the alternatives be to vent frustrations.

Now that PM Starmer has seen clearly that his policies are fueling discontent his ONLY option is to change course and focus more on the quality of life issues around the citizens. He has to up his performance or his party knowing it will cost them the next elections will remove him.

This is how people get government and the instruments of democracy working for them. This is how citizens affect their destinies instead of waiting for 27 years like us to get a benovalent leader, a mirage that may never happen.

seunmsg:
Alternative you be better than what you intend to change. So, what better alternative policies are the opposition offering? Who has a better record of public service among the opposition who are putting themselves up as alternatives?

You don’t change just for changing sake. You change because the opposition has preferred a better alternative cause of action. ADC has not done that. So, I will rather support this government to continue with the reforms that are now bearing fruits than change to a bunch of clueless politicians in the opposition movement who don’t even know how to organize their party not to talk of how to fix the country.

That is what I am saying. It is you that crafts whatever you want. If you want to see better quality government you must demand better quality COMPETITION for government. If you want to see better quality APC government you NEED better quality opposition parties.

One of the major reasons anyone in business, enterprise, politics, vocations, anything will strive not to have competition is because it is HARD to perform. It is hard to make sacrifices continuously. It is hard to maintain a rigid focus on service delivery. It is hard to answer tough questions day after day.

So to the person who receives service, in any sphere of life you fear the moment your service provider stands alone to serve you and it is up to you to create alternatives.

What baffles me about this country is that in almost a third of a century of unbroken democracy we still haven't realized how to make this thing work for the greater good of the nation. That the only way to get democracy to work this nation is having active competition for service. And that someone somewhere will create this scenario which we despise and fight hard not to happen.

seunmsg:
Just a bunch of clowns clowning as usual. Nothing meaningful about alternative ideas that are better than what the government is doing.

It is up to.you to live with an alternative to government or not. It is up to you to create redundancies for the most important things in life or not.

For me, the only thing that should have no alternative is the Almighty God. Nothing else made of men is ever reliable, ever dependable and ever performing.

If I have more than one bank I transact with, if I have more than one telecom provider for voice and data services, if I have an alternative source of electricity, if my car has more than one device to stop it from crashing and if it eventually crashes I have more than one device preventing me from dying in it...

Why on.earth will I wish to have no alternative to a political party led government to rule over my life and affairs. Why should I not cultivate one and have it ready to replace the one I am using anytime it falls.

After spending so much time wasting away in the eight years of the last government of the APC aren't Nigerians the wiser that had it been they had a government in waiting then to strongly challenge the Buhari government step by step, A LOT of the things we suffer today will have been avoided.

It is not a bunch of people that come together to craft a ruling party or an opposition party. It is the entire citizens that decide they want to see the two sides of any argument to what concerns them in life. It is the citizens that buy into having a generator or solar appliance no matter what promises NEPA makes.

olaeffect:
Especially with the current situation in Nigeria.
It is just better that you don't take sides. Let's just be focusing on issues as they arise i.e if a community is attacked by bandits let's all just speak with one voice and make sure the perpetrators are brought to book immediately/urgently without any excuse from the government.
Lets just be holding the government accountable on a case by case basis without us entertaining any excuses.

This is exactly what the office of the citizen does.
Issues, issues, issues, issues.

We focus far too much on individuals, personalities on all sides of the argument whether for or against. He did this last year....he was this while he was governor 1000 years ago.

What are the ISSUES now... today and what will be the impact on the future of society tomorrow.

We must rid out mindset of feudalism if we must move forward. This 'individualism' will not enable us build the tools of development, the institutions necessary for sustainable, collective progress.

UgoFly:
They should also ban Nigerians in government from using foreign schools and hospitals

And from collecting loans from 'white' countries.

obembet:
Some governors in Nigeria have performed exceptionally well in the past three years and truly deserve re-election.

Many people believe campaigns today are filled with propaganda and empty promises.
However, a few governors have focused more on delivering results than making noise. These are leaders who have kept their promises and shown visible impact in their states.

Putting aside sentiment, tribe, or political party, which current governors have genuinely earned a second term without even needing to campaign?

Source: Obembe Tosin

If there is any politician that can win an election without passing through the scrutiny of the electorate then it means they are all captured and imprisoned.

Until we understand what democracy means, how it works and how it builds successful societies this country will continue to look like this. A people simply cannot rise beyond their capacity to reason.

I don't even know what to say about this kind of post. Is there a meal so good that you will never have to eat again. Or a sleep so sweet that can make your eyes never close again.

Your counterparts in far, far, far better, well run and prosperous societies BATTLE HARD, day and night to have and to hold their liberties, their little prosperities and give their leaders ultra hard times in order to rise above water and here you see this kind of thing....

Godfullsam:
this thread will be very dry today as far it was not a church the terrorists attacked.

someone already said it is a family business lol.


The earlier we accept the fact these idiots are not muslims but heartless terrorists hiding under the umbrella of islamic religion, the better for us.

Okay, agreed.
So what are their objectives since you know so much about them.

Their job is terrorism.
They just wake up and go to the office of terrorism, kill a few people and return home at night after a hard day's work. That is how they earn their income That is how they are paid at month end

So who is paying them to go round killing people. To what end. What is the vision of their enterprise. To kill everyone in Nigeria abi....

Since we cannot identify who is paying them and for what purpose, perhaps it is aliens from another solar system....

You see the problem of this country is a people not prepared to face the facts, look in the mirror and interrogate beliefs and acts with grave circumspection. We keep on pretending and 'ostriching'.

Carry on.

You will think that with all the security challenges besetting this country the replacement of an obviously political police head will be with one adept at counter terrorism for instance, or an expert in cases of violent abductions, and perhaps having a track record in concluding several cases of organized crime as the basis for getting g the top job.

But in this country it is easy to see why fundamental issues can never get resolved. Why, be cause we never out our best foot forward. The feudal nature of our society will never allow the cream rise to the top.

If I ask, who is the top performing lawman in Nigeria, how many people will readily and immediately call this man appointed by the President. What are his antecedents making him the best choice for such a position as this, at such an important point in our history....other than the fact he once served in a personal capacity to the President. How does that qualify him to lead the police service.

Where else in the civilised, democratically driven world does this kind of thing happen.

What is wrong in having the senior cadre of the police service attend for instance the NIPSS and as part of their assement each of them presents a research paper before a security strategy think-tank, detailing their own solutions to the myriad of security challenges facing this country, which will firm the basis of selecting leadership.

So that you know the person who is eventually appointed is knowledgeable, equiped and competent enough to handle the job.

They look very ugly and distasteful to the foreigner.
We should be creative in presentation.
One of the reasons our offerings seldom cross our borders.

Europe will be the next religious battle ground.
All those years of colonial rule is turning full circle and the wars fought on 'other' continents in religious and cultural contexts....'is coming home'.

nedu666:
Na so. Why world Bank no go proud of Tinubu gov. Give loan 500m. Collect interest of 5billion over 30 years.. Still dem neva pay the loan

That is why they keep on praising the so called reforms. Reforms that do not affect the wasteful, inefficient and elitist nature of government spending on things that have no bearing on the immediate economy.

If you live off loaning out funds to greedy, corrupt and ineffective third world leaders you certainly will not want it to end.

The reputation of the judiciary has never been this low from the heights of support and advocacy for the return to democratic rule in the late 80's and 90's, they sit idly by and some of their members work in cahoots with those destroying democracy in this country.

madridguy:
Which kind wickedness is this again? You no longer power your AC, you now carry over load, no hike in price of fuel yet you are increasing your price.

Inflation is the killer.
Said it a thousand times.
You cannot successfully run an economy with double digit inflation. It is what is making all government intervention go up in smoke. Like pouring water on hot coals.

This is the issue all serious governments of the world take on a war footing. They strive to cool down the economy by RIGHT spending. Spending ONLY on the factors of PRODUCTION, the critical things that matter.

Look at the human body. When you experience trauma such as serious blood loss the brain immediately constricts blood from the extremities and less important organs one by one until the brain itself is overwhelmed.

But as long as government continues to waste on irrelevant issues and things the cost of living and doing business will continue to remain high and recovery on the streets a mirage.

And what is the idea about people retiring to Nigeria. What is so special about Nigeria that anyone wants to retire to.

If you have built a life, a family out there, the family being the closest relationships, why do you suddenly cut them off to move back to where you have not lived for a long while.

I guess this position is for people who are more friend-centric than family oriented. At retirement your parents, uncles and others are all probably late so the attachment to your old family where you have a duty of care is likely over.

Friends can always be replaced by the new ones you meet.

Your colleagues in other climes will do the normal thing which is to seek legal redress, redress that can even hold a president to account and reverse anti-people activities

This accountability is from a judiciary we all fight for to be credible and independent.

But we have all cheered and tacitly supported autocracy and the erosion of institutional independence so in old age we have to 'beg' the maxim for basic, statutory rights.

The country that you cannot build today cannot serve you tomorrow. Can you imagine your colleagues in the US, or UK or Germany or India begging their president for such....

He is right.
Before an issue becomes one of justice there has to be a law.
If men are so demanding if justice they should lobby the Legislature to make requisite laws.

All the skill and expertise of the present ruling class is totally deployed to winning elections. No competencies are left for real governance.

If half of the tact and strategies used in conquering institutions, arms of government and political establishments can be deployed to the fight against insecurity, this issue will have a thing of the past.

Where are the ideas please.

Failing state.
That is why their neighbors the US have to be very wary before these things begin to appear across the border and on their doorsteps.

When I saw the word 'Contractor', it is not a surprise to me. We all know the primary reasons these 'contracts' fail and if we cannot change that culture the losses to the people through the Nigerian state will continue.

Can the AGF institute a probe into the failed 'contracts' for the repair of the refineries, or is the 2.5 billion dollars not much more than what we see here or is Mr. President going to waive that one as well.

A nation that cannot be hands-on about its development but continues a culture of sub-letting our plans and programs out to foreigners, to people we should be competing against.

JuanDeDios:
Members of the security services don't collect rewards. They're for civilians.

Thought so too.

fineboynl:
As long as you use windows, android and ios. Crypto, WhatsApp, gmail and fb. You are not free from U.S surveillance

Forget what they told you end to end encrypted shit there is always a backdoor. Its all gimmicks to deceive the gullible. They are watching you incase you don’t know.

The way microsoft is going with their windows update. Screenshot your desktop every seconds unknowingly without your concept. Spying on what you are doing on your computer. The sites you visit, your conversations and all that. The world would soon abandon them.

You better start learning linus for a foreseeable transition because windows and android is no longer safe.

Well, except you are doing something illegal, I don't know why you should be concerned about anyone seeing what you do.

LeopardX:
The US supplied the Mexican Army with the information of El Mencho's whereabout before the operation.
Free $15m for the army personnel involved in the battle.

I don't think reward money goes to government officials or operatives.

They know how to win elections.
To govern is another matter.
By next week, next month, next year and the year after you will not see any difference between what you have and what you think you had.

bluefilm:
When Manchester united decided to stick with amorim come hail come sunshine, you saw how they were battling relegation

But once they got Carrick, you can now see how they are battling for top four

It's all a game of Chance

And how long will Carrick be allowed to stay.
They will likely go for a so called 'world class' coach particularly if they qualify for next season's UCL

The other side of the problem of infidelity is the lack of satisfaction not always the quality of what you have. You just feel there is someone out there that is better than what you have. The grass is always greener on the other side.

bluefilm:
It's strange but Tottenham is closer to Relegation than arsenal is closer to the title

That is to say that spurs getting relegated is more a reality than arsenal clinching the title

Oh how the mighty Spurs that were part of the big Six a few seasons ago have fallen!

That is what football infidelity does to you.
When you keep on changing coaches like handkerchiefs you are bound to get an infection of mediocrity and if not properly treated you will end up in the dog house.

A broken clock is always right twice a day even for a fleeting moment. Such is Ebe Eze twice for Arsenal this season against Spurs.

Tunni:
Arsenal, make una no relent. You guys should keep on pressing and stop defending.

That is the mentality problem people are talking about. That separates champions from would-be's

Trossard should give way.
He is either not fit or interested. I suspect the former.
Even though Martinelli is a one trick pony, he will at least have some zest.

Even Declan Rice of all people is buckling under the pressure with subpar decision making....title going....going....