We are 1 generation away from being like Somalia and Congo.

Youth today are even more illiterate and militant than the youth that is now hitting their mid 50s.

And that generation failed this place miserably, the next one, well, as you can see, this is the future of Nigeria.

Violence, drug smugglers, religious strife, rebel groups, poverty, pollution, all the while the jungle reclaims the roads, bridges and whatever is left of the half assed projects that Julius Berger built on inflated politically motivated contracts.

It's interesting this thread, I see most posters have no clue what they are talking about.

Electricity, crime, corruption, and so on have all gotten worse not because the president made it worse, but because of uncontrolled population growth without any investment in infrastructure to accommodate that growth. The truth is, we don't know how to.

A few people mentioned that Obj was a decent president, but his own ego sometimes got in the way of his job. That is correct.


Most of Nigeria's problems are beyond the grasp of one man's control. Ibb, Abacha, Obj, Shagari, we can name them all day, none of them could alone stop the rot. Its comes within the depths of our own past and the nature of our psyche.


Take something as simple as civil service; administrative duties such as property tax collection, and the re-allocation of resources at the municipal level for public works projects such as sewers, roads, health clinics, street lamps, local schools and then their maintenance. How many people at the civil service level know how the process works? How many Nigerians know how this process works?

Did IBB not try and reign in on civil service ineptitude? Was he successful? Absolutely not? Why? Because we do not have, and never have had the proper framework for nationhood. We are 4 nations. No. 4 major Ethnic groups lumped together, and none of us, I mean, none, can make this thing actually work.

Nigeria is a shambolic geographic location. I will refrain from even calling it a country.

Obasanjo did what he could, as did Yar'Adua, and the countless before them, but the system is simply non-existent and the framework of nationhood is not something the average Nigerian has any interest in.

Anything short of wholesale Soviet or China style restructuring of our system from both the top down and bottom up will fail and making this thing work.

Truthfully I've become despondent about our prospects for the future, perhaps slaughtering all of our leaders like Russia, China, France and countless other 'success' stories is the only option we may have at restructuring the system. When I say leaders I don't mean politicians, I mean our "real" leaders, the ones that sold our brothers to the Portuguese for gold nuggets and mirrors, the elders, the preachers, the tribal kings, that's where half of our problems lie.

You know where the other half are,

And its not in the presidential villa.

It would be nice to invade their country and dig up and sell their uranium, buy them food in return for their independence, and build a giant wall between us and them.

Where does that leave IBB?

Hopefully he won't rig himself in.

Dis Guy:

Considering the have huge tarffic online, they should consider foreign products targetted at nigerian and even MNC in nigeria or africa, google ads will make it messy but it might still bring in some

Now the Cabal is gone, business will surely bounce back- all those dodgy bank CEOs threw money about back then- bankers award etc etc

Cabal is never gone.

1)How do you think Nigeria under good governance (E.g Fashola in Lagos) can raise the huge monies required to finance its dream infrastructure projects?

Yes, if we cut corruption by a significant margin. The key is to improve tax collection of citizens.

One way implementing this feat is for individual states in the federation to give their citizens state cards. Without state cards individuals will not be employable, cannot see a doctor, cannot vote, and have no voice in general. This will be an incentive to get people to participate as citizens.

The flipside is that Nigerians with state cards can vote, will be encouraged to visit a private health clinic at least two times a year (which is a double bonus as we can detect preventable problems), they will be used as voting registrations, and they will be used to evaluate taxation per citizen. They will be equivalent to social security cards (of western countries).
State cards will also be used as de-factor census collection. 

This will require excellent planning and expertise and civil servant training.

2)Would it be a good idea to invade or at least  partner with some African countries to despoil them of their resources to utilize for our own development?(If we don’t do it, China or India will do it anyway)

NO! What we need to do is work with our African partners in building common infrastructure. For example a 6 lane highway and train link running from Morocco, through Nigeria to Congo, and finally to Kenya. Projects like these will encourage intra Africa trade and thus improve the welfare of all Africans.
However our neighbors (benin Republic, Niger, Chad, Guinea Bissau) have no reason to exist as separate entities. Perhaps bringing them into a grand federation would help us all develop faster.
We also need to sign continental defensive pacts with African countries to keep the Indians and Chinese on their tip toes. We can't have them invading our neighbors. We can't have outsiders interfering with African affairs. We should let them know when the chips are down we will fight them and their armies will be met with continental resistance.

3)Should we just forget it and resign our faith to being a poor country?
No. We have all we need to be superpower, apart from the actual human resource expertise. Our civil servants need real training. We need to emulate the Japanese and Taiwanese models (not western, they aren't as compatible).


4) Or better still, employ Boko Haram to help reduce the Nation’s population to something like 20 million (At least that way the oil money can go round)
No. Boko haram's place is in the graveyard.

So please intelligent Nairalanders, suggest ways you feel Nigeria can raise capital for infrastructure development. Every idea is welcome.
Key infrastructure sectors include Electricity; Rail, Road and Air Transportation; Telecommunications and Broadband; and Housing.

Infrastructure + Housing: States need to pump billions into housing. Perhaps what we need is shakeup in the way oil money is spent. I propose that we force states to generate internal revenue and live within their means. Taxation of every citizen's income. No market stall makes a sale without sales tax. If Lagos can generate internal revenue, so can Kwara or Kano.

The oil money on the other hand will be used to build mass housing. There will be no peace in Nigeria until there is housing. We cannot have millions living in slums.

When Nigerians have better housing, keeping track of them will be easier. Also the price of housing will fall significantly and low income Nigerians should be able to find non slum shelter.

Everything else you mentioned (Electricity, Rail, etc) should be sold off private investors and not taxed at all to provide incentives for the developers.

There's some excellent northern leaders, el Rufia, Ribadu, pity we get stuck with the idiots.

People are forgetting that the Chinese were writing poetic literature while people in Europe were living in caves.

5000 years ago China already had writing. The Chinese dynasty during the height of the Roman Empire was technologically superior, with more refined military tactics and more efficient weapons.

There was a time the Chinese had a bigger and better fleet than Europe's combined.

Africa has real building to do, from the scratch.

IBB is a goon.

Based on popular will he will not win, if the elections are fair, he has no chance.

Good for him.

He's not a politician, he got to where he is through hard work and ingenuity, not by looting lucrative oil contracts.

20 poor republics, individually bullied by Russia, China and America?

Or 1 big poor republic, with at least some clout on the international stage.

I swear this whole breakup Nigeria thing is getting old. You think things will get better?

Will Sylva not steal? How about Ibory.

Want to see what southern Nigeria will look like alone, just see Guinea Bissau. Want to see what the North will look like, just see Chad.

Nigeria as one is better than all of them.

Ibime:

America can no more declare economic war on China than it can declare war on itself.

China is outcompeting everyone else in the free market, a free market that Yankee championed when they were in a position of great leverage. . . now Yankee see the need for protectionism after preaching the superiority of free market policies for decades.

We live in a globalised plutonomy now and capital, like water,will follow the path of least resistance. . . a road that leads to the East. Labour, and everything else will continue to be outsourced, a harrowing prospect for Obama as he contemplates rising unemployment figures in the US

China doesn't do free market. It's a fallacy to think so.

China is an export economy. Try setting up a business in China as a foreigner and see where that takes you. You'll be harassed constantly until you are driven out (See Google).



China is manipulative. Africa (esp. Nigeria) should be careful about how it deals with both the Chinese and the Westerners.

They both loathe us equally, Chinese culture detests blacks, and so do Chinese people. We already know what whites think of us. I know plenty of Chinese people, drink with them long enough and you'll notice that they think of blacks as half intelligent.

A Chinese friend of mine told me (when he was drunk) how American blacks are perfect because they are mixed with whites, they have "black strength" and "white smarts". Guess where that leaves Africans.

As far as I'm concerned Nigeria needs to help the AU buckle up against the possible Chinese incursions into Africa in the next 100 years. With world resources dwindling, leaders in developed countries from East to West will be under pressure to secure Africa's untapped resources one way or another. To many of them, Africans be damned.

kosovo:

Each time i bring this up, they say i am Demonic. i have no fear of the Lord and all kinds of crap to justify their debased
spirituality. I have never seen any   people in my entire adult life that prays like Nigerians, yet the country is still in a state
anarchy. It is a shame that Nigerians have stop learning the Bible rather they have decided to follow the Lips of
Pastors who have lead them and the nation astray for their personal aggrandizement.

Every time i see lazy people in churches at dawn or noon (weekdays) wasting their productivity and usefulness to National
Development.  Such churches are the DEVIL's Tent. (C'mon Even the Bible says there is time for everything)Our debased spirituality has also made us think we are morally superior than others, Sharia law is Debased and nonsensical. . Mass killings, all in the name of religion is ignorant . . .WTF. . 

The Developed Nations do not pray as we do, yet they are integrated and are bounded by unity.  In Japan for example, they do not pray, their gods are as much as the Nigeria population. The key to their success is their zeal to WORK. . . Some time ago companies were begging employers to stop late works in offices and see their families. .  Japaneses are workaholics, Handwork is their culture, Such a country will forever reap Developments. If Government can implement Pay per Hour,  that would be
much MUCH better. . . Most Government workers work only from 8am-10am, the rest of the day is meant for their personal
activities. .  At the end of the month, they still collect salaries, it should not be so. .In a case where you are paid by the hour,
doubt if any sane worker would leave his office and go any worthless engagement. . .

Nigerians are so LAZY, Everything that occurs around them, they waste no time in puting the blame of Government. C'mon
there is no Food for a lazy man. . . Nigerians complain for everything, it is a shame that youth complain that NYSC montly
payment is too small, NYSC was designed for service to the Nation and National integration. .NYSC is not a Job and/or work
rather it is a Service.

Laziness has made our children fail NECO and WAEC wofully. . Laziness is our Biggest Problem. . . If we want Economic growth,
Nation integration, Social Development, Then we have to act, we must put HARDWORK first. . .

Quoted for truth!!!

This should be in the foreign section.

China cannot afford to peg its currency to the US dollar for forever.

Ultimately tariffs will hurt both the US and China, and indeed India and Africa may emerge winners.

9jaganja:

The population of New York city alone is more than that of Washington state combined but no matter the population New York state only gets two senators. The representatives might vary on population but senators are just TWO for each state. Who proved me wrong? Abeg carry your outdated diss go jor. Many of una de on waiting list for that side anyways. Go!!

Canada's senate isn't elected.

Also, considering that Canada's current prime minister is a Westerner, and his party's base of operations and idological roots are in Alberta, your argument that Canada is ruled by the East falls flat.

9jaganja:

That's why Canada is a joke to us south of the boarder. Quebec is like Biafra. They also lost and since they lost to the Brit, they've been trying to leave Canada. But Quebecois are a bunch of jokes. They only threaten to leave when Stephen Harper doesn't do as they wish. Bunch of hypocrites. Canada is politically divided.

Canada's standards of living are head and shoulders above those of the USA and Britain.

Quebec leeches 9 billion off the Canadian government in subsidies (transfer payments) annually.

Its a double edged sword.

The state is so decrepid and weak, that Sharia in the muslim dominated North.

The vacuum created when the military sucked the life out of the state led people to legislate jungle justice (Sharia in its purest form).

Just wait till 2011 elections and the north gets back to power.

Kiss the electricity goodbye.

failed state

I'll quote:

gypt Military Strength

17


PERSONNEL
Total Population: 81,713,520 [2008]
Population Available: 41,654,185 [2008]
Fit for Military Service: 35,558,995 [2008]
Reaching Military Age Annually: 1,611,890 [2008]
Active Military Personnel: 450,000 [2008]
Active Military Reserve: 254,000 [2008]
Active Paramilitary Units: 405,000 [2008]

ARMY
Total Land-Based Weapons: 9,357
Towed Artillery: 2,393 [2001]

NAVY
Total Navy Ships: 93
Merchant Marine Strength: 67 [2008]
Major Ports and Harbors: 6
Aircraft Carriers: 0 [2008]
Destroyers: 0 [2008]
Submarines: 4 [2008]
Frigates: 12 [2008]
Patrol & Coastal Craft: 35 [2008]
Mine Warfare Craft: 13 [2008]
Amphibious Craft: 12 [2008]

AIR FORCE
Total Aircraft: 1,230 [2003]
Helicopters: 243 [2003]
Serviceable Airports: 88 [2007]

FINANCES (USD)
Defense Budget: $2,500,000,000 [2006]
Foreign Exch. & Gold: $31,370,000,000 [2007]
Purchasing Power: $405,400,000,000 [2007]

OIL
Oil Production: 665,000 bbl/day [2007]
Oil Consumption: 635,000 bbl/day [2005]
Proven Oil Reserves: 3,750,000,000 bbl [2007]

LOGISTICAL
Labor Force: 22,100,000 [2007]
Roadways: 92,370 km
Railways: 5,063 km

GEOGRAPHIC
Waterways: 3,500 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Square Land Area: 1,001,450 km

Sources: Central Intelligence Agency

Last Updated: 2/12/2009

South Africa Military Strength

32


PERSONNEL
Total Population: 48,782,756 [2008]
Population Available: 23,124,044 [2008]
Fit for Military Service: 11,513,601 [2008]
Reaching Military Age Annually: 1,051,879 [2008]
Active Military Personnel: 60,000 [2008]

ARMY

NAVY
Total Navy Ships: 22
Merchant Marine Strength: 3 [2008]
Major Ports and Harbors: 5
Aircraft Carriers: 0 [2008]
Destroyers: 0 [2008]
Submarines: 3 [2008]
Frigates: 0 [2008]
Patrol & Coastal Craft: 6 [2008]
Mine Warfare Craft: 8 [2008]
Amphibious Craft: 0 [2008]

AIR FORCE
Total Aircraft: 425 [2003]
Helicopters: 132 [2003]
Serviceable Airports: 728 [2007]

FINANCES (USD)
Defense Budget: $3,700,000,000 [2007]
Foreign Exch. & Gold: $32,940,000,000 [2007]
Purchasing Power: $467,800,000,000 [2007]

OIL
Oil Production: 200,000 bbl/day [2006]
Oil Consumption: 519,000 bbl/day [2006]
Proven Oil Reserves: 15,000,000 bbl [2007]

LOGISTICAL
Labor Force: 20,490,000 [2007]
Roadways: 362,099 km
Railways: 20,872 km

GEOGRAPHIC
Waterways: 0 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Square Land Area: 1,219,912 km

Sources: Central Intelligence Agency

Last Updated: 2/12/2009

I was being generous early on. It seems Egypt is head and shoulders above the rest in Africa.

Nigeria doesn't even touch Egypt when it comes to military equipment.

xterra2:

They cant fight MEND,remeber when the army bombarded camp 5 they found a sponsors list which contains the details,minutes,comminique,funding,sponsors and members of MEND, The submitted it to the Federal government which the FG didnt released,
You shold know that the commander in chief is President not the service chiefs they cant act without orders form Jonthan or yaradua so to the issue of MEND they are mostly PDP member who are suporting them they are too powerful to be named or known,the have connections and powers + $$$$$ which they use to prevent atttack from the army or revealing them o arrest,
So the best army in the world is that of US bah,,which now they complain of lack of enough equipments,helicopter in afghanistan + UK too, and since 2001 9 Fxcking years they couldnt do anything imagine plus CIA,-best intelligence agency(i suppose) which means that no army in the world is good , You have to know that history shows that armies usually dont win guerilla warface or fighting withing ones country easily it is hard no matter where,whom and how,
If it is US and Germany now,it would be easier not US fighting German Nazis or its rebels,
The Jos crisis is beyond the army in such a way that it is religious/ethnic/Political(small) it is digged in the roots of jos people even though the army stop jos people they will back and back and back till they succedd,
To the issue of Ak-47 i hate seeing those also,but the army have better guns than that but they are locked up in the armory in various barracks(seen photos sometym ago)but in M4 carbine(US army,+nigeria also) Vs Ak-47 the M4 cant shoot for hours continously without stopping it has to be serviced again an i a battle no time for that-while the Al does not stop, Armies dont stop kidnapping it is the police job , So you wont soldiers to wear helmets,body armours just like that without any battle or peace keeping operation, ha!-not done like that,
All military in the world are indiscpline no army is very discpline the soldiers despoil,kill innocent people do bad things(when i saw the canal killings of 5 afghans by US army i was shocked on CNN), and the pick up trucks that dont even carry animals??-damn you know nothing on this issue the army bought some trucks and luxurious buses not too long ago and commisioned them go to abacha barracks and see them new ones + mambilla barracks too here in abj for some, Like i said they are well trained check my post earlier and see,

@bgees you dont know what you are saying

Let's get this in perspective, if the US or UK armies regarded human life in the same sense that the Nigeria army does (Ijaw massacre as an example), Afghanistan would today be a parking lot.

Nigeria's army is simply incompetent. They are badly trained, they are badly equipped, and they have no moral authority.

And their equipment is a joke. For a country with such a large shore as ours, we don't even have a proper naval fleet. Piracy is highest around our coast only 2nd to Somalia's.

All in all. Top 5, I doubt it.

I doubt we could even raise an army to stop an invasion. We're so disorganized.

As a nation we don't even know how many people live within our borders.

You must be disillusional if you beleive Nigeria is even top 5.

Currently, Nigeria's military is a shambolic excuse of a fighting force. They are neither well equipped, nor well trained. Standing upside down with a rock on your ass for 5 hours doesn't make you well trained.

Nigeria's army uses taped up rusty AK-47s as their primary fighting tool. The MEND militants are better equipped than the so called army.

The Army lacks proper body armor, many don't even have basic helmets or bullet proof vests.

Discipline, let's not even go there, the Nigerian army's lack of discipline is evident all around.

Without the army fatigues they could easily be mistook for Al Shabab or Congolese militia. They don't have any sense of organization, they can't even march straight. They can't respond to domestic disturbances (Jos, Mend, MASSOB, Kidnappings), let alone any external military threat.

Those rickety pick up trucks that don't look fit to even carry farm animals is what our military get around in.

Nigeria, not even close.



Ethiopia is certainly a very powerful force. Historically Ethiopia has always been a force to be reckoned with.

I won't do a top 10 list simply because War is not semantics. When Germany invaded France nobody in their right mind thought it would end in complete capitulation within weeks. On the other hand everybody thought that Russia would collapse catastrophically.

War isn't 2+2.


If it came to putting my money down on the most competent militaries of Africa:

Ethiopia
Eritrea
South Africa
Lybia
Egypt, but seeing Israel mop the floor with them time after time makes you wonder.

Thats because they are passionate about their countries.

Also don't forget the Senate and Reps still have a major say in how things are done.

A new FEC doesn't automatically translate into a policy overhaul.

Bills still need to scale through both houses.

rosamosqy:

We r going somewhere in Nigeria! History is about to be made! FEC dissolved! Bunch of fools and idiots! The so called useless Cabals are no more in power! Boundage has been broken! God has taken over, goodluck has come to our nation!

Let's not be too hasty.

Every administration has its cabal. Obsanajo had his, Yar'Adua had his, and now Jonathan is doing it.

Filthy arabs.