SpecialAdviser: The north is already aware. That's why Buhari has been borrowing and also relocating facilities to the north.
Contructing the gas pipeline to Kano Contrcting a railway between Niger and Kano Constructing a oil and gas pipeline between Kastina and Niger Republic Exploring for oil in the North.
Unlike that idiot called GEJ , Buhari is a calculating politician, he is not interested in nation building but the preservation of the Fulani's hegemony across the West Africa Sahel.
South African defence minister's pay docked over use of air force plane
South Africa's president has docked three months of the defence minister's pay after she allowed governing party officials to fly on an air force plane to Zimbabwe with her on 9 September.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of misusing state resources for party political business. The defence force had argued she was on official business and had simply given the other passengers a lift. But President Cyril Ramaphosa called it an "error of judgement".
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula had been travelling to Zimbabwe's capital Harare for a scheduled meeting to discuss regional issues. The delegation from South Africa's governing party - the African National Congress (ANC) - was meanwhile going there for crisis talks with Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party aimed at helping tackle the country's political and economic woes.
But opposition politicians were extremely critical of the fact that she let the ANC delegation hitch a lift with her.
Mr Ramaphosa, who in coming to power had pledged to clean up the ANC's reputation after a decade of corruption scandals, said that by giving the ANC delegates a lift on the plane, she had not acted "in the best interest of good governance".
As a result, he said he had decided to dock Ms Mapisa-Nqakula's pay, with the money going to a fund to help fight coronavirus. In response, the opposition Democratic Alliance party said Mr Ramaphosa had not gone far enough, characterising the punishment as a slap on the wrist.
The issue could be discussed further in parliament amid some calls for her to be sacked.
Sign agreement on no more killings, I will withdraw JTF, Jonathan to Borno elders March 09, 2013
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Maiduguri, accused Borno State Elders of playing to the gallary over the activities of Boko Haram Islamic sect insurgency in the state, describing the situation as unfortunate.
Jonathan spoke during an interactive session with Borno State stakeholders at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Government House Maiduguri, in continuation of his two- day working visit to Borno and Yobe States, the epicentres of Boko Haram.
He was responding to requests by the Elders for the Federal Government to grant amnesty to the sect members as well as withdraw the military Joint Task Force, JTF from Maiduguri and other areas in the state during the second day of his working visit to Borno State..
President Jonathan lamented that none of the elders in the state had publicly condemned the killings and bombings being carried out by the sect members and advised them to put their ‘’house in order,’’ by talking to their children who had been causing havoc in the country to drop their arms against the country.
The discordant tunes over a proposed controversial railway line from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic clearly exposed the lack of synergy in governance. It is amazing how officials of the same government that should speak with one voice are feeding members of the public with divergent information, thereby creating confusion. The penchant for government functionaries to disagree on what should normally be a common ground should stop for progress to be made in the public interest.
The disclosure, the other day, by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved about $1.96 billion for the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in the Niger Republic has sparked serious contention from different quarters of the Nigerian public.
The question being asked is why the Buhari Administration is rushing to extend a railway line to the Niger Republic while the existing railway lines across Nigeria have been work in progress because of poor funding? The public feeling is that this is obviously a misplaced priority.
Charity, they say, begins at home. The expectation is that Buhari should first revamp the national railway network that is dilapidated, get them functional before embarking on a project to extend the same to another country.
Consequently, there has been public discontent over the Maradi project. It is presumably on that ground that the presidency reacted sharply and disowned Amaechi.
The presidency reportedly countered the announcement made by Amaechi to the effect that the FEC approved the whopping sum for the railway project.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garuba Shehu, had said that the rail construction would only get to a designated point at the border. But that designated point, Maradi, is inside Niger Republic. What is the point of clarification here? This is obscurantism at its best. It is clearly misleading and so unnecessary.
Shehu reiterated that an agreement was reached between Nigeria and the Niger Republic in 2015 for the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Corridor Master Plan (K2M). According to him, both nations agreed to build a rail line to the “border town of Maradi,” noting that Maradi is the largest city in the Niger Republic and the administrative centre of Maradi Region and seat of the Maradi Department.
“Nigeria isn’t building rail line into Niger but only to the designated border point,” he clarified. He recalled that the Nigerian delegates to that meeting comprised officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Boundary Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources as well as those of Kano and Katsina states.
According to the presidency, which should not be the clarifier of railway project’s conundrum: “The objective of the railway line is the harnessing of raw materials, mineral resources and agricultural produce,”
Certainly, this is not the whole truth. The overriding objective of the rail line is for the supply of crude oil from Niger Republic to the refinery being built in Mashi, Katsina State. The $2 billion private sector-driven petroleum refinery is facilitated by Niger Republic. The refinery, billed for completion in 2021, would have the capacity to produce 150, 000 barrels per day.
Mixed reactions had trailed the development of the refinery. While some stakeholders in the industry commended the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for the initiative, others expressed worries and dismissed it as politically motivated.
There should be concern about how much crude oil is available from Niger: What size, complexity and scope should be envisaged? What are the economic benefits of the project? Who will own the refinery and what operating model is proposed? Nigerians need to know at this juncture. It should not be a secret deal, after all. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) rejected the refinery on the ground that it could divert the government’s attention from the refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri, which, already, are neglected and ill-maintained. That fear is not unfounded.
There have been insinuations that the rush to develop both the refinery and the rail line is part of Buhari’s political-strategic game plan to give the north some form of economic independence from the oil refineries in the Niger Delta. Thus, while the restiveness in the Niger Delta could pose a problem and disrupt petroleum products flow from the region, the Katsina refinery, with guaranteed oil supply from the Niger Republic, would be unaffected, thereby giving the north some form of leverage. This kind of talking points can be a blight upon nation-building.
Obviously, the proposed Kano-Katsina-Maradi new rail line is strategic and is part of Buhari’s masterpieces to leverage the North. This is part of what will continue to fuel accusation on sectionalism and a breach of federal character provision in our constitution.
Otherwise, it is pertinent to ask why the Federal Government has not been able to revitalise the moribund Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement it announced more than seven years ago. Why is it that noting concrete has happened in that regard? The country’s railway system still remains decadent and there is little in the horizon to show that government has mustered the political will to revamp the rail system.
For instance, with the exception of the much-flaunted Lagos-Kano railway system, the Eastern rail line from Port Harcourt through Enugu to the North remains moribund. Nothing is being done about this very strategic rail line.
There is no doubt that we need a functional railway system in the country. An efficient transport system is a key factor in socio-economic development.
But while that is a fact, equity demands that effort on the railway system should not be one-sided in favour of one section of the country. The entire railway system should be revamped for robust economic development of the country – before we extend the same to a neighbouring country! https://guardian.ng/opinion/the-strange-nigeria-niger-railway-project/
FarahAideed: But 80 percent of Lagosians have no access to proper toilets ...This is one of the legacies of 20 years of Tinubu Governorship yet some people want him to be president
aremuforlife: And one useless person will be telling me that, the northerners are the one dragging us back. Misplaced priorities.
Southern political class are corrupt and useless but.....
You can't say Northerner are moving Nigeria forward, the days in which Northern Nigeria was the breadbasket of West Africa is long gone. As of today more rice grown in the South than the North (mini the middle-belt), so what does the North contribute?
Depressed101: stop calling GEJ. We are in the present
Then stop complaining that there are no rail infrastructures in East or South-South.
GEJ spent $2-4 billion building the Abuja to Kaduna rail network and the Abuja light rail project. He could have include at least one project in the SS or SE but he didn't.
Buhari is not waiting for an Igbo or Yoruba president to complete the Lagos to Niger Republic railway, he will start and complete the project using debt tied to Niger-Delta oil
baralatie: you are exactly the correct advisor to the president of Nigeria!
there is good road and sea network connecting akwa ibom,cross river,Delta,bayelsa and rivers to Lagos?
you leave out your own country to connect another country by indebting yourself.
it is Niger republic that is important to you because in your own calculation Niger will help you to repay the debt ba.this debt is gonna be something else because at the end of it Nigerian will mount toll gate on this rail track at the Niger_ Nigeria border
It is called prioritisation. We need infrastructure that will improve the logistics from the North to the South.
Niger republic and Chad are both important countries to Nigeria, the poverty in both countries is a burden to Nigeria security and future. A railway line that links the port in PH to Chad and Lagos to Niger Republic will improve trade and development across Nigeria.
Depressed101: my dear. I am very disappointed too. With all the rail fuse going on in the country. I can not pin point one rail project that has been completed in the ss/se. They just ignore that region like its not Nigeria. It's ok the 8 years will soon be over and those who have looted in this govt will vomit what they have looted
GEJ had 6 years and did nothing in the SE\SS.
Buhari as much as I dislike him, is building rail infrastructures that will open the South East and improve the lives of that region. Rail and Road infrastructures is more important than electricity.
baralatie: In July 2016, China and Nigeria agreed to a $11-billion contract to build the Lagos-Calabar coastal railway. It will stretch for 1400 km (871 mi) and is expected to open in record time, before the end of 2018.
this is $11 billion o!
At these difficult times, the Lagos-Calabar coastal railway is not require, there are good roads network and ports that connect Lagos to Calabar by road and sea. The emphasis should be the Lagos - Kano - Niger Republic Rail network and Port-Harcourt-Enugu -Maidugari Rail.
Akeredolu is a fraud, Ondo schools are dilapidated, the roads are a mess. His bitumen programme is non existence and he has jump on the Amotekun bandwagon that was initiated by Makinde.
Golan007: At the end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion – comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in Federal Government’s savings,” Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said.
The minister said the balance in the foreign reserves have been fluctuating over time in line with the swings of global crude oil prices in the international oil market. According to her, the reality has been that since May 2007, oil prices reached a peak of $147 per barrel, the country’s reserves rose from $43.13 billion to peak at $62 billion in September 2008 during the Yar’adua/Jonathan Administration.
When Obasanjo took office in May 1999, Nigeria’s foreign reserves were just under $5bn. By the time he left in May 2007, it was $43bn. Debt was at its all time low
Nigeria reached a deal last October with the Paris Club, which includes the United States, Germany, France and other wealthy nations, that allowed it to pay off about $30 billion in accumulated debt for about $12 billion, an overall discount of about 60 percent.
Golan007: You mean we got debt relief yet owed over 3 billion dollars by the time he left office?
Under Jonathan by June 2015 -- a month after Buharis assumed office -- Nigeria’s total borrowing was $63.81 billion and by June 2019 it had grown to $83.88 billion.
OBJ left $60 billion in foreign reserve, $38 billion in ECA and $3billion external debt. He introduce the mobile phone industry by replacing CDMA with GSM.
omoyankee3: Sell the refineries to PLCs so Nigerians can own shares in them. It will also ensure efficiency and accountability
Good idea.
The UK government listed failing government agencies such as British Telecom and Royal mail on the stock market , now both companies are success stories valued at billions of dollars with efficient customer value.
After wasting and stealing billions of dollars importing dirty fuel and maintaining comatose refineries, this useless government has finally come to the conclusion that government has no business in the refinery business.
The Buhari government should focus on its own bad actions, taking a $500 million loan to digitalising NTA is a waste of money.
The government should take loans and invest in local digital companies that can build broadband infrastructures that will connect schools, homes and government establishments. The loans will build of the digital companies capabilities and experience in service delivery and maintenance.
No Foriegn Investor is interested in a country that has no FX. How will they remit their profits.
brandnprinting: Those people saying you should walk away knows nothing about life. You needed to be used to become something in life. To become a master you need to be a servant. Getting jobs in Nigeria you have to know somebody that knows somebody. Breaking into that inner circle is hard bros.
Please calm down, accept the Junior job, finish your PHD, and when opportunity knocks again be on ground to grab it.
The best advise.
Always focus on your long term objective. Your PHd should provide you with a wider window of opportunities. I hope you are involved in a STEM programme.
Adelekes dredged banana island out of the sea, military government forcefully took over the dredged island, Adelekes went to court and got full compensation, while military government used Terry Waya and Chagaoury to develop infrastructures there and sell it
The founder and designer of Banana Island is Adebayo Adeleke The original Banana Island construction project entitled Lagoon City was the brainchild of the Late Chief Adebayo Adeleke, a University of London trained Civil Engineer (MICE), and CEO of City Property Development Ltd. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Island,_Lagos
BruncleZuma: grin grin grin grin Vote for me I have the solution to all Nigeria's problems that I and my fellow military goons created and could not solve in 50 years...trust me, I'm trustworthy ~ Buhari (Maybe)
This Old man had 16 years to put his plans in order on his road to the presidency and still sounds like he's just discovering Nigeria's humongous issues.
hush15: That's not even the issue. We all know sometimes everything doesn't go according to plan. However, Even the small idea they come up with is so damn expensive. The cost of the little infrastructure they have been working on is enough to fund economies. Other African countries has done such with far lesser amount and even far lesser time and it is genuine structure that will stand the test of time. The government is the most expensive government in the history of this nation. The loan so much, spent so much but achieved so little and all these monies are unaccounted for. Everybody in power in this ruling is just exercising impunity like currency notes. The ones that get smitten are the stooges and when Nigerians complain, they end up in jail.
See yesterday someone like Tinubu who has mortgaged a whole state, who is self acclaimed to be the leaders of democrats, with small rain in Lagos, Lagos looks like dung hill. So if you are not on his team, you are not a democrat and he feels untouchable. How can Nigeria be well?
Buhari never had a plan for Nigeria, he just wanted power to embedded his Fulani clan into key area of government and the economy of the country, that they lost under OBJ and GEJ.
A leader with a plan would have fixed the refineries within two years, completed Ajaokuta steel plant and invested in the development of the Bitumen reserve in Ondo, this will automatically bring down the cost of construction of road and rails.
Amorprincesa24: Just look at the dirts on the streets. We keeping shouting government but the people who lives there also have some fault. Was it the government that dumped those refuge there? Garbage everywhere.
Should Nigeria still be maintaining open gutters in 2020.
Seriously do you see open gutters in modern societies. Serious societies have replace open gutters with underground drainage systems because of environment and health reasons.
Steel and cement pipes are readily produced across Nigeria.
Politics › Re: Governor Akeredolu's Projects And Achievements In Ondo State (photos) by sulaak(m): 7:42pm On Sep 29, 2020
