₦airaland Forum

manny4life: Hmm, isn't it rather disturbing that the river was dredged but to what depth? That is the real question. The last I heard about it, it was dredged about 5ft deep, what kind of ships, or barge will ply such depth? However, I like the ideas he has given-



However, with such depth, little or nothing can be achieved.

DREDGING OF RIVER NIGER: Investment Opportunities for Nigerians


Sir Philip Egeolu is an economist and maritime consultant. He writes from Lagos.

The Federal Government, to develop and promote inland water transport, awarded contracts to reputable and seasoned dredging contractors to dredge the River Niger. The Federal Ministry of Transport, which this responsibility and task was vested upon, took it with all seriousness to ensure this dream was actualised. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the government parastatal on ground, worked tirelessly day and night supervising the contractors to ensure the jobs tautology are executed in line with the contract agreements. To meet the deadline, and to have the job properly done, the dredging was divided into lots and awarded to different contractors. Today the jobs are nearing completion.
Inland water transport dates back to the colonial era. Then our colonial masters used this mode of transport for their expeditions, political, administrative and trading activities.
Over the past years, emphasis has been mainly on road network and transportation development. A lot of pressure has been put on our roads because of the daily heavy passenger and cargo traffic. This has also led to a loss of man-hours. Water transportation is cheap, time-saving, cost-effective and safer. The dredging of the River Niger would now be a bridge between the northern and southern parts of the country.

The Federal Government has fulfilled its civic responsibility by dredging the River Niger. Nigerians should now fulfill their own responsibilities by investing and developing the inland water transport business and other support services. The market is there, both passenger and cargo traffic.
The Nigerian Cabotage Act has created an enabling business environment for Nigerians. They should invest in passenger boats, ferries, different sizes of tug boats, self-propelled barges of different tonnage for the transportation of dry and wet cargo, fishing trawlers, and supply boats. Others include ship chandling, bunkering of boats and vessels, supply of safety equipment and wears, diving services, warehousing and logistics services, equipment leasing, and marine insurance services They should in addition invest in ship and boat building yards, ship and boat repair yards, jetties, and river ports.

NIWA should start sensitizing Nigerians on the need to use water transport, and also for Nigerians to invest in this yet-unexploited, but very viable sub-sector. Local governments where the River Niger flows through should take this unique opportunity and invest in water transport business and allied businesses, likewise the state governments. They include Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Imo, Anambra, Kogi, Niger, Benue, and Kebbi states.
The Bank of Industry (BOI), commercial banks and finance houses should invest in water transport business and in addition assist genuine Nigerians willing to invest in this sub- sector. Investment could be small-scale, medium-scale, or large-scale and can start from =N=500,000 to millions of naira.

Nigerians should also be encouraged to partner with foreign investors. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and NlWA should attract foreign investors to partner with genuine Nigerian investors.
Inland water transport would bring about infrastructural and structural development across the nation. In addition, it would generate additional revenue for the Federal Government, in particular the state governments and local governments where the River Niger flows through. It would also create employment, boost economic activities and development of communities and towns on the banks of River Niger.

great1: Reading through this article on saharareporters, I would like to hear your views on it. thanks

Presidency sources, one of them close to Reuben Abati, a special adviser on media affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, have told SaharaReporters that Mr. Abati has been sidelined recently and openly shares his apprehensions about being fired anytime.

One source, a confidante of the president, told SaharaReporters that Mr. Abati’s fears are well-founded. “Mr. President is only waiting to be sure that Dr. Abati does not pose any threat to his second term ambition before sacking him,” said the source.

Last Friday, Mr. Abati spoke with State House correspondents on the chronic fuel crisis that has engulfed Abuja, the nation’s capital. But a few hours after the briefing, the embattled presidential spokesman realized that what he told the media conflicted with the views expressed by two of Nigeria’s powerful ministers, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Finance and Diezani Allison-Maduekwe, the Minister of Petroleum. Both ministers are currently at loggerheads over illegal and inflated payments to fuel importers.

Shortly after realizing the faux pas, Mr. Abati made frantic efforts to contact reporters and implore them to ignore his views on the fuel crisis. One reporter told SaharaReporters that Mr. Abati pleaded that the security of his job could be threatened unless they stood down his briefing.

SaharaReporters learnt that some of the reporters asked Mr. Abati to call their editors since their reports had been filed several hours before his call came, and since they were in no position to instruct their superiors to drop stories.



read the rest of the story here
http://saharareporters.com/news-page/president-jonathan%E2%80%99s-spokesman-reuben-abati-further-sidelined

ayox2003: Didirin nie! Ode!

Old fool. Ashewo better pass yaba left patient now.

Your Mama who became mentally derailed the day she gave birth to u also cursed u cos you were supposed to be sold to ritualist for a dime.

Man, if you dont have anything meaningful to say, shut up!

Nairaland Police.



Frawzey

subterfuge: NIGERIA IS LIKE A VERY COMPLEX PUZZLE, BUT WE THE WISE CAN INTERPRETE IT ALL.

NEVER BE FOOLED AT ALL!!!!!!!!!

STATE POLICE IS A GRAND DESIGN OF THE JONATHAN AND THE PDP!!!!

LIKE IT OR NOT STATE POLICE IS A GRAND DESIGN OF THE PRESIDENT JONATHAN!!!!!!

STATE POLICE WILL USE EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE ( VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR) TO COMPELL NIGERIANS TO VOTE FOR JONATHAN IN THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

LET ME GIVE YOU ALL A SIMPLE CLUE TO THE PUZZLE....

ALL THE STATE GOVERNORS DESPERATE FOR STATE POLICE ARE THE PDP GOVERNORS WITH A SPECIAL MANDATE TO DELIVER THEIR STATES TO THE PDP FOR JONATHAN TO TO WIN AGAIN.

THE WISE NOTHERN GOVERNORS HAVE REJECTED THE NONSENSE STATE POLICE IDEA OF JONATHAN...
A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE.

great1: This act of Mr president shows he has no brain cells!!! How can you strip national honors from felons? In the UK, Lord Jeffery Archer was jailed for Perjury in 2003, upon his release his peerage was never taken away from him..is GEJ now trying to tell me that the achievements of these people is worthless now since they've been convicted?? National honors were given to the highest bidders in Nigeria, not the so called "men of honor"... What has people like tafa balogun done to help the disabled people in Nigeria? How has he impacted the society positively?? If he wants to clean up our society I dare him to throw Dimeji Bankole into Jail for looting this same very banks that he awarded national honors to their owners..... In order to bring honor to the so called "national honors", our heroes such as Saro Wiwa, the NYSC students slaughtered in the north, those who risk their lives protecting this country must be considered first...Then I can add face value to these so called honors...

dedeike: It's so funny how we make a mountain out of every mole hill erected by the president. This shows how confused and jobless some folks can be.
Until now, I didn't know we have these number of pagans in Nigeria.
Simply because the president asked, in a Muslim festive season, that we should keep praying hence this hairsplitting. Tufaikwa!

I beg to ask some few questions.
Did the president say he was going to abdicate his constitutional duties for prayers?
Did the president say he has asked all ministers to stop working and proceed to a praying and fasting session?
Has the president withdrawn JTF from Maidugri and asked them to go and pray?
Has the president directed Okonjo Iweala to stop implementing the budget for prayers?
Has the president directed Barth Nnaji to stop improving on power supply and proceed to mountain of fire for prayers?
Has Maku come to tell us that the Federal Executive Council resolved to go and pray?

Please let's stop this rubbish and be wise for once

nagoma: You are a victim of propaganda and living outside reality about the north. I wonder why you have so much confidence in Jona despite what is manifest and obvious about his lack of capacity.
Electricity supply was neglected by all PDP governments but the( unlikely) provision of this basic infrastructure cannot redeem a leader failing in all fronts. The reasons why GEJ will continue as President are as follows;
1. The Federal and some state governments treasuries will be emptied and used in bribing executive thugs and brokers to ensure he is returned - just like in 2011.
2. The media propaganda will be heightened and cost will not be a limitation as the money will be diverted from international development loans, the treasury and businessmen canals who will remain as beneficiaries of future loot.( fuel subsidy like).
3. Increase frequency and size of international loans with development pretense , to be channelled into bribe/ campaign . Future Nigerians can pay later- doesn't give a damn!
4. The security forces , especially police senior cadre officers will have a big stick over their heads and also some dangling carrots before their eyes.
5. There will be additional religious tension as was created by the GEJ campaign in 2011. Churches , prayer houses , pentacostal outfits will rise to the occasion and re- annoint Jona for no other qualification but his faith and of course the big tithe.
6. The tribal warlords such as Edwin Clarke ( if still fit) will sharpen his tongue and lash at everybody who does'nt recognize that oil in found under their dwellings , so no other qualification is needed for leadership.
7. Niger Delta outlaws , terrorists and thugs with the dignityfied name of millitants will threatened the country with violence.

These are the winning strategies for Jona. Not development. Please save this comment and compare in June 2015.

lacasa: Pdp n Co well done u Hia

Ūя̲̅ end is near

1025: jonathan and his administration can be charged for abuse of this word INDICT.
practically everybody in nigeria has been indicted by jonathan and his govt.
senator ndume was indicted for his role in boko haram and today he is in far away saudi arabia enjoying himself and will be still come back to continue fromwhere he stopped all with tax payers'money.

chucky234: We attach too much importance on party politics rather than genuine fight for the betterment of this nation,we dwell so much on tribal sentiment that has continue to impact on the nation negatively.
I don't belong to any political party and never will,as SS I can easily pass for GEJ's brother but I'll never allow selfish tribal sentiment to stand in the way of truth.
So many looted funds stashed away in foreign banks by these polithiefians who do nothing but borrowing after stealing the country dry,many of such funds had been returned to FG by most of the banks yet no one can give account of where those funds were deposited or what they were used for.
Our foreign reserve is currently below $10bn which put us in a more difficult situation than Spain if the unforeseen happens.
For a govt that is ranked the most expensive in the world with each elected official assigned more than thirty senior special advisers,they have no excuses for failures.
South Africa with 58 million people generates 45,000MW of electricity while Brazil with 201 million people generates 100,000MW of electricity yet spend far lower than what we spend we spend on power generation annually yet Nigerians celebrate and applaud 1,250MW of electricity generated in 24 months with billions of dollars pumped into that sector.

Biafra4tharmy: Hail nigeria army. Its a welcome development and im looking forward to 25% annihalation of northern moslem population. That wil give southern nigeria everlasting political domination come 2015. Boko haram should continue so that more muslim infidels be massacre. Hail Biafra

Pukkah: First of all, I will like to show that Nigeria's revenue exceeds its expenditure (as shown by the budgets o). This is the point to start from although I agree that debts, if it must be taken, must be taken at reasonable interest rates and tied to specific projects with good economic/social returns.

Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has proposed a deficit of over N1trillion naira in the 2013 budget (expenditure of N4.9trillion vs revenue of N3.89trillion). My problem is with the revenue part which has been greatly underestimated. Do we need that deficit, which they may cite as the reason for borrowing?

Let's start with the revenue from oil.

For the 2013 budget, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala predicated oil receipts on a crude oil benchmark price of $75 a barrel and production output of 2.53 million barrels per day. The benchmark for the 2012 budget was $72 per barrel and output of 2.4 million barrels per day.

However, the claims of a deficit is dubious because in reality, the crude oil benchmark price has rarely fallen below $90 per barrel. The crude oil output has also been very consistent at 2.7mbpd (according to the NNPC). The revenue from this alone is not less than about N4trillion. This already surpasses the 2013 budget revenue projections. But this is not the only source of government revenue.

On July 22, 2012, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced that it had netted N2.4 trillion for the first half (January to June) of the year. Although the Acting Chairman of FIRS noted that it was a marked increase, it is safe to assume that at least N4trillion would come from FIRS in 2013. This brings the total to N8trillion (N4t from crude oil and N4t from FIRS). This is not all.

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service said in April this year that the Service will generate N1.2 trillion in 2012. I expect that the figure would exceed that in 2013, however, let's assume a conservative figure of the same N1.2trillion for 2013. This brings the total revenue to N9.2trillion. The projected expenditure remains at N4.9trillion.

So, why are we expecting to run a budget deficit in 2013 and what's the rationale for borrowing? Why should you borrow when there is a surplus?

Why is Nigeria yet to exhibit clear and unambiguous signs of infrastructural turnaround?

Fhemmmy: That is what i wanna discuss here, see how we could surely do something about it: https://www.nairaland.com/1021384/what-it-cost-give-nigeria . . . Also, note that cos of the image that has been formed about Nigeria and even the present bombing and lack of security, it is not easy for any company to wanna send their people there to invest

Fhemmmy: Nigeria as a nation of 150M People depends on promise of 9000MW and present we are told they are generating even less . . . . Ontario in Canada's OPG's generating portfolio has a total capacity of over 21,000 megawatts (MW) a province of 12.9M people . . . We have a long way to go and OPG has a diversified portfolio of generating assets which include:
2 nuclear stations
5 thermal stations
65 hydroelectric stations, and
2 Wind generating stations

What will it cost us to get there . . . ?

probably: demdem pls continue wat u do best. I always look forward to ur comments. Free of bias, sentiments and tribalism. You call a spade a spade. For goodness sake even animals know everything s wrng with this country. So many people are living in denial, u are not, I am not. Our major problem is GEJ. History will tell, our kids and their kids will always relate this era as the worst in d history of nigeria. Even worse than d period of d civil war. Never compromise demdem, dnt relent in ur constructive and objective criticism of this sham called a govt. Even if you have to insult them pls by all means insult the fools. Anuofias. d

lacasa: PDP must go!!

Nigerians are tired of this vampire party

13years of PDP with failure as its trademark

Once ACN/CPC finish their merger, surely the North will go wt CPC & the South West will go fσr ACN =CPC/ACN

The SS/SE are the confused lot, but the SW/North is enough fσr them.

PDP r.i.p

CPC/ACN, let's go tђere

Idokojimmy: It is no longer news that some opposition Parties are working assiduously to see how they can dislodge PDP from power. Notable figures here include ACN and CPC. Recently, these parties reportedly held a meeting in Ghana, to fine tune the merger talk. But will the alliance work? If you ask me, I'll say their chances are slim. For instance,

1. They are yet to agree on a unified Party name. While some are suggesting ACTION CONGRESS ALLIANCE, some say it should be called CONGRESS FOR PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE. Both parties want to dominate in the alliance.

2. Who will be the major financier of the party? Will the major contributor allow others to have a say?

3. They took the merger talk to Ghana, knowing quite well that Ghana doesn't support Nigeria. Aburi Accord held in Ghana didn't work, this may not work too.

4. The proposed Candidates to fly their flag are not sellable. Possible figures include ATIKU, BUHARI, BAKARE, ELRUFAI, AND TINUBU.

5. Lastly, the Northerners don't trust TINUBU, remember that he abandoned Ribadu when he needed them most. Can he be trusted now? Also, the Westerners have continuously asked, what is their place in the new order? In your opinion, will this merger/ alliance work?

The proposed Candidates to fly their flag are not sellable. Possible figures include ATIKU, BUHARI, BAKARE, ELRUFAI, AND TINUBU.

kingoflag: Dude, youre so intolerant its unbelievable. People like you are who make me get out of character that I respond with insults on NL because of your illogical, aggressive and "me-is-all" way of doing things. Yes, I responded to a statement you made: BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM! Like, for real, get a grip. There are two sides to a story, the two sides match. Theres proof that he sent someone; both sides agree! Theres no proof that he stated he could never step into a Church because hes a Muslim, and no matter the amount of tantrums you display it will not validate the accusations against him. Short of bringing forth verbal/vocal evidence I take this as the typical Nigerian "exaggeration".

The Nigerian Consulate staff are callous, yes, I've witnessed them in action when I went to apply for a visa. But, you have to look at it from the point of: WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A CONSULAR OFFICER?

Now, stop sulking and start getting logical, youre too grown for these childish tantrums.

Geez....

pDude: Fashola he dey working ooo

"It will be a bad precedence for a President to leave his office because of terrorists demanding his removal."

DheBuck: Please someone enlighten me...I thought Abu qaqa was arrested once...he escaped?

Power is actually improving at least I can attest to that. In Benin City for instance, people hardly use generators much as one now expects Power for at least 20hrs a day; and this has generally been the case since the middle of last year except for a period of time early this year when there was a general problem with electricity nationally. While one would still want to be cautiously optimist about this new improved situation cos this has happened before yet we went back to the old 'no light' situation later, it seem there really are NOW signs that perhaps this improvement is for real. There definitely is a better organized and focused Power Ministry that seem to be alive to its work and a Minister who has finally resolved to deal with many of the saboteurs we have in the system. For instance, the reaction to the dip in Power generation and distribution we experienced early this year was followed by the swift sack of the heads of TCN who the Minister accused of sabotage(since then there have been improvements). There also seem to have been improved Distribution and Transmission facilities than we had before such the end-users are getting much better power than the smaller increase in Generation would suggest.
SOURCE: http://www.informationnigeria.org/2012/04/govt-fires-phcn-chiefs-over-outage.html

[b]The really significant thing for me though is that the Power Reform Process seem to been going according to plan this time around and it seem very likely now that we would see the end of the Privatization Process before the end of October. Below is a sketch of some of the steps already taken 1. The passage of d Power Reform Bill some years ago(which laid the legal framework for the actors in the Power Sector) 2. The unbundling of PHCN into 18 holding companies last year. 3. The start of d new investment-leaning Tariff Structure this July(This honestly was the first REAL sign for me that the government was now serious in privatizing the sector). 4. The almost complete conclusion of the termination process of the current 'PHCN' workers prior to their selective re-absorption by the proposed new owners( though there seem to be some problems with the workers' Pensions at the moment). 5. The take-over of the Transmission Company by a well-known international company(MHI) so as to reorganized and manage it before handing it back to the govt(PS: Probably so that there will be less saboteurs in the system going forward, the minister insisted that MHI bring 8 senior staff who will take over the management of the company while current Nigerian management staff act as their assistants for the 3-year period) 6. The close of the submission of d bidding process for sale of d 17 Generation holding companies two weeks ago. 7. And just yesterday, the close of the submission of bids for the Distribution companies, again on schedule.[/b]

Just yesterday the govt insisted that the time-line WILL be followed(as they seem to have been doing) and have re-started the important dates again:

"Briefing newsmen at the end of the NCP meeting on Monday, the Director General for Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms Bolanle Onagorowa, said that the July 31 deadline for the submission of the bids for the Distribution Company of the PHCN remained sacrosanct as the Council vowed to strictly adhere to its timeline on the exercise...BPE boss also stated that the Council would meet on August 24 to reveal the bidders that passed the technical evaluation for the Generation companies’ bidders. She also disclosed that the Council would meet on September 11 to reveal the list of bidders that passed technical evaluation for the Distribution Companies.
Onagoruwa also stated that the financial bids opening for the Generation companies will be on September 25, while financial bid opening for the Distribution companies will be on October, 8. She also added that the Council would give final approval for the commercial bids for Distribution Companies on October, 22.
SOURCE: http://www.worldstagegroup.com/worldstagenew/index.php?active=news&newscid=5519&catid=26

One can imagine what will happen if this process concludes and Power generation and Distribution is privatized. It is also great that States have finally been granted approvals to distribute the Power it generates directly to its citizens- this is not just great news for states like Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom but will hopefully also create some sought of competition amongst other states who would then be 'blackmailed' into generating Power for their own people(either solely or more likely in conjunction with Private Investors).

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THIS PROCESS IS SEEN TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION AS THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PROCESS THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE EVER TAKEN , AND IT IS HAPPENING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES. We should not forget these dates(August24, September 11, September 25, October 8, October 22) and should insist that they are followed through please. This is where we need the Critics the most.

PLEASE SHARE. Thanks