To correct an impression:

Gani was always a supporter of Ribadu's anti-graft campaign though he might have disagreed with him on the methodology in one or two odd cases.

Saying Gani opposed EFCC during OBJ's regime is A LIE and OUTRIGHT FALSIFICATION OF FACTS.

This is what Fashola uses your tax money for,



Mr. Speaker,
Honourable Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly,

It is a great honour and privilege for me to present the Y2009 budget estimates to this Honorable House. In doing so, I sincerely thank members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for working constructively with the executive to achieve the objectives of our Administration. We have clearly articulated our vision and have been very focused in the pursuit of our goals. Our objective is to transform Lagos into Africa’s model Mega city; to build a world class city state that is clean, secure, livable, functions efficiently and enables the people to express their potentials.

Over the last 500 days since our assumption of office, we have worked tirelessly to deliver on our mandate through the rigorous implementation of our Ten Point Agenda. The budget is one principal instrument for achieving our objectives and our administration takes the budgetary process very seriously. The emphasis of the Y2008 budget on capital expenditure reflects our determination to overhaul our infrastructure and create the requisite framework for accelerated and sustainable development.

We have run government like a public corporation and closely monitored the implementation of the budget by holding a fortnightly revenue meeting from January to date and a quarterly review meeting of performance and enforced budgetary compliance. As at the end of the first quarter, the overall performance of our Budget was 60%; at the second quarter it was 70.65%; while at the third quarter it was 71.145. The trend of our Budget performance has been progressively upward and we are optimistic to close the year with a performance level of at least 80%.

This objective informed the re-ordering of our budgetary allocations, which this Honorable House recently enacted. An overview of our performance in the current year shows that our efforts are yielding positive results as we made commendable progress in the implementation of our Ten Point Agenda. Although the progress of your government and the budget implementation has been constantly reported in our 300, 400 and 500 hundred day progress reports, I will again briefly review some of our performance highlights for the year.

Road Construction and Rehabilitation

I have always maintained that the quality of our transportation especially our roads, will have an enormous impact on the standard of living of our people in so many ways. It will affect their health in the number of hours they spend commuting from place to place; it will affect how much they have to spend on other necessaries of life and how affordable the prices of goods and services can be delivered to them.

This is why, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, during the presentation of the year 2008 budget, I said that a number of strategic roads have been identified for construction in Phases. I am happy to state that we have commenced work on the first phase of majority of those strategic roads as promised. Altogether over 400 road contracts have been awarded by this administration and contractors are visibly at work in diverse locations across the state.

Among these are the reconstruction of the Murtala Muhammed way (Yaba – Iddo), Herbert Macaulay way, Aje Street, Commercial Avenue, Commercial Road, Montgomery Street and old Yaba Road on Lagos Mainland. Work is equally ongoing on the construction of Okota - Itire Overhead Link Bridge and Road works, Ajah - Badore Road; LASU-Iba road in Ojoo; Bourdillion- Alexandra- Gerrard- Osborne Roads in Ikoyi; Old Ota Road Phase II, Agodo Community Road, Shasha Orisumbare street and Ejigbo Association Avenue in Ikotun; and Ijegun - Isheri Oshun Isolo Roads. We have completed the second phase of Adetokunbo Ademola road on Victoria Island while we have awarded the design contract for the construction of the Admiralty-Alexander (Lekki-Ikoyi) link bridge.

Equally under construction are the dualisation of Mobil Road and Wilmer Crescent in Apapa; construction of a road network in Epe; construction of Ijede-Egbin Road and Rotimi Odusanya Street in Ikorodu; construction of Alasia- Aiyetoro Road, Ijanikun; construction of Ikosi Road, Iba; as well as Ogunoiki, Sule Abore, Oodu Odogunyan-Odonla, and Uniyu roads all in Eti Osa.

In line with our express commitment, we have commenced work towards the transformation of the Lagos- Badagry Expressway as a ten-lane modern international high way. The design work is being completed. We are building roads and bridges in Ajegunle to connect communities that have for many years have been separated, while work has started on OPeloyeru and other roads in Orile Iganmu.

Our roads are of the highest quality. Not only are they equipped with service ducts, our drains are no longer bricks laid but reinforced concrete to ensure the durability of the roads. We wish to salute the various organizations who partner with the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASMIRA) to ensure that in case of inevitability of Tar-cut they have a plan for rehabilitation of the affected road, and urge others to emulate them so that we can get the best value for our roads.

Transportation

As an administration, we are committed to the intermodal mass transit option. Today, the take off of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme is a success story. In response to the acceptance of the idea by Lagosians, we have moved to increase the fleet. The number of high capacity BRT buses has been increased from 126 to 246 with a capacity to transport 180,000 persons daily. Plans are afoot for the extension of the BRT to other parts of the state. Part of the 200 new buses, which we ordered have started arriving at the ports to further increase capacity.

During the year, contracts were awarded for the rehabilitation and construction of jetties, dredging of the waterways and other infrastructure in readiness for the implementation of efficient private sector operated ferry services. They include the construction of standard terminals at Ikorodu, Badore and Osborne as well as the dredging and channelization of the following ferry Routes:

(i) Ikorodu – Badore via Oreta, Baiyeku and Ijede;

(ii) Ikorodu – Osborne;

(iii) Badore – Lekki;

(iv) Oke Afa – Mile 2;

(v) Tolu/Ajegunle – PortNovo Creek – Liverpool and

(vii) Planned repairs of Epeme and Iya Afin jetties

We are also working with the Federal Government with a view to taking over some of their disused jetties for rehabilitation and deployment. Lagos State indeed has an immense potential in this regard. We have accordingly established the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) to oversee government programmes in this area and regulate operators.

The third leg of our mass transit is the light rail option. With the design of the designated corridors nearly completed, we will soon be able to commence construction of the first route. Very soon I will be leading a delegation to Dubai and London on a road show to market operators to invest in the provision of the coaches that will service the project. The World Bank has pledged its commitment and support for the actualization of the project. The designated routes for immediate implementation are the Agbado-Iddo – Marina and Ojo/Okokomaiko to Marina. An additional five routes have been identified for future construction, namely:

(i) Marina – Lekki

(ii) Ota/MMA – Iddo

(iii) Redemption Camp – Ojo

(iv) Redemption Camp – Marina

(v) Mile 2 – Marina

It is our firm determination to actualize the vision of an efficient modern multi-modal transport system within the shortest possible time.


Traffic Management

The effective management of traffic during the recent two-month partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge underscores our improved capacity in this regard. I thank all the Federal Government agencies that worked closely with us to manage traffic during the repair and rehabilitation work on the critical bridge. I am also grateful for the patience and understanding of Lagosians during the difficult period and even now as we have partially diverted traffic on a portion of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway for the on-going construction of the Okota-Itire link bridge. As I promised you earlier in the year, the construction of this critical link bridge, which will effectively connect seven local governments, is now under way. As a government we will not relent in our efforts to ensure that traffic moves as seamlessly as possible on our roads.

We have established the Drivers Institute to ensure the certification and re-orientation of Drivers of private and public transport vehicles in the state. This will surely significantly improve our road culture. Four of the five World Class Driver’s Education Institutes equipped with Eye Testing equipment, simulators and Biometric equipment have been completed.

We have increased the operational zones of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) from 14 to 20 while also providing additional logistic support such as 50 High powered Motto Guzzi bikes, 16 operational buses, 2 Heavy duty mobile car crushers for abandoned vehicles, five motor car tow trucks and 26 medium tow trucks”. This is in addition to upgrading its communication infrastructure.

Road infrastructure also feature prominently in our programmes as we undertook the provision of 21 Bus laybys, medium Barriers, Crash prevention and Guidance facilities, Traffic lights, junction improvement, Road marks and signage and road studs across the state. We have also undertaken road improvement in such areas as Odo Iyaalaro underpass, descent of Anthony Bridge, expansion of Town Planning Way, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, additional lane at Otedola underpass, improvement of Old toll gate road and the provision of a U-turn to link Ahmadu Bello Way through the Army Officer’s Mess, Onikan, opposite the Muson Centre to relieve the gridlock around Tafawa Balewa Square through to Marina.

Continuous reviews have shown that break downs constitute a very high percentage of the daily traffic congestions. I therefore call on all road users to complement our efforts by keeping their vehicles in road worthy conditions through periodic maintenance at all times even as we are finalizing plans to review and re-invigorate the MOT vehicle testing scheme.

REGULATION OF OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLES (OKADA)

It has become imperative to enforce existing Laws and Regulations guiding the operation of motorcycles as commercial transportation – popularly known as “Okada”. We recognize the service that these vehicles were intended to provide, including mobility and easy transfer from one place to another. However, it is necessary to alert the citizenry of the obvious exploitation of these operators and the substantial dangers inherent in engaging the services of uncertified, unregulated and in many instances unknown, transient riders who often have little or no verifiable connection with Lagos State or the locality within which they operate. They ride with multiple passengers and cargo and violate traffic laws at will.

From all reports it is evident that “Okadas” provide effective transport for criminal gangs to perpetrate offences such as armed robbery, stealing as well as harassment and intimidation of innocent residents. They also present serious challenges for surveillance by law enforcement agencies in a state with our size and population. Indeed our hospitals testify to the needless loss of human life, grave and sometimes permanent injuries sustained from accidents caused by lawless motorcycle riders.

In the interest of public safety and security, this menace cannot be allowed to continue unabated. The present practice of impunity by Okada riders where a flagrant disregard of existing road traffic laws and regulations is observed will now be met with strict enforcement. The appropriate agencies will continue to enlighten the public on permissible and lawful conduct for law abiding citizens. However, the immediate and continuing enforcement of the law through the criminal justice system will henceforth be robust, firm, sustained and unrelenting. We will not allow people to do business at the expense of other people’s lives, safety and comfort.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority Law, the Bus Rapid Transit ‘Lite’ Regulation and the Motor Vehicle Registration and Administration Authority Law all regulate the operation of Okada in Lagos State. In keeping with my constitutional duties, particularly section 5 (2) (b) of the constitution, I have given Executive Orders restricting the movement of motorcycles during certain hours in specified areas, namely Ikeja, Ikoyi and Victoria Island. This will be strictly and rigorously enforced.

I have directed all relevant government agencies including the police, LASTMA, the Special Traffic Mayors, KAI, Monitoring Team on Special Offences, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Justice to ensure due enforcement of all Laws and Regulations guiding the operation of Okada in Lagos State. We solicit the support of members of the public to ensure that the menace constituted by lawless motorcycle riders is brought to an end.

The use of siren has also constituted an unacceptable slur on our traffic management system. I have successfully demonstrated that you need patience and not the siren to negotiate through traffic in Lagos. I seek the cooperation of all and sundry to demonstrate its benefits including visiting governors and other public officers. Let us all get rid of these nuisance on which we spend millions of our hard earned money to keep the producers in Europe and America in business while we use it to terrorize the tax payers who we serve.



The Environment:

Because of our determination to have a sustainable environment, we have aggressively embarked on the promotion of a culture of greening Lagos. The success of our landscaping and beautification exercise is self-evident in such areas as Outer and Inner marina, Falomo Cloverleaf, Mobolaji Bank Anthony way median, triangular laybys between Obankoro and Palm grove on Ikorodu Road, Ijora Causeway, under the bridge at Ijora Olopa, Isheri- Oworonsoki median, Oworonsoki loop, Airport and Ojota loops and Ikeja Roundabout to mention a few. This initiative has been extended to all public schools in the state through our school advocacy program.

Lagos state today stands on the threshold of mitigating the negative consequences of climate change. We have moved to ensure that at least 1,000,000 trees are planted during our tenure as we have launched the tree planting campaign. In addition to this, we have taken measures to stop the indiscriminate felling of trees in the state. About 3088 species of trees have been identified and appropriate action taken for their protection. As a corollary, we have also gone to our schools to launch the Climate Change Clubs, as method of inculcating in our youths the value of understanding and appreciating our environment.

WASTE MANANGEMENT:

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) during the year acquired 50 new operational vehicles while another batch of 50 vehicles will be delivered to the agency shortly. 40 new roll-on-roll- off trucks have also been acquired by the agency. This has improved the capacity of the organization to manage public waste. During this period, we undertook the upgrading of the Olusosun land fill site at Ikeja, procured 240 waste collection trucks and three giant landfill compactors and introduced Dino bins in 2000 locations across the state. We also commenced the construction and equipping of 3 out of the planned ten transfer loading stations and these are at Simsin, Ogombo and Yaba. This is in addition to the on-going development of three land-fills at Ibafo, Ikorodu and Badagry. Again, we approved the supply of 1,986 units of 1,100-litre galvanized steel bins on wheels to all the schools in the state and we have gainfully employed thousands of our men and women and young people who work day and night to sweep and clean our streets. The progress that we have made in making Lagos cleaner demonstrates what can be achieved. We want to keep people employed to give us a clean city and household can help us by promptly paying their refuse collection bills. There is no secret in a clean and healthy State. It requires a clear plan which we have, it requires men and women to do the job, whom we have found, it requires funding to operate it, which we asked you to give us.

FLOOD CONTROL

As a coastal city, we face the challenge of managing flood especially when many people continue to misuse the various canals as waste disposal bins. As a palliative to the incessant flooding we have dedicated ourselves to the construction, dredging and cleaning of the Canals and some waterways. They include:

- Construction of Gbagada/Aturase Trapezodial channel;

- Construction of Ososa/Ifelodun/Ariobadade collector Drain;

- Construction of sheet pile and construction of MacGregor trapezodial channel;

- Lining of Oko-Oba Canal;

- Dredging of Ologolo Canal;

- Maintenance of Brown/Oshodi Canal;

- Dredging of Gunness downstream;

- Dredging of Chinatown/Lancaster Drainage;

- Dredging of Airport Mafoluku/Ajao Estate Channel;

- Cleaning of system 2;

- Dredging of NTA Tejuosho to Alaka/Railway compound to Ojo Oniyun to Olaleye and

- Rehabilitation of Oduduwa Collector to mention a few.


We have also embarked on various reclamation projects to ensure Erosion Control in Omole Phase 1, Ayetoro and Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikorodu to name a few.

BAR BEACH RECLAMATION AND RESTORATION

With the successful completion of the sea defense wall to stop the ocean surge along the Bar Beach, work has now commenced on the Eko Atlantic City project that will transform the area into a major commercial, residential and business hub in Africa. The project, which was graciously flagged off by Mr. President in April is slated for completion by 2015 and is envisaged to be the largest civil works project ever undertaken in Africa.

PHYSICAL PLANNING AND SLUM UPGRADING:

Last year, we witnessed a series of building collapse and I promised that we will find an enduring solution. Since I made that promise, we have worked day and night, consulting with all stake holders and we are in the final process of developing an urban development and town planning procedure that will put an end to building collapse by involving all the stake holders. In the interim, the tighter controls and very close scrutiny has ensured that this year, more than before, we reduced drastically the incidence of building collapse in our state.

We have approved the immediate implementation of the comprehensive proposals of the Technical Committee on Planning Regulation and Building Control, which I inaugurated in June this year. Aside from the Lekki Master Plan which we have unveiled, work is ongoing on the Master Plans for cities like Surulere, Apapa, Badagry, Ikorodu and Alimosho among others. We are undertaking all of these to ensure that our vision of a well planned state is met.

Let me use this opportunity to appeal to all citizens to join our efforts in beautifying our state by painting their houses regularly. Their efforts in this regard will assist us enormously. I must also point out that there are a number of buildings that have outlived their useful structural life. I appeal to the owners of these buildings to voluntarily bring them down by applying to us and re-develop them. This will save them from the compulsory acquisition provisions of Section 74 of the Town Planning Law that empowers the state to acquire collapsed buildings. Some property owners who fall into this category have already taken this commendable step.

During my presentation of the Y2008 budget, I stated that our administration would commence the upgrade of slums mainly through the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Programme (LMDGP). I am happy to state that the exercise is up and running. Communities in Agege, Ajegunle, Amukoko, Badia, Iwaya, Makoko Ilaje Bariga and Ijeshatedo are already being covered. When they are fully actualized the areas will serve as growth poles for the Lagos megacity.

We will continue to insist on compliance with building codes and physical planning regulations. Loss of lives occasioned by collapse of building, fire disaster, flooding are avoidable if and only if we will obey the laws.

LAND USE CHARGE

In the preceding year, the pace of property enumeration for Land Use Charge was stepped up considerably. Concrete plans are now in place to further extend the coverage and attendant benefits of the charge to other areas in 2009. The Land Use Charge Law is, of course, one of the tools we are using for the dual purpose of promoting infrastructural development whilst also reducing multiplicity of taxes in Lagos State. In Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Africa and virtually all countries of the world, property taxes of this nature are charged on real property based upon its value and usage. The proceeds go towards the improvement of roads, drainages and other local infrastructure as well as public health and educational facilities.

At the moment, Lagos has one of the lowest property tax rates in the world. In other cities like Cape Verde, the rates go as high as 0.075% while Costa Rica has a rate of 0.25% and New Delhi stands at 6%. Also, property taxes account for a substantial percentage of city budgets around the world ranging from an average of 20% in India and over 50% in many Canadian cities.

In Nigeria, property taxes have existed in different forms for several decades. Lagosians will recall that before 2001 when the Land Use Charge Law was first passed, property owners were obliged to pay Ground Rent and Neighborhood Improvement Charge to the State Government and Tenement Rates to their Local Government Councils at different times each year. This necessitated three different bills and three different processes, which made compliance both cumbersome and costly for taxpayers. It also created an irregular situation in which different valuations were used for the same property by the two levels of government concerned.

Apart from glaring problems of administrative efficiency, the tenement rate valuations had at this time become grossly outdated. To compound matters, the Local Government Councils, because of financial constraints, found it difficult to commission fresh valuation exercises. The Land Use Charge was therefore a new cooperative effort between the State Government and the Local Government Councils, which saw all property related taxes in Lagos State consolidated into a single charge. This combined charge offered the triple benefits of cost efficiency, ease of administration and taxpayer convenience.

However, at the initial stages, the new property valuations gave rise to assessments which were higher than what people were used to paying. Following representations made by taxpayer groups, government decided to grant relief to taxpayers by conceding a substantial reduction of rates, going as low as 0.0375 for owner occupied residential properties and 0.375 for commercial properties. Government also pledged that the new rates would apply for a continuous period of seven years commencing from 1st January 2002.

These rates are now due for review and our administration is working with professional valuers to carry out the exercise. We crave the understanding and cooperation of Lagosians in the continuing implementation of this and other taxes as they constitute the only way by which we can achieve the rapid development that we all wish for.

On our part, we shall continue to ensure that prior notices are given to property owners before the enumeration exercise. Enumerators will refrain from entering the interior of your buildings and at all times they will wear clearly identifiable uniforms. We shall also continue to attend promptly to all complaints, including objections to property valuation or classification. We hope that you will help us to reduce errors by promptly supplying all the information required and paying your tax as and when due.

EKO MICRO-FINANCE INITATIVE

As we promised, the Lagos state micro-finance initiative has taken off with the establishment of the Lagos State Micro-finance Institution (LASMI). In line with our objectives, a Memorandum of Understanding was consequently signed with five micro-finance banks to operate the scheme. The first set of 5000 beneficiaries have been given credit worth N850 million to start new businesses or expand existing ones. Another set of 4500 graduates of our vocation and skills acquisition centers were equally empowered through the scheme to set up small scale businesses. We shall continue to systematically expand the scope of the Eko Micro-Finance Initiative as a platform for lifting millions of our people out of the cesspit of poverty.

JOB CREATION

Job creation is sine qua non to the state’s poverty reduction policy thrust. However, there is a limit to the number of jobs that government can directly create, especially given the current size of the public service.

The focus of our administration is therefore on creating the enabling environment for sustainable job creation by the private sector as well as the expansion of the entrepreneurial class. While other bigger economies across the world are shedding jobs by the hundreds of thousands, we have made significant achievements in job creation, which are evident in the following examples:

5000 employed as street sweepers;

Over 2000 employed by the PSP operators for solid waste management;

Over 2000 employed in the massive drainage and canal clearing works;

About 3000 directly employed in the various greening and beautification projects including those employed in the supply chain;

About 2000 drivers employed for the BRT operation;

About 500 directly engaged in the Agricultural initiatives like Rice-for-Jobs;

About 1000 additional staff employed by LASTMA and the Lagos State Fire Service by end of 2008;

Over 9000 self-employed persons graduated from the state’s Skills Acquisition programmes and received financing under the Lagos State Micro-finance Initiative;

Over 10000 employed directly as construction workers on the various roads, bridges and housing construction projects;

The upsurge in public construction works as well as some new regulations have created job opportunities for surveyors, architects, valuers, engineers, accountants and lawyers;

Under the state’s vacation job programme, about 10,000 young people were employed on our Enterprise Registration and Identification (ENTRIDA) scheme during the last long vacation period.

Our administration will continue to seize every opportunity to stimulate job creation on a massive scale, engage idle hands productively and enable more people gain freedom from the poverty trap.

EDUCATION

Our administration has sustained the provision of free education in all public nursery, primary and secondary schools in Lagos State. In the same vein, we have continued the comprehensive rehabilitation of our School infrastructure. This year, we undertook the rehabilitation of 746 classrooms, completed 85 blocks of abandoned classroom projects while also undertaking the construction of 704 new classrooms at about N5.07billion. Our efforts also include maintenance intervention works on 712 classrooms, school walls, roofs and drainages.

We have spent a further N580million on provision of science equipment for both senior and junior secondary schools. Contracts have also been awarded to provide 20,800 pupil’s dual desks, 3150 Teacher’s desks and 90 principal’s furniture. We equally procured and distributed about six million free text books for children at all levels in our public nursery, primary and secondary schools while also placing emphasis on training and retraining of our teachers.

Similarly, we have continued to provide necessary funding to sustain and maintain our tertiary institutions. However, a very serious problem here is the massive influx of students into Lagos from all over the country to take advantage of the very low fees we charge compared to other state-owned institutions. A good example is the Lagos State University (LASU) where the pressure of numbers, due to the low fees, puts severe strain on available manpower and facilities with negative implications for the quality of teaching, research and the environment.

We are determined that LASU and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) must rank among the best tertiary institutions anywhere in the world. This means that they must have world class teaching and research programs and attract the best teaching faculty across the globe. Since there are diverse areas of critical need competing for the limited resources available to government, we face the challenge of coming up with more realistic funding options for our tertiary institutions that will enable them produce the caliber of man power that will be respected internationally and positively add value to our society.

HEALTH

In the health sector, our central policy thrust revolves around expanding and improving our capacity to provide curative health care at the secondary and tertiary levels while also emphasizing preventive care through the provision of primary health care especially for women and children. Apart from sustaining the provision of free health care for children under five, the aged above 60 and free ante-natal care for women, we have further expanded services of free screening and treatment for a number of silent killer diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diabetes, High blood pressure Prostate cancer and Breast cancer.

In the course of the year we strengthened our emergency services with the provision of ten new Mobile Intensive Care Units, 57 new ambulances for our health care centers at the grassroots and took delivery of a new Field Hospital, which is a standard hospital on wheels that can be deployed during emergencies to on the spot medical and surgical services. We have also strengthened our school health programme with the provision of mobile dental clinics to offer dental care to school children.

Let me also acknowledge the immense contributions of the Eko Club International, which has undertaken 5 Free Health Missions to the State within the last one year. Put together about 60,000 persons benefited from the exercise. We have further strengthened the popular Blindness Prevention Programme by designating seven secondary healthcare facilities as referral centers and equipping them with modern facilities. Such programs as the Cleft Lip/Palate and the Limb Deformity Corrective surgery continue to offer succor and hope to hundreds of indigent persons.

Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, today we are making remarkable progress in changing the face of our various hospitals. From LASUTH to the General Hospitals in Lagos Island, Amuwo Odofin, Gbagada, Ajeromi, Isolo and Ikorodu considerable development is being achieved.

Among the projects we have started and are nearing completion include the 100 bed maternal and child health complexes within Ikorodu, Mushin, Surulere, Isolo and Ifako Ijaiye General hospitals; the 50 bed trauma and burn centre at the Lagos end of the Expressway and the staff clinic at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

We have continued the transformation of LASUTH and LASUCOM into centers of medical excellence. Among projects undertaken at these institutions are the rehabilitation and equipping of wards, clinics and the 5 suite theatre complex and the provision of a car park, multipurpose sports complex, Animal House, Dental Centre, the Bola Tinubu 144 bed four storey ward, pediatrics/family medicine complex at LASUTH and award of contract for the procurement of thoracic endoscopy and pacemaker implantation equipment.

Having designated the Gbadaga General Hospital as LASUTH’s annex, we have endeavored to upgrade its facilities. We have awarded the construction of a three storey, 80-bed trauma and burns centre as well as another three storey cardiac and renal centre at the Gbagada General Hospital.

We understand that a qualitative health care system is not just about drugs, structures, equipment and ideas. It is also and significantly so about personnel. We have therefore been engaged in training and re-training of our medical personnel and this we will intensify as we move forward. We are determined to make the necessary investment for the emergence of Lagos as a prime global destination for persons in quest of qualitative medical care.

JUSTICE

For us the quality of laws is as important as the processes that facilitate their implementation. We have therefore continued to strengthen and indeed expand the scope of our justice sector reforms. Today work is ongoing on the construction of urban prototype Magistrate Courts at Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Igbosere, Ikeja, Mushin and Ogba. When fully completed, they will deliver about 200 new court rooms for our magistrates. New quarters for judges are also being constructed in Ikoyi.

We are currently training 65 court recorders who will provide automation in the recording of proceedings in these courts. A new magistrate’s court law and rules of procedure to quicken the judicial process has just been sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly as an Executive Bill.

We have also fully operationalized the Bill of Sale Registry just as we have upgraded the Consumer Rights Protection Unit into a full-fledged Agency that provides for the economic well being of citizens. A People’s Advisory Centre has also been established to provide our citizens with access to information and advice. A well equipped, properly motivated and trust worthy judiciary will continue to be the bedrock of democratic governance as well as a robust investment climate in Lagos State. We have awarded the contract for the construction of the Lagos Arbitration Centre to provide an alternative forum for resolution of disputes; especially commercial disputes.

PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES

Pensions and Gratuities are a major plank of our staff welfare programmes. Since the take off of the Pension Reform Law in Y2007, which establishes the Contributory Pensions Scheme, we have dedicated ourselves to the prompt and efficient payment of contributions.

A few months back the bi-annual verification was done using the Biometric equipment that was recently acquired by government. I dare say that with the equipment we have entered the stage of a more effective and stress-free management of our retirees. Aside from the basic data this has afforded us, we are now able to undertake the verification of retirees at less than a minute per person. With the completion of the exercise, we are at the dawn of commencing the e-payment of pensions.

ECONOMIC PLANNING

Since 1999, there has been a major paradigm shift in the process of economic planning from the era of direct governmental participation in business. Lagos State has created an effective participatory planning process through partnership with the private sector in determining the policy directions of the state. The main vehicle for consummating this partnership is the Ehingbeti Forum, the fourth edition of which we held early in the year. The gains of that summit are unquantifiable. You will recall that we brought together service and solution providers, investors and strategists with proven records across the world. We are vigorously implementing the 48 resolutions passed at the summit.

Since accurate data is indispensable for efficient planning, the Central Office of Statistics has been repositioned as a Statistical Bureau and has been given the immediate target of calculating the State’s GDP. The tentative figure I understand is ready while we await the full report of its calculation when the consultants finish their job. I am also happy to report that the Lagos State Records and Archives Board (LASRAB), the first public information warehouse in the state, has taken off with the deployment of its full complement of staff.

Mindful of the need to adopt best practices, we have subscribed to the “Growth Pole Project” a DFID/World Bank Investment Climate Programme to assist the state to address emergent challenges relating to doing business in Lagos especially in the area of trade facilitation, tax administration, lands registration and contract enforcement.

We urge prompt action by honorable members of this distinguished house on the Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility bill, which is already before you. Its passage into law will strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance even as we finalize plans very soon to unveil the LASEEDS 2 document. Let me also state that the Medium Term Sector Strategies on which we partnered with the SLGP of DFID has been extended beyond the pilot Ministries to embrace seven others. Also critical to our planning is the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as a platform to ensure project completion within a medium term. This will from the coming year feature more prominently in our planning process.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Lagos State has a very large informal sector. The actual size and their identification has for a long time eluded us making it difficult to plan effectively for them. We have thus pursued the Enterprise Registration and Identification programme (ENTRIDA) as a critical exercise that will assist us to ensure a robust database and also promote the culture of tax payment in the informal sector. The first edition of the generated information has been published as the Lagos Business Directory.

We have also commenced an audit of our industrial estates as a first step to rehabilitating and modernizing them. While a new industrial estate will soon take off at Imota, the first phase of the N6billion Ultra Modern Auto Market in Mowo will soon take off, while progress is going on with the construction of phases one and two of Tejuosho market, Oyingbo market, Iponri market and Oluwole market while Jankara market has also been awarded for reconstruction.

Housing:

During this period, the Ministry of housing constructed 2000 housing units in seven locations across the state. Apart from direct construction, we are also utilizing the strategy of Public-Private Partnership to meet the housing needs of the state. In this respect, 27 Developers have proposed the construction of 20,000 housing units in ten different locations across the state. Under this arrangement, the government provides the land as equity while private resources are deployed to construct the estates. Necessary approvals have been given and work is under way in a number of them.










Government is currently addressing the problem of congestion created by high population density in the metropolis through the establishment of Satellite Estates in sub-urban and rural communities such as Agbowa-Ikosi, Ado, Imota, Epe, Igbogbo, Oke-Eletu and Ibeju. We estimate that these schemes will provide at least 20,000 new housing units for different categories of residents.


Mr. Speaker, Honorable members, it is impossible for me to mention all we have accomplished in the period under review. Let me however mention that we have commenced the aerial digital mapping of Lagos State through the Geographic Information System (GIS). This project, which is currently on-going, will provide a modern, scientific information data base of the physical features of Lagos to aid effective planning. We have equally introduced the pilot phase to herald the full scale use of information technology for the proper management of records in our schools and public health facilities.

Through our rural integration program, we have intervened in over 500 communities with the provision of rural electrification, micro water works, rural roads and other basic facilities. These include the provision of 314 integrated development projects in 38 contiguous rural communities.

To improve water supply in the state, we completed five micro-water works at Iwaya, Ojo, Badia, Oworonsoki, Otto-Awori and Igando. Out of the 15 water projects that we planned, we have awarded twelve and I am satisfied and pleased to report that that they are making expected progress and each of them which will deliver two million gallons of water daily will start reaching completion, I am told, from December 2008 through to January 2009.

As our local Government and Local Council Development Chairmen resume work, let me report that the N20 billion local government intervention fund approved in Y2008 budget has been faithfully implemented in various local governments across the state in road, school, water, drainage, rural electricity and other life changing programs across the state. We expect our Chairmen to continue from where we have reached so far.

We have continued the aggressive provision of street lights on major roads while commendable progress was made in tapping the potentials of marine agriculture in the state through the implementation of the Marine Agriculture Development Program (LSMADP). We have also awarded the construction of the new Agege stadium while the street soccer initiative has taken off in partnership with the private sector as part of our efforts to re-vitalize sports as a vehicle of socio-economic integration and development. A central objective in the implementation of our programs in all sectors is the generation of new jobs as a poverty alleviation measure.




Review of the Y2008 Budget

We had appropriately tagged the Budget the ‘Great Leap Budget’ to reflect the depth of our vision and the magnitude of our aspiration. The Budget had a capital to recurrent expenditure ratio of 61:39. Our further reordering of priorities has further skewed the ratio in favor of capital expenditure. This is a state in a hurry. Not only must we change the face of the State’s infrastructure but we also need to edge off inflation by concentrating on the valuable and expedient.

Mr. Speaker, Honorable, members it is appropriate to now review our current performance with a view to laying a proper foundation for our future plans. We recorded an overall Budget performance of over 71.14% as at half year review. When this is measured on a prorated basis and projected to the end of the year, a performance level of 75% is achieved.

Y2008 Ordinary Revenue

The Total Ordinary Revenue we realized in the third quarter period is N158.714billion out of the expected cumulative total of N178.074 billion. This represents 89.13 %. Out of this sum, IGR performed at 80% or N90.875 Billion; Dedicated Revenue performed at N6.872bn (159.48%). Equally the Federal Transfers performed at 101.06% having collected N 60.967billion of the anticipated cumulative of N60.327billion.

Recurrent Expenditure:

A sum of N 96.580billion was recorded as recurrent expenditure at the third quarter period. This represents 80.67%. A further breakdown shows that Total Personnel Cost recorded N30.393billion while overhead cost amounted to N39.091Billion. This amount was applied for the overall smooth running of government. It is especially noteworthy that a significant amount here is attributable to the increased cost of diesel which is one of the unfavorable macro-economic variables we had to contend with. We expended N6.028bn (53.20%) as subvention to parastatals and the sum of N17.444Bn (104.87%) as public debt charge.


Capital Receipts:

Total Actual Capital Receipt as at September 2008, stood at N66.995 billion or 363.61%. In specific terms, the following are noteworthy: Internal loans of N7.031 billion; Bond Issue of N35 billion; VAT receipts of N24.026 billion and Capital contributions amounted to N7.226billion.

Capital Expenditure

This Honorable house will recall that our emphasis had been to deliver immediate and fundamental developmental programmes which necessitated the extensive commitment to this segment of expenditure. We believe now, as we did then, that our challenge is to deliver on infrastructure. Accordingly, our profile here shows a planned expenditure of N182.831Bn out of which N115.263 (63.04%) was actually expended in the nine month period. The core capital segment recorded N108.572 billion while other areas like prime land and others show N3.279bn while Special Expenditure was N3.412billion.


Proposed Y2009 Budget

Mr. Speaker, Honorable members it is with a sense of duty and absolute commitment to the transformation of Lagos State into a preferred destination of best practices and world class commercial centre that I present the Y2009 Budget tagged the Budget of Accelerated Growth. We have carefully planned this Budget not only to sustain the great leap of last year but even accelerate the tempo of infrastructural development of the state. This is critical to ensure the furtherance and realization of our Policy thrust of POVERTY ERADICATION AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL AND DEVELOPMENT AND TO ENSURE FISCAL RESPONSIBILTY.

The BUDGET OF ACCELERATED GROWTH proposed and presented to this Honorable House has a size of N 405 Billion.

Budget Focus

I am proud to report that through the faithful and diligent implementation of the Y2008 budget of Great Leap, Lagos has taken a great leap and we are determined that this oncoming year will move Lagos further along the path of sustainable development. We will rededicate ourselves to roads and transportation infrastructure; environmental renewal and upgrading; infrastructure development; human capital development (health, education); expansion of water supply; public service reforms; capacity building for informal sector growth; poverty eradication; enhanced revenue generation; promotion of collaborative efforts with the private sector and the maintenance of public security and order.


Core Programmes

Having articulated our various planning frameworks such as the TPA and LASEEDS as critical variables to fast track the Millennium Development Goals and growth, the following will receive our attention in Y2009. They are


Infrastructure development – roads, bridges,

Upgrading and maintenance of existing roads, bridges

Implementation of integrated mass transit programme

Comprehensive emergency management

Flood control, greening, and beautification programme

Systematic physical planning for sustainable development

Improved solid waste management system through development of sanitary land-fill sites and transfer loading stations.

Sustaining security initiatives, (law, order, and justice sector reform)

Construction and rehabilitation of schools including laboratories and libraries

Teachers’ welfare enhancement

Community –based vocational education

Improved access free and quality healthcare

Affordable mass housing schemes

state-sponsored home ownership mortgage scheme

Empowerment of farmers/fishermen for food production and processing

Expansion/construction of new micro-water schemes

Tourism development, social and youth empowerment through the renewal of sports and recreational facilities

Facilitation of liberalized micro-finance scheme

Integrated rural development

TOTAL ORDINARY REVENUE: N288.963bn;

The budget projects an Internally Generated Revenue of N208.791bn while other dedicated Revenue is estimated at N4.172bn. Federal Transfers amounts to N57bn and Extraordinary Revenue is N19bn. There has been a review of the accruals from the Statutory Allocation and VAT in line with the downward review of the Budget benchmark to $45.00

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE;

We propose a recurrent expenditure of N159.284bn. This is composed of:

- Total Personnel Cost - N54.33bn

- Total Overhead Cost - N104.295bn which devolves as follows:

Subventions - N17bn

Overhead Cost - N80.051bn

Transfer to other funds – N72 million and

Public Debt Charge of N3.000bn

CAPITAL RECEIPTS

This is estimated at N42.202bn made up of the following sub heads:

Other Capital Receipts- N37.580 bn;

Matching Grants- N4.122 bn and

Investment Income- N500million.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Economic sector – N109.155bn (44.4%)

Social sector - N43.944bn (17.88%)

Environment - N45.734bn (18.6%)

Administration – N46.881bn (19.07%)


CONCLUSION

We implemented the Y2008 budget within the context of very unfavorable macro-economic variables. These include persistent inadequate power supply, the attendant 2.1% drop in industrial production over the corresponding period in 2007 and a double digit inflation rate of 12% according to the CBN. I must however note with satisfaction the supportive disposition of the Federal Government, particularly the presidency, to progress and development in Lagos State.

The nation recorded marked increases in oil revenues occasioned by unprecedented surge in oil price spurred partly by disruptions to oil production in the Niger Delta region. Yet, according to the Human Development Index, Nigeria was placed 158th of 177 nations and remained classified as a low human development country with HDI value of 0.470. Our challenge is to translate the huge oil revenues into practical improvements in the lives of our people as well as do all that is possible to ensure that the global food crisis and the crisis in world financial markets do not compound the problems of our economy.

Indeed, as a nation we need more than ever before to put on our thinking caps and systematically plan our way out of poverty and underdevelopment at this critical point in world history. The fall in global oil prices will without doubt affect our revenue earning capacity given our excessive dependency on oil as the country’s major revenue earner. It is likely that the intensification of the search for alternative energy sources in the west will limit our future capacity to earn jumbo revenues from oil. Now therefore is the time to begin to plan for a future without oil. The global financial and economic melt down will indeed negatively affect financial flows to Africa in terms of loans, aid, investment and trade. But this cannot be an excuse to throw up our hands in despair or despondency. If countries without oil or other natural and mineral resources can break out of the vicious cycle of poverty, we surely can. All we need is courage, character, conviction and creativity.

The evident deepening of national poverty inevitably implies further pressure on Lagos as more people flock to the state from other parts of the country in quest of a better life. Yet, as crucial as Lagos is to the national economy, the state receives no compensation for the enormous responsibilities she bears on behalf of Nigeria. The revenue currently allocated to the state from the Federation Account clearly does not appropriately reflect the enormous contributions of Lagos to the national coffers through VAT, the Petroleum Tax Fund, the Education Tax Fund and the huge revenues generated at the Lagos ports at tremendous cost to our environment and infrastructure. We will continue to advocate that Lagos be given a special grant to enable her maintain and improve the infrastructure that services the national economy. This is not a favor to Lagos but a right which she deserves as a home to people from all ethnic groups in the country. The earlier it is realized that, as the dynamo of the national economy, every investment in the infrastructure of Lagos is an investment in rapid economic growth for Nigeria, the better for us all.

I call on the Federal government to expedite action on the implementation of the power sector reforms since uninterrupted power supply is a necessary condition for economic recovery and growth. It is critical to actualizing the Vision 2020 agenda. We will do everything to support complete deregulation of the power sector as fast as possible while also exploring the options of alternative energy sources for Lagos State including solar and wind energy.

Our investment in security has borne positive dividends as the crime rate has dropped appreciably in Lagos State. I must thank the private sector, which has continued to demonstrate great support for the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. However, we still have a long way to go and I urge for more contributions to the fund to enable us continue to enhance the capacity of the security agencies to safe guard our lives and property. We will continue to explore Public- Private-Partnership strategies in the provision of infrastructure, social services and the conversion of our challenges to opportunities within the context of scarce financial resources. I am very grateful to members of the organized private sector in all ramifications who have responded to our call to partnership and shown a great and uncommon civic engagement with our government as I also express appreciation to all the security agencies for their commitment and support.

I am happy to report that the restructuring of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service is yielding the desired result and helping to consolidate and improve on the internal finances of the state. I thank all those in the formal and informal sectors who have heeded our call on the need to meet their tax obligations. We shall continue to campaign for all of us, individuals and corporate citizens, to pay our taxes voluntarily and promptly to enable government live up to its responsibilities to the people. On our part, we shall continue to utilize public resources prudently and with integrity to achieve rapid development of Lagos State.

Let me also thank all workers in our Ministries, Departments and Agencies for identifying with our vision and working very hard to help achieve our set objectives. We have no doubt made considerable success but we are not where we want to be yet. There is still so much work to do and we cannot allow complacency to set in. As we move forward, we will intensify the ongoing public sector reforms to enable better and more efficient delivery of quality services to the public with transparency, integrity and accountability. I urge all our workers to embrace the spirit of change and constantly improve on our skills, attitudes and values in the public interest.

I am grateful to all the Honorable members of this House for your support, patience and cooperation. I thank the leadership and teeming members of the Action Congress and our Royal Fathers for your unflinching support for your government. And I am eternally grateful to the people of Lagos State for the opportunity and privilege to serve. I can assure you that we will intensify the pace of our work in the days ahead to improve and add value to your lives. For us, the reward of hard work is more work.

Your support, co-operation and belief have been our strength and inspiration to continue. Because memories may fade, I think it is important to go back a little bit and remind all of us the difficult roads we have successfully worked together, as hindsight for what we can achieve together in the next and coming years.

In September of 2007, we were compelled to shut down one section of the bridge linking Mile 12 to Ikorodu to enable us rebuild it so that it will not collapse suddenly and take innocent lives. Although it caused discomfort, we finished it before Christmas of 2007 as we promised you and it has continued to serve our people better and safer.

We collaborated together to build part of Lekki-Epe Express way and Adetokunbo Ademola Street. While you endured the discomfort of the construction period, we did our best to work at night while we managed the traffic during the day.

Today, both roads have been completed; Lagos now has them delivered to the highest possible quality and the pain has been replaced with the pleasure of driving.

On the 2nd of August this year, we had to take the painful but necessary decision to partially close the 3rd Mainland Bridge and promised to complete the rehabilitation works in partnership with the Federal Government. You agreed to endure the discomfort; we kept our promise and delivered ahead of the deadline. Today, we have a safer bridge and the pain is gone.

Last year in December, Tejuoso market was unfortunately gutted by fire. We were advised to evacuate the whole market to avoid the disaster and possible loss of life that may follow a sudden collapse.

You agreed to work with us, and today, two markets, the old burnt section and the recently burnt one are simultaneously being rebuilt. Very soon we will be getting two brand new markets that are modern, safer and will be a pride to our state.

On September 21, 2008, with your cooperation, we walked an uncharted technological highway together. We achieved the first controlled demolition of a partially collapsed high rise building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Giving the go ahead for the final countdown of ten seconds for the building to be demolished has so far been the most testing decision I have probably had to make. I found the courage in your support and belief. I will never take them for granted.

There are more challenging roads ahead that we must walk together if we must achieve the Lagos of our dreams.

I will be there at all times you look for me, never letting you down, giving my best at all times to deliver on your hopes and aspirations and I hope that every time I look behind me, I will find you there, because I can only lead, if I am being followed by all of you.

When we started last year, some people complained that we were in a hurry, that we were running a marathon of four years like a sprint. I am happy and proud first to say that we did so. The global credit crunch reinforces my view that we were right in our strategy because the opportunities are dwindling, the price of oil is coming down but we have invested wisely in infrastructure and the gains will be enduring.

The size of our challenges has outgrown our traditional sources of revenue. We cannot use the same tools to get new results. We will expect more cooperation from all taxable persons, artisans, professionals and corporations who are liable to pay taxes to us to do so promptly and voluntarily. Because of the dwindling prices of oil, the National benchmark for the Federal budget has been reduced from $52.00 to $45.00 in the 2009 budget. Although we have kept almost the same size of budget, our expected revenues from the federal purse have significantly diminished. We believe that with prompt and full payment of taxes by all taxable adults, we can bridge this funding gap.

However, we must continue to sprint through this marathon, to cross the Rubicon, before the door of opportunities close in a possible global recession.

This is why we must do a lot more than we did next year. This is why we must sacrifice more, invest wisely, forebear expectantly so that we can reap bountifully.

We will take more courageous and seemingly difficult decisions. We mean well and intend to do well and will consult with you as best as possible, but we assure you that this is all about you and less about us.

The other road is one we cannot afford to walk. This is the road of inactivity, excuses and failure. It is the road to poverty. The road we have chosen and promised is the road to prosperity. It is the more difficult road, but because of you, we dare to walk it if you will go with us.

It is the road to the brighter rewarding future. It is the road that ensures that Eko O Ni Baje.

An ancient monarch of the Egyptian Empire, Amenhothep IV, once rightly declared that “the glory of a king is in the welfare of his subjects”. In the same vein, the fulfillment of a democratically elected government lies in the happiness and well being of the people. This is why we have a single minded commitment as an Administration to liberating our people from the bondage of poverty, disease, ignorance, joblessness, homelessness and other limitations that detract from the dignity of man. We have the privilege and unique opportunity to actualize the immense potentials of our state and launch her on the part of irreversible prosperity for the benefit of our people. We will optimally utilize this opportunity to leave indelible imprints on the landscape of Lagos State.

We live in very challenging times that task the ingenuity of nations and their leaders. In a highly competitive globalized world, visionary, competent and audacious leadership that inspire a people for greatness can make the difference between the wealth and poverty of nations. The current global financial crisis has reinforced clearly the indispensability of wise and courageous leadership for national greatness. We have seen giant economic organizations-banks, insurance companies, mortgage firms collapse in the twinkling of an eye. We have seen millions lose their life investments and plunged into economic despair. And we are seeing in several countries the ability of strong and determined leadership to offer hope in times of despair; to give people a reason and a purpose for living when all seems lost. Indeed so critical is leadership that the whole world keenly followed t

Guy, dem no tell you say this your car shouldnt be more than 3 million? Why you think say nobody answer you till now?

@loma

Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his head and Jill came tumbling after

For those using CSCS online service, has anyone been having problems seeing the details of their purchases? I bought some stocks this week and while they reflect in my account, whenever I click on them to see the purchase date and price it is blank.

This never used to happen before

does anyone know when Sterling bank is coming off suspension?

For those contemplating Orient PP

I was talking to someone who also has a stake in a block in the Anambra basin and asked him about Orient in general (upstream and downstream) and this was his take:

He believes Orient is putting the cart before the horse. What you normally do as an integrated oil company is to concentrate on the upstream side of things first and when you are sure that you've made a commercial and technically viable find, you can now think about value adding activities such as refining. But Orient is building a refinery without appraising the bloc they have. He actually said they are not sure if it's a gas field or volatile oil field.

Assuming it is an oil field, do they know how much oil there is and what rates they will be able to get to supply their refinery? For how long?

If not, what are their alternative plans? Have they worked out another source of oil?

Please don't let's stake our money without adequate information. Be clear on issues both technical/commercial and political surrounding a company before putting your money there.


P.S.

@loma

Shey na the work wey we dey pay you to do be this abi? Spending all day on this thread abi? P_P go talk at the end of the year o.

Anyways, this na your man, from Ife and we both work for the same company albeit at different ends of the world? You should have an idea now.

You still dey go Luanda?

Gamine

Edinburgh is a great city and the Univ of Edinburgh is one of the best in the UK (1ST tier rated). I can assure u that it will be worth your while. There's a growing Nigerian presence there and even 2 or 3 RCCG parishes. I was in Edinburgh (Heriot Watt University) for my M.Sc between 2006 and last year and I've since returned to Nigeria.

The city has very good history with lovely ancient castles for sight seeing, cinemas, a football club if you are into it (Hearts FC at Murrayfield), excellent and cheap transportation (a journey was 1 pound flat on the Lothian buses with day tickets being 2.50 pounds), a "dudu" night club (Massa) at Market Street beside Waverley train station. As it is, I'll be visiting Edinburgh at least once a year on vacation (I liked it that much).

If you want any other info about the city, I'll be willing to volunteer it

Kevinbash

if ur friend will sell his springbank for 3 naira, I will buy, any quantity.

The price was 5.59 naira before the suspension.

It's not only u o. I've been rescanning my decoder since to no avail

@crossroads

You get problem no be small o, just kidding anyways

My guy, believe it or not, I personally know you. You were at IC and your name starts with O. You remember king street, in Aberdeen?

Anyways, I'm back in Naija where I expressed personal preference for while you said you wanted to stay back.

I'll get your number from Ir_ _ _ and give you a call. Our talk is not what we can exhaust on nairaland.

Try and have some fun OK, at least in the mean time.

Later

Your answer is 25%

i.e where x = total marks in absolute terms and P is pass mark in absolutes

0.2x = P - 30
0.32x = P + 42

so 0.12x = 72

thus x = 600

substituting above, 120 = P - 30

therefore P = 150

in %, P = 150/600 = 25%

Sorry I won't be here when you get here.

I will be going back home for good this weekend.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article03

Why I'm fleeing South Africa
By Anne Paton
I AM leaving South Africa. I have lived here for 35 years, and I shall leave with anguish. My home and my friends are here, but I am terrified. I know I shall be in trouble for saying so, because I am the widow of Alan Paton. Fifty years ago he wrote Cry, The Beloved Country. He was an unknown schoolmaster and it was his first book, but it became a bestseller overnight. It was eventually translated into more than 20 languages and became a set book in schools all over the world. It has sold more than 15 million copies and still sells 100,000 copies a year.

As a result of the startling success of this book, my husband became famous for his impassioned speeches and writings, which brought to the notice of the world the suffering of the black man under apartheid. He campaigned for Nelson Mandela's release from prison and he worked all his life for black majority rule. He was incredibly hopeful about the new South Africa that would follow the end of apartheid, but he died in 1988, aged 85. I was so sorry he did not witness the euphoria and love at the time of the election in 1994. But I am glad he is not alive now. He would have been so distressed to see what has happened to his beloved country.

I love this country with a passion, but I cannot live here any more. I can no longer live slung about with panic buttons and gear locks. I am tired of driving with my car windows closed and the doors locked, tired of being

afraid of stopping at red lights. I am tired of being constantly on the alert, having that sudden frisson of fear at the sight of a shadow by the gate, of a group of youths approaching - although nine times out of 10

they are innocent of harmful intent. Such is the suspicion that dogs us all.

Among my friends and the friends of my friends, I know of nine people who have been murdered in the past four years. An old friend, an elderly lady, was raped and murdered by someone who broke into her home for no reason at all; another was shot at a garage. We have a saying, "Don't fire the gardener", because of the belief that it is so often an inside job - the gardener who comes back and does you in.

All this may sound like paranoia, but it is not without reason. I have been hijacked, mugged and terrorised. A few years ago my car was taken from me at gunpoint. I was forced into the passenger seat. I sat there frozen. But

just as one man jumped into the back and the other fumbled with the starter I opened the door and ran away. To this day I do not know how I did this.

But I got away, still clutching my handbag.

On May 1 this year I was mugged in my home at three in the afternoon. I used to live in a community of big houses with big grounds in the countryside. It's still beautiful and green, but the big houses have been knocked down and people have moved into fenced complexes like the one in which I now live. Mine is in the suburbs of Durban, but they're springing up everywhere. That afternoon I came home and omitted to close the security door. I went upstairs to lie down. After a while I thought I'd heard a noise, perhaps a bird or something. Without a qualm I got up and went to the landing; outside was a man. I screamed and two other men appeared. I was seized by the throat and almost throttled; I could feel myself losing consciousness.

My mouth was bound with Sellotape and I was threatened with my own knife (Girl Guide issue from long ago) and told: "If you make a sound, you die." My hands were tied tightly behind my back and I was thrown into the guest room and the door was shut. They took all the electronic equipment they could find, except the computer. They also, of course, took the car. A few weeks later my new car was locked up in my fenced carport when I was woken by its alarm in the early hours of the morning. The thieves had removed the radio, having cut through the padlocks in order to bypass the electric control on the gates. The last straw came a few weeks ago, shortly before my 71st birthday. I returned home in the middle of the afternoon and walked into my sitting room. Outside the window two men were breaking in. I retreated to the hall

and pressed the panic alarm.

This time I had shut the front door on entering. By now I had become more cautious. Yet one of the men ran around the house, jumped over the fence and tried to batter down the front door. Meanwhile, his accomplice was breaking my sitting- room window with a hammer. This took place while the sirens were shrieking, which was the frightening part. They kept coming, in broad daylight, while the alarm was going. They knew that there had to be a time lag of a few minutes before help arrived - enough time to dash off with the television and video recorder. In fact, the front-door assailant was caught and taken off to the cells.

Recently I telephoned to ask the magistrate when I would be called as a witness. She told me she had let him off for lack of evidence. She said that banging on my door was not an offence, and how could I prove that his intent was hostile? I have been careless in the past - razor wire and electric gates give one a feeling of security. Or at least, they did. But I am careless no longer. No fence - be it electric or not - no wall, no razor wire is really a deterrent to the determined intruder. Now my alarm is on all the time and my panic button hung round my neck. While some people say I have been unlucky, others say: "You are lucky not to have been raped or murdered." What kind of a society is this where one is considered "lucky" not to have been raped or murdered - yet?

A character in Cry, The Beloved Country says: "I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving they will find we are turned to hating." And so it has come to pass. There is now more racial tension in this country than I have ever known. But it is not just about black-on-white crime. It is about general lawlessness. Black people suffer more than the whites. They do not have access to private security firms, and there are no police stations near them in the townships and rural areas. They are the victims of most of the hijackings, rapes and murders. They cannot run away like the whites, who are streaming out of this country in their thousands.

President Mandela has referred to us who leave as "cowards" and says the country can do without us. So be it. But it takes a great deal of courage to uproot and start again. We are leaving because crime is rampaging through

the land. The evils that beset this country now are blamed on the legacy of apartheid. One of the worst legacies of that time is that of the Bantu Education Act, which deliberately gave black people an inferior education.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that criminals know that their chances of being caught are negligible; and if they are caught they will be free almost at once. So what is the answer? The government needs to get its priorities right. We need a powerful, well-trained and well-equipped

police force. Recently there was a robbery at a shopping centre in the afternoon. A call to the police station elicited the reply: "We have no transport." "Just walk then," said the caller; the police station is about a two-minute sprint from the shop in question. "We have no transport," came the reply again. Nobody arrived.

There is a quote from my husband's book:"Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much." What has changed in half a century? A lot of people who were convinced that everything would be all right are disillusioned, though they don't want to admit it.

The government has many excellent schemes for improving the lot of the black man, who has been disadvantaged for so long. A great deal of money is

spent in this direction. However, nothing can succeed while people live in such fear. Last week, about 10km from my home, an old couple were taken out and murdered in the garden. The wife had only one leg and was in a wheelchair. Yet they were stabbed and strangled - for very little money. They were thesecond old couple to be killed last week. It goes on and on, all the time;

we have become a killing society.

As I prepare to return to England, a young man asked me the other day, in all innocence, if things were more peaceful there. "You see," he said, "I know of no other way of life than this. I cannot imagine anything different." What a tragic statement on the beloved country today. "Because the white man has power, we too want power," says Msimangu. "But when a black man gets power, when he gets money, he is a great man if he is not corrupted. I have seen it often. He seeks power and money to put right what is wrong, and when he gets them, why, he enjoys the power and the money.

Now he can gratify his lusts, now he can arrange ways to get white man's liquor. I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it. I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find we are turned to hating.


This article by widow of famous South African author, Alan Paton,was first published in the London Sunday Times.

I thought UNILAG post UME was done about 2 weeks ago? Or has someone been lying to me?

You guys should stop quoting this webometrics stuff. A ranking that says the top 20 universities are in the US is definitely not doing a holistic ranking. I'm sure it's looking at just one thing. And the funny thing is that UNIBEN officials were making noise about it (that they have been ranked as the best university in Nigeria) without even checking out what it's about.

@ell77

I hope that was informative enough. Never mind that I was caught between 2 things. I've taken down my number. I guess we can talk about your choices for PPA later.

Cheers

@ell77

Give me a call on xxxxxxxxxxxx to get answers to all your questions about NYSC. It is surprising that you are a Nigerian and you don't know much about it.

Ono and all those who talk about freedom fighters in the Niger Delta, read below the views of the Rivers State commissioner of information

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article01

I have always maintained that the underlying cause of the ND problem/violence is OIL BUNKERING. Forget all those revolutionist talks, it's all about money. Everybody thought it would go on without major upheavals but alas, it has boomeranged.

Let's see where it goes from here.

I stopped contributing to all these Nigeria vs. Abroad threads but would chip in one or two things into this.

1) I think what the writer is trying to achieve is to make Nigerians feel how it is when they make generalizing statements about things and people in Nigeria. The same way our Nigerians in diaspora are crying foul about the generalization is the same way they should also think when making generalizing statements about Nigeria.

2) I noticed that Nigerians in diaspora often exaggerate the conditons back home maybe to convince themselves that they made a good decision leaving Nigeria. A lot of times I can't reconcile what they say with the situation I knew in Nigeria. I've been out of Nigeria for abt 10 mths now and I laugh when I hear a lot of people's opinion abt the country. The bottom line is that there are people that it pays being in Nigeria and others it pays being abroad and so to each one his own. Personally, I choose to live in Nigeria and will be back in 2 mths time because for me I believe I can attain my aspirations faster in Nigeria. Life is not necessarily better abroad, it depends on each individual's peculiar situation and for me it is better in Nigeria.

Ono

stop peddling falsehood in order to buttress ur points. OKLNG was never supposed to be sited in Escravos. I know that, because I did some of the background work for the project.

If you read the story, you'll see that the barons did a good job on him. It's the classic that every scam uses i.e. prove that it safe and then throw the bait. He delivered picture frames to people in London 2 times without knowing what was inside i.e. drugs. It was after this that they opened up and told him they want to increase the size and since he has seen that it is safe to do it, would he name his price? He did, fell for the temptation, and here he is now.

It's unfortunate sha

I thought Anusule is a 19 year old boy who had never worked before until he got a per hour job that he didn't last a day on 2 months ago? When did he start getting HSMP? He has just made a fool of himself just because of wanting to prove that the UK is all in all and that he's better than anybody in naija. (He wrote the above in the thread on "your first job abroad?" which I can't be bothered to go searching for). I'm actually surprised that I clearly remember what he wrote in that thread.

I think he should just make his point without embellishing them with falsehood. Nobody will begrudge him if he says he is still struggling, so far as he is not steaing or doing anything illegal.

Ono

You are fundamentally mistaken in your view of how OKLNG is conceptualized. I'll tell you briefly. The gas you are talking about will come from Chevron fields in Ondo State(North Swamp) and offshore (it is up to interpretation whether it is federal or belongs to a state) and some other Shell fields (I don't know where) so I don't see what your problem is? Are you saying Ondo state has no right to have anything sited in their land?

Ol boy, just cool temper small OK!

Mine is Feb 12,any match in the house?

@lovito

I think we share the same exact birthdate.

People just peddle falsehood all over the place

To all our "America is perfect" peeps around here, how did this happen?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6927113.stm

I'm sure our diaspora Nigerians wish that is the 3rd mainland bridge so that they can continue their onslaught on anything Nigerian. I wonder what they will say to this one.

A bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed yesterday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6927113.stm

I'm sure our diaspora Nigerians wish that is the 3rd mainland bridge so that they can continue their onslaught on anything Nigerian. I wonder what they will say to this one.

Which section of Nigerians do u want to reply to your request?

Does it include the Yorubas that you constantly slate all over the forum? I feel you should have said you don't need any reply from any Yoruba to keep to type? I'm not saying this to raise unnecessarily dust but when I saw your post the first thing that came to my mind was "is it not the same xris74 that doesn't think anything of Yorubas? I'm sure he wouldn't want my opinion as I'm Yoruba"

So xris74, would you mind if a Yoruba responds to your request?

All of you that are quoting Sun Newspapers, do you want to tell me that you don't know the paper is owned by Orji Uzor Kalu. What do you expect them to write if not pro-Kalu, anti-govt stories?

Bros T,

I don't know if you have read through this write-up by Simom Kolawole of Thisday. If not, please do as it talks about some of the issiues. On the source of the amount spent on subsidy, I'll look that up and post here.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=82423

Simon Kolawole
Lagos

Fact #1: At the current pump price of N70 per litre for petrol, Nigerians are paying $86.95 per barrel of crude oil, as against the $69 price in the international market. Help me do the calculation: in every barrel of crude oil, you can refine 159 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known by its street name: petrol (source: OPEC website). At N70 per litre, therefore, we pay N11,130 per barrel. At the exchange rate of $1 to N128, that is $86.95 per barrel. In fact, my calculation is wrong: from the same barrel, you will get, as by-products, brake fluid, insecticide, engine oil and roughly 1,000 other products. Mind you: everything from one and same barrel, not a different barrel. So we are probably paying between $200 and $300 per barrel at the end of the day, by the time we add the costs of importing the by-products.

Fact #2: When we pay N70 per litre in Nigeria, we are actually funding the economies of other countries. That is the real subsidy. Nigerians do not enjoy any subsidy on fuel; it is foreign refineries and foreign economies that do. Every litre of fuel is taxed at the refineries. You then add export duties, shipping charges, all sorts of tariffs and demurrage at our seaports, among other charges. What we call subsidy in Nigeria, therefore, is actually composed largely of unnecessary costs simply because we have woefully failed to refine the products at home. Our drainpipes, also known as refineries, have continued to perform below expectation, if they perform at all. When I travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2005, I discovered that a litre of fuel was N35, at a time it was selling at N60 or so in Nigeria. Now if Nigeria opted to import from Saudi, it could end up costing as much as N60 after all the charges we would have incurred along the way. So the largest percentage of the "subsidy" we are actually talking about here goes into other countries' economies.

Fact #3: For as long as our refineries are run by government, and for as long as we fail to add to the local refining capacity, we will remain entangled in this bizarre "subsidy and scarcity web." Our population is exploding; more and more people are buying cars; power problems mean more and more people are using petrol-powered generators. Therefore, demand for PMS is on the rise while we produce virtually nothing at home. Since the 18 licensed refineries have not been constructed because of "regulated pricing" and the huge investments involved which cannot be recouped in the short-run, the government should take the bull by the horns and build refineries which-I stand by my suggestion-should then be sold off to interested buyers, maybe on the stock exchange. Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, spent billions of dollars on refurbishing refineries that refused to come out of their epileptic seizures. That amount was enough to build two refineries that can each refine 100,000 barrels per day-or a total of 30 million litres of PMS per day, which is our current daily consumption. For eight years, his advisers told him not to build refineries. See where we are now! I hope President Yar'Adua will not repeat this mistake.

Myth #1: If crude oil is sold to local refineries at the budget benchmark ($40), rather than the international price ($69), there will be corruption akin to the forex fraud under Gen. Sani Abacha when dual exchange rate bred a generation of rent collectors. In truth, crude oil is not the same thing as currency. If a refinery gets 10,000 barrels of crude daily, its PMS output should be around 1.5 million litres per day. This is easily verifiable by the regulatory agencies. It's not like a wad of dollar travelling from one fraudulent banker to a faceless roadside hawker. More so, it costs between $3 and $6 to drill a barrel of crude oil in Nigeria, and when other charges and taxes are added, it will come to an approximate cost of $10. Then it is sold at a politically determined price of $69 per barrel in the international market, which is about seven times the cost of production. Why on earth should we sell crude oil to ourselves at $69 per barrel? What would be the rationale? If we sell crude to local refineries at $69 per barrel, then at the current pump price of N70, we would end up paying $86.95 per barrel (and maybe $300 if you add the cost of the by-products) for a commodity we have in super abundance. It's like saying a tuber of yam in Gboko should sell for the same price in Lagos. I can't understand or accept the rationale.

Myth #2: Fuel is not a social product but a commodity like any other, and should therefore not be subsidised but priced like any other commodity. On the surface, you cannot fault this argument. But something is missing in the logic. When you have an economy like ours that runs principally on fuel, there will be social unrest if the pricing is not "nudged" by the government. Fuel affects every life in Nigeria. Mass transit is nonexistent. Power failures mean there is heavy reliance on generators. Transportation is indeed a major component of production cost. The difference between the price of a tuber of yam in Gboko and Lagos is that high because of expensive transportation. Therefore, every little upward adjustment in fuel price leads to a rise in the cost of living and a fall in the standard of living. Our lives depend on petrol and any attempt to deny this fact will lead to incessant strikes, worsening poverty and economic contraction. The compromise we can reach is that a large percentage of "fuel subsidy" should be sustained until we attain local sufficiency in refining. That is fair enough.

Myth #3: It is more beneficial to subsidise agriculture than fuel. In truth, Nigerians will feel the impact of subsidised fuel more than subsidised agriculture for two reasons. One, subsidised fuel does not discriminate against the beneficiaries. Whereas I can drive to a filling station and buy fuel without belonging to any political party, experience with subsidised fertilisers and tractors is that they are a political tool employed to favour party members. Two, with tens of millions of farmers in Nigeria, how do you manage the subsidy in a fair and balanced manner? It looks very complicated, given our administrative "expertise". We should remember the infamous commodity boards. Farming subsidy is very good, but our history testifies against its impact on the masses. In any case, we can subsidise fuel and farming if we like!

Myth #4: We should spend fuel subsidy on infrastructural development instead. In truth, one does not stop the other. The argument for fuel price increases in the last 20 years is that there would be enough money to spend on hospitals, construct roads and build schools. No study has yet established a direct link between increases in fuel price and provision of infrastructure. It is just a convenient excuse to increase fuel price. If the budgets for education all over the country truly get spent on education and not embezzled, of course our education system would be among the best in the world. It has nothing to do with fuel subsidy as far as I know.

Myth #5: Subsidy is evil. On the contrary, subsidy is an interventionist tool meant to create economic stability, redistribute wealth and maintain some social order. In the UK, a litre of unleaded petrol is about £1, but almost half is tax. This is for two main reasons (1) to raise revenue for the state (2) to discourage use of private cars in favour of mass transit like buses and trains. However, public transport is subsidised. Train companies get about £1.5 billion every year as subsidies. Bus transport is also subsidised. Education is free up till secondary school level. Farmers get subsidies. Healthcare is free. Unemployed people get "dole". Children and elderly people get medicine free. All these are different forms of subsidy, financed by tax payers' money. We will talk about "tax payers' money" some other day, but my focus today is: what does the Nigerian state give to its citizens? No electricity, no roads, no drugs in the hospitals, no chemical in the school lab, no books in the library, no unemployment benefits, nothing. The closest to something is "fuel subsidy"-even when we are already paying $86.95 per barrel-and we are now being told that our fuel is too cheap. Yet, the politicians have stolen more than enough money to build another country for themselves!

Myth #6: Like GSM tariffs, petrol price will crash if government fully deregulates the sector. Well, when diesel pricing was fully deregulated, it was selling for N60 per litre. Today, two years after, it is heading for N100. It sold for N120 earlier this year. Kerosene price has been on a free fall too. But that is not even my point.
We cannot compare GSM with oil. Nigeria hopelessly depends on importation of petroleum products. We don't fix the price of crude. So, no marketer can just wake up one day and say because of competition, he would reduce pump price to N1 per litre! But in GSM, we don't import airtime.

So, tariffs and acquisition costs are entirely the decisions of the operators. By the time we stop importing fuel, we will realise that the current petrol price is the most excessive gain ever made in the history of mankind.

Conclusion: Private investors are interested in profits, not people, and will not build refineries now because it is a long-term investment. If President Yar'Adua does not want to be a failure like Obasanjo, he should close his eyes and invest in a new refinery that can churn out at least 15 million litres of PMS per day. Government should not run the refinery; God forbid. It should lease out the management and sell its interest off later. The priority now is to stop importation altogether. We can then discuss the little matter of crude oil pricing and profit margins later. The undeniable fact is that at N70, we are already paying too much for petrol, although it is excusable because we rely on imports.