₦airaland Forum

greaterlove: . A lot of Nigerians share your view because of the distrust we already have for the government, but if we are really honest I don't think any government could have come up with a better deal. On the quality of job the chiness will do, I for one know the chiness are thinking long term, $3B is a tip of the iceberg of what Nigeria really needs to invest in infrastructure, like someone said in a previous post we need about $200B invested in infrastructure if Nigeria really want to be in the top 20 economies, will they the chiness shot themselves in the leg when there is still a long way to go? I don't think so.

$200b might not even be enough, but we need to start somewhere if $3b investment is the starting point so be it as the cliche goes a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
If each successive administration continue in this path then we will get to our goal.

superior1: Don't we have competent ICT training firms here or is it all about going abroad? Or why can't they bring the facilitators to Nigeria on the alternative? So that some of the funds transferred to India will be expended there?

What next after their training is the Government going to employ or empower them?

We might have ICT centers in nigeria,but they are being sent to india because india is the mecca( Centre of excellence) of ICT in the world. the same way you would send your child to USA or UK if you want them to have the best University education in the world eventthough there are universities in Nigeria.

Danhumprey: I hope this ain't just mouthing! I hope they do as they are saying now. And by d way,just 150 graduates,out of the thousands unemployed graduates in the state? Smh!

good points I have the same concerns too.but a journey of a thousand steps begins with one step, the 150 if successful can come back home and train thousands and then the thousand can train millions.

[quote author=na2day!]The basic questions in all these is not been asked, having it at the back of our minds that corruption is a global disease, you will be suprised that the Chinese are equally as corrupt as Nigerians.
1. How are these projects going to be monitored? Since the Chinese companies are going to receive their money directly from their government. I'm also sure their interest will be protected no matter what.

2. What stops these companies cutting corners and using substandard materials with a lot of cosmetic dressing? We all know china as the home of substandard products, and when it comes to maximising profits, the Chinese are the worst of the lot.

3. What stops them ripping us off as our government has actually sold us off to them?

These are questions begging for answers![/quote]I agree with you totally. many on this thread share the same concerns as you do. as already stated the FG needs inspectors with requisite technical abilities to be present on site to monitor the contractors,baring that the Chinese firms will do what any company who is in business to make profit will do i.e cut corners to maximize profit if not properly monitored/standards are not enforced. The Onus is on the FG to monitor and enforce standards if we have any in Naija lol!

greaterlove: Why are we even bothered with who the money will end up in their hands? The most important thing is that the chiness build the infrastructures as agreed and to standard, that to me is what we should be concerned with. This is a very good deal, low interest and no political bottle necks, all the chiness have to do is deliver. For this I give GEJ a thumbs up.

Good point. I dont know if the Federal ministry of works has inspectors with requisite technical abilities for such inspections? I suspect they might.
If not they should be trained immediately as success of the project will hinge on that premise of adequate inspection.

The Chinese companies are not saints they are in the business to make profit, if they are not properly monitored they might just easily cut corners.

rhames: Ajaokuta still is an international conspiracy. The best we can do is sell it off to better operators or wake it up ourselves.The big steel producing countries like US and the europeans will not allow it to see the light of the day. Thats the truth.

We tried that with the indians didnt we?

Truckpusher: yes ,Mr uninformed Nigeria isn't taking physical cash but infrastructural loan built by the owner of the money to the standard agreed by both parties and if China screws up Nigeria can say bye bye we can't pay and i can assure you that the Chinese knows this hence they'll build according to agreement knowing that this may bring in more juicy opportunities for them and their companies and Nigerians too to become employed and open up ways for other businesses to operate and everybody will be happy.

Exactly my point! i would recommend you brush up on you understanding of figurative use of words for better comprehension.
And next time read the whole post with comprehension before responding to avoid future embarrassment.

obadiah777: WELL I SUPPOSE IF THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE CHINESE CONTRACTORS HOWEVER ISNT THERE SOMETHING WRONG IN THAT ? THE CHINESE ARE BASICALLY JUST RECYCLING THEIR MONEY. THEY END UP WITH WHAT THEY STARTED WITH AND SOME AFRICAN RESOURCES OJORO

True but we get the infrastructure we badly need, thats our gain. We will have to borrow and pay someone else to do it if not the chinese,since we dont have the local capacity to execute these kind of project.

herquleez: The problem with our country is not lack of money but mismanagement and corruption.

Give our leaders all the money in the world and Nigeria will not improve. If we can mismanage our God-given wealth, what is the small change from china that we cant squander.

The bottomline is, let's change our ways first and we wont even need loans in the first place.

I think an attempt to take away the FGs obligation in awarding the contract usually to their cronies is a welcome change in this case.
The Money is going to Chinese firms that are charged to execute the projects.

Truckpusher: Why is it that you guys find it very hard to get proper information abt a particular thing as it concerns your country before making presumptuous assumptions.

GEJ didn't go to China and came back with bag full of loaned cash from China ,he went to China to seal a deal that would ensure that China builds agreed number of infrastructures across the country that is worth 3 billion dollars and this infrastructural loan would be delivered in phases with the first value of infrastructure to be built estimated at 1 billion dollar and an interest rate 3%.

I would commend GEJ for this great leap ,this is what leaders of countries ridden corruption does because at the end of the day everything would be accounted for else Nigeria can decide to default on their contractual obligations.This policy ensures that the money does end up in the hands of bureaucrats, politicians and other unscrupulous elements in the corridors of power.

Finally ,always get to know what is going on and stop using catchy headlines to fool gullible lazy Nigerians that solely relies on 'them say' without asking the obvious questions.

So whats your point? Mr Informed. "Every thing will be accounted for.." according to you, yet the "money will end up in the hands of unscrupulous element....". can you explain it further so that uninformed person like me can learn whats going on pls? or are you just confirming one of the stereotypes of Nigerians?

danikik7: This is an apperant neo colonialism.The financing will come from China and the contractors and materials are from China , only for Nigerians to used and dumped as slaves in their land....What's our gain ?

our gain will be the infrastructure. dont you think that the infrastructure will benefit Nigeria?
We dont have indigenous construction companies capable of such projects, we dont have materials for such projects, the one we have they will use like sand, dangote cement,labour etc trust me they are not importing those.

[quote author=C. whyte]I think this is a welcomed development.
1. the loans are long term with only about 3 percent interest compared with what sanusi/okonjo iwela does. (cbn/min.fin. lends out at 5-7% and they go out and re-borrow at 13-15%) mad people.
2. the loans go directly to the chinese companies. so we can be assured of a completed project. not so many completed projects in nigeria because politicians are always involved.
3. it will open doors for more chinese companies to invest in nigeria. believe me, we will benefit more on the long run.
4. it will bypass the ogas at the top, so no cutting of shares in this one. corrruption checked.[/quote]Good points! I agree with your good insight. usually am very skeptical about any loans going to the FG of Nigeria because of their sad history of loan utilization, but based on the points you have highlighted, I cant believe am saying this, but i am optimistic that these time around the projects are actually going to get done.

Danhumprey: @OP,u know wat I'm thinking? I think the economy is doomed. I hope the Chinese won't take over our economy! The problem with us isn't lack of money,but wide-scale corruption. Otherwise,what can you say about the billions,nay trillions of money that have accrued from the crude oil our economy so much depend on,that have been laundered,wasted,hidden in foreign account

I agree with you totally. but i just want you to weigh in on the novel idea of having the Chinese loans going to Chinese construction firms directly instead of the FG. This is a novel means of loan utilization! do you think it will work/check corruption?

obadiah777: NOPE BUT IT WILL SALVAGE THE DWINDLING SWISS ACCOUNT OF OUR KLEPTOCRATS

The money is not going to the govt but to the Chinese companies don't you think that will help check corruption in this case?
This idea of loan utilization is novel, me think we might actually get the infrastructure built. If the loan were to go to the FG for them to do their business as usual i would not be optimistic.

About 150 university graduates from Akwa Ibom State are soon to be sponsored by the state Government to India for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training. Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this Wednesday during a dinner organised for him by the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev at his private residence in Maitama, Abuja, directed the state Commissioner of Education, Prof. (Mrs) Atim Antai to select 150 graduates in the state for the training in India. Governor Akpabio, who interacted with some Indian investors who were present at the dinner for their readiness to invest in the state, observed that India was good in the ICT sector. He commended the investors for their interest to partner the state in agriculture especially poultry; health, education, ICT, solar and power energy, among others, assuring the Indian Government of the state Government’s readiness to partner them. Responding, the India High Commissioner, Mr. Sachdev in company of some Indian investors thanked Governor Akpabio for the visit and his readiness to partner Indian Government. http://uyocalyaxis.com/akwa-ibom-govt-to-send-150-university-graduates-to-india-for-ict/#sthash.MGKhjpiG.dpuf

GEJ went to china This week and came back with bag full of Chinese Loans to help improve infrastructures for Nigeria.
The Loans is to fund such projects as the 4 new airport terminals in KANO,LAGOS,PORT HARCOURT and ABUJA, extension of keffi Lafia dual carriage way to Enugu via Markurdi, extension of East West road from Oron to Calabar,Extension Of Standard railway lines across the country. Infusion of capital into Ajaokuta steel mill to revamp it. and many more projects.

The common denominator in all these projects is that the loans sums both from the Chinese govt and their EXIM bank is going directly to Chinese companies who have been mandated to execute these projects, there by eliminating the process where money goes to the F.G. and they decide which company to award the contract (usually the time that contract sum disappears).

What do you guys think of these model of project financing? I know its good for the Chinese govt.as they are indirectly stimulating their economy by creating jobs for their companies abroad and giving their companies comparative advantage, But is it good for Nigeria?

nere

level of work

am happy about the prospect of linking calabar to the east west road via oron. that will open up lots of possibilities.

WHEN in February, the Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola announced that the first phase of the Lagos Blue line Rail project being executed by the state government would be completed in June, he raised the hope of many Lagos residents of a free movement within the city, devoid of hectic time in traffic. This is because many residents had been waiting patiently for the completion of the project, which they had seen over and over through the prototype advertised in various sections of the route.
The first line under execution is the Blue line, which is the National Theatre-Okokomaiko lane, programmed to be executed in two phases by the appointed contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). So the Governor, while flagging off the laying on track at the Orile end in February, had said that the first phase of the Blue line from Mile Two to National Theatre would be completed in June. The contract includes the basic design and construction of the rail infrastructure. The Blue line, from Marina to Okokomaiko originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2011 was postponed to 2012 and has now been further stretched to 2015 due to funding issues according to the state government.

June has ended and the first phase of the Blue Line is not yet near completion if what The Guardian observed is anything to go by. This is because the contractor, CCECC, is still doing concrete work on the project site. If it is nearing completion, it would probably be doing the finishing of the project but that is not. The laying of rail track has been done from Orile to Alaba. From Alaba to Mile Two, the contractor is still preparing to lay the track. It is not only that, a big drainage is still being constructed in Mile Two while the pedestrian bridges to link the stations in Mile Two, Alaba and Orile are still under construction. This means the train stations had not been completed. From what was observed, there would be four stations on the National Theatre-Mile Two Route: National Theatre, Orile, Alaba and Mile Two stations. At the time of filing this report, none had been completed, though three had reached advanced stage in terms of work done.

Illegal tollgates

The Lagos State Government had said that it would toll the road when completed but even before the road is completed tollgates had been introduced. There are about six tollgates. Five of the tollgates are between Doyin Bus Stop and School Junction, with mainly CCECC staff manning each of the tollgates collecting money from motorists. The activities at the Doyin Gate often add to the hectic traffic on the Orile end when driving to Orile from the National Theatre. This is because some of the motorists, especially commercial bus drivers often engage these CCECC staff in argument which delay the process of driving through. The drivers are required to part with N50 each time they drive through the toll gate, but many are not willing to pay, resulting in argument with the CCEECC staff who will refuse to open the gate for them to drive through.

Another tollgate is at Mile two managed by the NURTW. A section of the culvert was crudely carved out to allow for vehicles to link the Service lane at Mile Two Oke from the Mile two motor park instead of driving to the Total Filling State before linking the Service Lane.

Comment on the project

Speaking on the rail project, Mr. Ade Isaac, a resident of Ojo Road, prays for the project to be completed on time. When he heard that Fashola announced that the first phase between National Theatre and Mile-two would be completed in June, he was happy and felt that the CCECC would speed up its work by working round the clock. He said that two weeks after the statement from Fashola and the contractor still maintained its work schedule; he concluded that it was just another political statement from politicians who like playing to the gallery and telling the citizens lies.

“This is because the amount of work I saw yet to be concluded then was not what could be completed within five months though I am not an engineer. But I have been justified as the work is still far from being completed.

“But it seems the contractor is too slow in executing the project as if it is the first time they are doing such a project. It will however be great if the project is completed before the end of the year.”

Government’s position

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said that the delay could be due to non approval of the World Bank loan by the Federal Government. But when he was told that the contractor had been working on a daily basis since the governor made the pronouncement, he suggested that the reporter should get in touch with LAMATA for better insight for the failure of the June completion date.

“Let me draw your attention to the fact that when he said that he also mentioned that all these will be subject to availability of funds. So if the World Bank loan is still being held up by the Federal Government and there are still issues, definitely it would be impossible to do magic.”

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, did not pick the several calls made to his lines and did not return them but Mrs Angela Olanrewaju, the External Relations Manager of the body called back after a text was sent to the MD.



Next >
Author of this article: By Gbenga Salau


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126283:why-first-phase-of-lagos-rail-project-fell-behind-&catid=174:newsfeature&Itemid=701

Couple, Baby, Four Others Die in Lagos Building Collapse

Submitted by AA NIGERIA on 11 July, 2013 - 16:16
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[Vanguard]Tragedy struck this morning when a three-storey building collapsed in Lagos killing a couple, a baby and four others. According to an eye witness, seven people had been rescued with three others critically injured, from the building located at 29b Oloto Street, off Cemetery Road, Ebute Metta.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307111428.html

http://architectafrica.com/NETWORK/NIGERIA/content/couple-baby-four-others-die-lagos-building-collapse

comming along nicely

new

fiscalcliff: Like I said, it is revisionist to say the Ijaws suddenly are now up to 16 million people
Bayelsa's population at 2006 was 1.7 million
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nigerian_states_by_population
They are a visible minority in Ondo and Delta state
In Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River they don't have the mass to push around
So how come they are now 16 million
Like I said earlier,this fallacy has been exposed and debated here
https://www.nairaland.com/891977/how-did-ijaw-4th-largest
You might choose to believe revisionism
However don't force it down the throats of others

A debate of opinions is hardly the same as data borne out of research. If you want to be taken seriously cite a research article that support your views or data from a research work, and not opinions as the one you just quoted.
until you find credible evidence for your views,i will regard them as mere rants.

You folks seem to think so highly of Nigeria. Its not GEJs fault that the world have very low regard for our country. it because we are a country that is yet to live up to its potentials.
If china will help us realize those potentials and earn some respectability from the international communities then so be it.
and until then we are just another developing African country.

[quote author=se.xkilza.phull]https://www.nairaland.com/1352965/all-progressive-congress-apc-nairaland/1#16713108


^^ This is WHY you are actually crying>?? LWKMD! [/quote]So you are one of the APC goon?

more data http://www.measuredhs.com/publications/publication-FR222-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm

adconline: Why is Naija debate so devoid of facts/figures? Present a contrasting data for us to read. Why is this so hard to do? Why every piece of information has to come from unverifiable source? The opponent of a "fact" is the originator of his/her " idea" no reliable secondary source of information. Why does subjective/emotional experience trump researched empirical data in Naija?

because its the easy way or short cut which is the preferable means of doing things in nigeria.

that impeachment video dosent look convincing. Is that how the house is suppose to impeach its speaker? Do anyone know the procedure please enlighten me?
The video didnt show how many members of the assembly were present or if the had the numbers to form a quorum.

Is this binding does anyone know?

What will happen to the ACN goons? will they change their alliance to APC?
how about CPC? what happens to that party?

h

homerac7: ^^^

You are typical example of foolishness that's borne out of crass ignorance. You have access to internet but it has not benefited your education, no thanks to Nairaland, Facebook, 2go and Badoo. You glory in being able to read and write and yet wait for me to give reasons why a clearly flawed data on YOUR OWN country and people, aren't you unfortunate?

oK,

the literacy and health survey data were mined from nigerian sources.