₦airaland Forum

Detailed examination of policy often doesn't make for fast reading. This Forbes piece writes breezily about 'dismantling power monopolies' (just one of the usual policy actions heralding so called 'reform') but has nothing to say about real world outcomes that point to unfettered crony capitalism and ineffectual regulation.

Nigerians have to pay a fixed monthly charge whether or not they receive power from the DISCOs. Where is the equity in this arrangement?

It took over 2 months for the power regulator to figure out that there is no equity in an arrangement in which DISCOs punish fee paying customers for transmission losses and the DISCOs inability to collect revenue from delinquent customers. Where is the equity here?

Forbes and others who think like them are motivated by one thing and one thing only: the unrestricted, unrestrained mobility of international financial capital. Everything else is a sideshow.

After faffing about for 90 minutes, the administration has realized, Super Eagles style, that defeat is a real possibility with just 2 minutes of injury time to go.

Telling the goalkeeper, sweeper, full and centre backs to move forward into striking positions shows how desperate things have become. Too little, too late. What if there's a counterattack?

It should never have come to this.

maestroferddi:
As in how old are you?

^^^^
Her age has nothing to do with it. Answer the question or hold your peace.

alizenbohr:
There's only one way to get reply to your questions:

Carry your high-tech smart phone go join dem do investigative journalism then bring back the full report.

You can believe that France bombed Nigeria without pix.

You can post about Book Haram claiming villages in NE without video.

But here you have video evidence of the collaboration of NA and CJTF to curb BH menace and you're asking 'silly' questions.

You are the deceiver here.

^^^^
There is no need to insult him and call him names. Your catty comments about him 'carrying a high tech camera to go do investigative journalism' will not help anyone.

He has asked some pertinent questions. Whether or not you want to admit it, Nigerians have a right to be skeptical. You know the things that have happened concerning this whole Boko Haram nonsense. I do not need to repeat them here. Your fellow citizens should not be branded unpatriotic when they ask questions - questions that are sensible and rational.

Some points addressing some of the questions raised by 'genbuhari' :

I believe that the language being spoken by some of the soldiers in the video is Hausa - the most widely spoken language in Northern Nigeria. When it is considered that a significant number of Nigerian soldiers are of Northern extraction, then you have the answer to your question right here - it is understandable that they would communicate in Hausa. Of course, the question of whether this is proper is another matter entirely. But remember that Northern Nigerians historically made up the bulk of the rank and file of NA from the time when it was formed, through independence and over the years till now. Maybe the military high command just didn't aggressively enforce the use of english over the years. Who knows?

It may also seem unusual that none of the soldiers takes cover even though gun and artillery fire is all around them. I guess the answer to that question is that it is their (NA) fire (and not enemy fire) that is booming. It appears that NA troops are the ones shelling enemy positions and they are not under any threat of returned fire from Boko Haram combatants.

As for NA troops travelling with 'civilian JTF' fighters - I do not have any easy answers on this one. The civilian JTF has been a useful ally (despite the potential for abuse) to the NA in solving the problem. They provide useful intelligence and help with 'recce' since these are their towns and villages and they know the terrain well. However, I am not sure its best for them to accompany the NA on operations and missions. I even suspect (I am not sure though) that the stand off at the end of the video was between some NA troops and civilian JTF members. The camera phone is knocked out of the recorder's hand towards the end of the video and you can hear raised voices alluding to some violence carried out by some combatants on some other party. Again, I'm not sure - I wasn't there.


Summary: The poster has asked some relevant questions. Answer them instead of branding him a deceiver.

rusher14:
No sir, it was Borat on the phone.

^^^^


It wouldn't surprise me if borat actually tried to prank Nigeria today and succeeded.

This is sad.

At least one thing is clear: the Moroccans clearly attach some value to the truth.

Can we say the same?

And over what? A phone call of questionable value at best?

Interesting back and forth argument about how a sniper would have fared in yesterday's shootout. But any argument about it can only be academic.

The area where this happened yesterday is a mix of government, residential and commercial buildings. Homes, Supermarkets, stores, boutiques, schools, pharmacies, banks and government offices. Ordinary Nigerians going about the ordinary business of life in peacetime. Not exactly the kind of environment or situation you have snipers reporting for duty.

I would have been very surprised if it turned out that a sniper had shot at the bandits from any of the buildings mentioned above. It would mean that the secretaries, cashiers, office assistants, sales reps, admin officers and clerks in the government offices/commercial enterprises in the area are clearly leading a double life.

It would have been hard to mount a frontal assault on those men yesterday - as can be seen from the video, they stood at the intersection, right at the t-junction. Anyone attempting to approach them from any of the three roads leading to the junction would have been discovered immediately and probably shot on sight. For those talking about snipers - most people immediately put their homes and offices under lockdown when the shooting started. Even if against all odds, a team of snipers was quickly put together yesterday, it would have been hard for law enforcement to convince people to open up their homes or offices for snipers to take up positions. Nobody was sure who the enemy was yesterday - remember the bandits were wearing army fatigues. A completely messed up situation.

Yesterday showed up the weaknesses in our security architecture.

190theclown:

But even the charlie Harbo terrorist attack in paris was well filmed
Ive got over 3 copies of that attack with me, Its got nothing to do with people filming the attack
the robbers came for one thing which was to rob, they dont care if they are being filmed as long as they dont see you
or you point the thing in their faces, anyways its a situation we all dont wanna find ourselves
May God continue to protect us in these trying times. ..
RIP to the dead

^^^
I think there is a difference between armed robbery incidents such as yesterday's and the Charlie Hebdoo attack.

I have no idea if the Charlie Hebdoo duo knew if they were being filmed. Or if they knew where the 'camera' man/woman was located. If they did know perhaps they would have reacted negatively. Its hard to tell. In any case the duo were already known to the authorities and they (the attackers) knew it was only a question of time before the final showdown.

Armed robbers here on the other hand know that a positive identification is often the beginning of the end for them. Granted, the ones who carried out yesterday's attack did not wear masks but there is a difference between being seen by bystanders for a few minutes and being caught on film. One of the two involves a permanent record which can mean the difference between evading the law for a long period of time and being caught almost immediately.

We really can't say how any given set of bandits will operate. There isn't a template for their actions as such. I can imagine as you say, some may not mind being filmed as long as they can't see those doing the filming. I can also imagine some will mind and will act swiftly to neutralize any potential source of video evidence and they will shoot to kill anyone who they think is harbouring such intent. Its hard to tell from a distance what will happen.

These are dangerous times.

Some real rifle enthusiasts here. Some posters here are definitely hardcore.

I had no idea one of the rifles in the video footage was belt fed. All along I thought they were regular Kalashnikovs.

I passed through the area today - the bank is counting its losses and people are trying to get their lives back to normal. Apparently the young girl selling fish was quite well known in the area. The policemen who died were also being mourned by sympathizers.

A newspaper stand near the scene of the crime had some spirited debate on the incident and one troubling conclusion came out after discussion of the videos and pictures: the next set of bandits will probably aim random shots at high buildings to discourage anyone from attempting to record or film.

The other troubling thing from the videos is the number of people running for dear life after the first shots were fired. Although instinct kicks in at a time like this, perhaps it would be better to just lie flat once the bullets start flying. Many, many more people would have been killed if those bandits had aimed at random in the direction of those fleeing the scene.

We have a serious problem on our hands. These guns are everywhere.

F22RAPTOR:
you judge my decision to show support for this government, but I have the right to decide don't I?
Its also not my problem if you fail to see the situation from my own point of view, you are entitled to your own opinion. whether Ethno-regional or not, it doesn't matter the bases. For anyone that tells you that he or she is non partisan as regards the issues of this great country is a big liar, you inclusive.
The issue of oppressive rule by the north isn't a myth, you should see what Southerners go through in the north. And I didn't try to cast the present govt as the "Final Bulwark" to end such oppression, but as a hope, a step in the right direction, the beginning of the end for the oppressors.
you are asking what has been done to bring an end to this oppression, is the FOI act not a step in the right direction?
And why are u all worked up about people complaining on this thread? The people should be provided with evidence that their 80% claim is baseless. I find it hard to agree with you that you have no problem with the FOI act.
I have no intension of going any further with this, you can choose to see the efforts of this govt as half-empty of half-full, that's your choice. Nigeria is complex and overhauling an already messed up system at once isn't possible, it'll take time. but I want to give this govt the benefit of doubt, my choice.

^^^^
Your right to decide is sacred. Lets be clear on that. You also have the right to be partisan. But I also reserve the right to freely comment on your choices and decisions, partisan or patriotic. This I have done. Remember I have rights too.

You cannot dismiss the basis of your complaints as irrelevant. If you criticize your political adversaries on ethno-regional or religious grounds, how does that solve the problem? Your post clearly indicated that you oppose rule by Northern Nigerians simply because they are Northerners. Stripped of all pretense, isn't that just naked discrimination?

If we accept that 'Northern oppression' is a reality and not a myth, the solution is not online conjecture but reasoned, measured action by government acting on behalf of all Nigerians. This means changing our laws and statutes (and their enforcement) so that there is equity for all. That is what we should all be fighting for. If not, any 'gains' made will be reversed once power changes from North to South or wherever.

I am yet to see which actions by the current administration qualify it to be termed 'the beginning of the end for the oppressors'. You talk about the FOI Act. Yes, it is to GEJ's credit that he assented to the then FOI bill and had it passed.(He will always be compared in a more favourable light on this matter to OBJ - OBJ refused to sign that bill for over half a decade on some spurious, inane 'national security' grounds ). But assenting to that bill is not enough to give GEJ a pass. Which other significant action has been taken in the life of this administration to support your claims of it being the great big hope, the step in the right direction? Which executive sponsored bill or policy action (at the federal level) has been taken in the life of this administration to ensure that there is equity across the board? - Is it in anyone's long term interests to exchange Northern oppression for Western, Mid-Western or Eastern oppression? Are you even aware that the FOI Act we are talking about was not an executive bill? Do you know it was sponsored by a non-PDP legislator?

Yet again you implied in your post that I have a problem with the FOI Act. I was the first person to mention it in our conversation and I did so in a positive light. Where did you get the impression I am against it?

Your conclusion sums it up nicely. We can agree to disagree. You choose to give this administration the benefit of the doubt, as you put it. I on the other hand believe that this administration has been given the benefit of the doubt too many times.

Time will tell who was right and who was wrong.

F22RAPTOR:
may not be good enough but thats all we got. You have even further explained my argument. You may not agree, but not everyone is comfortable with the FOI act, especially the individuals in govt tasked with ensuring that status quo doesnt change. Now the people of effurun are demanding accountability which was made possible by the same FOI act enacted by this govt. So you see the hope i am talking about, people are now aware and can fight for what they feel is their right and the authorities are forced to act accordingly even against their wish.

^^^^
No sir. I am yet to understand how and where I 'further explained' your argument.

I have absolutely no problems with the FOI Act. I support it wholeheartedly. What I have a problem with is your thinly veiled, partisan support for the current administration, with ethno-regional solidarity as a convenient cover. Your previous post invoked the bogeyman of oppressive rule by Northern Nigerians and you tried to cast the current administration as the last bulwark in the fight to resist such oppression. I ask again, what has been done by this administration (by way of policy) to ensure that any lopsidedness has been corrected? Even more important - is this '80% claim' true or just complete nonsense? You saw the management team list put out by another poster. Is that list true or false? Where is the list of most recent PTI hires? That list will prove whether or not there is an 80%, the so-called 80% that has has generated 10 pages of fiery debate. Where is the list?

F22RAPTOR:
my point is, if this is happening now, there is hope that something will be done about it. imagine how the situation will turn out if a northerner is in power. Understand that this is a status quo that has been maintained by the northerners for decades in almost all govt owned agencies, which the present govt is trying to stop, hence the hatred towards the govt.

^^^^
No. That is not good enough.

Yes, Nigeria is a deeply complex country. Yes, principles like the federal character principle seem to be nothing but built-in booby traps against competence, merit and ability. Yes, it is true that Nigeria cannot continue along the course she has walked for several decades (if she wants to survive the challenges of being a 3rd world country in the 21st century).

But you seem to be pursuing a purely partisan political agenda. According to you, 'there is hope something will be done about it' as long as the present government remains in charge. So far, what has actually been done to change things for the better?

Not everybody 'hates the present government' as you have put it. At least I don't. What I hate is drift. What I hate is corruption. What I hate is inaction. And unfortunately for all of us, this government has elevated these negative attributes to state policy. (To be fair, it is not the only government that has done so. But that is cold comfort to ordinary Nigerians on the receiving end).

After 10 pages of fiery rhetoric, this thread has 'cooled down' now that facts are coming in and wild conjecture has been forced to take flight. The management team of the Institute has been made available for all to see. The next thing is for staff lists and faculty (and most recent hires) to be made available so that we can see if this 80% claim is nonsense or the truth. This is why legislation like the FOI Act is so important.

dp

fourtuna:
Please understand this carefully.

Tax Avoidance is Legal while Tax Evasion is illegal. Where u arrange your affairs with a view of minimizing your tax it is called Tax Avoidance whereas where you deliberately avoid paying your tax obligation, you have committed a crime by evading tax and can be prosecuted.

So if u can use the loopholes in the taxing statutes to your own benefit with the aid of a Tax Consultant/ Lawyer, you are safe.

^^^

Good thread OP.

What do tax consultants/lawyers typically charge? (Very broad question, I know). Quite a number of small businesses are struggling to make an impact in the market so engaging a tax consultant may seem like a burden too heavy to bear. It is a tough call to make - some small businesses just try to figure things out on their own.

I am all for people getting themselves educated. I am not an accountant/lawyer but I have made educating myself on these matters a priority. Any tips to share? For example are there any tax avoidance measures to take when buying office equipment or hardware of any kind? What other areas apart from the WHT issue you explained can provide tax relief to SMEs? In deciding what bank accounts to run and whether or not to buy equities in the name of the enterprise - are there any tax implications?

Flets:
And the anguish continues in APC quarters

Buhari continues to loose his campaign points

Patriotic Nigerians continue to smile and hail NA

And we all say..... GEJ Continua!!!!!!

^^^^
No humane individual or patriotwould want Boko Haram's evil reign of terror to continue. None.

But patriotism and loyalty to government are not absolutes. In fact, the true patriots are those Nigerians who will press for an impartial, full investigation into this whole boko haram business once the enemy has been routed. There are hard, troubling questions about boko haram (and how it has been handled) that Nigerians deserve answers to. To gloss over these questions is a form of treason in itself.

It is decision time.

Nigerians have nowhere to hide now. Posters of a certain age will remember the last time the phrase 'austerity measures' was used. Not comfortable times to be Nigerian at all. I sincerely hope the forecasts turn out to be wrong, but the prospects for Nigeria's economy do not look good this year - and that's putting it mildly. There is likely to be intense pain in the short term as private business grapples with high import costs (courtesy of a battered Naira) and FG/state governments struggle to meet their obligations (as a result of lower oil revenues). The layoffs have already quietly begun in the private sector - and as this article shows, government subventions to MDAs are also bound to decline. We may rail against it from now till morning but the torture index is going to go through the roof, particularly for vulnerable, low income groups. The proliferation of firearms (the fallout of the ongoing campaigns by politicians) in the hands of thugs and enforcers will stretch our society to the limit in the coming months. Brace yourselves.

I have observed with some amusement the constant reference on this thread to PPP arrangements in financing infrastructure projects. We have clearly learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. Some of us clearly cannot remember the concession granted by the OBJ administration to Wale Babalakin's BiCourtney in fixing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. For years, the OBJ administration watched people die on that expressway while the so called concessionaire faffed about and claimed certain spiritual? forces were behind the inability to deliver. In the end, Messrs OBJ and Babalakin walked free and suffered absolutely no consequences for their betrayal of Nigerians. How is the road being fixed today? What are the terms of the contract?

The above example is public-private partnership, PDP style. No accountability, no consequences for negligence, no consequences for failure, nothing.

Nigerians deserve the leadership they have.

blackmantis:
Nepa strike live and that man is still bragging chai

It's a disgrace power outage with all pdp power govs present

^^^^

dp

stagger:
Have you ever seen a country where Federal roads are not tolled? All over the world (I am assuming you have travelled to a few places). toll gates are constructed to ensure that road users contribute to the maintenance of roads that they are using. Tolls need to be reintroduced. Pure and simple.

^^^^
Fair point about tolling practices in other countries. But I recall (correct me if I am wrong) that a PDP government - the government of Olusegun Obasanjo - pulled down toll gates on federal roads because that government had 'removed fuel subsidy'. The argument put forward then was that tolling federal roads AND raising pump prices would add up to 'double taxation' for Nigerians. Has the logic changed?

erico2k2:
Bross b4 U comment like this it pays to do a bit of researxh into how grown narions do these things.Ie in England most rd projects arw govt/private venture.even wen mega slretailers want to build new oitlet the are made to build infastructure arround the area.it might include new houses schools or rd.So I believe this is what to adopt and trusr me it works .Look at the M60 built by govt private in the west midlands.it takes yu 2 hrs less to get to manchester if u gi fru it and its tolled.I can give U more examples where these scheams wrk

^^^^

MadCow1:
Jonathans re-election campaign fundraiser has more money (21 billion) than the Federal Ministry of Works has to build new roads (11billion).

^^^^

MadCow1:
But I thought they said our Economy was better than South Africa and even America..

What do you mean we don't have money?

^^^^

xpac01:
Ok. No need for insults here. Just that I've lived close to barracks and understand the militaries modus operandi. I just imagine that the church guards must have insulted or even taunted the military men. This might be totally uncalled for. May be if we were close to the crime scene we could have understood better. Just been logical any ways. My RIP sincerely goes to innocent ones who got hit by bullet. Its a pity all ways.

^^^^


You have been given a very long rope on this thread. A pity you decided to hang yourself with it.

Your first few posts on this thread were full of the usual nonsense about how the civilians in this matter deserved what allegedly happened to them. When other posters called you out on your rubbish, you ran back and modified the offending posts. But like the leopard - your spots cannot change. Your most recent posts are full of even more provocative nonsense. But you will be called out on it. Again.

Let us establish some clear facts. First of all, you were not present when the alleged events in Kaduna took place. (I was not there either and that's why I have reserved comment on this matter for now). At no point here have you indicated that you were briefed on this matter by eye witnesses or reliable first hand sources. As far as we are aware, your only information on this matter has come from news in the public domain. By your own admission, all you have to contribute on this matter is wild speculation (from your fevered imagination) about how the church guards must have insulted or taunted the military men. Do you know this to be true? Are there reasonable grounds for this claim you have made?

Of course, your post up here includes the obligatory excuse for misdemeanour and impunity by military personnel. What the hell do you mean by 'I understand the military's modus operandi?'. Is that supposed to be some kind of justification for any kind of lawlessness by military personnel? You are not even a soldier - your only claim to 'fame' is that you claim to have lived close to a barracks. What is this - some kind of 'military glory by association' kind of thing?

You recently opened a thread decrying brutality you allegedly suffered at the hands of SARS officers. And yet on this thread you indirectly justify alleged brutality by military personnel. Can you see the contradiction? Or is it that brutality and lawlessness is acceptable provided it is carried out by soldiers and not police?

Sort out your issues fast.

anonimi:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/2102459_apcteam_png6dc9407cdcc2b68174c445361fc3e4c9

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2186232_oga2bof2bcorruption2bcollage1_jpeg982b018e57fc8a5267cf5c5da5ad8b8d

^^^^
And your point is?

Go through my post again. I did not endorse ANY candidate. I listed 7 or 8 presidential candidates, all running on different party platforms. Out of all these people, Nigerians should be able to find someone who meets their requirements.

double post

cold:
Ok maybe i should have been more specific. By opposition i mean the main opposition party being the APC. Do you even know the names of the other candidates running for the office? If you do,care to share?
Yes i was concerned the insecurity in North eastern part of the country wasn't getting the attention it deserved until recently. Other sectors where the president has performed creditably well are in the areas of agriculture. And unless you choose to live in denial even folks on the opposing side agree the incumbent government has performed wonders in the agric sector. Roads & transport,Nuff said. The economy is still set to grow despite the slump in oil prices. Experts who make these forecasts are not blind to the reality on ground. Just to mention a few. Like i said earlier,the only likely area GEJ has not performed up to par is wiping the religious bigots from the face of the earth who insist it's their way or the high way

^^^^
Sure I do know the names of the other candidates. Their surnames are: Albert, Galadinma, Salau, Okoye, Sonaiya, Okorie, Onovo, Ahmad and Anifowoshe-Kelani. Also note that three other opposition parties adopted GEJ as their presidential candidate.

I agree that some progress has been made in agriculture. But I do not deal in generalities. There are specific indices that show whether or not a government has delivered on its promises. When those indices are examined closely it is clear that the GEJ administration has NOT met voter requirements. You can check out these indices in Nigeria's statistical abstracts and reports by the central bank and the ministry of finance.

You mention that Nigeria's economy is set to grow despite falling oil prices. Let me remind you that these are forecasts for an oil-export based economy that is very vulnerable to oil price shocks (a truth painfully evident to us now). We shall know for sure at the end of this year when the numbers come in. And don't forget that growth and development are not the same thing - development is what Nigerians need!

Perhaps the greatest failing of the GEJ administration is its debt to vested interests that have held it hostage and rendered it impotent in dealing with the monster of corruption in Nigeria. There are simply too many examples to list here of where GEJ had to take a stand and define where his administration stood on the question of corruption. What did he do? He chose to protect vested interests - vested interests whose goals are against the goals of ordinary Nigerians.

Nigerians will make a choice this month. It is up to them to decide on how they wish to live for the next 4 years.

Some of the issues raised in this piece are troubling. Very troubling.

INEC must explain and clarify these issues.One thing that is clear is that if the elections had held on February 14th as scheduled, we would have had a serious problem on our hands by now.

Jega and INEC need to sit up.

CHM11:
Even obama does things like this. Just that Jonathan played too much politics with important national issues or he allowed it.

All the same, he should remain there till the opposition gives us a viable candidate not one who believes its his birthright to rule.

Next president after Jonathan should be no more than 50 years old!!! Minimum of bachelors degree, years of experience in top management should be not less 10 and many other strict requirements.

Then they should remove that untouchable rubbish, if corrupt after leaving office, he can be arrested and charged!!!!...NOBODY is above the law

^^^^
There is a clear contradiction in your post. In one breath you admit that GEJ politicized important national issues. In another you advocate his staying in office 'until the opposition gives us a viable candidate'. Odd, isn't it?

You have at least 5 candidates running for president on different party platforms. Surely you can find at least one of these candidates who will meet your requirements and not politicize important national matters as GEJ has done?

cold:
I concur. GEJ left certain things to linger for too long. At a point his lethargy gave me serious cause for concern. But he has performed relatively well in other sectors.
The opposition shot themselves in the foot by recycling a candidate whose antecedents both in his speeches and actions we are well aware of & nothing to be proud of.

^^^
The 'opposition' as you phrase it, has at least 7 other parties and at least 6 presidential candidates. To the best of my knowledge, it has not decided on a consensus candidate. Your comment implying a joint decision by opposition parties to present a 'recycled candidate' is simply odd. Nigerians are free to choose whom they want.

And that choice includes the right to punish non-performance. By your own admission, GEJ did nothing when action was needed. So on what grounds have you decided that he has performed 'relatively well'? And in which 'other sectors'? Sectors other than the 'lethargy sector'? Your phrasing here is unclear. Kindly clarify.

I found the 'author's' phrasing and writing style to be rather unusual, given his background. "Putrid smell of armageddon"?

But the truth is this: I do not need American columnists and publishers to decide for me the performance of a Nigerian president. After all, I am the one who lives here in Nigeria. Not William Reed or even the editorial writers at the Economist. These foreign opinions or viewpoints may provide some balance or clarity or a much needed counterpoint but the ultimate assessment rests with Nigerians.

My assessment? The GEJ administration has failed and it should go. And who will the replacement be? That is up to Nigerians to decide. Will they choose wisely? Only time will tell.

Decision time comes up in less than three weeks.

^^^
OP, kindly provide a link to the news source.

Change2015:
OK, but I'm going to treat that with some scepticism. Ekiti state remains the only state whose actual law is listed online. Lagos State assembly does not have it listed among passed bills and the delta state website is useless but press reports show the bill had a reading in the house, but no information that it was ever passed. No evidence for kwara state either.

http://ekitistate.gov.ng/2012/04/ekiti-state-freedom-of-information-law/

#change
#GMB
#APC

^^^
Noted. I will also double up to confirm the news in the link. But my interest in the matter (as I said in my earlier posts) arose because of the opposition of the LASG and OYSG governments to the FOI being implemented at the state level. One would expect these states to be strongly in favour of pro-people legislation (passed by their party at the federal level) being replicated at the state level. Unfortunately that is not the case.