₦airaland Forum

Responding to enquiries on phone, the General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Dr Farouk Umar, said “MT TUMA is a long story dating back to many NNPC administrations before the current administration. To get detailed information, we will need to get the relevant files of those NNPC administrations that were involved one way or the other in the past. MT TUMA has preceded so many NNPC administrations.”





There is more to come. We have not even started yet. The time is coming (oh yes it is!) when revelations like the ones above will seem tame, like the antics of children in a playground. Brace yourselves. This is the hell we have created by our inaction and indifference, non?

We will live in it. We MUST live in it!

Gbawe.:
Are you ready to argue with logic alone and without sentiments or subjective/personalised interpretations? I won't respond, to engage in senseless back and forth, after this if you do not see the logic below. The author is Yoruba. Igala directly translates to Antelope in his language. Ali is an Igala man.

Can you say with 100% mind-reading certainty, applied to what is written below, the author is referring to Igala the people and not Igala the animal? Seriously, I don't understand how you got it this wrong. How can you say, as used below, Igala is the ethnic group and not the animal?

“Nothing is too insane to say by an Igala – the antelope.“

Again, if shunning sentiments and working 100% with the literal interpretation of the English language and the possible logical parameters qualifying a statement, I see it can be argued the author only generalise in favour of the Yorubas and not against the Igalas as an ethnic group. Look again and leave bias/sentiments out.

"We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man as midday in contrast with midnight."

How can you 100%, when that will fail you in an examination which will be marked for factual right or wrong, say the statement above cannot be presented below?

"We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man Ali as midday in contrast with midnight."

To have ground to argue your case, the "brute Igala man" must be the "brute Igalas" or the "brute Igala men". Otherwise you are only another intelligent person overcome by sentiments and a resolution to argue according to a bias. Look and think again to see logic and grammatically allowed possible interpretation of statements does not at all support any argument you have laid out here.

^^^^Sir,


You cannot defend the indefensible. Context is the key to unlocking oluwasanmi’s article – an article which I must say, was very poorly written. Having said that, I refer you to the first offending comment: “Nothing is too insane to say by an Igala – the antelope.“


Working 100% with the literal interpretation of the English language (to use your own words) I could put forward the arguement that Oluwasanmi (based on his comment quoted above) is some kind of 'antelope whisperer' who habitually converses with antelopes in the wild or wherever it is he meets with them. Which of course would be total nonsense. Is he a descendant of Balaam the son of Beor? Of course not. The question then comes up: which literary device is he trying to employ here? Personification? Satire? The answer is 'none'. Oluwasanmi hyphenated that statement in a thinly disguised attempt to avoid the charge of insulting Igala ethnic stock. But his intent is crystal clear. There’s no need to belabour the point. As you must have noted, the offending comment above contained the only reference to the so-called antelope in the entire write-up. All the preceding comments in Oluwasanmi’s piece did not in any way provide a suitable context for reference to an antelope (or any animal for that matter). His reference to an antelope was an afterthought – a rather lazy and dishonest attempt to deflect any potential criticism for his slur upon Igala ethnic stock.


Taking your other comments:

Gbawe.:
"We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man as midday in contrast with midnight."

How can you 100%, when that will fail you in an examination which will be marked for factual right or wrong, say the statement above cannot be presented below?

"We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man Ali as midday in contrast with midnight."

^^^^Yes sir, indeed YOU could re-present oluwasanmi’s statement as you just did above. But that would be YOUR choice and YOUR interpretation of his comments, which would be at best a speculative shot in the dark as to what he meant. Unfortunately, we can only concentrate on what oluwasanmi actually wrote and not what he may have meant. He could easily have phrased his article the way you did up there and left no one in any doubt that he was referring to Ali. But he chose not to do so – for sinister reasons that are clear when his write-up is viewed in its entirety.

Gbawe.:
To have ground to argue your case, the "brute Igala man" must be the "brute Igalas" or the "brute Igala men". Otherwise you are only another intelligent person overcome by sentiments and a resolution to argue according to a bias. Look and think again to see logic and grammatically allowed possible interpretation of statements does not at all support any argument you have laid out here.

^^^^No sir. Your comment above is actually incorrect. The use of the noun “man” to denote human beings in general is acceptable. More to the point, the use of the noun “man” (instead of men) to denote entire nationalities, ethnic groups or races is also acceptable (where the noun “man” is preceded by a suitable noun or adjective). Most important to us here is the question “was oluwasanmi referring to Igala ethnic stock as a whole with his comment?” The answer to that question is an unequivocal “YES”. And how do I know this to be true? Again, the context of the entire write-up provides the confirmation needed.

The power and beauty of language lies in the various literary devices that can be used to create prose that makes for wonderful reading. Unfortunately, these devices are two-edged swords, and in the hands of the wrong person, can be used to advance any ignoble cause. Bayo oluwasanmi phrased his poorly written, error laden article in an ambiguous manner designed to court controversy and endless debate over semantics. I would have had more respect for mr oluwasanmi if he were unambiguous and direct in his condemnation (misguided as this would have been) of Igala ethnic stock, for the simple reason that he could easily be put right by more discerning and sophisticated minds. That would have been more honourable. Not this shameful attempt to generate controversy and rancour.


Messrs Ahmadu Ali and Segun Obasanjo know each other very well. They also know the hack writers they employ to "stir it up" to achieve certain objectives. It beats me how people cannot see through their attempts to turn us all into pawns on a chessboard.


People, keep your eyes on the prize. We must be vigilant lest we become the very things we criticize.

ROSSIKE: You do nothing here but display your abhorrence for expensive alchohol. You're displaying your economic illiteracy by equating such distaste with reasoned contribution.

FACT is economic booms and an expanding middle class occur simultaneously with increased expenditure on luxury items. That's a fact of economics as old as the hills and easily researchable in these days of Google. Champagne, like perfume, trips to KFC, Mr Biggs, London, and 4x4s are all experiencing a RISE in demand and patronage. This is why you see fast food shops and shopping malls springing up all over the place. Sales of electronics and other home appliances are booming, as any trader will tell you. Why? The number of people with disposable income has increased by millions. THAT is what accounts for the rise in champagne consumption and NOT because the ''tiny one percent'' of ''thieves'' has suddenly began drinking more champagne (beer parlour analysis).

Oh, and car ownership is seeing an astonishing rise year on year too - another sign of an expanding middle class.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-s-vehicle-importation-increases-by-45-/105163/

^^^^^
Well run economies impose the highest taxes on luxury consumables. There are very good reasons for doing so.


With that key point in mind, it is sheer insanity for a 3rd world economy to spend heavily not just on luxury goods, but IMPORTED luxury goods. How on earth can this be explained or defended?


Your point about rising demand for luxury goods (Champagne, perfume, 4x4s etc) as some inevitable stage of the growth process is a fallacy. Sensible economic managers recognise that a consumer boom based on imported luxury consumables IS NO BOOM AT ALL. How can we even be arguing about this?


You constantly cite the boom in shopping malls, electronics goods sales and quick service restaurants as evidence of growth in the middle class. I ask you again - a growth boom fuelled by imported consumables??


You will have to make up your mind rossikke. In one breath you rail against the hegemony of western industrial economies and the devious activites of multilaterals in retarding the growth of 3rd world countries. In another breath you use their (sometimes) deeply flawed indices of economic progress to support your falsehood that Nigeria's economy is developing properly. You constantly deride those who cite poverty levels in terms of "less than a dollar a day" statistics. And yet you cite visits to KFC as an index of middle class growth. How different are you then from the economists who use Big Mac consumption as an index of development?


You can't have it both ways sir.

ROSSIKE: You are looking at it the wrong way my friend. The people like to consume champagne when they have more disposable income. It's greater consumption IS a sign of an expanding middle class whether or not you like it. Your idea? Drink less champagne because it is imported. Wrong idea.

The idea is that You as a budding entrepreneur should SET UP YOUR OWN local champagne production industry to cater for the DEMAND. Simple.

This was what INNOSON Motors did. They didn't say 'ban the import of vehicles'. The simply INDIGENIZED THE PRODUCTION OF VEHICLES to meet with demand. And they're making headway.

So if you know that rich Nigerians like a certain thing, don't go MOANING and COMPLAINING that they're ''addicted to imports''. PRODUCE those things here, and ensure they're QUALITY and WELL-PRICED and you'll help to end the trend of importation.

And before you start moaning about ''infrastructure'', ''light'', ''no light'', and other excuses, just remember that if one man (INNOSON), can establish a full fledged auto manufacturing plant in this same country with ''no infrastructure'' and ''no light'', without knowing anyone in government, and without govt assistance, SO ALSO CAN YOU start up a production business here that can compete and make money.

^^^^
A disingenous arguement. The most relevant indicators (in modern economies) of an expanding middle class are rising home ownership (be it through mortgages or outright purchase) and motor vehicle ownership. There isn't even full agreement on the usefulness of car ownership as an indicator of middle class expansion - it is simply ludicrous to suggest champagne consumption as a useful or relevant alternative indicator.

In yet another display of demagoguery you have tried to frame the arguement as one of indolent internet commentators versus hardworking, real world industrialists. This is falsehood sir. The Innoson story is celebrated, and rightly so. What sensible Nigerians will not and should not celebrate is some dubious record of distinction in luxury goods consumption. There is a world of difference between motor vehicles (which could be grouped as capital goods or consumer goods) and luxury consumables.

We are not children sir.

rusher14: We are aware of certain personalities on this board. regardless, we would continue to state the truth because that's the only way to fix this boat.

Happy to know there are still a few like minds.

Cheers Volvo.

^


^^^^Keep up the good work sir. What is really sad is the number of posters who support his position. The French, the Americans and the South Africans can afford to quaff large amounts of champagne. After all, they MAKE the stuff. Where do we Nigerians get off boasting about "records" such as this one? What are our value added exports that can compete with the best the world has to offer? And if we have none, what are we doing to improve?

These are the issues.

Rossikke,


You will get your just reward in due course.


You habitually curse out more evolved people than yourself on these boards simply because they have refused to sell their souls to whatever it is you sold yours to. Who do you think you are anyway?


You constantly put forward false statistics to justify your fraudulent and deceitful position on far too many issues concerning this country. I am still waiting for your rebuttal to my points on the last thread we met. Remember?


What are you defending here sir? High level consumption of imported luxury goods? In your fevered mind this is an indicator of middle class growth that is worth highlighting? You really think you are doing yourself and your countrymen a favour?


You habitually make some empty noise about transformation and wealth creation. Yet on this same NL, there have been several complaints about the ineptitude of the Corporate Affairs Commission and the many ways in which such MDAs stifle wealth creation by ordinary Nigerians. How come you never show up on such threads?

Mod(Afam4ever)

I am waiting for you to clean up the thread. Its still nasty so you've got your work cut out for you. You hid my post (which contained emoticons and no direct words from me) because it quoted some fellow's post that was, in your own words, "tribalistic". Well, the tribalism hasn't stopped, has it? You mods know who the troublemakers are but instead of taking them on, you choose to abridge the rights of those of us who have shown remarkable self-restraint.


On this thread you are duty bound to apply the same standards to everyone. You started a 'cleanup' job on this thread and you will finish it!



Let the games begin.

Our Yansh: Your teachers did an excellent job...

^^^^
They certainly did sir...the few I've met since i left school had nothing but kind words for me...God bless them all...

Gbawe.:
The author is wittily using the literal translation of Igala in Yoruba as pun against Ali. Same way a person from Fool Kingdom could be mocked by the english translation of fool as "The fool from Fool Kingdom" - especially if he has behaved like a fool. The author is even kind. It is the least Ali deserves.

^^^^

This isn't true. The author of the article, bayo oluwasanmi clearly insulted Igala ethnic stock with two statements:


"Nothing is too insane to say by an Igala – the antelope."


"We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man as midday in contrast with midnight."


There is no way the above statements can be spun to mean anything other than what the author intended and indeed very clearly stated. Anyone familiar with basic concepts and techniques in literature would understand exactly what oluwasanmi is saying.


Let me reiterate: If anyone insults Igala ethnic stock in its entirety because of the words of Ahmadu Ali, then how are such people different from Ali? They are one and the same through their actions. These same people would be up in arms (as they should be) if a Caucasian were to make derogatory statements about African-Americans or Africans in general.


You can't have it both ways.

Geomac: Ali never consulted his people before calling Yoruba people "ungrateful people" I see no reason why Bayo should consult Yoruba people before calling Igala people Antelope. If any man calls Nupe any unsavoury name(s) i am ready to bring down the entire ethnic group he belongs.

^^^^
Nonsense. What kind of inverted logic is that?


Hold Mr. Ali accountable for his words, not his entire ethnic group. With your response, how are you different from him?

jas_o: What do you expect from people who are yet to understand why they exist? Igala people are dummies and lack ability to identify what’s wrong in them.

^^^^
This is senseless. How are you different from Mr. Ahmadu Ali? He made uncomplimentary remarks about a whole ethnic group and you did the same, instead of directing your ire at the man himself. With your comments, how are you different from him?

Afam4eva,


I am still not satisfied with your response. I want to know if as moderator, you are the final authority on this board. Because if you are not, I intend to appeal to someone higher than yourself. Kindly respond ASAP.


It may seem as if I am quibbling but it is important we establish the boundaries once and for all so that we are clear on what is and what is not acceptable on this board.


In the meantime, I will pay much closer attention to you and the other moderator on this board in the performance of your duties. I expect that all threads moderated by you will be held to exactly the same standards of scrutiny as the thread on which my posts were hidden. Going forward, you can be sure that I will hold you both to a much higher standard than before and if I feel that you are not being fair or balanced in the discharge of your responsibilities, I will let you know in very clear terms what I think of your abilities.


You have been served.

Afam,


No, your answer is not good enough. If in your wisdom you decide that a post is "tribalistic", then hide it. But don't hide mine.


Perhaps we all need to decide what qualifies as "tribalistic" and spell out all the rules of engagement. As things stand, there seems to be nothing stopping a moderator from abusing his/her powers, which is what I think is happening here.


I have been a registered member on NL for over 4 years (and a visitor for much longer). I have been civil to other posters (at the same time I recognise that debates should be frank and open, and they will sometimes get heated) and I have played by the rules. My posting history proves this. At the same time I have watched some other posters get away with murder and the so-called mods have remained mute, a clear demonstration of their biased and partisan nature.


I want my post restored. There was no reason for it to be hidden in the first place. If you maintain your position then let me know what my other options are for resolving this matter.

OAM4J and Afam4eva,

I sent you both an email asking why my post on this topic https://www.nairaland.com/1227388/yorubas-ungrateful-obasanjo-ahmadu-ali
was hidden. I have not received any response. I am asking the same question once again and I would like an answer.

No and No.


P.S. I'm loving this thread.


Buyers remorse on full display.

Kay-Dee:
Just one snake ?
This is child's play compared to what I witnessed in Edo State camp many years ago.
The camp houses were unfinished buildings in the middle of, and surrounded by thick tall grass bushes; the camp officials decided to burn the bushes days after we arrived and moved in, so the snakes moved from the burning bush into our sleeping area.
It was terrifying and worse than the scene from 'snakes on a plane'; they were everywhere, hanging from the roof struts(there were no ceiling boards), from electric wires, in every corner, in people's buckets, under the mattress. Out of fear, people slept in standing positions at night. - The situation lasted almost the duration of our stay on camp. To crown it all up, there were scorpions too.

Luckily for us we all made it out without a single bite mark, no one suffered a scorpion sting or snake bite.

Chai !! NYSC - Now Your Suffering Continues.

^^^^

That's the real deal up there. And tomorrow some army or police goon will brag about being trained in gwoza or kachia and as such he is a better man than any civilian. Your experience matches anything the khaki boys claim they have been through. Good no one was hurt though.

Dextra: Do not blame anybody for snake entering into your room. I once killed a snake on my mother's bed in our village. I regretted killing it afterward because my mother told me that snakes are harmless unless you spook them, then, they bite you. First rule: Let snakes be.

^^^^Sometimes things don't always go the way we plan. You are right - most snakes are harmless and they also avoid humans. The problem is that most human beings have an almost visceral fear of snakes. We kill first and ask questions later. There are also other times when humans are literally left with no option but to kill snakes that have wandered into human habitation - the risk of being bitten is simply too great to allow such snakes find their own way out. I cannot imagine anyone would be able to sleep in a room knowing that there was a spitting cobra or a black mamba lurking somewhere within.

coogar: this is so horrible!
snake was probably resting after swallowing a small mouse. they should have just taken it out of the room and let it stroll away peacefully. the snake wasn't threatening anyone and i doubt it's even venomous. why kill it?

I'm not too sure that snake wasn't venomous. It looks like a cobra to me and they can do a LOT of damage. Fatalities from cobra bites are commonplace here.

I clearly don't know what time it is


I was about to say Mr Okupe needs to read up on conditions for the eligibility of candidates to run for office in Nigeria. I distinctly remember that at one time, ex-cons were not allowed to run for president in Nigeria, which I took to mean that Okupe's 10 year "conviction expiry date" is of no consequence (assuming the eligibility conditions apply to all elective positions and not just the presidency).


Until I came upon this thread: https://www.nairaland.com/419195/constitutional-amendment-ex-convicts-run


So where is the truth?

Sincere9gerian ,

Its been written a few times on these boards that you and/or billyonaire are one and the same as beaf.

I strongly disagree.

I have gone through quite a few of beaf's posts (even had an exchange or two with him on some issues a while back). All I can say is that I mourn - it is indeed tragic that he was bought over by the dark side. Beaf was an intemperate, crude fellow capable of the worst kind of intellectual dishonesty, the online equivalent of a gun for hire. But he was also a very well-informed debater with a razor sharp wit and an excellent grasp of the key issues. A lot of the time, he was a WORTHY opponent. He understood Nigeria and the Nigerian question. One can only imagine how useful he could be as a force for good, which is why I mourn. Why he chose to be part of the problem and not the solution is the million Naira question.

But you sir, are only a slightly lukewarm propaganda machine, delivering tepid, pedestrian responses to the very real and urgent questions Nigerians are asking of your principal. I put it to you sir, that you are a sheep in sheep's clothing. You remind me of the SDP television adverts in the buildup to the elections of the 3rd Republic in the early 1990s: slow, boring and dead on arrival. Take a look at the NRC adverts of the same period - now THAT was a lesson on how to create ad copy that resonates with your target audience - the NRC ads completely blew the SDP out of the water. Whether the NRC was a better political party with the interest of Nigerians at heart is an entirely different matter and a topic for another day.


Sincere9gerian, these are my honest observations. I think you need to go for more training so that you can truly fulfil your destiny and take your place among the all time greats. I will help you. You shall not be put to shame.

toothpaste: This has been in the plans for long but everytime it comes up for action, a very thick black gworo-chewing mallam who got to the helm via federal character, decides to suspend it.

I know what am saying cos my inlaw works there. Aboki mallam eh! They have finished this country

^^^^Don't derail the thread. If you have names and details of those who suspended the project then name them or hold your peace. What's with the "very thick black" comment you made up there? Are you not black African too?

Ijebulogic: You are very correct. However, i differ slightly and believe that it is actually less than 1% of Nigerians that would not cross-carpet like Abati; 99% (including Nairalanders posting comments here would do the same thing if slapped with a million dollars CASH). You see, poverty (of the pocket as well as of the mind) is a terrible thing and it reduces grown men to mere prostitutes that can be bought and sold like commodities. After working twenty years and not able to have a decent house or brand new cars, most nigerians simply give up the struggle and join the vagabonds in power (VIP) to lie, loot and rape Nigeria. The promise of abuja mansions, school fees for children abroad, police escort and enough dollars to keep madam and family forever singing your praise is too tempting in a land where there is no welfare system or decent opportunities to excel. Most Nigerians that have principles do not live in Nigeria and therefore do not need any favours from "political Godfathers" in order to have a decent home, send children to a decent school and live/eat well. For those left in Nigeria, majority have had every ounce of principles and fortrightedness squeezed out of them by poverty and economic hardship. Things Fall Apart.

^^^^Very true, unfortunately.

deife: Young man, for goodness sake be smart. There's power in words. You may just be considered as an armed robber with your statement. To think that you even uploaded your picture & run a blogsite. Wisdom, son, wisdom!

^^^Good advice you gave that foolish young man (if indeed the picture is his. I'm also assuming he isn't a felon with links to the crime). I hope it isn't too late for him. People have paid dearly for that kind of indefensible, loose talk.


The irony is that the personal text on his profile says "Hard work pays".

faithin9ja: Please has anyone spent less than N80,000 in the last two years to register a limited liability company in Nigeria?
Is it possible to register a limited liability company in Nigeria without using a lawyer or agent?
Is it possible to register a limited liability company in Nigeria without somebody physically going to Abuja?

Please third world countries like Nigeria still operate the way our colonial masters left us 50years ago, we enjoy doing everything in triplicate, etc for no reason coz we don't even have good records despite the tonnes of paperwork.

The guy advertising on this thread,a beg how much and how long to register a Ltd company?

^^^^We should keep threads like this one open to hold public servants and the federal government accountable.

I have no idea where Segun Aganga is at the moment. What I do know is that his talk about 48 hr company registration has turned out to be nothing more than a lot of hot air. This is March 2013, over 12 months after Aganga's empty promises and the CAC is still NOT able (in some cases) to register companies within 48 DAYS!

Nigerans and interested foreigners cannot get a fixed fee for company registration at the CAC because of the systemic corruption that runs through the veins of that agency's officials. The fees change like a weather forecast. with the add-ons disappearing into the blackholed pockets of CAC staff and their collaborators/agents. Which serious country toys with something as fundamental as business registration?

It is NOT possible to register a limited liability company in Nigeria at the moment without using the services of a lawyer, chartered accountant or chartered secretary. The current CAC Registrar-General, Bello Mahmud is obviously cut from the same cloth as segun aganga - both men are fond of hot air and empty promises. The CAC website (as at 7th March 2013) states that: "Registration of Limited liability Companies can now be processed directly by the first Directors/Subscribers to Memorandum and Articles of Association similar to what obtains in the case of Business Names and Incorporated Trustees".

Ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you that the above statement on the CAC website is FALSE. Directors/Subscribers CANNOT directly process registration of limited liability companies. And I know this because I was in the CAC Yaba zonal office 3 days ago to register a limited liability company. I was told in very clear terms that the information on the CAC website is nonsense and that the services of a lawyer/chartered accountant/chartered secretary would still be required.

The GEJ administration and previous PDP governments talk a lot about private sector driven-growth but cannot do the most basic things to make it happen. All they do is TALK!!!

ROSSIKE: Fk off and go form your own country. Stinking devil.

^^^^Business as usual for the one and only 'pan Nigerianist' without equal.


Pro01 made some valid points about the conduct of the average Nigerian soldier/airman/seaman and your best response is to tell him to eff off and form his own country?


You, rossike are a disgrace to the flag and country you pretend to respect and honour so much. You are fooling no one but yourself.

Richfella: My partner cheating, from where I am now, is not something I remotely bother myself with.

On a certain level, my mind and my emotions will blare their usual alarms. But I am too far detached to respond to it in any fashion. You are not your mind, neither are you your emotions.

If your partner cheats, ask yourself "what happened?" Some dude took a little piece of meat and put it into some dark place - which happened to be on my partners body. Complete detachment. Your emotions are just programmed impulses which compel your body to certain actions. You are not those emotions.

^^^^What if the 'piece of meat' isn't 'little'?


And what do you do when you find out this is the only reason your partner 'ate' it in the first place?


So many questions and not enough answers.

The same old story, the same old song.


The more things change, indeed the more they remain the same.


In the mid 1980s when Nigeria was under military dictatorship, a close relative of mine wrote a newspaper article about smuggling at Seme border. Nearly 30 years later and the problems highlighted in that piece are still there, mutating into even more toxic forms. How can a people remain in suspended animation for 3 decades? How?


If you are reading this piece and you intend to vote in the next election, you MUST take up the matters raised and make them a campaign issue. All the agencies at the border are federal agencies - the NDLEA, Customs, Immigration, etc. If the self-styled largest party in Africa (the rogues gallery called the PDP) cannot clean up Nigeria's borders after almost 15 years in power at the federal level, then of what use is such a party?


Our weak institutions and the absence of leaders with a systems orientation leads to the kind of rot we have at the borders. In the early 2000s, (i forget which month or year) trans-border criminals attacked some motorists travelling on a highway somewhere in Ogun or Lagos state. The plan was to seize the victims cars and spirit them across the border to Republique du Benin. The story was that Mr. Obasanjo's (the then president) daughter was either a victim of that armed robbery attack or she narrowly escaped becoming one. Unfortunately, some of the other victims if I remember correctly, paid with their lives.

The fallout of that incident was a temporary closure of Nigeria's borders (ordered by OBJ) with Republique du Benin, with serious consequences for Beninois traders and the Beninois economy. Within weeks, the Beninois kingpin (a certain Mr. Hamadou Tijani) responsible for that and several other violent trans-border robberies was arrested by the Beninois government and prosecuted.

But like so many ad hoc measures by Nigeria's ruling elite, whatever changes that were made to Nigeria's borders during that period did not last. Mr. Obasanjo simply ordered a much tighter security cordon around his offspring to make sure that nothing untoward ever happened to them again. As usual, not much consideration was given to the security of ordinary Nigerians. Within weeks, 'normal' business at the border resumed and the trans-border car snatching/car smuggling/illegal trading and general chaos at the border continued. As it does to this day.


The Interior Ministry has a budget. The Immigration, Customs & Excise, Nigeria Police, army, navy, NDLEA etc all have budgets funded by your taxes (or by oil revenues supposedly held in trust for YOU, the taxpayer). Each of these agencies maintains a presence at our borders and ports. Do the budgets for these MDAs genuinely represent the interests of Nigerian taxpayers? How are these budgets prepared? What is the procurement process for these MDAs? How are contracts awarded? What is the process for tenders? What are the checks and balances in each of these processes? Who affirms the transparency of the processes in these MDAs? Who oversees or monitors each of these MDAs and their processes? And who is monitoring or overseeing the 'monitors' and 'overseers'? What are the consequences for infraction or non-performance? The federal government set up a budget monitoring and price intelligence unit. Are you, the taxpayer aware of any comprehensive report by that unit? What have its findings been so far?


A country whose governments cannot demarcate its borders or cannot even be bothered to sign normal border agreements to ensure its flag is flown IS NOT a serious country. The 'I love Nigeria' brigade on nairaland usually avoid threads like this one because the incompetence of their governments (past and present) has been laid bare yet again. Good God, when will we learn?


Our destiny is in our hands. It always was, but too many of us do not know this. If you are truly tired of the rot in the system - if you are tired of reading articles like this one about Abba Moro and friends, then get out there and vote for a party and a candidate that will genuinely represent your interests. Your parents generation has failed you. You cannot afford to fail YOUR children. Enough is enough!!!

woodcook: I remember some years back while in Lag, on my way back from work I was with my colleague who happened to be the one driver. While in traffic on 3rd mainland bridge she slept off while driving. Later same day around close to St Agnes Maryland, while in traffic she slept off as well again. I think it is high time our government make our highways safe for road users. Sometime last week I drove with a friend on a highway to Brussels from Liege and I noticed that each time we come close to the white marking on the sides of the high way the car makes a loud disturbing sound. The sound is so loud that even if you are sleep you will wake up. Those things were fitted on those white line to prevent drivers from sleeping off and vying off the road. I wish our government should come up with something similar more especially on our inter-city roads, I believe it will save a lot of lives.

A-town:
Word of advice, whenever you feel sleepy while driving, find somewhere to park and take a nap for at least 1 to 2 hours. Do not risk it. A lot of people have lost their lives. A friend was driving and felt sleepy, he thought he'd just knock it off by blasting his radio. He turned up the volume and the next thing he woke up 4 days later in the hospital. As soon as he turned up the radio, he fell asleep and drove straight into a tree. The car was salvaged. He was lucky. A lot of people werent. I wonder why the FRSC hasn't mandated all highways to be equiped with those "vibrating road alerts/lane change alerts" that is used in the U.S. It's not expensive na. I can't count the number of times this thing has saved me from driving straight off the highway due to tiredness.

^^^^Good points made here. There are so many (relatively) inexpensive things that can be designed into our infrastructure and which will save lives. The first time I saw one of those vibrating alerts, I was speechless. It is disheartening that there is still no highway in Nigeria (to the best of my knowledge) that has these things built in as part of the design. How hard can it be to do this?

I slept off once in heavy Lagos traffic a few years ago with relatively mild consequences for me and the car in front. But it could have been so much worse. Not something I ever want to happen again.

Empty words and even emptier promises by the government mouthpieces on this thread.


Nigerian governments and their agents routinely TALK about making Nigeria a better place to do business but their ACTIONS show what their priorities really are. Some posters have given details of how prompt and efficient the company registration process is in other countries. These places are serious about this because they know the ease of doing business (company registration, etc) is a key part of the competitiveness index.


The Nigerian government and its officials still do not understand what these other countries figured out a long time ago. The CAC claims on its website that “the establishment of the Corporate Affairs Commission as an autonomous body was as a result of the perceived INEFFICIENCY AND INEFFECTIVENESS of the erstwhile Company Registry, a department within the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism which was then responsible for the registration and administration of the repealed Companies Act of 1968”.


If indeed, the CAC was set up to right the wrongs of the past, then there is NO reason under the sun why in 2013, a key piece of legislation (the Companies Regulation 2012) affecting company registration in Nigeria cannot be made available in downloadable pdf on the CAC website. How hard can it be to do this? In its current form on the website, this 101-page document cannot be downloaded or printed. It can only be viewed (in barely legible font) on the website. Why is this so?


It is so because the ‘wise’ men at the CAC would prefer to swell their coffers by charging members of the public NGN 1,000 (one thousand naira) per hard copy of the Companies Regulation 2012, obtainable only at the CAC’s offices. What more evidence is needed to show that the CAC is staffed by yesterday’s men? Nigerians who want to register businesses and create wealth must physically go to the CAC’s office (in 2013!!) to buy a hard copy of the laws governing the registration and setting up of businesses in Nigeria.


^^^This here is the character of Nigerian bureaucracy and officialdom. Wasteful, inefficient and violently predatory. Should Nigerians have to pay one thousand naira for the report of a committee hurriedly cobbled together in 2010, and which only just (last year) finished its assignment? When the power of the internet is accessible to all?


Perhaps even more disturbing is the CAC Registrar–General’s claim that the monopoly held by lawyers, chartered accountants and chartered secretaries on company registration would no longer exist from 2013. Is this true? Is it now possible in practice for first Directors/Subscribers to register new limited liability companies directly with the CAC in 2013? Or was the Registrar-General peddling falsehood?


The CAC should shape up or throw in the towel. Taxpayers deserve more! And if they know what's good for them, they should insist on it!

street disciple: This is just too bad, nigeria is gradually turning into something else. A country where d laws are ment for reading alone. When are we going to stop this extra judicial killing of "suspects", wasting the lives of innocent young bright n promising nigerians.

BTW: i noticed how almost everyone here is bitter bout d killings but lemme just say this, sometime ago there was a story here bout JTF carrying out extra judicial killings of "suspected" boko haram members n i still remember some of ur comments;
Some of u were applauding what JTF did dat its a nice way of curbing the boko haram menace
Some even went as far as saying all aboki's are BH members n nutn wrong in what JTF did
Now same extra judicial killing is happening in ur backyard n u crying foul.......
So typical of some NL'ers *DOUBLE STANDARD*





_{diss me n u'll never get a reply for it}

^^^^Good post. Very good post.