₦airaland Forum

andrewza: why do you assume that

.......for starters, only gaynaians bear such awful names based on weekdays

Besides, andrewza, go see all your posts, it is obvious you are a south african.A typical South African isn't jealous of Nigeria and they don't lose sleep over the title of Nigeria- "giant of Africa". Only gaynaians agonize over that title, which was more about the population size than economy of Nigeria.

A typical South African actually feel SA is way much better than Nigeria and does not wish to be a Nigerian, nor copy Nigerian ways of speaking or mannerism. South africans usually don't worry about comparing power or roads in Nigeria, unless a Nigerian provokes them to that topic.

But Ghanaians can only look forward to reaching the infrastructure level of Nigeria.For Ghana to feel they are making progress,their yardstick is Nigeria! If they can build a road similar to one in Nigeria or can build an airport that resembles the one in Nigeria,then Ghana has achieved! Ghanaians focus on being like Nigerians and everything has to be done the Nigerians way.See their movie industry or music,it's almost as though they are making the movies or music so it will please Nigerians! Ghanians lack foresight and innovation and depend on Nigerians for both, so they continue to play second fiddle to Nigeria.That is precisely the reason why the average Nigerian looks down on Gaynianas as fake and hungry people.

Are Ibos Nigerian citizens? If they are, then why is this news, if citizens of South Africa own 90% of Pretoria land,how is that news? This shows El-Rufai does not consider them Nigerians or "Arewans" if you consider they imagine Abuja is their capital.

kwame tut: These ANALYSTS ARE SPOT ON.
HA HA THE WEST HAS BEEN FOOLING NIGERIANS SOON, AFTER THEIR OIL IS FINISHED WHICH IS PROJECTED TO BE 25 YEARS FROM LAST YEAR. THESE WESTERNERS WILL BE SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE ELSEWHERE. grin grin grin grin grin grin[b]Not so long ago we were told PAKISTAN WILL REACH $1TRILLION MARK THIS YEAR, WE'RE WAITING WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.[/b] grin grin grin grin grin

I SAW THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE LAST NIGHT AND LAUGHED. grin grin grin grin grin grin
NIGERIA THE REGIONAL SUPER POWER NOT A GIANT OF AFRICA cry cry cry cry cry

There has been a great deal of attention paid to the rise of Nigeria as of late. Indeed, it is hard to ignore the impressive economic growth rates being posted at a time when most economies are on the decline. The government appears focused on improving government services and investing in high potential growth areas of the economy. President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent Transformation Agenda is an impressive document that many economists and analysts believe is setting the conditions for Nigeria to become the dominant economy on the African continent. The agenda emerged in 2011 out of a belief by President Jonathan that the government needed a sense of direction and a way to ensure the country’s development priorities were applied with continuity, consistency, and commitment – the so-called “3Cs”. cry cry cry cry

Such analysis of Nigeria’s trajectory is further understandable given the current distribution of economic and political power in the region. Today, there are three regional nodes of economic and political influence in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. These three markets are the dominant players and generally act as hubs for continent-wide trade and commerce. They are also important interlocutors within their regions and across the continent via the African Union. Traditionally, South Africa has been the most dominant of the three, taking on leadership roles within the African Union and often representing the continent in international institutions like the United Nations Security Council. South Africa’s dominance in this respect continues, but many are now arguing that its position atop the hierarchy of African states is being economically threatened by Nigeria.

But what I find particularly remarkable about all the analyses is their failure to consider the political economy of Nigeria as a whole. Indeed, much of the contemporary analysis of Nigeria appears to gloss over, forget, or intentionally ignore some of the important structural issues that still confront it. I don’t mean to downplay the significant economic growth that Nigeria is experiencing, or of the plans to fix its problems – all of these are good things. However, it really is too soon to claim that Nigeria is posing any threat to the dominance of South Africa on the continent.

Whilst Nigeria is a hub for the movement of goods, South Africa’s capacity and infrastructure are still superior in many respects. A recent study coming out of the South African Institute of International Affairs, argues that geography and infrastructure make a real difference to economic growth potential. The study notes that South Africa still maintains a geographic advantage and advanced infrastructural capacity, ranging from deep-sea ports to container activity to strong logistics capacity, and that it is where many multinational companies have chosen to locate their headquarters. The study also warns that other countries are finding ways to improve market share of trade activity in Africa. All of these findings are correct, but the logical jump to assuming South Africa’s decline under Zuma and Nigeria’s rising dominance implied by these sorts of studies leaves me feeling skeptical for the following reasons:

First, even in light of Nigeria’s strong economic growth, its GDP is still far less than that of South Africa. In fact, we are talking about $164 billion less. Not an insignificant sum for two developing countries. Nigeria’s GDP currently sits at $244 billion whilst South Africa maintains a GDP of about $408 billion. With Nigeria’s annual growth rate of 7% that is an extra $16 billion coming into the Nigerian economy next year, in 2012 we have seen the decline of Nigeria's growth from 7% in 2011 to 6.5% and assuming growth continues on par as projected, this will have a compounded effect. In this context, it is going to take more than 20 years for Nigeria to catch up with South Africa’s economy, which is also growing at a (albeit more modest) rate of 3%. Note: with recent oil findings in Southern Africa, South Africas problems are almost done and they will rise and open the gap. This is a far lengthier period than the 2014 prediction made by some analysts, so it is quite possible that the economic fortunes of either state could change significantly. Indeed, it is believed that South African growth rates could increase if problems with labour unrest in the mining sector are resolved. This is entirely plausible if the Zuma administration negotiates a mutually acceptable plan with its union partners currently in the governing alliance. All this takes is political will.

So, Nigeria’s transition into dominance will be reliant on current growth rates, oil prices, and education investments remaining the same for the next ten years. This scenario doesn’t take into account any shifts in macroeconomic conditions or natural fluctuations in markets. As well, it assumes that Nigeria can solve some real challenges it faces with its business environment, primarily that of capital flight and corruption. Indeed, Nigeria is ranked 131 out of 185 countries as a place to do business and has stayed in the same spot for the past two years. In contrast, South Africa’s business environment has improved in the past year – it is now ranked 39th globally, a two spot jump from the 41st position that it maintained last year.

Nigeria remains rife with corruption despite efforts by the government to address it. Continentally, Nigeria is ranked 27 out of 53 states in terms of being a non-corrupt environment; internationally it is ranked 139 out of 176 countries, according to Transparency International. In contrast, South Africa ranks seventh within the region and 69th globally for non-corruption. Corruption in Nigeria is really a systemic issue and the challenge of tackling it cannot be underestimated; to do so would require sustained support from continental and international partners.

The rise of Nigeria will also be dependent on its ability to address socio-political challenges. Longstanding civil conflict due to insurgent groups, and struggles to put in place safeguard measures to protect human rights will also prevent Nigeria from becoming the dominant player on the continent. These challenges are real and if not addressed, will detract from Nigeria’s ability to assert its dominance through the use of force or through moral persuasion.

Political stability in Nigeria is still a major issue. Adding to the existing political divisions between the people in the North and South of the country are the threats that insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Ansaru pose to stability. Indeed, the national and local level governments appear to be struggling to contain these groups that are committed to destabilizing the North and East and to undermining important development work such as the vaccinations against Polio. Civil conflict brought on by these insurgent groups and their effectiveness at undermining the authority of the state and instilling fear in the local population poses a real challenge to Nigeria’s rise as sorting out internal matters will divert attention and resources for engaging in regional or international issues. Nigeria’s inability to take leadership in intervening in regional conflicts to date, like Cote d’Ivoire and Mali, only highlight the difficulty it faces in projecting leadership outside of its borders. While it is expected that Nigeria will participate in stabilizing Mali through the provision of troops, its slow response has been surprising given its leadership role in the regional economic community of ECOWAS. South Africa, which is a reluctant intervenor in African conflicts, has committed $23 million in humanitarian aid and police training.

Finally, the Nigerian government continues to grapple with respecting human rights. Amnesty International recently released its annual report on Nigeria that notes the continuing prevalence of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, forced evictions, and unlawful detention. As well, rights for the LGBTI community continue to be hindered as homosexuality is still illegal in Nigeria and the president is planning on signing the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill that was passed by the Nigerian Senate in 2011. All of this impacts Nigeria’s ability to act as a moral actor on the continent and internationally. South Africa, on the other hand, continues to be a moral actor as a result of the strong human rights provisions within its constitution and the existence of a constitutional court that effectively upholds those provisions.

When considering the “rise” of countries, it is important to remember that influence and dominance are also determined by other socio-political conditions than just the economy. The political reality of Nigeria includes real efforts to improve economic conditions in the country but also persistent problems that, if left unresolved, will undermine its ability to influence and dominate in Africa. In this light, it is important that one-dimensional analyses based on economic growth figures be tempered and contextualized against the challenges the country faces.

Another hateful Gaynaian. If Nigeria closes her economy to ghana, that country will collapse like a pack of cards.

Another gimmick from Baba to fool the uninitiated.

So How did Kano get N4 billion naira more than Lagos?
In a year, Kano earns N50 billion Naira more than Lagos state?
Wonders shall never end!

BTW,What is the FG doing with 730 Billion Naira every month

The Kenyans deserve NO explanation for decisions of our FG. The same Kenyans that want us to recognize their decisions have no respect for even their own courts! Kenya is indeed a jungle for labeling all Nigerians as thieves and drug peddlers! It is simply unacceptable!

No Nigerian label Kenyans the way they love to label "Nigerians".Nigerian music and movies are pirated to high heavens in Kenya,yet Nigerians haven't labelled them thieves or piracy kingpins! Kenyans love to speak of Nigerian tribes and Boko Haram insurgency as if Kenya has none of it. Indeed,the level of constant blood letting between Kenyan tribes such as Luo,Kikuyu,Kisii,Luhya and Kamba etc in unheard of in Nigeria.

If someone is a "Nigerian" he doesn't necessarily have to be a drug peddler, a thief or a Juju priest as Kenyans love to think!If those Nigerians are truly found to be a drug peddlers,then charge them to court and allow Kenyan law convict him.Then put them on airplanes and deport them. It is wrong to merely deport someone living in Kenya for 18 years on being a "Nigerian" and therefore a "suspected" drug peddler, without giving him the courtesy of a court trial. That is witch hunting and jungle justice which is simply untenable!

Waridi: [/b] Are you aware that more than 100 Million Nigerians live in Absolute POVERTY ? That's 2 and a half times the entire population ok Kenya!! Please stop playing so much ignorance[b]

Dude,
No matter how you try to justify it, Nigeria and Kenya aren't in the same place. In spite of years of military misrule in Nigeria and almost unbroken period of democracy in Kenya since independence, Nigerians still enjoy a much higher standard of living!

Kenya should be like Botswana today, if it wasn't so corrupt and violently sectarian.But Rwanda and Uganda in spite of their years of war and dictatorship enjoy a better quality of life today than Kenyans.

[quote author=enigma_otr]My ex broke up with me because i refused to leave my work and investments in nigeria to start afresh in the US. I can't just understand why any nigerian would want to leave the shore of this country to settle down when almost everyone out there prejudge you and sees you as a criminal.
Just imagine! Kenya deporting Nigerians without cause. This is a national disgrace to say the least.[/quote]You are a very lucky and wise person for not being fooled. You would have ended up as a statistics of Nigerians trapped here in the US with no papers and don't want to go back because they have nothing left to fall back on and it is just too shameful.

By now you would have joined one of the many Naija Houston gangs either as a love-vendor or a prostitute if you are a female.

I met a Nigerian medical doctor that told me he would even pick up trash just to feed himself,but couldn't! Because Nigeria is so liberal to foreigners to work in Nigeria without Nigerian work permit,many erroneously think the same rule apply to Nigerians in other countries. Many Nigerians would like to sweep streets or pick up trash,but they can't because they don't have work permit!

In Africa, some Nigerians go to these countries and try to buy up even their Presidential palaces! These Africans HATE Nigerians with a passion. So, sometimes when they deport Nigerians simply out of malice or hearsay as in this case, it should serve as a warning to other Nigerians still mindlessly investing in these strange African countries, without anything to fall back onto in Nigeria. Talk about putting all your eggs in one risky basket! lol..

Uhuru Kenyatta is a war criminal that should be arrested and sent to the War crimes court at the Haig.
Its a shame that Kenyans treat Nigerians so horribly in Kenya and there are many of them without Nigerian permit living comfortably here. Why nah? Which kain life be dis?
I'm so angry that these yeye Africans love to terrorize Nigerians in their countries,yet they expect us to treat their citizens that live in Nigeria decently?
The last time it was South Africans,then Ghanaians and now its Kenyans turn to spit on our face.Well, let me see a Kenyan first.....

TerryCarr: http://www.ynaija.com/opinion-why-you-should-be-worried-about-nigerias-anti-gay-law/

You must be a Homo or Supe !
Why not just do it with fowls and get it over with ?

This is a very big shame ! Soon Afghanistan will deport Nigerians!
So we no get Kenyans on expired visa in Naija to deport?
What about that girl insulting our gallant armed forces, YVONNE NDEGE?

If they had manufactured a made in Nigeria bicycle, i would have been applauding right now. But,Motorcycles belong to the past!
They should at the minimum make it a [size=15pt]Keke Napep tricycle[/size]. You can only ride that okada in Nnewi or Onitsha, you can't even ride that anymore in Enugu,Calabar,Benin,Uyo etc, not to talk of Abuja or Lagos!

Figure why I'm not applauding this [size=15pt]technological feat ?[/size]

I had always known that fake Boko Haram reporter was using cash to influence people into doing her propaganda. The last time,she got a confirmed Boko Haram member and tried to pass him off as a mole in the Nigerian army. Only that the video the Boko Haram guy gave was taken in Adamawa not Borno state as she claimed.

Thank God Niger Republic's intelligence agencies aren't like Nigeria, where spies are given a field day to operate unhindered.Nigeria must wake up and review the background and activities of these reporters sent by Al-Jazeera etc. Many nations of view a united Nigeria as a threat to their desire to control Africa.This Yvonne Ndege is a spy and doing a lot of insidious subversive activities to undermine the ability of Nigeria to control its territory. They use their position as journalists to extract sensitive government information,which is directly passed to terrorists and the sponsor nations.Please, Nigeria wake up, before it's too late!!!

The truth of this matter was the war between the three native tribes of Warri. I will not mention the names for fear of being bashed. The issue actually degenerated into militancy after OBJ won 1999 elections and decided with Ibori to ignore the problem. Insecurity drove the major companies to port Harcourt. That's what happened.

Ikengawo: if its not potholes they'll take a picture of traffic jam lol

Nigeria has refused to adhere to the wisdom of "a stitch in time saves nine"
Well,its good someone is taking pictures of those small pot holes now and crying out! If Chime's people fail to take care of those small potholes now,the entire road will soon need major rehabilitation costing billions of Naira.

Nooooooooooooooooooo! Chime got this one wrong!

Wetin be this yeye car for Police?
Patrol vans which can carry many Policemen and even the apprehended criminals is the best!
Yes, abroad they use one car, one police officer, and the car CANNOT BE A FOREIGN CAR!
Since we can't meet any of those conditions, the rugged and durable open Police pickup trucks are the viable force multipliers for our environment.

ULSHERLAN: Who should be held responsible

What type of schools do our children attend nowadays?
Hmmm, i hope not Almajiri schools.

ruledworld: Watch at 3:00 to see Shekau in Action


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AGTGNJ1pg

I think this go hit the US Box Office Soon.

Walahi! This is a good movie.
Abeg, this is history hausa movie not Boko Haram.

Eko Ile: And what kind of education did you get? Free or terrible education. Sounds like terrible education..



Is this the skills acquisition center you are talking about? The one they spent N300 million to renovate, but was never touched?

Bad belle wan kill some people oo ! Dem wan die say Akwa Ibom dey develop !

Akwa Ibom , O ni baje ooooooo !

Yeye Hypocrite!
He thinks he can fool anyone.
Hypocrite looking like a real Hippo !

Yes o! I hear you MEND! You are very justified to target the animals.Those asking their followers to bomb innocent people need to be bombed into their heaven to enjoy their 72 virgins quickly enough.

Imagine that Bin Laden didn't want to die and was hiding behind his old wife when the Americans came for him! He should have yell Allah hu Akabar ! and embraced death that should immediately mean sleeping in an ocean of bliss with 72 under aged girls!

Eko Ile: Btw, where are the ten lane freeways? Where are they? Where are the housing estates? I bet inside your room and parlor..


Take my advice and stay way from drugs

Na bad belle go kill una !

GOD BLESS GODSWILL AKPABIO, the great transformer of our time !

Even Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said the same words less than a week ago!
.......na only yoruba boys in nairaland no fit acknowledge such naked truth !

Eko Ile: Stay away from drugs and quit insulting my intelligence..

If you had any intelligence at all,even as much as a fowl, you won't bring Lagos into this.Nor try to compare Fasola to Akpabio !
So don't talk about intelligence,because you have none!

Anybaba: A bulk of the roads in Uyo were done by Victor Attah. Uyo was not a village when Godswill came into power. It had very good road network as at 2007. The Ibom Le Meridien Hotel and Golf resort was built and completed by Victor Attah. I went to the commissioning of that Golf course as far back as 2006 ! The MRO facility at Ibom Airport has not been completed. And where is the 10 lane highway done by Akpabio?

O'lboy, I went to University of Uyo. So i know what iam talking about.I am not even from Akwa-Ibom,but give honor to whom it is due!
Nobody said Uyo never had a tarred road,until 6 years ago. Attah did roads like typical Nigerian governors just tarring the tiny lane in front of people's houses with no drainage. Which made Uyo,perpetually a flooded city.

Akpabio did roads like they do in Abuja or Germany. The roads are complete with sidewalk,underground drainage systems,street lights and road signs. Not the usual Nigerian governors standard of doing very shoddy work, then shamelessly showing the pictures on every newspaper,TV and TV, shouting "my state is working!".Driving round Uyo today feels exactly like driving around Abuja. That is why Uyo looks so much modern today, and that is why the man with such a bold dream who made it all happen, should be commended by all.

Eko Ile: Story. This is about akwa and not lagos and if you feel like dragging lagos into it, I'll deal with you just with Fasholas work alone without anything before him.

Shebi apabio and fashola enter office at the same time? Do you feel like listing their work side by side. ? try me if you can because rant and talk is cheap.

Yes o ! Talk is cheap!
Please list Fashola's achievements and compare them side by side to the transformation miracle Godswill Akpabio has worked in Akwa Ibom. Akpabio's achievements will not only dwarf Fashola's, but will make Fashola look like a criminal.

Remember Obong Victor Attah did next to nothing to uplift Uyo from a roundly rural city. But Tinubu started the re-incarnation of Lagos,which Fashola merely continued until date. Needless to say lagos was a former federal capital with numerous federal roads still being maintained by federal funds and Federal Government. While Akwa Ibom has almost zero federal roads,not to mention fly-overs, yet Godswill managed to build fly-overs,ten lane highways and broad boulevards in his capital city! All within less than 6 years. Go to Uyo and see for yourself how a truly modern city rose out of the mud earth almost overnight!

Akpabio has built a functional international airport and currently building a NEW terminal building which shall be the biggest and most technologically current in Africa,while Fashola's Lekki airport is still a mirage. Akpabio has built 5 star hotels with world class golf courses and building more,International standard aircraft maintenance hangers, thousands of housing estates all over Akwa-Ibom, International standard stadium that can host a FIFA world cup(Advanced Replica of Durban SA 2010 Fifa Worldcup stadium), and a deep sea port etc! Tell me how Fashola can beat all that with merely a mono-train line which is still dysfunctional for 6 years?

H.E Gov. Uduaghan should open up more housing estates in the major cities. The housing crisis is more acute in Asaba and Warri than any other city in Nigeria.

No need for too much talk.Let the crazy northerner take over and instal a northern army officer.Then we shall see how the dance plays out.Stop wasting our time with useless threats.

Is that why you guys have been bombing buses filled with innocent women and children?