₦airaland Forum

1MCN: I think Jonathan is working. Maybe Nigerians should just stop all the hullabalou and tribalization and give him and his accolytes a chance and some good support.

I also want to point out that it appears that when the 2015 electioneering would be due in maybe late 2014 he'd have so much to show for his already spent time in office that most people calling for his head now will turn around and call for the heads of their deceivers now who are busy making noise while he's calmly plotting the developmental graphs for Nigeria.

God Bless Nigeria.

ABUJA — The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, the apex social-cultural cum political body of Igbo people world over, Chief Gary Enwo- Igariwe, has said that the position of the group on the proposed amnesty for Boko Haram Islamic sect by the Federal Government in Kano State last week was wrongly presented in the media, saying the option of amnesty was treated in isolation. Speaking with Vanguard Sunday, Chief Igariwe regretted the embarrassment the issue had caused him, pointing out that the group’s position was that Ohanaeze would support any option of the Federal Government to bring lasting peace in the country to guarantee a healthy atmosphere for economic activities. His words: “The statement on amnesty should not be taken in isolation. What was on ground was the issue of anything that can be done to bring peace because our people want to live in peace in their environment, everything, including every option of government. That was my statement. Igbo will support anything that will bring peace.”

aasog1: I ventured into farming 5 years ago because of the occasional hiatus and drought of customers in real estates. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made. I've applied for numerous loans, government grants, been to BOI, and nothing happened. Once, the late Umar Musa Yaradua ordered banks to disbursed 100Billion Naira agric loan to farmers, and on getting to my bank at UBA, Sango-Otta, Ogun State, my bank manager sincerely told me that the funds is meant for just 10 farms in Nigeria, as the federal government requires I have a collateral worth 300million naira before they can give me the loan. Isn't that madness of the highest order? Agriculture in Nigeria is totally discouraged. Even BRF through his Nafada implemented program got swindled by all these political farmers who keep embezzling funds meant for small time farmers like me. Right now, I've converted my 2 acres land to a plantain farm, shut down my poultry and catfish pond and snailery and I'm dying under the weight of debts I'm owing Grand Cereals the suppliers of the feeds I use, and also Lanre Hatchery. I'm a total mess right now, and often I have nightmares when I think of how often my chickens die, and everything cost like hell. Farming in Nigerian is just for politicians. If OBJ wasn't a crook, and stole enough, I'm sure his farm would be dead by now. For the youths, stay of farming. I'd rather sit in an office and keep selling properties.

redsun: I mean,it translate in the sense that if nigerian farmers,not just the imported zimbabwean oyinbos are really successful,they will fill that gap of billions of dollars of rice import.That is just rice,not spaghetti,semolina,potato or tomato paste.

There are industries too create,jobs to fill,resources to use and monies to be made.All the country needs are good policies and sacrifices.

The Galaxy Mega is only slightly smaller than Google's 7in Nexus tablet.
Samsung has unveiled the biggest smartphone to date - the Galaxy Mega, which features a 6.3in (16cm) screen. The firm suggested its size made it ideal for watching videos or running two apps alongside each other. Samsung helped popularise the so-called "phablet" category - in which phones approach tablet dimensions - with its original 5.3in Galaxy Note in 2011. That proved more popular than many expected, but one analyst suggested the latest device might be a step too far. Samsung is marketing the Android-powered handset as having a high-definition screen - however, a spokesman was unable to confirm whether it supported 720p or the "full HD" 1080p resolution. Another South Korean firm, Pantech, currently lays claim to offering the biggest "full HD" smartphone with its 5.9in Vega No 6 which was announced in January. China's Huawei had previously boasted having the biggest largest-screened 720p smartphone with its 6.1in Ascend Mate. Samsung also makes the Galaxy Note 8.0. Some versions of this 8in-screened device feature an HSPA+ radio allowing them to make calls, but the machine is being promoted as a tablet with phone functionality rather than the other way round. 'Too cumbersome' Samsung suggested that, despite its dimensions, the Galaxy Mega was still small and light enough - at 199g (0.44lb) - to fit into users' pockets and be used with one hand. However, the firm is hedging its bets by offering a smaller 5.8in-screened version as an alternative. Both will go on sale in May, with Europe and Russia the first regions to be offered the devices. Tech consultancy Davies Murphy Group said that within the Android market there had been a notable shift towards people wanting to buy a single device rather than both a smartphone and tablet. However, its principal technology analyst, Chris Green, suggested that at 6.3in it would be a "folly" for most users to swap their current handsets for the larger of the two Galaxy Megas. "There is genuine demand for larger smartphones - the problem is at what point does a smartphone turn into a tablet," he told the BBC. "When you've got this up against your head you'd have to argue you're using a tablet and not a smartphone - it's definitely going to compromise its functionality because it's simply too big and too cumbersome to use as a traditional telephone device. "But ignoring the phone functionality, as far as the rest of the smart device goes it looks quite phenomenal." Samsung was the most popular smartphone maker in 2012 accounting for 30.3% of all shipments, according to analysts at IDC . Its rival Apple - whose largest handset has a 4in screen - came in second with a 19.1% market share.

Larryfly: and u jus had to go thru all dis stress to expose ur stupidity....ah tink ur name shuld be fools ultimate

By Monsur Olowoopejo LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, flagged off the newly-constructed Ikeja Millemium Housing Estate, naming it after former Secretary- General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. He equally flagged off the Rauf Aregbesola Model Primary Health Centre, PHC, in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, LCDA, to aid healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The governor, who spoke at the premises of the 76-unit four-bedroom duplexes located on Muiz Banire Street, GRA Ikeja, said the completion of the project had taught the state government other methods of planning and managing project in the state. He said: “The lesson we learnt here has been transferred to all ongoing construction of Lagos HOMS scheme, with detailed soil testing, proper foundation design and engagement of qualified workers in the construction the projects.”
On why the government named it after Anyaoku, he said: “After we completed this project, a new challenge aroused. And it was who the estate should be named after. I think that events made that decision very easy. “We resolved that if we have to dedicate any public service and building after anyone, whether living or dead, it will be those who have contributed to the development of our nation, especially Lagos state.” In reaction, Anyaokwu said: “I am humbled by this kind gesture of the Lagos government led by a performing governor. It is a great honour to cut the ribbon of this new estate. “My connection with Lagos is deep and longstanding. Although I come from across the Niger, I started my career in Lagos and I have been married for over 50 years to a native of Lagos, from Egba precisely.”

Nigeria's dream of becoming a major player in the steel sector is finally coming to reality, as its first consignment of steel for export begins this month. African Foundries Limited, a foreign company operating in Nigeria, will begin export of steel to Ghana this April, to finally break the jinx and put the country on the global steel map.

African Foundries Limited, with production capacity of 500,000 tons of steel billets, has a state of the art continuous rolling facility, and is the only TMT producing mill in Nigeria, and its first export consignment is about five metric tons.

Sanjay Kumar,the company’s managing director, said exports would commence on April 27, 2013.

“Today is a proud and pleasant moment, and we are showcasing our feat to announce the breakthrough, because we have started to produce for export,” Kumar declared, adding that the firm started with one five ton capacity induction furnace in 2010.

Kumar added that the company now has multiple furnaces of bigger capacity, along with a re-bar mill and a structural rolling mill, with current capacity at 500,000 tons per year.

“With this plant and the two others in Ikorodu, Lagos and Suleja, in Niger state, we are targeting 1 million metric tons per year to be able to position ourselves for the 1.5 million metric tons Nigerians demand for steel.”

African Steel mill has 200,000 metric tons capacity while Abuja Steel mills in Suleja which will be commissioned soon have 150,000 metric tons per year capacity.

Kumar said the company's products are at par with what obtains in other parts of the world, adding that the main component is scraps sourced by about 5,000 otherwise unemployed youths.

African Foundries' clients are drawn from the construction industry, where lots of heavy construction projects are on-going across the country. This is complemented by the normal market consumption from the 36 states.

“Big construction firms depend on us and we produce to their specifications”, says Kumar who highlighted several challenges of which infrastructure and import duty regime are key.

“The steel industry will develop better, if the import regime is favourable. Nigeria is one of the richest ,especially in iron-ore, and the development of the industry will put the country at par with others in five years,” Sanjay said, adding that infrastructure such as good roads is hampering production.

The country’s feat is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s protracted failures to develop the steel sector due to mismanagement and abandonment of its several steel companies.

The Federal Government in 1971 established an extra-ministerial agency called “Nigerian Steel Development Authority” (NSDA) and backed up by Decree to focalise efforts required to focalise a steel plant.

The agency that was later dissolved, gave birth to Ajaokuta Steel Project, Ajaokuta, Delta Steel Company, Ovwian - Aladja , Jos Steel Rolling Company, Jos , and Katsina Steel Rolling Company, Katsina.

Others are Oshogbo Steel Rolling Company, Oshogbo, National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna, National Metallurgical Development Center, Jos and Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha.

Today however, despite the huge resources ploughed into Nigeria’s steel industry, the sector has been comatose and Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Kogi State; Delta Steel Complex, Aladja, Delta State; Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill and Katsina Steel Rolling Mill, are in pathetic situations.

But where the government has failed, African Foundries Ltd, a flagship of the African Steel Mill group, commissioned in 2011 and located in Ogijo, Ogun state has succeeded and will begin export of about 5,000 metric tons of TMT rebar to Ghana by the third week of April.

FreeGlobe: you people should stop this blackmail Jare. is it by force to congratulate .

wesley80: As simple as possible: The Excess Crude Account is a joint Federal and State account where amounts in excess of budgeted crude sales are kept to be shared off between the states and the FG. Lets say the budget for the year places a benchmar on crude oil sales at $80 per barrel, if we end up selling at say 90 - $100, the entire amounts in excess of the budgeted $80 goes into this account ( Pls do not mistake this with the Foreign Reserve) to be "squandered" by the respective levels of govt.
A SWF on the other hand is a legally backed National fund comprising broad based securities such as assets, precious metals, bonds and other financial assets, managed on behalf of a nation by a selected group of fund managers the purpose of which is to channel a nation’s budgetary surplus back into the country through investments and to invest excess oil revenues thus generating revenue for future generation as well as act as a buffer for the economy against oil-price fluctuations risk.
Primarily, one is an illegal account subjected to shocking levels of shameful horsetrading by the political class to determine when and how it's shared for mostly unclear purposes while the other is a legally backed well managed fund or saving for our future. It is worthy to note that Nigeria was the last major Oil producing nation to establish a SWF!

aguiyi: whats the difference between the ECA and SWF. please explain in simple and correct english,tnx

Delafruita: do you have to condemn,castigate and malign everyony that isnt on team fresh air?