₦airaland Forum

The route was earlier announced, but unfortunately it did not include Edo State. Today, the difference in length from 700km to 750km is because a miracle happened here. The President directed that the highway must run from Lagos to Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and end in Cross River,” Umahi said.

Na trial and error project? No design, budget and contract terms?

budaatum:
I don't have any evidence to prove "that an international cabal exists whose focus is stacking up odds against a functioning dangote", but ignoring the possibility would be naive. One just need look at our government owned moribund steel mill and refineries, and the fact that when we found oil and made lots of money we were wrongly advised not to invest in our own industry and just buy foreign because it benefits them. Thankfully, Dangote overcame, and his refinery now functions.

I do have lots of evidence that proves Nigeria itself is stacking odds up against Dangote however, and thankfully, he is not giving up as you say, and that delights me.

Nigeria needs more fighters like him.

I have always supported Dangote against sabotage by the government, NNPC, pengassan, etc., but I don't support his high handedness in sacking his workers for joining a union. He should have called them and solicit their support against the saboteurs.

SarkinYarki:
I also don't have any evidence but from the letter you can see unit sabotage was specifically mentioned

Sabotage by who? Were the workers sacked implicated and found guilty of any sabotage. The workers need to band together, get a lawyer and file a class action suit against Dangote for wrongful termination. Even almighty Federal Government were ordered to re-emply unilorin wrongfully terminated for union activities, much less Dangote.

Zionmdde:
They don't need to mandate or force anyone
The UN ILO conventions are law in over 150 countries. So it becomes illegal to deal with dangote who is known for violating human rights

You think dangote doesn't know all these, why didn't he explicitly state he sacked them because of unionism

You think every country is like Nigeria that doesn't care about human rights violations, go and read the ESG policies of foreign companies and come back

So what reasons did Dangote give for sacking all his workers at the same time a day after joining a union?

Image123:
We both know that there are more people willing to sign this than there are not. It happens.

Even if they sign it, it's would not hold in a court of law. You cannot sign an illegal agreement and expect the court to honour it. You cannot sign away your fundamental human rights of freedom of movement, thought or association.

Image123:
Companies cannot be forced to join a union or have their employees join one; this decision rests with the employers and workers themselves. Dangote will simply recruit people who agree/sign not to join unions. Companies do this all around the world. You cannot hold the country to ransom because of unionism and selling imported goods.
BTW, Dangote has lost billions before, it didn't show. How many Nigerians can afford to lose 10,000 naira without pain? How many can afford a hike in fuel price and the scarcities that will likely follow in a faceoff? ILO or UN cannot force people to join union, please be enlightened.

That would be an unconstitutional agreement. You cannot sign away your rights of freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution.

FOLYKAZE:
This is becoming messy.

Dangote should tread carefully. These guys are ready to fight dirty than stay out of business.

We just need to grow out of this Aluta, scatter everywhere mentally, if things doesn't work out way. Government should please disband NUPENG and their sister union PENGASSAN. You cannot just force private business hands to do what and whatever in their business. If you want to dictate, start up your own refinery, then you can control your staff remotely how you want. This madness has to just stop

I disagree. Even though I am a fan of Dangote for risking huge capital in an unstable economy like Nigeria, I do not support his sacking the entire staff of his refinery as a punishment for joining trade union. The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of association, and working for Dangote cannot impinge on that right. Trade unionism is practiced in all democracies in the world. Only dictatorships like North Korea, China and Russia forbids trade unionism. Workers must be given the rights to negotiate salaries and conditions of service.

God pass them. Upon the handball goal, Crystal Palace still won.

ZombieDredd:
how come salah handball allowed to stand?

this is ridiculous

Pure ojoro. It was a clear handball.

NigerianAngelo:
Eve looked like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Close enough.

How was she a virgin? Abi Virgin dey born children? Besides, all women are born Virginia.

sonofsteven:
I thought they said that human evolved from monkey or ape

No we did not evolve from ape. First human are Ape. There are four surviving Apes - Humans, Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Bonobos. We are said to have evolved from a common ancestor.

APOPTOSIS:
Every human came from Black.
That has been proven countless times.
You can have white from black but not black from white.

Exactly. Recent research has discovered that white skin is a recent human adaptation. The original humans (homo sapiens) were black until about 10,000 years ago. When man (homo sapiens) got to Europe, they were still dark skinned, they then displaced the original inhabitants (Homo Neanderthalensis) to take over the whole of Europe.
The first Eve - biblically or evolutionarily, could never have been white skinned.

DeepSight:
Further taxes, increments coupled with another massively rigged election may just ignite something, you never can tell.
Even if sponsored by local or foreign elements.

Lai lai. That will never happen. Yorubas will will come together and defend one of their own with their lives. That has always been the issue with Nigeria, each tribe or clan protect their own. The Fulanis (and the North as a whole) defended Buhari, the Yorubas are currently defending the corruption and visionless Tinubu administration.

Samogloby:
Seriously, i support your opinion. They can not continue killing us with taxes and someone will spending the money on their children. I foreseen protest n the coming days. You can not lose what you don't have, you can only lose what you have.

Protest ke? Not in a million years. Nigerians are too traumatised by poverty, insecurity and fear to carry out any protest. Nigerians would rather beg, collect crumbs from the floor of politicians to defend them, or at worst commit suicide by jumping into the Lagoon, than facing army or police bullets.
Nigerians have been completely conquered or rather colonised. The are not even allowed to complain or criticise against government or government officials much less protest.

olaric:
It is beyond me how some Nigerians still support and defend our politicians with the kind of terrible reputation they have.

I am sure some persons online will come to the defence of Wike after seeing all these.

It's because we have lost all sense of decency and shame in our quest for materialism. Every aspect of our lives have been reduced to primitive quest for material gains - from our religion, to our education to our sociology. No quest for higher ideals like love, happiness, or even development. Most Nigerians would sell their souls to the devil in order to get a glimpse of material gains.

LordBiden:
Sowore must be high on cheap crack.

Are you saying a two terms governor of an oil rich state like rivers cannot afford a mansion in USA without stealing state funds.

I still like wike,at least he is a performer and not like other politicians who steals and still don't perform in office.

The wife also earns huge income as a judge.

Where will a two terms governor of an oil rich state like Rivers get the money to afford mansions in Florida? What is the total salary and emoluments of a governor in Nigeria - oil rich state or not? Can a two term governor of Texas (a rich oil state in the US) afford million dollar mansions in the US solely bases on his emoluments as a governor?
We seem to have normalised and even encourage stealing of our commonwealth by those trusted with managing ot on our behalf. No wonder poverty is growing at geometric proportions in Nigeria.

Pootle:
school unionism is not same as managing a country someone should tell mr sowore to calm down

Is this how to manage a country? The way APC is managing the country is worse than a country at war. For over two weeks now most parts of the country is without power, bandits, insurgents and kidnappers have taken over many parts of the country, and corruption is rampant in every facet of governance, and the government is more worried about Sowore's utterances. Even Ukraine in the middle of a full scale war is being governed better.

benardtotti:
You guys still don't get it , it's a political game towards 2027 ,the outcome will be hard evidence for tinubu to use in 2027 when politicians like atiku want to use "tinubu is a criminal and drug dealer " as campaign point .

I honestly don't understand how clamping down on social media insults is a political strategy. Donald Trump was a convicted criminal, but still won the US elections overwhelmingly.

Jakumo:
Nigeria's comparatively young democratic institutions stand on the undulating rubble of past military dictatorships, meaning that while freedom of speech is assured in Nigeria, freedom after speech does not enjoy the same protections, and may even trigger invocation of the Golden Rule whereby he who has the gold, makes the rules.

While Nigeria's online pundits' freedom to offer constructive criticism to the current Nigerian federal or state government has been diligently preserved, that right to free speech has been repeatedly abused by perennial gadfly Mr. Sowore, who comes across as a particularly arrogant and belligerent character in several YouTube videos filmed and posted online by Sowore himself.

If Sowore's most recent publicity stunt eventually earns him some months of quality time in a cozy jail cell, perhaps the peace and quiet of that new accommodation will enable Town Crier Sowore to reflect on the utter futility of showing up for a gunfight wielding a rolled-up newspaper, which is what he is doing when he makes a career of concocting unfounded allegations against powerful individuals connected to successive governments in the same country.

I am genuinely saddened that someone of your exposure and intellect would hold such views. Nigeria and Nigerians have, throughout history, been known for their courage in confronting and standing up to power—no matter how oppressive or brutal.

During the colonial era, we had fearless nationalists who resisted and challenged the exploitative policies of the British colonial government. In the post-colonial period, many patriotic Nigerians also stood up against the excesses of the Tafawa Balewa administration.

Even at the height of military dictatorship, Nigerians refused to be silenced. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, for instance, openly called Obasanjo and Yar’Adua thieves—while they were in power. Despite the boldness of his accusations, Fela was never dragged to court, let alone jailed for expressing his views.

Under the maradonic and brutal regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), courageous voices like Gani Fawehinmi, Adams Oshiomhole, Wole Soyinka, Tai Solarin, and many others relentlessly held the regime accountable. They did not allow IBB to govern in peace or without insults

Then came what is widely regarded as the most repressive dictatorship in Nigeria’s history—that of General Sani Abacha. Yet, even he could not silence the Nigerian spirit. Brave individuals such as Frank Kokori, Wole Soyinka, and even the current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stood their ground and resisted. Abacha, in his paranoia, resorted to setting up death squads to eliminate critics, but Nigerians still refused to be cowed.

Since 1979, no Nigerian president or head of state has escaped public insults. None has been spared from being labeled corrupt or thieves. The most vilified, arguably, was President Goodluck Jonathan. He and his wife were subjected to daily insults and public ridicule, including outright curses. Yet, not a single person was jailed or prosecuted for such expressions.

It is for this reason that I find your justification of the current administration’s actions—on the grounds that we are a "young democracy"—both weak and deeply disappointing. Nigerian democracy, though imperfect, has a long and rich history of robust civic engagement and fearless dissent.

The Tinubu administration appears overly insecure. Rather than focusing on tackling the rampant insecurity that threatens the very existence of the country, it seems more preoccupied with silencing dissent and controlling narratives on social and traditional media. It is a tragic misplacement of priorities, and a betrayal of the democratic ideals many Nigerians have fought—and in some cases, died—for.

Jakumo:
Anyone who makes a career out of insulting politicians will sooner or later wind up in jail

Are we living in a dictatorship? Politicians are insulted all over the world, except in dictatorships like Russia, China, Afghanistan and North Korea. In some some European countries, the pelt the president or prime minister with rotten eggs or tomatoes.
Trump receives hundreds of insults on a daily basis, and no one has landed in jail.

Brilliancepower:
HMmmm.. The Bible say guard your speech. And this simply because the tongue as small as it is, it can put you in trouble.

But the Nigerian constitution grants all citizens freedom of speech, are you saying the Nigerian constitution is against the bible?

seunmsg:
Now that the matter has been charged to court, I hope the case is quickly decided and justice is served.

Hopefully, Peter Obi will also grow some balls and sue Deji Adeyanju who has also severally called him a bigot and fraudster.

First of all, it was not Tinubu, his personal lawyer or even his justice ministry that sued Sowore, it was the DSS. DSS stands for Directorate of State Security. I never knew the organisation act act as Tinubus lawyers. DSS should also tale up Peter Obi's case and sue Deji Adeyanju on his behalf, abi na only Tinubu dem dey serve?

Even under military regime, DSS did not involve itself in civil matters.

KOE1:
Corruption is everywhere in the world! People benefiting from corruption will see things differently and would not want the country to take decision that will afect them...

Yes, the President need not wait until 3 years before removing subsidy. Yes, bold step is a part of strategic planning and can be planned even before getting a position.

Let every Nigerian be true and support what is true and give suggestion for the way forward.

If you have l, vision...what have you done in your community?

So what was the strategic planing for subsidy removal? What was the vision and how Haa the vision played out?

nairalanda1:
Allow me to interrupt, but the problem with your supplentary budget idea is quite simply there was no money for it

Debt service was eating 95 % of our income by august 2022. We were financing subsidy then by debts. Which was causing inflation. We were all borrowed up

I am not lying or defending any politicans


See the article ' reflections on the fuel subsidy in Nigeria' which explains better . Guardian, august 14 2022

What of all the billions of dollars President Tinubu has borrowed from world Bank and China, since assuming office? Will the debts not be serviced?

Eriokanmi:
Through I had taken a break from NL, till November,your post got me. It really aroused my interest.

See, this country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder,waiting to explode. The FG had exhausted all their ever-known strategies yet, nothing is working. The fact is, their followers aren't enlightened enough to counter them, each time they come out to reel out their usual lies. How gbajabiamila, the former speaker of the house of reps had suddenly forgotten that it was buhari who actually removed the subsidy from the 2023 budget remains appalling. All the APC members, including reps and senators knew this fact, including tinubu himself.

However, the duty of a president is to stabilise the economy and alleviate the sufferings of his people. Since he had known the fact that subsidy provision wasnt part of the 2023 budget, he ought to have known that it's truly gone and made a provision for a supplementary budget which would have taken care of the palliatives to cushion the inevitable effect. Again, just like Angola had done in their subsidy removal in phases, he ought to have done the same in order to protect the economy and the people from collapse. Afterall, democracy is about the people and not individuals. You can't say subsidy is gone without any palliatives already in place. He ought to have consulted Jonathan abd asked how he did his own,which he sponsored protests to stop. Tinubu's action on the removed subsidy without palliatives already in place was as good as sending your child to school on an empty stomach and say, son/daughter,enjoy your day and be merry! When you return in the evening, I'll give you food. That child won't assimilate anything. He'd come back looking miserable.

On the aspect of reverting to taxing Nigerians as you posited, it was part of their ever-known fake policies. At an FIRS office recently, all of them that used to be busy were found sleeping on their desk while some were gossiping. The place that used to bubble with taxpayers at the 21st of every month when filing returns. In a month, before Tinubu came, a staff told me they used to generate 60m naira in that office but now, to see 5m naira dey hard them. That's just a branch oo. If you now sum up monthly remittances from all the FIRS offices in Lagos alone, na billions of naira losses.

I learnt from them that, from the nationwide data of active SMEs available to them, as at 2022, over 50,000 SMEs monthly remittance had stopped (btw 2023 and now). Its either they've closed shop or they're bankrupt. They said they've written to some SMEs under their MSTO coverage but they said they weren't able to cope with the situation. Some said they're no more in Nigeria. Let's assume out of the entire companies in Nigeria only that 50,000 SMEs were remitting 1m naira monthly, that's 600bn naira yearly. This isn't part of the blue chip companies and large corporations that can remit up to 5m monthly and above. Remember some of them have also left the country. I was at Ikeja shop rite yesterday and saw a wide empty space. A doubting thomas should go there and confirm.

So, tinubu started off on a wrong foot. Millions of artisans are out of jobs now, playing ludo, snooker and draught from morning till evening on every street here in lagos. Is that what tinubu has come to power to cause Nigerians? Even if he doesn't come back in 2027, which is every sane Nigeria's prayer right now, he'd be leaving a lot of wounds behind, which will give his successor a tough time to heal. They're already blaming buhari, a much better leader for their woes and that will be their sing their closomg remark when leaving the office, as the reason behind their poor performance.

Thank you my brother. They are just behaving like the 3 wise monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, against anything Tinubu. Even at the height of covid 19, my wives snack shop was booming. She was making over 30,000 - 40,000 turnover everyday. Today, she hardly see 3,000 per day. Some days zero. Most snack shops in my areas have closed shop. And Tinubu's people are obsessed with taxes, and not bothered on how to generate business.

Lithiumite:
I equally expected you to counter m with facts as you are inferring..... electricity subsidy details is all over google from different sources but not one against the fact......I have only pointed out your fallacies that there are no welfarist policies for the people by this govt......the only thing those opposed to this govt are good at is spreading lies and propaganda,that I won't accept.

Just like there was petrol subsidy at N1000/litre until Dangote started operating his refinery. Mind you Dangote still buys crude in dollars from abroad.

Still not one link or source.

Remember NNPC was importing petrol at an official exchange rate of about N450,and petrol was selling for N195/litre. Now dollars is about N1550, Dangote is retailing at N820. Meanwhile governments was claiming to pay N3 trillion a year on subsidies.

hoseao:
I have realised removing the fuel subsidy the way he did was a master stroke. With what we are seeing now! The fuel and oil cabal are way too connected and powerful! Baba calculated this move very well, it was not a careless decision it was well calculated and thought through, there was no other way, the cabal will crumble any process or any plan both in phases and outright after that inaguration.

The fuel and oil cabal is more powerful than the Nigerian government? You think removing the fuel subsidy will destroy the fuel and oil cabal? They will simply move to other sectors, like the energy sector, or the financial sector. You cannot destroy a cabal by running from it, one day you will have to face then head long. Sacrificing the people to try to avoid a powerful cabal is cowardice.

Riskymarvelous:
the same subsidy GEJ were trying to remove back in 2012 is the same tinubu that started the protest so that it won't happen you can only deceive your people not me

Me I never supported removal of petroleum subsidy, either by Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu or Peter Obi, unless of course government provides cheaper form of energy for the masses and/or cheaper means of transportation for people and goods.
With expensive energy and transportation, poverty will exasperate, and our industries will never be able to compete with imports from China.

Lithiumite:
No authority has come out to disprove that claim......I know and many who are informed is aware there is subsidy in that sector,if not many people won't be able to afford the cost reflective tarrifs the discos would have charged.....nerc is there,u can go confirm,stop making assertions you aren't informed on.

You are just talking without passing any information, what exactly is a cost effective tariff? How much is it to generate 1kwh of electricity, how much to distribute, and how much is government charging to transmit? We need figures. You can't tell people to go to NERC when you are the one making the assertions. It behoves on you to provide the figures or at least the links.
It's simple mathematics, I know how much it cost for my petrol generator to produce 1kwh of electricity, same for my Solar set up. It should not be a secret.
Then what of the hydro power plants like kainji dam. What has the government done about the Mambila dam, that was supposed to add over 3,500Mw to the national grid?
A sane government is run on transparency.

Lithiumite:
There is no point arguing with you,the facts are there,you can easily check......
https://punchng.com/shocking-surge-electricity-subsidy-jumps-220-to-nearly-n2tn/

Scam. Just like the petrol subsidy scam. Who are they paying the subsidy? With the frequent and periodic grid collapse, how many Kwh are the Gencos, Discos and Transmission Company supplying Nigerians, that they are claiming they are paying over N2 trillion? Mind you the FG still controls transmission.

Now if Tinubu claims his government is paying N2 trillion (that $1.333 billion) on electricity subsidy alone, how much is the total cost of the electricity Nigerians are consuming? How much percentage of that is the government paying?

Heavensake1:
That was the best time to remove it. There is nothing to study about Nigeria economy. It has been messed up already. Not removing it will only make it messier. Do not let bitterness and emotion collect brain from you.
As it is,over 70% of Nigerians have overcome the effect of subsidy removal. It is a matter of time we will forget about fuel subsidy,we will forgot it ever existed when we start experiencing development.
You guys should stop nagging about subsidy. It is gone for good. All we need to demand for are policies for economic growth. Cry for that not for fuel subsidy.

Imagine the audacity of Tinubu’s propagandists -over 70% of Nigerians have overcome the effect of subsidy removal. You mean 70% Nigerians have the same quality of life the had in May 2023? You mean Nigerian businesses are on the same level they were in May 2023? Most Nigerians have not had electricity for the past 2 weeks. I spend N10k daily on petrol to run my business (mind you I have solar, but the rains has conspired with Tunubu to deny me electricity for over one week now). Most shops in my area are barely operating, and someone have the audacity to come online and say 70% of Nigerians have overcome the effect of subsidy removal. Most people can't even charge their phones.

phemray:
Am not sure you are so good in economics arithmetics. Fuel was 197 and Dollar was 470 u Said but u don't care about it's economic effects of 22 states owing salaries, contractors and heavy foreign debts.

So u mean it healthy for dollar to be cheap but u can't avoid it. Fuel cheeper you can even see it buy because no money in your hand.

It's not about tribal, it about a man with capacity to envisioned and deliver on good policies.

Past presidents are ceremonial presidents, Tinubu is the first democracy president that love to do what is good for the people no matter how painful.

You that's good in economics, explain in ECN101 how Fuel (only petrol) being 197 and Dollar 470 was the sole the reason 22 states were owing salaries, contractors and and incuring heavy foreign debts.
What about the billions of dollars in subsidy scam the FG is involved in? What about NNPC that refused to audit their accounts for the past 20 year? What of governors that only exist to share and steal allocations from Abuja.

Have you seen any developed country without subsidy in one form or the other, particularly in energy and agriculture? Have you seen an industrialised country without cheap energy. Can Nigeria industrialised on petrol and diesel at over 800 per litre and electricity at 220/kWH?
Since to you (obviously a tribesman) Tinubu is the Nigerian messiah, what are his economic plan, I mean his industrialisation plans? How does he plan make Nigeria self sufficient and even become a net exporter of finished goods?