₦airaland Forum

presidency:
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO’S THERE?

By FEMI ADESINA

It’s obviously not the easiest of times in our country currently, what with severe fuel scarcity exacerbating the other existential challenges we have been coping with. In some areas, there’s no fuel, no electricity, thus translating to severe energy crisis.

Yet some other people have children, wards, dependents, relations in Ukraine, currently being bombarded by Russia. I have one, daughter of a family friend. When I spoke with her last week, she was hiding in a bunker, talking in whispers. But amidst it all, no fuel, no electricity, anxiety about Ukraine, general insecurity, Government continues to work. The Heavens won’t fall, and sanity would be restored. The current situation is called SNAFU: Situation Normal All Fouled Up. Normalcy will definitely return. “Be patient, my soul. Thou hath suffered worse than this.” (Thomas Holcroft).

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.” Psalm 42:5.

President Muhammadu has promptly approved the sum of $8.5 for the evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine. Good. That’s what a responsible father does to family members in distress. He’s also working night and day, ensuring the country has fuel, power, infrastructure, and all the good things of life. Be patient my soul...

Knock, Knock, Who’s there? Yes, do you remember the title of that book by James Hadley Chase that we read in the 70s and 80s? Were you old enough then?

Do you also remember the song we used to listen and dance to then? Written by Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wayne, released in 1959 by Isley Brothers, and it became a global hit. Were you old enough then?

“I’m gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell
Tap on your window too,
If you don’t come out tonight when the moon is bright
I’m gonna knock and ring and tap until you do.”

Are you like King Lear at his gloomy worst? I’ve come to knock on your door. Are you saturnine and lugubrious ‘cos there’s no fuel, no light, no power? “Dem go reach bed power no dey, shuffering and shmiling ,” Fela Anikulapo-Kuti had sang long ago. “Be patient my soul, thou hath suffered worse than this.” There were cases of bad fuel before in this country. We slept for days, weeks on end at petrol stations, queuing for fuel. We survived. We will survive again. Las las.

I’ve come to knock and ring and tap on your door today, to remind you that it is not all doom and gloom in our country. However overcast the sky is, there’s always a shimmer of light. And that was what we were shown a couple of weeks back, when the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, accompanied by Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, and their other counterparts addressed a town hall meeting on infrastructure financing and human capital development. It was like streaks of light in an overcast sky.

What did the Ministers tell us, which should kindle the joy kiln in our hearts, despite the seemingly encircling gloom?

Nigeria, under President Muhammadu Buhari, has prioritized spending on infrastructure and human capital development to catalyze rapid economic development. In year 2022 alone, the sum of N1.42 trillion will be spent on infrastructure, while N2.11 trillion will be expended on human capital development.

Between 2019 and 2021, the Finance Minister said, about N78 billion worth of tax credits were issued to investors under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS). President Buhari approved the building of 19 roads covering 769.16 kilometers, located in 11 States across the six geo-political zones in 2019, under the scheme.

In 2021, the President approved 14 additional roads, bringing the total to 33, covering 1,564.95 kilometers in 19 states across the country. Work is going on at steady pace. Will any other government come, and start rebuilding those roads again? No, they would have become legacy projects, for the good of Nigerians.

In housing, said Minister Ahmed, mortgage-based affordable housing scheme has recorded over 13,542 houses. The perpetual cynic would say; what is 13,542 in a sea of millions of Nigerians without affordable houses. That is just a beginning, and because government is a continuum, others will come and build on the success. Incrementally, we will eventually get to where we are going. No single government will solve the problems of a country within its time in office. It will do its level best, and others will continue.

There is the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), under the National Investment Sovereign Authority (NSIA), with a stock of $300 million for key infrastructure projects. They include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, and the Abuja-Kano Expressway. All projects are in different stages of completion, and are due for commissioning within the lifespan of the Administration. Don’t forget that in the past, the funds would just have been pocketed by government officials, and contractors who would be mobilized, and refuse to deliver, yet life would go merrily on.

To also lift your gloom are infrastructural works in the health sector. Three projects worth $22.5 million easily come to mind. The NSIA-LUTH Oncology Centre, which has provided service to over 4,000 cancer patients since it was commissioned by President Buhari. The NSIA-FMCU diagnostic centre in Umuahia, and NSIA-AKTH, Kano, which have provided services to over 47,000 patients. Who feels it knows it. Those patients and their relations will probably never join anyone to say the Buhari government is not doing anything, as some wailers do.

The Sukuk was introduced as a financing window for infrastructure in 2017. Under it, the Ministry of Finance has given the Federal Ministry of Works N362.56 billion to fund key road projects.

The first Sukuk of N100 billion was deployed to 25 roads, delivering total of 482 kilometers, the second Sukuk in 2018 was deployed to 28 roads, and delivered 643 kilometers, while the third in 2020, the sum of N162 billion, was deployed to 44 roads and delivered 757 kilometers. Will another government come to do same roads all over again? Not with the quality work done.

Shake off your gloom, again I say. Between November 25 and December 13, last year, this Administration handed over 941 kilometers of roads connecting 10 States in five geopolitical zones of the country. We are making progress despite all odds, I tell you.

All these projects mean jobs for different kinds of professionals and artisans. It means good business for those who deal in construction materials. It affects the economies of the local communities, and reduces commuting times by several hours. Somebody said recently that the Loko-Oweto bridge, which connects Benue and Nasarawa to the eastern part of the country has reduced travel time from six hours to about two hours. Why then won’t we be happy, despite all?

Fuel crisis will come and go. Energy crisis will be resolved. Nigerians who appreciate good things will be made happy progressively. That is is why I’m knocking on your door. Ringing on your bell. Tapping on your window too. And if you don’t come out to enjoy the bright moonlight, “I’m gonna knock and ring and tap until you do.”

*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

THE GREAT LAMENTATION, CONTINUE BECAUSE YOU ARE PAID TO DO SO.

IgweOfNnewi:
Who knows IPOB miscreants, mkpurumiri addicts and IPOB cannibals have shift their base to Ogun state, that was how family of 7 okparas were busy kidnapping and robbing people in Ogun state and environs, the inflows of those akpu munching gorillas should be checked, they are becoming nuisances around everywhere, that was how they brought their baby factory also to Ogun state

Whenever I see this kind of distractive write up from the main, I do sense a huge GUILTY CONSCIENCE ON THE WRITER.
It is only the guilty that is Afraid so stop shifting the post and face the music. It is not really well about a lot of atrocities coming from Ogun.

Thinktwicemybro:
Which of this best describe Yoruba land

A. RITUAL
B. SKULL MINING
C. ORGAN HARVESTING
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE

None

sammyscholar:
I sense lies!

Be careful how you sense it. There is a lot that we mortals do not know. You could be the driver or the victim. For now, just cross your hands and watch the scenario unfold. Do not give a quick judgement. Is very unfortunate for what happened to this young lady. May the good Lord console her family.

Johnrake69:
Zelensky should wake up and smell the coffee. The game is up. Go back and resolve your issue with your Soviet Union Brother and stop sacrificing your populace.

Someone should get him sober for atleast 24 Hours. Make him eye clear.

There's nothing heroic about this madness.

CARWORD!, Life is not created just to give up at any instant such as this, without such resistance there wouldn't have been independence of nations. It would only be survival of the fittest. I know your mindset would give up fighting for your wifey if you have one or your kids just on a little threat by neighbor

Ikegift4real:
I bless the lord for giving me a second chance to life.
I'm really grateful.
Fellow nairalanders join me and thank God for his goodness.
I just have minor bruises on my face and a heavy head ache because of the impact with the steering wheel.
My organ check came out fine and the MRI scan came out fine too.

Ekene dili Olisah. Please to play with your God, you are still young, serve him because you have found favour in His sight.

chatinent:
Abi na born these people come this life come born?

Arm chair critics, you can never satisfied this world. If they didn't born now, they would have said she has destroyed her womb or why is it taking too long or barren womb. Now God blessed them just with two kids and a bitter soul is there lamenting who doesn't even know whether he will have such and have and still not retain them. Just be careful of careless write up, there is always nemesis or BOMARANG in future.

Senomi:
Hmm
Davido wicked sha, just scatter this girl puna, dump the leftover for the dogs

she's fortunate enough to have given him the first and now only son Ifeanyi whom he dearly loved so much. Forever, that ties remains because of ifeanyi.ifeanyi is Yoruba born with Igbo thick blood. The chances of the boy becoming greater than his papa is doubled due to his Igbo heritage. I don't fancy that baby mama syndrome because it's fornication and adultery induced. I blame the duo who couldn't conclude their marriage rites but behold, Ifeanyi out of wedlock is such an innocent adorable creature. I pray he will end of in the hand of the Lord.

Northernblood5:
You guys still don't get it...

Russia and China doesn't care about human rights, freedom, checkmating extremists, and the rest.

Russia is after selling weapons to any party available. If you like, use it and destroy your country, they won't care so far as you don't bring that insecurity close to their Country. For example, Buhari may decide to remain in power forever, no one will question him. Rather, Weapons will be sold to Buhari to pin Nigerians down and also in the other hand, Weapons will also be sold to nigerians to revolt against Buhari. That is Russia for you.

China is after maintaining it's booming Economy and that involves being in friendship every country, Race, Continent and so on. Whatever a president wants to do with it's citizen does not concern them because, it actually doesn't concern them.

lalasticlala ask yourself, Why do most terrorists carry Russian made AK-47?

I pity my brothers supporting this Maniac called Putin. Remove USA from the way, and see Nuclear weapons in the hands of Boko Haram and Isis so far as they can pay. Soon, una eye go clear.

You are a smart guy, many do not understand this simple open Truth

arthurwillia:
Lol mtchew
iPods on this app ehn
Always wilding
The stuff simply means joining together
Simple
Omo ignorance is nonsense abeg

This is pure illiteracy, it doesn't mean joining together. Your layman description is very rediculous. This is called the star of David. Originated from the ancient Jews during the time of King David. This is not the issue of ipobs but you got to be very apt and smart.

SlyDev:
Biafra is a word your colonial master named you as a mark of beast from Marfa in Southern Portugal.

It was a favourite place of Portuguese slave merchant because the slaves from this part of Nigeria were strong with little civilisations and resistance, a perfect combo for slavery business

just a big fat lies about the name Biafra, research hard. That said, Nigeria is actually the name the Colonia Masters from Britain named you, and Lagos is the word the Portuguese first settlers named but finally, Zoo is the word some people called Biafrians name you. This is probably their last name.

Hashabiah:
Can Ukraine compete ? Let them send weapons , the Russians will crush the capitalist pigs

Son of Hisbah, it is not like that. Russia is now the most isolated country after North Korea. Poverty go kii them tire

RoyalBoutique:
True.

Ngige was the best.

Obi was better.

Obiano was worse.

Hopefully, Soludo will be better than the best.

Judges don land. Such people that compares and put others down are actually never do well. Jisieike

MangekyoAlt:
Stupid USA They are now begging Iran to halt their plans of building Nuclear weapons. If this was 10 years ago, they would've been threatening Iran with sanctions, and not trying to reason or dialogue with them.
But since Trump had meted all the sanctions he and all foolish Americans could think of on iran, including cutting them from SWIFT, they no longer have any leverage over Iran. The only thing they can actually do to stop Iran from building Nukes is to invade them or dialogue with them. NOTE: Iran before being slapped with sanctions by the west NEVER contemplated anything about building Nukes. After the sanctions, their economy survived, they now started their nuke program, angering the west. But the west can't really do much anymore since they've unleashed all the sanctions in their arsenal on them.

Imagine you're in your father's house. You're a party lover. But each time you want to go to a party, maybe at a club, your father Threatens you that if you do, he will take the phone he bought for you, all the clothes, kick you away from his house (disowning you).

One day, you go to a party, hoping he wouldn't find out. You happened to be wrong. He got to know, somehow, and carried out all the threats he's been making. He took away all the things he bought for you and kicked you away.
You sufferred but somehow survived with the help of a friend. You now own your own house.

If let's say one day, a friend of yours invites you to a party, would you say..... "I will not go because my dad threatened me before that he'll kick me out of his house the moment he sees you in any party?" The answer is no. Your dad carried out all his threats on you already. He no longer has any leverage over you anymore. If someday he even sees you coming out of a night club, I doubt if he'll be able to do anything since there's nothing he can do to you again. We'll why I'm I saying this?

Boris Johnson while speaking for the west, immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine, bragged openly that they will cripple the economy of the Russian federation. They are trying their best now to make it happen. But the thing is, If Russia actually manages to survive this colossal sanctions that the west AKA the U.S. and lapdog have meted on her which I know they will with the help of china, THEN IT IS FINISHED!
The west will no longer have any leverage on Russia. They will have nothing that they will be able to use to threaten russia again if russia decides to do anything that is severely against their interest.
The west seem to be enjoying sanctioning russia now, I hope they don't end up regretting it in the future when the bear comes for their coconut heads. Bunch of murthafuckers

You're really CONFUSED HERE. Russia will remain poor but a nuclear power nation, Iran will always be afraid of US than Russia because they know that the former is beneficial to them. Lastly, the only country in the world that had maintained strongest economy and most advanced democracy in the in more than two centuries is still kicking stronger than ever without noise making. Long live United States of America

Almaigaa:
40 miters bridge is what this people are referring to as "long bridge," what will they say if they see bridges in Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Lagos, Ogun, PH.

The last time I read, this is called the longest flyover and never longest bridge as in Lagos mainland bridge. They are two different things. Bridges are majorly across the water bodies but flyovers are not necessarily be across water bodies and it can be up to 3 or four above another as you have in places like Singapore, Israel, Dubai to mention but a few. Be the learner you are made to be and do not switch into teaching without knowledge.

Though this is not bad but I expected Umahi to toe the paths of development process especially of Anambra state that tends majorly in human index development, sound education etc. Ebonyi state is probably the least developed eastern states and the most illiterate. They should overhaul the primary and secondary education system by making sure that children in rural villages have access to good education. I am really excited about his infrastructures but that is like taking the pattern of Northern states like Kano who ate bend to impress the society by building longest flyover, longest that but having the most illiterate society in Nigeria. Invest heavily in education, Agriculture and small research and not on these for now. In I actually applauded him for King David medical university but unfortunately, the cost of medicine there is as that of private university which defeats the aim of accessibility of the average Eboyians.
For example, the international cargo airport is actually not needed in Ebonyi state for now, I bet you it will be poorly utilized compared to Anambra airport. Fortunately, the few people that will even make use of it are most likely be Anambrarians.
Summary of what I am driving at is that he should HEAVILY LOOK INTO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNDING AND MASSIVE LITERACY PROG before the pattern of development of a SE is state be liken to a heavily illiterate NW like Kano.

naija4life247:
Your consistent stupidity is legendary.

Go to Ukraine and volunteer to fight. Put your money and life where your mouth is. Let Putin sacrifice you to the Russian gods.

The most senseless write up I ever read in recent times. Mind you, even Nigerians are already putting their $1000k for that. In life there is always a time to sacrifice. I just wondering you and him that you quoted who is more stupid as you took him to be stupid. You don't need to abuse to make a comment. Grow up KID.

DEROX:
Abi na but the question is did they marry igbos? There are a lot of yoruba successful men who didnt marry igbos, so whats the chestbeating all for?

Your pipu too dey marry these Igbo women. That's too much.

francisbiz:
But Igbo kings are also marrying Yoruba women.

is abomination to that part of the world. They can never do such. You cant even find ordinary elder doing that talkless of a Chief. The igbos and yorubas do inter marry but 8 in every 10 of such marriages is a Yoruba men to 2 igbo men. Well, things are changing fast, to some extent, an average yorubas elite, politician etc feel proud marrying an Igbo girls. Many ex governors and even a serving governor in the SW is married to Igbo woman. Recently many young men in SW holding key posts are proud to showcase their Igbo wives. I see the ife king toeing thesame way with the Alafin and others. I don't really no why they are preferred in a way. We have probably dozens of thousands yorubas with Igbo mother's. They will always play allegiance to their mothers side in some ways. That the ties and bonds there.

Righteousness2:
Dem don Deceive and Confuse this one with all those their toy charms and gods.

By the authority In the Name of JESUS, I Send Destructive Thunder and Lightning to wherever she is held captive and by the Mercies of GOD, I Decree her release and that of Everyone held in there in JESUS Name.

Amen

Rostikol:
Honestly. This guy should just surrender and go somewhere and chill out, let Putin appoint whom he wants as president of Ukraine.

What the Ukraine leadership should do now is to accept military defeat, and then work on their POST-Invasion response, be it in the form of civil disobedience, guerrilla warfare, political activism via say an alternative govt based abroad, etc.

But fighting man to man against Russia will just destroy their infrastructure and take many lives needlessly, in addition to resulting in their total, comprehensive defeat.

Why send your country back to the Stone Age, Mr Zelensky?

Why risk your life in what you MUST know is a Russian victory to come?

Do the right thing man, and just go. Go on holiday somewhere.

You can't fight Russia on your own.

The entire NATO is afraid to fight Russia.

It is YOU that will fight them?

OK, say you are really brave and put up a big, long fight, embarrassing Putin, guess his next move?

Nukes.

Dude....

Go on holiday.

That's owardice. If this is the way life is actually been run, you will never have an independent nation, family, village, town or city. You are most likely to allow a man force your your wi...and kill your ch... Without resistance. We would have hard a world of slaves and free born alone. If he ever gets away so easily with Ukraine with few resistance, he will go for the next.
There was never an independent state without resistance and she'd of blood. Don't be w weakling. You got to have balls a little like a man you are.

foryourmindlol:
Just as Russia/Britain/Nigeria did to Igbos in 1967.

But the igbos survived the evil trio

abouzaid:
The US have misled Ukraine into an unnecessary war and the world into another cold war.

Mr trash, repeating the unfounded slogan.

SadiqBabaSani:
This Sahara Bandit, they hate Tinubu so much

For reporting the truth of what transpired in Ado ekiti? Four you so much hate the truth?

Mooh247:




Buhari said it all... Inconsiquential 5%ter, dot in a circle

Buhari associated with SouthEast (VP) 2 times , and failed the two times

Atiku associated with SouthEast twice as also failed woefully

Saraki, Dino melaye, Fani Kayode, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Sani all got South East support at one point or the other and ended up failing

Ohaneze Ndigbo categorically cursed out Tinubu for having an ambition open to all Southerners and praised Atiku a Fulani Northerner... He kept silent and left them to God

Mkpurinmiri youths created multiple thread and post on all social media, wishing Tinubu death, bad health, and badluck... They called him thief without proof, persecuted him for no reason and vowed he won't be President... As wise man he ignored them and continued consultation where he is wanted and loved



.

I hope you will truly research to find out how many millions of Igbo or SE voters are in your SW esp Lagos state and also work hard to find out the number of SE voters in SS. I don't want you to waste your time about their number in the North. Remember how SE
with SS population in Lagos lead to even having a federal and state seats in Lagos. Do not be deceived. Igbo voters population is quite different from your so called SE voters statistical strength you just displayed. You know this of a truth. That's why Tinubu always gets jittery over Lagos igbos.

Over to you guys that beats the drum of support to a mentally unstable man. I see Russia becoming the first third world Nuclear power. Very soon, Naija money Would be valued than their rubble trash.
Where are Putin supporters? We gonna send y'all to Russia after this war. Poor Russia

Mooh247:
You mean Jewish Yeshua son of Mariah , prophet of YahWeh the God of Jew, killed by European emperors

Or

You mean White European Jesus , published by European Colonial masters, Slave traders, Pagan Romans promoted by European Emperor Constantine


Let's know who you truly serve.. the white guy or the Jewish mesiah

The latest trash in the bin

WriterNig:
At this point i have no choice but to supoort Russia and President Putin. Kudos to him.

You are too small and insignificant

NobIeKING:
oil and gas kill you there you pathetic liar

Why are you so bitter about it. That's just the truth. Don't kill yourself because of the PROSPERITY of your enemies

paulolee:
that previous was in calabar n now zamfara, but some people would keep playing tribalism cards forgetting dt it happens everywhere..
such cases like this is a result of poverty n hard living conditions in the country n i think abortion should be legalized in some cases..

stop that. Abortion should not be legalized but it shouldn't be a crime if a baby born is honorably taking to a designated place for adoption. In the US, you have the right to drop your baby in some places and work away instead of killing unborn child or born ones. Abortion is murder and never the solution.

MadamVanessa:



Are they not Hausa/Fulani? why are they dragging grave vandalism with our western brothers? Are they tired of bombing, raping and land grabbing? Our western brothers will be so jealous now .

Madam, you too dey talkooo. Your western brothers will soon eat you up