The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • ‘Nigeria may regret amnesty for Boko Haram’

    The Prelate of the First African Church Mission, Nigeria and Overseas, Primate Emmanuel Koya, has warned that the proposed amnesty package for members of the Boko Haram sect will backfire.

    He said amnesty should only be considered for repentant members of the sect willing to openly lay down their arms.

    Koya spoke with newsmen during the centenary celebration of the church in Lagos.

    He explained: “Amnesty is good but should only be given to repentant militants and not faceless groups who are showing no sign of repentance and are ready to cause more mayhem in the country.

    “I pray that Nigeria will not regret the amnesty package being offered to Boko Haram sect, which is done without the necessary steps in disarming them against the wide spate of killings, maimings and destruction of lives and properties.”

    He charged churches to continue to preach the gospel of peace despite the many attacks against them.

    On the significance of the celebration, the Archbishop of Lagos West, First African Church Mission, Most Rev Paul Onanuga, said it was a testimony to the faithfulness of God.

    The Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Transport, Commerce and Industry, Hon Bisi Yusuf, expressed delight to be part of the celebration.

    He said: “I am happy to be part of this centenary celebration of this church that has helped in spiritual, environmental and educational needs of the people in Ipaja area.

    “We only urge them to continue to do more for the betterment of the society”.

  • Sacrificing the party to save Nigeria

    Sacrificing the party to save Nigeria

    •Text of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader,
    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the party’s convention in Lagos on Friday.

    History is upon us, asking something bold of us. Those who hear must respond to its call because history is impatient. If we tarry, history shall not. If we fail to act as the situation requires, history will still move forward and its pen will write an unanswerable verdict against us. All the prior achievements and feats we have recorded in the past will matter little unless we now answer the challenge now facing us.

    We have come to the place where things must change or we shall sink. For the nation to continue as is constitutes nothing less than an invitation to doom. Such a fate we shall not abide.

    The hour is late and our chance for national progress reduces with each idle moment. The way Nigeria is governed must change and change dramatically. This means the shape of politics must change.

    Nigeria must be a prosperous, secure, safe nation that helps weaker nations attain peace and stability. Instead we are beset by woe on all sides. Boko Haram falls upon our people in the North. MEND in the Niger Delta falls upon us. Kidnapping and robbery encircle the nation as if we have become a training ground for criminal misconduct.

    Rich in manpower and material resources, Nigeria should set the agenda for economic development and broadly shared prosperity on the African continent. Today, the opposite is the case. Instead of having a wealth of domestically produced goods in our manufacturing basket, we hold a virtually empty basket. As such, we have become a basket case.

    More Nigerians than ever before suffer under the daily grind of poverty. Unemployment is so rampant among our youth that finding a job is no longer the natural progression of life. It is seen as a miracle.

    Even then, upon finding work, too many people soon discover they labor for wages below the subsistence level. For them there are too many days left until the end of the month after the money is finished. With too little food and more tears in their eyes than drinkable water in their cups, they stare into the darkness of despair on a constant basis.

    This is not the way of a great nation. It is the way of heartless and mean governance that puts the interests of small elite above the interests of the common working man and woman who are the soul and backbone of this nation.

    We should have a vast land transportation system that moves our active, energetic population safely and moves our goods and produce cheaply. Instead, our roads have become portals of death where people perish by the dozens — one accident after another.

    Yet, those in command do nothing for the average Nigerian who is forced to run this gauntlet of death for his daily crumbs of bread. Instead, those who could improve this situation for the good of all do just enough to make things better for themselves.

    Where the road is bad, they budget for it, still the road gets worse off. Where the road is impassable, they offer excuses and empty promises. The touted improvement in electricity supply is now a mirage. In the midst of petrol dollars and abundance of natural gas Nigerians are without a commensurate standard of living. Our billions are embezzled and shared to cronies. The slogan of the ruling party is power, but corruption is the fuel that powers their government.

    In a prior age, an arrogant ruler reportedly once scoffed regarding her starving population, “let them eat cake.” Today, our rulers scoff at our people “let them face death.”

    The current way of governance makes nation building impossible. What it does is make poverty and the erosion of a just society inevitable.

    We have gathered at this hour and in this place to put an end to this national corrosion. We have assembled to bring a new day and a new Nigeria to our people.

    The Nigerian people are decent and hard-working people. They also are long –suffering. Just because they are long –suffering does not mean they should be forced to suffer until death comes.

    Our people have had enough of having nothing. The current government’s trademark is to throw empty words and hollow action at our problems as if doing nothing will cause our troubles to leave from sheer boredom. Instead, trouble mounts.

    If this is the government’s idea of transformation, I will have none of it. It seems their notion of change is to go from slow motion to no motion at all.

    If they want to stand still, that is their right. However, they have no right to force the whole nation to stagnate with them. We have things to accomplish and progress to make for the good of the people.

    If they have nothing to offer except the nothing they have been giving us, let’s join hands with others to sweep them aside. so that we can keep pushing through and move this nation upward and forward.

    This is why we hold our convention today. This convention portends the coming of great political change. A storm is brewing. Don’t be frightened. It is a positive storm with a positive wind. Those things that have no roots and offer no solution to the plight of the people shall be swept away. This storm will change the political terrain forever. I am not afraid of this storm. I welcome it because the storm is us- our new vision. Our new party.

    I stand to tell you that for the good of Nigeria this must be the last and final convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. As one of the national leaders of this party, I have dedicated myself to our political collaboration. I am attached to it in the strongest way. I am proud of what we have accomplished. Had we not held fast in the Southwest against onslaught and intrigue, Nigeria would effectively be a one party state. When history rights its tale of the past decade, it will say the ACN preserved Nigerian democracy when it came under great threat.

    But we must enter a new phase if poverty and want are to be lifted from the backs of our people. Given the destructive nature of PDP governance, we can no longer be satisfied with preserving democratic practice and with serving as the opposition. The first step in changing Nigeria for the better is to change government for the better.

    Weighing all things in the balance, if I must decide between the existence of this party and the improvement of Nigeria, I must choose the improvement of Nigeria. That is our duty and responsibility. While it would be most comfortable to remain with our party as is, with its unique symbol, manifesto and constitution, we are not here to do what is comfortable. We are here to do what is right for our people and our country.

    We are here to answer to a greater, higher calling. That calling is the love of Nigeria.

    To rescue Nigeria from the blight of misgoverance, we must join hands with like-minded progressives in other parties and organisations. We must sacrifice our current partisan identity to create a larger one capable of assuming leadership at the national level. This and only this offers the best chance for Nigeria at this stage.

    We dare not miss this chance because we cannot be sure of another.

    I ask you my brothers and sisters to take pride in what ACN has accomplished but to have the vision and courage to see that our national imperatives require us to enter a new phase of political maturity, sacrifice and cooperation in order to bring an era of progressive governance to the whole of Nigeria and not just part of it. If we must end the ACN identity to form a new party so that Nigeria can survive and our people can live better life and face a rewarding future., then so be it.

    We shall do this with serious yet happy purpose and no regrets. May your chests fill with pride at what we have done and may your hearts fill with optimism at the better future that we shall create.

    Join me today in voting to move our party into merger with the ANPP, CPC, other parties and organisations to form the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    I assure you that the place we are going will be your house of political fulfillment. We shall have a meaningful voice in the APC. The principles of democracy, justice, visionary governance and liberty that shaped the ACN shall carry over into the APC. The new party will be as welcome a home as the ACN. It will just be a bigger house for a larger political family.

    It shall be this family that saves Nigeria by bringing to the people the creative policies that promote wide prosperity, employment, infrastructural overhaul, education, health care, civil rights, peace, stability and justice.

    Thus vote with me to close the historic and noble chapter on the ACN so that we can begin a new and bigger book called the APC.

    For us this is not a sad ending, it is but the beginning of a great beginning. Let us do what is right so that when history writes its account of this day, it shall write that we lived up to our moral duties by doing what the moment required.

    For a better Nigeria, the ACN must join with other parties to merge into the APC.

    This is our last best hope. There is nothing else to do.

    Thank you and God bless this convention and God Bless Nigeria.

  • Nigeria: Before amnesty becomes amnesia

    Nigeria: Before amnesty becomes amnesia

    Had government gone the way of dialogue it should not have been difficult for it  to see the reasonableness of all that Malam Shehu Sani had been saying

    I will, forever, be proud of our web portal: ekitipnupo@yahoogroups.com, an Indigenous Think-Tank and Intellectual Round-Table, agglomerating no less than two thousand Ekiti compatriots, both at home and in the Diaspora and on which no single issue, however supposedly minor, concerning the state, in particular, and Nigeria in general, passes us bye.

    Witness the following remarks by two members of the forum, distinguished Professors in their own right, one of Chemical Engineering, and the other of Agric Economics, on the topic of the moment in Nigeria –Amnesty.

    First: ‘My heart nearly stopped beating yesterday when, listening to local Nigerian news, I heard that the Governor of Abia State was asking for amnesty for the 5000 kidnappers in his state, and that they should be paid compensation or monthly wages “like is being done in the Niger-Delta.”

    5000 kidnappers in Abia State alone? I asked.

    And already identified?

    And it was no April Fool, or an Onion radio station…

    Is this is a sick joke or what? What now does amnesty mean in Nigeria? How do you give amnesty to:

    1. Those who have not accepted that they are criminals that must be “amnestied”?

    2. Those who have not asked for it, even if they accept criminality?

    3. Those whose total number at a point of amnesty you have not identified?

    4. those whose stream of replenishment – after granting some amnesty that must be based on certain terms – you are not able to stem?

    I don’t understand it – ” – but this Orji’s request takes the cake.

    o mebiri emebi, biko nu…’

    And second one, on the same Orji macabre request:

    ‘We are gradually descending from being ridiculous to being insane, playing politics with everything including precious human lives. The logic, as warped as it may appear, is that if the northern leaders are getting money for their Boko Haram (terrorists), he can as well ask for his kidnappers too. After all, terrorism and kidnapping are both crimes and the funds to be used will come from the commonwealth – the theory of ‘whatever is good for the goose should also be good for the gander’.

    Preposterous, I dare say but then, is n’t this our friend of the popular shrine?

    Both quotes point to how serious, or otherwise, a country we are as well as what manner of leaders we have but , more critically, it calls to question our process of leadership recruitment which is as warped as we are rudderless.

    What then is amnesty?

    Generally, amnesty is defined as any governmental pardon for past offenses or crimes, especially political ones. Granting amnesty goes beyond a pardon, in that it forgives the said offense completely. Indeed, a key part of the definition is the fact that amnesty is granted before any trial or conviction so Asari Dokubo could not have been right with his postulation that “the government can only put in two things – exercise prerogative of mercy after a person is convicted or when a person is under trial to put a nolle Prosequi but you cannot see somebody and declare him a criminal and give him a pardon’.

    Amnesty has also been described (Tom Tancredo, for instance, a Colorado, U.S politician, and former Presidential candidate) as a terrible policy, as well as terrible politics because by offering it you are rewarding people for breaking the law.” Please note though, that this unrealistic G.O.P politician had American illegal immigrants in mind.

    Nothing demonstrates the wrongheadedness of President Jonathan’s amnesty offer than the following response by the Boko Haram leader, Abubjakar Shekau: “Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you pardon,” and followed it up by listing what he called the state’s atrocities against Muslims.

    Were the Jonathan government serious, that was the point at which it should have realised that what the problem called for, was dialogue, rather than any sterile offer of amnesty. I have, on this page, been an unrepentant advocate of dialogue even when it was neither trendy nor politically correct to, as much, as mention it. I recently upped the ante by asking for an all-inclusive National conference at which Nigeria’s many demons can be objectively and critically interrogated.

    Had government gone the way of dialogue it should not have been difficult for it to see the reasonableness of all that Malam Shehu Sani had been saying, ad nauseam.

    Shehu Sani, prominent civil rights activist, who single-handedly interacted with Boko Haram up to a point former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not mind joining the chorus, has literally been having a dialogue with the deaf on the issue of Boko Haram. Before he respectfully declined to serve on the Jonathan Amnesty Committee, he had warned endlessly that the first step was to establish a credible link with Boko Haram through those who know the group and who they, in turn can trust. Given the literal ribaldry going on, Sani has ruled out the possibility of Boko Haram leadership accepting the proposed amnesty because you cannot give amnesty to a people who do not want amnesty. Said Sani, “First of all, government set up a committee whose members nobody knows -(that has since been corrected) – but he went on: “If you set up a committee with big people who do not have access to the leadership of Boko Haram, you are simply wasting your time.” He even doubts whether the cheer-leading Northern governors are in touch with Boko Haram at all. The last I remember, personally, were some groveling Northern governors, serving and past, literally on their knees, begging Boko Haram leaders, asking for forgiveness. The manner in which they pleaded, you would have thought they took any of Shekau’s many wives!

    Nor was Sani done. He alleged that the motivating factor in all this talk about amnesty is money –kudi – which some Northern leaders are already eyeing. And he cautioned: ‘the Federal Government must not dangle money before Boko Haram as money cannot solve the problem of Boko Haram. They have not made financial request and secondly they are not fighting because they need money’, he concluded.

    And I say it would be such a shame if these Northern éminence grise have forgotten so soon that, driven by religious fundamentalism, Osama Bin Laden thought nothing of his riches but how to cause maximum damage to humanity. He was known to have spent copious time in the desert where he had work camps and led a totally ascetic life style. How come any government would wish to grant these his ‘evil’ heirs, tonnes of money which would most probably end up in arms procurement and more havoc. (Evil – not my word, but that of respected Alhaji Bamanga Tukur of the Gen Murtala/Nigerian Port Authority fame, a happy throw back to the days Nigeria had leaders.

    The fact that highly regarded Dr Datti Ahmed, President, Sharia Supreme Council in Nigeria has also declined participation in the committee work says much about its reasonableness long term usefulness. Without a doubt this will also go the way of other actions and promises of President Jonathan, and here, power readily comes to mind.

    I will therefore respectfully suggest to Mr President to immediately disband this ill-advised Amnesty Committee, and in its place, commence two quick processes, namely, inaugurate an appropriate committee to commence a discreet dialogue and negotiations with Boko Haram leaders through those individuals they trust, and put in place, a tidy and efficient enumeration of ALL the victims of Boko Haram’s unmitigated terrorism with a view to cogently assisting them or their dependants . Government should also draw up a Marshall plan which will, unlike these loquacious governors, aggressively infuse real socio-economic development in Northern Nigeria which age long feudalism has brought to its knees. The plan should aim directly at tuning the youth around because they constitute the literally rootless, and mostly illiterate, field from which they recruit suicide bombers on the titillating promise of heavenly virgins.

  • Online stores face litmus test

    Online stores face litmus test

    The online  market is big and provides a lot of immense opportunities for shoppers. The market is catching on in Nigeria, but it has a problem – credibility. Many online stores are battling to assure customers of their genuineness, but some doubts still linger. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports

    Online stores deliver people’s needs to them anywhere and any time. They are not new to Mr Olakunle Ibiyemi and his brother, Dotun, who perceive Nigerian online stores differently.

    Ibiyemi thinks online stores abroad are better operated than those in Nigeria. The Nigeria stores, he says, should be well established before he patronises them. But his younger brother, Dotun believes it is wise to encourage and patronise local ideas and efforts. He believes in trying something new, but he is particular about verifying the genuineness of Nigerian online stores first. “How do I know where best to buy from and be sure of getting good value for my money?”

    At times it is difficult to know the authenticity of an online store, but in some cases, they could be identified by how they sell themselves.

    Online store jumia.com has, since its inception, taken the value of its brand to the Nigerian market – online and offline. The quality of website and the constant innovations on users’ experiences have, to an appreciable extent, proved that Nigerian online stores are authentic. And these stores, considering the distrust with making payments online, through issues like online fraud, decided to introduce the payment on delivery method with a seven-day return policy, to show that they are not after money but to provide quality and convenient retail services.

    One of the founders of jumia.com, Mr Rapheal Afaedor said: “We have implemented several initiatives around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through reaching out to the destitute in the society in company of some of our notable friends in entertainment and media. Recently, we hosted a customer-focused group through which we came face to face with a select group of customers, an experience we found quite endearing and one that reminded us we were in the right place. For us, the authenticity of any online store has a lot to do with how close the website connects with its customers, emotionally and physically.”

    Many observers believe Nigerians should be comfortable shopping at local online stores because the market has grown and gained credibility. To them, the local online stores offer unique shopping comfort any where, any time. And to them, shoppers who are still afraid about online fraud could seek sites that have been tried and certified safe. To them too, such shoppers should ask questions and do thorough background checks before spending their resources.

    Speaking on how reliable local stores are, Afaedor said he cannot vouch for others, but that he is sure jumia.com is very reliable, “I like to say our reliability lies in our increasing number of page visits daily; our rise to the fifth local content site in Nigeria (from seventh in November 2012), and our over 400,000 social media community and relocation to a 4,000 square metre warehouse, all achieved in 10 months of operations. For us, efficiency is in numbers, and in our case, the numbers have continually spoken for themselves.”

    Of the 40 million Nigerians who are online, a sizeable amount actually visit these stores, resulting to a rapidly growing trend in visits and purchases.

    Some stores run an operation that cuts across board from purchasing to uploading  content on their website up to marketing the products and delivering to customers, not forgetting their world-class customer service team.

    Nigerian online stores have promised that citizens in their volatile socio-economic environment are rest assured of getting their needs anywhere, anytime and at their best convenience. No long traffic queues to the malls; not finding what is needed per time, but with online shopping, people are sure to see a broad range of products from wherever they are. It becomes yours at the click of a button. Then you can think of all you can do with time saved through buying from online stores.

    Foreign online stores have lots of experience going for them in running such a business model. They are, therefore, better than online stores here and for our local online stores to run such a business model; they have come to see that they can stay competitive with foreign online stores. Last month, Nigeria’s number one online retail store received a certificate from Google that it is ranked higher than amazon.com which had been the highest searched online retail site in Nigeria for a long time.

    Never the less, our online stores learn from the foreign ones the experiences and expertise in growing this business model in Nigeria, “we can’t deny the fact that there are vital lessons to be learnt,” said Afaedor.

    “Hence along with our partners who have vast knowledge in running such business models and expertise we have gathered from across the world we strive to grow an online retail store that will be the solution to retail both online and offline in sub-Saharan Africa.”

    It has been noticed that a target group of individuals who have access to the internet and are in the age range of 18 to 40years shop more on line in Nigeria.

    For those doubting, simply give these stores a trial, you will be convinced. It is also wise to patronise those names that are commonly seen and heard of.

    In order to satisfy customers, a store like Jumia finds specific brands for customers, this is as a result of peculiarities or sentiments towards particular brands through their purchasing team that is in the local and foreign markets closing out deals to represent known brands across the world.

    Presently, in the online space they carry the highest number of individual brands.

    Initially, when the online business was introduced into the country, payment on delivery and payment online were initiated. But over time, customers prefer the payment on delivery method.

    The Nigerian market is still getting used to this method of shopping and is still exploring this new phenomenon. However, online payments are gradually going on the increase particularly amongst returning customers.

    To cancel the belief that buying online is only for the rich and elite, communications and campaigns are constantly carried out across various marketing channels.

    “And to ensure that Nigerians get involved in the trend, aggressive marketing, constant education through various channels (particularly social networks), increased brand awareness and offline activations including offline sales are introduced into the business model.

    “With our online stores, one can track online activities, and be the first to know of amazing deals and bargains as soon as they come up.

    “Merging e-commerce and social networking has never been this good, buying quality products over the internet has never been this easier.”

    Mr Okonkwo Obiora, one of the owners of an upcoming online store Yeside , which focuses on fashion, said: “You must always look for better and reliable stores online; you must also take advantage of promos and discounts. This business requires a lot of research before you venture into it. Once people get used to something, they ignore the risks and see it as part of their daily lives.”

    The perception that only the rich shop online is wrong, with as low as N100, you can buy airtime online at a quick teller. You can also order food online at hello food.

    Through the use of the Internet, shopping for anything you want is easy and convenient. People love shopping online these days. You can get your desired products with few clicks. You need to be a little smart and clever while shopping online because of the huge competition and tempting advertisements which may get you trapped. You can do smart shopping availing the best discounts and deals online.

    The online marketplace is the best way to buy items you want. Items such as fashionable garments, footwear, designer jewelry, grocery items, gifts, books, household products, electronic gadgets and many more. There are huge varieties and collection of products over the one stop shop. Thus, you can make your choice easier and faster. In addition, you can read the review of products which are available at stores.

    Shoppers have a wide range of online stores to choose from: stores like, Yeside is a great online shopping site in Nigeria that focuses on fashion. You can buy shoes, clothing, bags, watches, jeweleries, and all kinds of fashion accessories.

    Buy Right focuses on electronics, inverters, UPS, mobile phones, cameras, camcorders, storage devices, notebooks among others.

    Wahali is an online bookstore, if you want a particular book; enter the name of the book on the website.

    AwoofShop is an online store for assorted products. Their products range from mobile phones, books, clothing, video games, computers, etc.

    African Foods Online Store sells, yam, bitter leaf, Cocoyam flour, Egusi, Garden egg, Ogbono, Palm oil and other food stuffs.

  • ‘Nigeria among largest unbanked population’

    ‘Nigeria among largest unbanked population’

    Nigeria has one of the largest numbers of people that have no access to traditional financial services in West Africa, according to a survey conducted by Sap Community Network and Standard Bank of South Africa (SBSA).

    In a report entitled: Accessibility to financial services in Sub-Sahara Africa, the firms said more than 80 per cent of people in the region do not have access to traditional financial services. The report said Nigeria has the largest percentage of people that have little or no access to financial services in the region.

    The report said: “In sub-Sahara Africa, more than 80 per cent of people have no access to traditional financial services. This has been one of the great challenges in fighting poverty in South Africa. Given the lack of developed infrastructure in many parts of Africa, how is it possible to provide millions of unbanked people with basic banking services?”

    They said people’s inability to provide proof of evidence is one of the biggest impediments to opening a new account.

    According to them, the introduction of mobile telephony services would increase accessibility to financial services or products in the region in future.

    “Standard Bank has been opening up to 7,000 new accounts each day through its mobile outreach programme. These new accounts are benefiting the people, the bank, and the economy. Bank customers are now able to use their phones to transfer funds, pay electric bills, and buy more air time. They also have access to credit that they have never been able to access before,” the report added.

     

     

     

    Standard Bank is not alone in bringing banking to the unbanked. Dutch-Bangla Bank is providing mobile banking much in the same way as Standard Bank of South Africa.

    Only 13% of Bangladesh’s 160 million people have a bank account. Many Bangladeshi citizens work in urban areas and send money home. The problem is to send the cash back home securely. With Dutch-Bangla Bank’s mobile solution, the ability to transfer funds eliminates the security issue.

     

  • COTE D’IVORE VS NIGERIA Coach Kamara cautious

    COTE D’IVORE VS NIGERIA Coach Kamara cautious

    Demands total concentration from Elephants 

    Ahead of their tie against Eaglets at the on-going CAF U-17 championship in Morocco, Baby Elephants of Cote d Ivoire have been told to ensure maximum concentration.

    Coach of the side Ibrahim Kamara who gave the charge, said it will be a serious mistake to allow Eaglets ample space to operate especially after the team hammered Ghana 6-1 in their opening match.

    Kamara, who predicted that the tie will be tough, however gave his boys a pat on the back for pulling a draw against Congo, noting that the feat will serve as a boost ahead of the match against Nigeria, describing Eaglets as a formidable team

    “We are targeting a semi-final place but the road to that stage is long and our next opponents, Nigeria ace is a formidable team,” he said

    If there is one player that has been tipped to pose a problem to the Ivorien defence, it is Isaac Success who acounted for four goals in Nigeria’s party against Ghana.

  • Media/ Educators: Use ‘Cartographically& NigSat2 Approved’ Authentic, Map of Nigeria

    Media/ Educators: Use ‘Cartographically& NigSat2 Approved’ Authentic, Map of Nigeria

    The prevention of error, mistakes or deliberate misinformation, require the same level of awareness and investigation and a high level of suspicion about the most trivial of ‘things going wrong’. When is a mistake part of a secret plan? When it recurs, in spite of correction, again and again. Now here is a storm in breakfast tea or tuo cup On NTA Breakfast AM on 11-4-13 at 8.28am there appeared a hand-drawn ‘map’ or better called a ‘mis-map’ of Nigeria during a film about Nigeria and close to a section showing people carrying bags of farm produce out of canoes.

    The so-called ‘map’ of Nigeria had the Rivers Niger and Benue hardly out of the Atlantic Ocean, maybe about 10% from the Bight of Benin resulting in a huge‘potbellied’ North and a miniscule ‘short knickers’ South. In a few seconds, before I could exclaim or protest to my TV, the picture had gone and been replaced by a map of Nigeria showing states. But the damage had been done. Mind control. The psychological damage had been done to millions of viewers nationwide. The message was clear ‘I’m bigger than you!’ Only a few weeks ago and previously some years ago, I raised the issue of ‘Authentic Approved Maps of Nigeria’ showing accurate topography and especially the manipulation of the positions of the Rivers Niger and Benue. The manipulation of the position of these rivers is part of the psychological warfare going on as an undercurrent in the media and education systems controlled by those more interested in dominance than democracy. Of course if you teach with falsified maps and pictures in schools and show falsified maps and pictures on the media then the people are forced to believe what is fed to them.

    However it behoves those of us who went to school to learn how to ask questions to now ask questions on behalf of those who do not ask any questions. In the absence of a Tsunami eating up Nigeria’s coastline at the rate of 20 km per annum how is it possible for the Rivers Niger and Benue to be approaching Lagos so fast? Even if it is, the distance of the Rivers Niger and Benue from Maiduguri, Daura and Sokoto should remain the same abi? Fortunately we have the pictures from late NigSat 1 and surviving NigSat 2 and copious Google maps and photos from astronauts, cosmonauts and ‘Chinesonauts’ to help verify if this new phenomenon is true. Of course rivers change course, deserts become seas and seas become deserts, but these monumental events take millions of years. It really would be a first for NTA to have discovered that the River Niger and Benue are actually moving ‘down South’ into the Bight of Benin.

    It raises the question of where will all the people go when the South disappears. Will these millions be swept into the sea and extinction? Will they migrate over the Rivers Niger and Benue into the North? There what will they be called? Refugees, immigrants, Southerners or strangers? What will we call the North when there is no South? New Nigeria? These questions are for the future but the future may be here, the way the cartoonists are redrawing the map of Nigeria perhaps to suit secret political instructions. There is need for powerful Presidential, NASS, NigSat1 & 2, Geological Survey, Cartographers, geography teachers and swimmers and canoe makers conference to sort out this issue of ‘Where are the Rivers Niger and Benue in Nigeria’. The venue of the conference can be at the confluence of the said rivers where Lord Lugard pitched his tent to ‘rule’ or ruin Nigeria and where Nigeria was conceived and born -Lokoja. Of course some would prefer to have conference in Ladi Kwali Hall, now almost synonymous with profligate government spending for little poly direction returns.

    The conference outcome would be the ‘True Authentic Position of the Rivers Niger and Benue vis a vis the Northern and Southern Borders of Nigeria-2013’. It would produce the map dimensions to be used in all public and private discourses on Nigeria, teaching, politics, economics etc. Only this will save the South from being swept into the seas, mentally and physically, by cartoonists, cartographers, graphic artists and career politicians with agendas.

    Territorial grabs are well known instruments of subjugation and oppression against other countries. But criminal and calculated‘imaginary’ rerouting of physical structures as important as rivers belonging to the ‘the common man and woman’ is a new dimension in psychological warfare when we are not at declared war. Tsunamis can come from the sea and some say they can come from the land or‘Sahel Sand’ as well. Well this psychological tsunami must not be allowed to drown the South, by mistake or design.

    Who ‘owns’ Nigeria? We are not and have never been satisfied by the crumbs that fall from the table set by God as our birth-right but sat at by politicians and their close confederates/ co-conspirators- the civil servants and contractors. If any other country had our resources where would they be now? There were European monarchies with the citizens called serfs or glorified slaves. The local ruler could even sleep with your new wife on wedding night –just to show how decadent they were! We must reassess the value of being a Nigerian. Why are we being undervalued by our leaders?

  • Nigeria, others need $14.5b for Lake Chad, says minister

    Nigeria, others need $14.5b for Lake Chad, says minister

    ABOUT $14.5 billion is required to recharge the shrinking Lake Chad, the Federal Government said at the weekend through the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe.

    All the countries are to raise the fund, the minister, who also spoke of plans by the government to build more dams as part of flood-control measures, the minister said.

    She, however, insisted that about 60 per cent of Nigerians have access to portable water, contrary to insinuations.

    Mrs. Ochekpe, who spoke with reporters last weekend, said the government is floating a scheme for 300 graduate farmers.

    She said: “The present communities around Lake Chad are estimated to be about 30 million, out of which Nigerians constitute about 20 million.

    “As you are aware, the Lake Chad has been shrinking for some years now and Nigeria is concerned about ensuring that the waters of the Lake Chad are recharged. That is why we have to take such a leading role.

    “We need about $14.5 billion to recharge but this is not a cost Nigeria can bear alone. All the countries in the Lake Chad region are talking.

    “The funds for the feasibility study of the transfer of water from Obangi River to Lake Chad was provided by the Federal Government but Nigeria and other affected countries have commenced the process that would lead to the raising of the $14.5 billion as no one country alone can do it.”

    On steps being taken to prevent flooding in the country, the Minister said the government is already being proactive, saying the heavy flood recorded in the country last year was not due to the collapse of some dams.

    She said: “None of our dams caved in. After the flooding last year, we went to Cameroun to discuss with them on when they will be opening their dams.

    “They have already assured us that they will be informing us appropriately before they release their dams.

    “We have already instructed our engineers to start releasing the water in the dams gradually in earnest. This is part of dams control mechanism.

    “It has become imperative to build additional dams on the Benue River in view of the fact that 60 per cent of the water volume come from the river, while River Niger on the other hand has only 40 per cent. River Niger already has enough dams that can help to manage flood control.

    The Minister said 60 per cent of Nigerians have access to water contrary to insinuations.

    “Water coverage in the country is 60 per cent, not 30 or 32 per cent being bandied about by some people. I am talking of official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics. Efforts are on to ensure that the percentage is increased.”

    Mrs. Ochekpe said the government has floated a Graduate Farmers Scheme.

    Three hundred graduate farmers are already being trained at the River Basin Development Authorities on modern mechanised farming techniques.

    The minister said: “We have started with 300 graudate farmers. We have also instructed the Director-General of these RBDAs to do something also. For instance, the Hadeija/Jamare River Basin Development Authority have specifically been asked to train these graduate farmers.

    “The NDE and Sure-P are also specifically asked to take up the training of these graduates so they can go into life-time farming. We are training them also in aquaculture, fish farming, food processing and other areas where they could go into real-time mechanised farming.

    “If you look at our communities, you would discover that we have only aged farmers and so, in order to avert food crises in the future, we are looking at training a new generation of farmers to take over from these aged farmers.

    “We also want to move away from subsistence farming to large-scale mechanized farming. That is why we are selecting people who would take to farming as an occupation and who really want to take to framing and not to use farming as stop-gap to white collar job.

    “At the moment, we are processing Nigerian rice to compete favorably with foreign rice. This is being done through the facilities we have at the RBDAs and these have made us confidence that in the near future, we shall join the league of rice, palm oil, garri and egusi exporters.”

  • Nigeria gets manager for N500m venturecapital

    A Venture Capital Fund Manager has been appointed to manage the N500 million seed fund made available by the Federal Government to develop the software industry in the country, the Project Manager, Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA), Helen Anatogu, has said.

    iDEA is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) put in place to oversee the implementation of the sotware incubation centres conceived by the Minsitry of Communication Technology in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at the close of last year.

    Speaking in an interview in Lagos at the weekend, Anatogu said a venture capital has finally been selected to manage the fund, adding that the firm is an internationally recognised entity.

    “A venture fund capital manager has been selected; unfortunately, we cannot let you know the identity of the manager now,” she said.

    She admitted that the software incubation centres were actually taking off behind schedule blaming breaucracy for the development.

    She said the project will soon take off in Lagos and Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

     

    Vice Chairman iDEA Governing Board, Pius Okigbo, explained that the centres will help address the typical barriers to success – the lack of access to funding; the costs associated with acquiring technology, knowledge and expertise; and the limited ability to obtain broad exposure for their creations and innovations.

    According to him,.iDEA is a not-for-profit organisation which primary purpose is to accelerate the development of the software industry in Nigeria by nurturing and helping to grow the software businessess, stressing that iDEA provides essential support to entrepreneurs to build software skills, solutions and businesses critical to their success.

    He opined that entrepreneurs accepted into iDEA Centres have access to physical work space, shared facilities, training, business services as well as access to capital.

    “iDEA is partnering with technology companies to offer training and access to software development tools across a number of platforms. Entrepreneurs will also have access to guidance from our network of mentors.

    “iDEA will engage the student community by getting them involved in many activities organised by the centres. They will also attend low or no cost technical training at the centres.

     

    iDEA will engage established local software development companies to build new innovations or assist in bridging the gaps preventing the companies from fully exploiting and commercialising existing innovations,” Okigbo said.

    The programme partners with various stakeholders such as technology partners, public sector partners, investors and training providers (including universities).

    Technology partners are among the major beneficiaries of the talent pool represented in the incubator. They provide support for these early stage companies in form of training, equipment and customer introductions and provide assets such as hardware, software and curriculum. technology partners include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), software companies, telcos and service companies such as Microsoft, Nokia, and Google and others.

     

  • Jonathan, Zuma meet on security, economy

    Jonathan, Zuma meet on security, economy

    As the two top leaders in the continent, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday met with his South African counterpart, President Jacob Zuma to brainstorm of the many challenges facing the continent.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa , President Zuma said that he was in Nigeria to consult on many issues concerning the African continent as a whole and the two countries on one hand.

     He said that the discussions between him and President Jonathan have been very fruitful towards repositioning the continent for good.
    Zuma said:“We are here to consult on matters related to the two countries and the African continent. As you know, very soon His Excellency the President will be visiting South Africa on a state visit and therefore, a lot of other issues that will necessarily be dealt with. We thought we needed to consult particularly the situation in the continent.”
    “We have had a very fruitful consultation and we believe that between Nigeria and South Africa, it is important to align and harmonize our thinking on matters that need the countries in the continent to take specific decisions.”
    “Some of the issues raised were issues of security of the continent as you know that there has been some difficulties in a number of the countries. We touched upon those issues and certainly take the issues further when we meet in South Africa.”“But you are also aware that Africa will also be celebrating 50 years of the OAU and African Union establishment in the continent. And the issue really is we need to say what is it that we can look at and look forward beyond that time. We have had a very fruitful discussion.” He added