THE MYTH ABOUT NIGERIA BEING WEALTHY

Nigeria has oil you may say and a land mass that potentially can feed the continent. How dare i call our Nation's wealth a myth, don't i see our vast mineral resources scattered all over the country. Dear friend, forget your belief that we live in a wealthy and blessed country because our country happens to be one of the poorest nations in the world. 

Before you say i don't know what i am talking about and push the article aside. Let me share with you an illustration. A few years ago, an illuminating World Bank report titled 'where is the wealth of nations? Measuring capital for the 21st century' undertook to measure the wealth of 120 world nations in the year 2000. 

The conclusion of that report is that it is NOT a country's tangible assets whether natural or produced; it is NOT a country's mineral resources, agricultural land, forests, industrial equipment and infrastructure which make the country rich and prosperous. It is rather the country's intangible assets, that is:

· the skills and know how embodied in the labor force.

·the ability of a nation to efficiently invest the rent extracted from the exploitation of exhaustible resources.

·the mutual trusts which exists among members of a society.

·their ability to work together for a common goal to which they strongly adhere and in which they firmly believe.

·the quality of formal and informal institutions

·the saving and maintanance culture.

·the extent to which citizens have confidence in the law of the land and abide by them.

And, ·patriotism, that is, both the extent to which citizens trust and support their government and the extent to which government trusts and supports citizens.

To quote the world bank :" Rich countries are largely rich because of the skills of their population and the quality of the institutions supporting economic activity".

Among the 120 countries scrutinized and ranked by the report. Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, the USA and Germany were the first five. Ethiopia was the last. Nigeria came just before Ethiopia.

Do you still believe Nigeria is wealthy? I guess not.  You must now realize how broke we are as a nation. Are you willing to help our country grow and become wealthy? Would you help us take our rightful place among the comity of nations. 

Become a solution provider. Become the leader you were born to be and you would be playing your part already.

Warmest regards.

Adedunmade Onibokun Esq.




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Boko boys; over and over again

The woman in the above photo rose from bed this morning filled with christmas cheer and happiness. Why not,It's christmas day and celebrating the birth of christ has made her glad. The same way you felt when you rose from bed this morning december 25th.

Her kitchen is filled with many delicacies, her phone chipping from the calls of friends and loved ones who would be coming to celebrate with her later in the day. She however must first attend Mass at St. Theresa's church in suleja. With excitement and a joyous heart she heads to church to pray and thank God.

Unknown to her though, evil lurks in the corner, a suicide bomber strapped with explosives that would later kill as many as 25 people and injure many others also heads to her church. Where he intends to bring sorrow to her family. This he has succeeded in doing. You can see her being rushed away for medical attention. Only Heaven knows what her faith holds.

After the bomb that shook suleja this morning and another explosion in jos, we are once again reminded of the rotten elements who live amongst us in the name of the islamic sect Boko Haram. We are reminded of the inadequacies in our infrastructures, for authorities are finding it difficult to provide adequate health services to the casualties. The incompetence of our security agencies looks us in the face.

Even though, you and I would continue to wine and dine today. Let us remember to say a word of prayer for the survivors of today's attack. Let us reflect soberly on the state of affairs in our nation and let us profer solutions to our common problems.

This article is dedicated to those who lost their lives today december 25th 2012,may their souls rest in peace and may their families have the strength and courage to celebrate life next christmas.

REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY;in whose interest?

After the town hall meeting which had various actors of our economic sectors present, it is evident the issue of subsidy is not going anywhere, as it has now become an issue of WHEN It would commence and HOW it would be commenced.

Present were members of the civil society and leaders of government agencies such as Madam Okonji Iweala, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, Ben Bruce, Adams Oshiomole, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba SAN and Alison Madueke. Present were also champions in business such as Dangote,Femi Otedola, seasoned journalists and youths were also duly represented.

Back however to the big word SUBSIDY, let's go back to the facts. Subsidy cost us over 1 trillion naira to fund yearly, and we borrow just to fulfil this righteousness. Last year,we borrowed a total of about 850 billion naira,all of which was not sufficient to fund the subsidy. Government borrowing is going higher and this is an opportunity to cut down on it.

Petrol is delivered to Nigeria at 140 naira but government gets it to the people at 65naira, meaning 75 naira is paid from government coffers. Though in the inter lands it is sold at between 80naira - 100naira. We can blame factors such as bad road transportation and destroyed nnpc pipes for this trend.

According to Madam Iweala, we consume 35 million litres of fuel daily,part of it which is diverted by the members of the so called CABAL (Nigeria's imaginary group of scoundrels responsible for all our pain) into neighbouring countries. Also one-third of government expenditure which should be used on providing health services, security,employment,development of infrastructure and power is wasted on subsidy. However the government fails to account for all the monies that have been spent so far.

No doubt,the argument for subsidy is sound from the view of the economy,if removed it would give the economy a boost, providing an environment for private sector participation. Asking a person to invest 4 billion dollars the cost of building a refinery in Nigeria and limit his profit margin is not a good business deal. Illustrations of the gains of subsidy is visible in the communication, aviation and agricultural sectors

Another option which also could be taken by government is subsidising local production and refinery of oil and not subsidising on import. As addressed in the meeting,the issue of trust is also fundamental. We have been deceived time and time again. Someone is probably planning how much more he would have to steal when subsidy is removed and he is awarded a larger allocation for his responsibilities.

If government cannot show us that it is dedicated to preventing waste by fighting corruption and plugging the
loop holes in government expenditure. It would be difficult to convince Nigerians that this administration means well. If some people are above the law and cannot be prosecuted,how can we have confidence in the government.

The people can play their part by continually engaging government, demanding credibility and accountability. Always inquire into how you are being governed. Take full use of the FOI Act, let our government representatives explain to us everything they do and why they do it. We cannot continue to condone a free for all dip into government coffers at our discomfort.

No more mago mago is allowed in government. Let us promote the course of good governance.

Adedunmade Onibokun Esq.
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Totally flabbergasted

This is the first time,I would ever use the word "flabbergasted" in an article,it is the only word however that truly conveys the way I truly feel inside, though stunned,amazed,shocked or surprised would also do. English lessons are however for another day.

Let's go to the "what" that has made me feel this way, it is what I have coined "Government violence". Government violence is the use of force to bend the will of the citizenry usually through agencies of the government such as the police,army etc.

For instance,over the past weekend, lagosians who voted for Governor Fashola were beaten, assaulted and arrested by agents of the government over a peaceful protest of the lekki toll fare, this is shameful since I always believed in the government of Governor Fashola,me being a barrister myself. I never thought the Governor would ever give such an order but alas he did.

Another instance is Egypt and the way the military government is dealing with its citizens, there were reports and widely circulated videos on the internet of soilders shooting at protestants. Let us not forget of course the occupiers in America who were also manhandled recently.

What gives government the right to use physical force on the people its leaders swore to protect. Why have governments chosen dictatorship over diplomacy and dialogue.

News of police also gearing up for protesters against the intended fuel subsidy by purchasing batons and other tools of enforcing pain and fear on Nigerians also baffles me.

I would however warn President Jonathan that fuel subsidy is a great test of his administration and if he intends to pursue it by beating the common Nigerian just for saying he cannot afford to pay for fuel at exorbitant prices,he may as well get ready to leave Aso Rock because I know there is already revolution in the air, harming us would do more damage than good to his administration.

As a word to my fellow Nigerians, civil disobedience and protesting as always been a way of engaging an insensitive government. I would however urge us to be creative and peaceful in all ways of engaging government.

But on no circumstances should force be used on Nigerians ever again by any government or that government may just be biting more than it can chew.

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HOPE IS NOT LOST

"These past few days, every corner I turn to in my Country, there's dejection, lack, rebellion, lamentation, blood shed, subsidy Removal, poverty, ASUU Strike, Benin-Ore Road, unemployed Youth, Bombings, Bank Robberies, passive and non-responsive Governments, misguided and inefficient Leaders, high interest rate, No electricity, Insecurity et al! As a Young Leader, I should inspire HOPE but am running Out! HELP - Toyosi Akerele(december 2011) "

When we take a look at the Nigerian society, there is no doubt that we all must feel like Miss Akerele did when writing the above quote. It seems like everything is wrong and all our activism is getting no where. We feel all our efforts may just be going down the drain and the populace whom we fight for are not encouraging either. I believe though, that all HOPE IS NOT LOST.

Miss Akerele and others can take succour in the fact that our efforts have generated a national consciousness towards social and political development amongst Nigerian youths. Not only are youths challenging the status quo but we are constantly engaging government as we demand better dividends of democracy.

It is only a matter of time before we totally eradicate mediocrity in the ranks of our leaders and shower in an influx of revolutionary leaders. if Miss Akerele were to read this article,I would want her to derive HOPE in the knowledge that she is part of a generation of leaders who are responsible for the wind of change blowing across the country.

Though Nigeria may have all the characteristics of a failed state, all HOPE IS NOT LOST for it is through the rubble that our country shall rise again. It is possible though to get caught up and lost in the web of foul games played by our current misguided and ignorant leaders though I believe in the resilience of our spirit,the strength of our determination and the righteousness of our cause.

All HOPE IS NOT LOST because I know my fellow Nigerians,especially the youths would not rest until the country of our dreams becomes the country of our reality. I salute the likes of Miss Akerele and other youth leaders who are making a difference in our polity for posterity would always smile on us.
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Demanding Accountability

Most Nigerians do not know that it is our sacred duty to foster the cause of our great Nation. We search not for ways to engage government positively but rather let fate and crude leaders dictate our lives. This article profers a solution to that dilema, by learning  from history and great civil rights leaders of the past, I have come to the conclusion that civil disobedience is the only way to engage government successfully in a Nation like Nigeria.

 

The rule of law,is the foundation of a civilised society. It establishes a transparent process accesible and equal to all. It ensures adherence to principles that both liberate and protect. if Nigerians continue to circumvent the rule of law, our society would crumble like the head of humpty dumpty who sat on the wall and had a great fall. If we abuse our Rule of Law, our Nation would degenrate into chaos.

 

It is no longer news that the rights of Nigerians are trampled everyday by the very people who we thought would protect us;public officers and security agencies. The government is also as guilty as evidenced in some recent decisoions taken by the Executive and Judiciary arm of government. The Judiciary which should be the hope of the common man, is now selling justice to the highest bidder. When the Judiciary is not credible and active, parties would take recourse to violence in other to square with one another.

 

One major problem of Nigerians is the ability to suffer in silence, as the late music icon Fela put it "suffering and smiling". We lack the passion needed to demand accountability from our leaders. In protest of the dire standards in Africa, populations are beginning to revolt, questioning the system and challenging the government, Nigerians being in the forefront of the struggle. The year 2011 would be remembered as the year of the arab spring, 2012 just may be the year of the African Spring.

 

Nigerians are not new to civil disobedience, it has been practiced for years by agencies such as ASUU and NLC (nigerian labour congress), asking Nigerians to sit at home in protest of government policies and lecturers to stay away from lecture halls are examples of civi disobedience. Civil disobedience is completely non-violent and the most effective way of bringing the problems of the people to the attention of government.

 

The occupy wall street movement and its franchises are current examples of civil disobedience. Your form of civil disobedience may be hunger strikes, solidarity walks or just camping in front of your local government office, we must however bring our grievances to the attention of government.

 

Do you have grievances;bad roads, no water, no light? Stage a peaceful demonstration in protest in a good location. However, uphold the rule of no violence and prevent unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of your gathering, or else it defeats the desired results of civil disobedience.

Adedunmade Onibokun



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Civil Disobedience;tool of engagement

Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government. It is commonly, though not always, defined as being non-violent resistance.

Civil disobedience is a peaceful and open protest in which participants violate laws that they find unethical or unjust.

Civil disobedience was used by Gandhi and a host of other world renowned leaders who disagreed with the policies of government or the injustice against their citizens,a recent example is Anna Hazare who fasted for 12 days as a protest against the indian government.

Nigerians are eager to engage government and demand for accountability and good governance but they have not discovered the right strategy, I believe that CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE is that missing strategy, Wale Ajani a youth leader tried to achieve this aim when he scheduled a hunger protest to hold in abuja on 11/11/11 as a medium for criticising the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government.

Civil disobedience must be embraced by all Nigerians because it is a non violent way of engaging government and drawing governments attention to the plight of the masses.

Here are a few tips on embarking on civil disobedience;

Some protests are best handled through getting the proper permits and obeying the laws about public assembly. Others, though, require the use of civil disobedience, especially if you're drawing attention to unfair laws and practices.

A peaceful protest using civil disobedience can help draw attention to injustice and change laws.

If you want to draw attention to a problematic law that you can readily break in public, your protest probably does merit civil disobedience. If you want to draw attention to other laws or issues, the legal route is the best one.

Gather a group of people interested in protesting using civil disobedience. Make sure they are truly dedicated to the cause you are pursuing and aren't just participating because they want to break laws. The people protesting should also be peaceful.

Break the law you find unjust in public as your protest. Your approach depends upon the law you're drawing attention to.

Stay peaceful and non-confrontational whatever spectators and law enforcement officials do. One of your main goals is to prove that the law you break should be done away with. If you become confrontational, you will have the opposite effect.

Realize that you will likely be arrested, or at least fined, for breaking the law. Before you break the law, investigate its consequences. All protesters must be willing to accept the consequences of breaking the law, and you must do so peacefully for your protest to be effective.

Repeat the protest, having new people use civil disobedience if you are imprisoned because of your actions. The more you repeat the action, the more successful your protest will be.

Hold your protest in a busy area of town, or in conjunction with another public event. Alert the media to your protest to make sure that it gets noticed.

Use civil disobedience to protest laws that are truly problematic. It's not worth the time and effort to protest laws that aren't unethical or unjust.

If spectators become violent, call the police for protection if you are not able to leave the protest site. Realize, though, that the police may not take your side.

Don't complain about getting arrested or being fined. Part of a protest using civil disobedience is accepting the consequences in a peaceful way.

Through Civil Disobedience we can bend government officials to do our biding. Embrace it now.
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Things you should know when purchasing land

A friend once came to me with the problem of having been swindled by dubious land sellers and he lost quite a huge sum of money. I also know that a lot people fall prey to this schemes daily.

This article is a brief summary of what every land buyer should know when contracting in landed properties.

The rule is that ownership of land is based on registration,everyone who own rights in landed property has to register it with the government.

Therefore the purchaser can discover from a mere inspection of the register whether the seller has the power to sell the land and whether or not there are interests on the land that may be investigated.

The property register contains detailed description and gives other information of the property that is registered while the proprietorship register contains the name, address, and description of the registered owner of the property. It also contains cautions, inhibitions and restrictions affecting the right of the proprietor to dispose the title.

When buying land the first procedure is to investigate title, the purchaser must approach the Registrar of Title with the following documents:
•A letter of consent or authority from the proprietor or a sworn declaration by the solicitor showing that he has consent of the proprietor to investigate the title.

•A copy of the land certificate which contains the particulars by which the property will be identified at the lands registry. The particulars the certificate usually contain are:
Title number;
District; and
The property.

•A declaration in court by the purchaser to the effect that the proprietor of the title actually granted the permission to conduct searches of the register.

•Only after being satisfied by the results of your enquiry should you buy the landed property,if not you may fall in the hand of swindlers.

If you ever need more information or help with regard to purchasing landed property, you should consult your Lawyer.


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Proudly Nigerian

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Win with YouWin

If you are a Nigerian youth, you have a business plan and you are looking for funds to start your business or expand it,this may be your lucky day. The Federal Government has just launched an initiative that may just change your life. Let me introduce you to YOUWIN.

YouWiN! stands for Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria. It is an innovative business plan competition aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas.

•Timelines for the Competition goes thus and all applicants should take note of the following critical dates for this competition:

1. First round business concept submission closes on Friday November 4, 2011. No entries will be accepted after that date

2. Notification of second round candidates and invitation for zonal training will be on a rolling basis as entries are received and evaluated, and will be completed by Saturday November 12, 2011. 

3. Training for the first batch of second round candidates starts on Friday November 4, 2011. 

4. Submission of second round business plan entries closes on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. 

5. Notification of winners will be completed by Tuesday, December 20, 2011.


So what are you waiting for, log on to www.youwin.org, apply and submit your business proposals now.
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Apply for the 2011 Unilever Nigeria Future Leaders Programme (Graduate Trainee Programme)

Unilever Nigeria has opened applications for its 2011 Unilever Future Leaders Programme (Graduate Trainee Programme).
Young graduates are encouraged to apply.

Academic Requirements: Undergraduate Degree. Minimum GPA 3.0
Maximum Age for Applicants: 26
Deadline for Applications: 11th October 2011

Click HERE to apply; http://uflpnigeria2011.com/

Background
Unilever brands are among the most successful in the fast moving consumer goods industry because the people behind them understand their enormous potential and impact! At Unilever, we work to create a better future everyday and we are sure you will feel the same if you join our Future Leaders’ Programme (Graduate Trainee Programme)!

In our Unilever Future Leaders Programme® (Graduate Trainee Programme), we don’t just employ fresh graduates; we offer them world-changing work and international exposure. We give young graduates exciting projects that develop them into managers in just three years. If you make it through our intense recruitment process, you will be exposed to variety of scenarios that will test your skills from the outset. (Just ask our undergraduate interns or participants at our recently concluded Ideatrophy® Championships!). You will also have talented, exceptional colleagues around you; and as a management trainee, this means challenge, freedom and responsibility like you’d never believe!

The Unilever Future Leaders’ Programme® is all about harnessing your potential. You’ll come into an organisation where you can make a measurable difference to our business performance. You’ll be encouraged to lead, to suggest, to challenge how we work. You’ll join an environment where you can be creative and be yourself. Our graduate programme recruits the people who will see this business into the future, developing into leaders with a difference.


Culled from www.BellaNaija.com

President Goodluck Jonathan’s 51st Independence day speech

Fellow Compatriots,

On this day 51 years ago, the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national Green-White-Green flag, heralding the independence of our nation. The 1st of October remains a special day for us, for Africa, and indeed the world.

As we celebrate today, we remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of our great country.

That is the Nigerian spirit! For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today in the world.

Our citizens at home and abroad, are making their mark in all fields of human endeavour. These hard-working and committed Nigerians, remain a source of pride to us and a beacon of what is achievable, if we remain focused and determined.

I know that a great number of you are joining hands with me and the Administration, in the great task ahead.

I value all Nigerians. I see our youth who are looking for jobs and yet remain hopeful. I see the farmer, and fisherman, toiling everyday to earn a living. I see the teacher, working hard, to train our future generations, with much sacrifice. I see the market women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps to generate income for their children and families. I see our sportsmen and women training hard to bring glory to our nation. I see our resilience and commitment, as a nation, to defend our democracy and secure our future.

I see every single profession and vocation, making positive contributions to national progress. I value you all! Together, we shall work for a Nigeria in which democracy and the rule of law are sacrosanct. A country where corruption and its attendant vices, are banished. A country where human life is sacred and respected, and where the rights of the individual are protected.

Nigeria is a young entity in the comity of nations and yet in her 51 years, she has made significant strides in making her presence felt all over the world. Our diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts, in various parts of the continent, have helped to end conflict and avert crises. In sustaining global security, our intervention has been crucial to peace, progress and democracy for the citizens of the affected countries.

The journey to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the civil war, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges. We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.

Today, as a nation, there is much for us to celebrate. We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit.

We celebrate our resilience and ability to turn adversity into hope. We celebrate our culture. For the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.

As your President, let me reassure all Nigerians that I remain resolutely committed to the ideals and dreams of our founding fathers. Let me also reassure Nigerians that I will strongly defend the peace and stability of our nation.

My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders.

We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.

I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.

All leaders and citizens, in every community, must therefore make peace the number one priority of their daily routine. This is because, without peace, no community can realize its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its members.

The current incidents of violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and tranquillity in all parts of the federation.

Securing our peace and stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all.

Since I assumed office, as the President of our great country, I have continued to focus my attention on the economy. I have taken several measures to address structural weaknesses which stand between us and economic growth and prosperity for all.

We are growing our economy, to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youth and enhanced prosperity for every citizen. This remains the main focus of my administration.

In a few days time, I shall launch an innovative competition for our young entrepreneurs to come up with ways to expand their businesses, create more jobs, and sharpen their business skills.

Now, it is very clear that without fundamental reforms in the key sectors of our economy, we will not be able to fully unlock our potential as a nation. We must manage our resources more prudently and efficiently. We must provide stable electricity to our citizens to help drive economic activity.

I call on our political leaders to put aside partisan politics, for united action towards the advancement of our nation. We must build together.

Because of the measures we have taken on the economy, our GDP is today one of the fastest growing in Africa. We are currently growing the economy at 7.8%. We expect to sustain an 8% growth rate and a better GDP in the medium term, on our journey towards realizing our Vision 20:2020 goal.

We shall strive to make this growth, job creating and inclusive.

Growth in agriculture and other non-oil sectors are crucial, to help diversify the economy and to generate much needed jobs. Agriculture remains one of the highest priorities in my government's Agenda for National Transformation. We have set out clear, agricultural, transformation action plans and policy measures, to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, cassava, maize, sorghum and other staple foods.

Self-sufficiency in rice alone will save us the 356 Billion Naira that we currently spend annually importing rice. We will revamp the way we distribute fertilizers, taking government out of distribution of fertilizers.

We plan to reach 20 million farmers with private-sector distributed fertilizers over the next four years. We will improve the investment environment and incentives for the private sector across the agricultural value chains. Our agricultural transformation plan will generate 3.5 million jobs and an additional 20 million metric tons of food.

But we must all show pride in our farmers. We should eat what we produce. The increasing popularity of local products, like 'Ofada Rice', 'Badegi rice', and 'Abakaliki Rice', attest to the fact, that the populace will readily embrace locally grown produce.

We must also take pride in our scientists. This week, Nigeria released 8 new high yielding cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production, across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation.

We have put in place implementable programmes to transform our Nation from an importer of petroleum products, to the regional hub for exportation of value-added petroleum and petrochemical products. We are revamping existing refineries and building three new ones.

We are effectively supporting the private-sector led construction of world scale petrochemical and fertilizer plants. This will for the first time in our history, result in effective monetization of our abundant natural gas resources while at the same time, creating over a million jobs.

Our potential is huge. We have the requisite market volume. We have a youthful, energetic, and hardworking population.

The structural and managerial bottlenecks, that have obstructed our economic growth, are being addressed, to unleash the energy and potentials of this nation.

To achieve this, I am determined to ensure that Nigerians have reliable electricity. Our economy will grow faster, and our hard working small businesses will thrive, when we finally fix the power challenges we face. We are fast tracking power reforms, to improve the generation and distribution of electricity.

Already, we are beginning to do things differently. I believe that integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service and fear of God, must be the hallmarks of leadership at all levels.

A nation is sustained by its institutions and systems. I have taken strong measures to improve on governance. It is in this regard, that I signed into law, the Freedom of Information Act. I will further strengthen all institutions, to ensure greater transparency, probity, and accountability at all levels.

Last year, I promised to restore confidence in our electoral system and pledged to deliver free and fair elections. To achieve that, we initiated some electoral reforms and strengthened INEC and other related agencies.

As a result, our April 2011 general elections was adjudged by Nigerians and the international community as the most transparent and credible elections, ever conducted in our country. Indeed, post-election petitions reduced by over 50%.

Let me assure all Nigerians of my resolve to lead our nation into a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous future for our children.

For the time has come, to rise above ethnic and religious divisions;

The time has come, to unite against violence, in all its ramifications;

The time has come, to secure our peace, and unite against suffering, and deprivation;

I see a new Nigeria rising. A Nigeria, that is economically strong. A Nigeria, that takes its rightful place of leadership in the world. A Nigeria, that uses its diversity to reinforce its strength. A Nigeria, we all can be proud of.

This is the Nigeria we need and this is the Nigeria, we all must build.

As we celebrate today, let us resolve to build the Nigeria of our future.

I thank you.

God bless you all.

DEREGEULATION OF THE OIL SECTOR

The first oil refinery built in the country is located outside Port Harcourt in the southern part of the country known today as the south- south region, and it started operations in 1965 with a capacity of 38,000 barrels per day (bpd). Since the first refinery was built in the country three more refineries were built to cater for expanding domestic needs over the last thirty years.

In the 90’s, with a fast growing population, the country was caught in the situation with domestic demand for gas far outweighing supply, and with corruption, smuggling and mismanagement, the refineries were operating at less than optimal levels. Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) was done on the refineries to improve capacity but this was not getting the desired effect and NNPC (State Owned Enterprise) had to import heavily from abroad thereby cutting actual revenue derived from oil exports.

The Nigerian oil industry is divided into two sectors; the upstream sector (deals with Exploration and Production) and the downstream sector, which deals with refining of crude oil for domestic consumption. The Nigerian government has decided to emulate other developing and developed nations by privatizing and liberalizing the country’s downstream sector which was hitherto managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on behalf of the government.

The goal of the Nigerian government in adhering to the principles of privatization and liberalization is influenced by the successes of other countries in doing the same. Kupolokun (2004) the Group Managing Director of NNPC noted that the intended goals are;
• Dismantle the natural monopoly of the state owned enterprise by privatizing and deregulating price controls.
• Creation of competition in the downstream sector by encouraging more companies to get involved and eventually supplying the market at competitive pricing levels.
• Reduce the cost government spends on subsidizing the sector which runs as high as $1.5 billion annually, and can consequently used the resources freed up to handle the socio- economic and welfare needs of the Nigerian people.
• Boost in Foreign Direct Investment to the Nigerian economy.
• Reduction in transportation costs of products and people.

The Nigerian government has decided to go ahead with the policy even against widespread disapproval on the part of ordinary citizens. The government though is taking note of other countries that have privatized, particularly those in South America.

However,“Disruptions in the Nigerian downstream sector have deeper and more immediate domestic political implications for the country than those that may occur in the upstream sector” (Khan, 1994, p. 127). Nigerians believe that low gas prices are a given right and have protested vigorously through strikes each time the price of gas was increased in the last few years and are bitterly against the privatization and deregulation of the downstream sector. It is worth noting that the biggest gain will be in savings generated from divesting in the sector this will free up government funds for other activities.

Deregulation of the downstream aspect of the petroleum industry remains the best panacea to the continuous crisis of interruptions and scarcity of petroleum products in Nigeria, says Ibrahim Boyi, Managing Director/CEO, Eterna Oil & Gas Company Plc.

Boyi says the inability of the country to operate functional refineries to meet local demands has exposed both marketers and consumers to the dynamics of international prices, as the bulk of products consumed were imported from the international market.

According to him, there was no need for Nigerians to pretend that all was well with the continuous regulation of the sector, especially as the country are buying at prices far above government regulated prices.

What are the benefits: “It takes away a lot of inefficiency; it takes away a lot of wastages. It frees funds for government to do other development projects. And believe me, at the end of the day, the customer will still be better for it because products will be available, its supply line uninterrupted and facilities and services will improve,” he opined.

The question that arises is how does government stimulate competition? Well that is the challenge because since the refineries to be privatized are natural monopolies. Government must effectively make sure that collusion does not happen once the refineries are sold; government also must still be able influence price mechanism without actually fixing price ceilings otherwise the exercise of privatization would have been in futility.

The approach government has chosen to do this is quite interesting because it is novel in the third world. The Government has created a policy that affects the upstream sector; government has sent a bill to the Nigerian senate for approval. This bill which is receiving accelerated hearing makes it mandatory for major oil companies operating in Nigeria, i.e. Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Elf to refine at least 50% of their crude oil in the country.

What this means is that there will be many suppliers in the Nigerian market, thereby encouraging competition and attendant lower costs. The oil majors are not too thrilled about this but it is a price they have to pay if they want to remain in the Nigerian market.

The Nigerian Labour Congress is now gearing for another strike as President Jonathan has decided to deregulate the downstream sector, future events as they unfold though would determine what happens.



I for one actually supports deregulation.


BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Economics of Privatizing and Deregulating the Nigerian Downstream Oil Sector
by Ifiok Ibanga

What the Police won't tell you.

This has to do with fundamental rights. Fundamental right is a right that stands above the ordinary laws of the land and which in fact is antecedent to the political society itself.

The main purpose of guarantee of these specific Fundamental Rights in our Constitution is to prevent disorder and to leave an outlet for the oppressed to seek a redress and fair play in the sanctuary and temple of justice, thereby serving as the remedy for defect of the police and those ugly things one finds in the body polity.

People it is written languish in their ignorance, because we do not know our rights, policemen take us for a ride,we are duped because we do not know our rights. This article contain rights that you should know whenever you have dealings with the police.

RIGHT TO BE INFORMED OF THE CRIME ALLEGED
This is the provision that the accused understands the charge against him. It is enacted in section 36(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), that a person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to be informed promptly, in the language that he understands and in details, of the nature of the offence (that is, crime alleged).

RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING
The right to fair hearing is a constitutional right enshrined under section 36(1) and (4) of the 1999 CFRN. The right cannot be waived or statutorily taken away. Also, trial courts are enjoined to ensure that hearing notices are issued on parties before embarking on the trial of any matter before them.

PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE
In other words, an accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. However, it is the duty of the prosecution who alleges that the accused person committed the offence to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.

RIGHT TO ADEQUATE TIME AND FACILITIES FOR DEFENCE
Under section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 CFRN, every person who is charged with a criminal offence is entitled to "be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence". Whether an accused has had been adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence as provided in this section is a question of fact

RIGHT TO DEFEND BY COUNSEL
This is the right of the accused person to defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own choice.
Section 36(6)(c) provides that a person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own choice.

There are so many provisions in our laws that we should all know.
Ignorance is no more an excuse.
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25 million naira reward for Mamman Nur

This man is Maman Nur, The Nigerian secret police has placed a N25 million ($175,000) bounty for his capture,he is the alleged mastermind behind the August 26 car bombing of the United Nations office building in Abuja.

Alhaji Nur was declared wanted on Septemeber 1st 2011 by the Nigerian government.
In a statement issued with Mr. Nur's photograph, the SSS reiterated that Alhaji Nur, a businessman with ties to Boko Haram, was still on the run.

What your LOCAL GOVERNMENT can\ should do

1. The main functions of a local government council are as follows:
(a) the consideration and the making of recommendations to a State commission on economic planning or any similar body on -
(i) the economic development of the State, particularly in so far as the areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected, and
(ii) proposals made by the said commission or body;
(b) collection of rates, radio and television licences;
(c) establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm;
(d) licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts;
(e) establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences;
(f) construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lightings, drains and other public highways, parks, gardens, open spaces, or such public facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the House of Assembly of a State;
(g) naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses;
(h) provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal;
(i) registration of all births, deaths and marriages;
(j) assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State; and
(k) control and regulation of -
(i) out-door advertising and hoarding,
(ii) movement and keeping of pets of all description,
(iii) shops and kiosks,
(iv) restaurants, bakeries and other places for sale of food to the public,
(v) laundries, and
(vi) licensing, regulation and control of the sale of liquor.
2. The functions of a local government council shall include participation of such council in the Government of a State as respects the following matters -
the provision and maintenance of primary, adult and vocational education;
(b) the development of agriculture and natural resources, other than the exploitation of materials
(c) the provision and maintenance of health services; and
(d) such other functions as may be conferred on a local government council by the House of Assembly of the State.
From the above provisions of the constitution, it is evident the important roles our local government councils play in the administration of our various local government areas.
This is a call for everyone to demand accountability and high performance from our local government chairman and their commitees. It is our right.

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100 days of Goodluck

In reviewing the first 100 days of President Goodluck Jonathan's' tenure as president, it is obvious there has been little leaps of achievements, I must presume that the government does not wish to consider itself satisfied by this little feats but intends to pursue vigorously the continuous and steady growth of our beloved country on all levels.

Every citizen should see this little successes not as the success of Goodluck Jonathan but as the success of our Nation, I would in no way paint Gej as the God sent messiah but I would describe him as a man who possesses a burning desire to see Nigeria grow into its rightful place amongst the comity of Nations.

In the last 100 days we have achieved the following as a Nation;

•Nigeria's oil industry expanded by 20% and we reclaimed our position as Africa's largest oil exporter which we'd hitherto lost to Angola. Nigeria was also recognised by OPEC in July as the 2nd largest oil exporter, 2nd only to Saudi Arabia. It is the first time Nigeria has recorded such a feat.
Though this results into more revenue for our country which we may now put into other sectors such as Education, Security and the development of critical infrastructure which is needed, I would advice the government to reduce its dependency on oil and focus on agriculture, though this has been the recent policy of government, I believe youths should be vigorously driven in this direction. Youths should be advised to abandon the lure of white collar jobs and delve into the abundance of agriculture. Also policies which would aid this youths in terms of availability of resources should be put in place.

• Secondly, Inflation rate has been reducing as the administration enforces tighter fiscal policies and in June the Consumer Price Index showed an inflation rate of 10.2% which dropped to 9.4% in July being the lowest rate in the last 4 years.

•Foreign Reserves Rose by 10% to $35 Billion, due to misinformation I once heard a young man say "Gej had spent all our foreign reserves on his campaign", apparently this was not the case.

•Nigeria has been declared top three investment destinations in Africa (number 2) by the independent Africa Business Panel in The Netherlands. Mr Henry Bellingham, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State For Africa and Overseas Territories,  said during a two-day investment forum in march 2011 tagged: "Making Nigeria Your Goal.''that;

"Nigeria has averaged growth of  8.9 per cent which is really stunning.
"Nigeria is the world's fourth fastest growing economy with solid growth in the next five years and beyond ; this is truly remarkable,'' he said. He also stated that  the Nigerian economy  may outpace that of  South Africa in the next 10 years if the current  reform in the banking sector was extended to the power, oil and gas sectors. The benefit of course is enormous for our economy.

•Nigeria now generates power at her highest level ever (4000mw) which is still far from enough but which will improve monthly according to Reno Omokri, the Presidents special adviser on media.

•Nigerian Railway Corporation commenced Mass Transit Services in 5 of 6 geo-political zones and the Last zone should come on stream by year's end.

•Furthermore with the establishment of the NSIA which would facilitate direct investments into infrastructure with priority areas being Power and Roads, Nigerians should rightly expect more infrastructure development.

• The Launch of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X Satellites would help expand Internet Bandwidth and provide early warning to prevent natural disasters, with such technology we would be rid of the poor internet facilities we are currently experiencing and disasters such as the floods in Lagos and Oyo states would be well managed to avoid loss of live and property.

•The President also introduced the policy of engaging the Private Sector on kerosine pricing, this resulted into the price being reduced between May and September, 2011.

•In addition, by recognising the sacrifices of youth corps members, the President approved an upward review of allowances from 9,700 to 19,800 Naira. Corp members received the news with great joy in July and we hope that one day, Corp members would earn as much as 50,000 naira.

•The Implementation of Minimum Wage Increase for Nigerian Workers to 18,900 Naira monthly is another good step in ensuring the commitment of Civil servants to their duties.

• Women are also not left out as they were given a 16.35% Slot in the cabinet.
With this we hope to see the rise of more women in our polity.

•By deepening Security and expanding Peace in the Niger Delta, the reign of militancy and guerilla warfare amongst our youths in the Niger Delta has reduced. Also with governments recent commitment to cleaning Oil spills in the Ogoni land, we should hope for the better welfare of the Ogoni people.

• Also, there has been reduced kidnapping in the South East with implementation of President's order establishing the 14 Brigade of the army in Ohafia, Abia state. Maritime Safety has also been ensured and stabilized in the last 100 days.

•A stellar cabinet comprising former MDs of the World Bank & Goldman Sachs, Chairperson Accenture and multiple PHds and the approval of genuine foreign investors to obtain visas at the point of entry to facilitate FDI investments, we hope would formulate policies that would help grow and promote the Nigerian economy.

•The National Automobile Council established an Automotive Development Fund to resuscitate the automobile industry and generate jobs is also a platform for providing employment for our youths.

• Model Skills Training Centers in Abuja- collaboration between Industrial Training Fund & the Institute for Technical Education,Singapore have been established as well.

•Finally, there has been established the Nigerian Vehicle Credit Purchase scheme, which would help the common man to acquire vehicles.

I would advice the Federal Government to continue in this direction of development and growth, though there are other sectors of the economy which still require drastic reforms, I pray God grants government the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to continue to provide the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

God bless Nigeria.

Adedunmade Onibokun
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Nigerian Constitution

Reno Omokri said on his twitter account that "Our present Constitution isn't a perfect document and needs the people's input. But until it is amended it's all we have. Read it and use it!"

Every Nigerian should have a copy of the constitution, download a copy of the Nigerian constitution free by following this link: http://t.co/wWDjbgl

Share the link with friends as well.
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Is this a Northern Coup?

Of Nigeria's 50 years of Independence, she has been ruled mostly by men from the Northern part of the country,men like Ibrahim Babangida, Sanni Abacha, Muritala Mohamed, Buhari, Yar'adua, Abdusalami Abubakar and Tafawa Balewa. It is no news that they intend to produce the next president of this country come 2015.

Members of the oil producing community have also cried out that all the money gotten from their environment is being spent in the North. It is a fact that Northern Nigeria though the largest region has the best connection of roads in Nigeria, the potholes on the Lagos - Ibadan expressway alone are more than the potholes on express roads in the whole Northern region.

They have their own militia consisting of irate youths and the Islamic sect; Boko Haram. They also now want to own the banks via introducing Islamic Banking. Could this be why the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is vehemently rejecting its introduction and would give their support if only a form of Christian banking is introduced as well.

This may just be a conspiracy theory but it may also be the big picture. What do you think?
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ISLAMIC BANKING; AN INTRODUCTION

Islamic banking is banking based on Islamic law (Shariah). It follows from the Quran and the Sunnah, and other secondary sources of Islamic law such as opinions collectively agreed among Shariah scholars (ijma’),analogy (qiyas) and personal reasoning (ijtihad). The first Islamic bank was established in Malaysia in 1983 while In 1993, commercial banks, merchant banks and finance companies begun to offer Islamic banking products and services under the Islamic Banking Scheme (IBS banks).

The common Shariah banking concepts include:
• Safety Deposits
• Profit sharing
• Mortgage
• Higher Purchase
• Joint venture
• Agency
• Interest-free loan

Islamic banking is not meant for Muslims only and the most important difference between Islamic and conventional banking is that Islamic banking must follow the Shariah.


Advantages of Islamic Banking
1. Islamic banking is becoming a very popular amongst international investors. Having committed itself to a text accessable to all and Prophetic precedents available easily, Islamic banking is open to any innovations that are in congruence with its fundamentals. It is not a closed system. It has no regional, ethnic or class affiliations.



2. In Islam banking, only one kind of loan and that is qard-el-hassan (literally good loan) whereby the lender does not charge any interest or additional amount over the money lent.

3. In Wadiah (safekeeping), a bank is deemed as a keeper and trustee of funds. A person deposits funds in the bank and the bank guarantees refund of the entire amount of the deposit, or any part of the outstanding amount, when the depositor demands it.

4. Islamic banking is more efficient in that it allocates investable funds on the basis of the expected value productivity of projects rather than on the criterion of the creditworthiness of those who own the projects, which is the case in debt-based finance.

5. Islamic banking is less prone to inflation and less vulnerable to speculation, which are currently being fueled by the presence of huge quantities of debt instruments in the market.

6. Islam encourages people to invest their money and to become partners in order to share profits and risks in the business instead of becoming creditors. As defined in the Shari'ah, or Islamic law, Islamic finance is based on the belief that the provider of capital and the user of capital should equally share the risk of business ventures, whether those are industries, farms, service companies or simple trade deals.
Disadvantages of Islamic Banking
1. Investments should only support practices or products that are not forbidden or considered unlawful, or haraam, by Islamic law. Trade in alcohol, for example would not be financed by an Islamic bank; a real-estate loan could not be made for the construction of a casino; and the bank could not lend money to other banks at interest.

2. Money is only a medium of exchange, a way of defining the value of a thing; it has no value in itself, and therefore should not be allowed to give rise to more money, via fixed interest payments, simply by being put in a bank or lent to someone else.

With the CBN's controversial introduction of Islamic Law in Nigeria, there has been many controversies, while others are in keen support others are vehemently against it. There is a certain gray area however that is attributed to this form of banking.I would like those who have evidence or theories about this so called gray areas to kindly comment and enlighten us about them.

This Bitch of a Life

Fela Anikulakpo kuti lived a very turbulent life, he was always arrested and hassled by the police and military, especially on that faithful day when his house was raided by solders,his wives raped, his house burnt and his mother thrown out a window.

Reading his biography opened me to his mind, his beliefs and way of life. Fela was an enigma whose life was spent in service to his fellow man, his residence was always open to any and everyone. His shrine,an abode to many.

However not many know that fela grew into a young man who neither womanized or smoked at least till he met SANDRA.

I would hate to tell you everything in the book and take out all the fun, I would employ you though to buy a copy and while you read it, listen to fela's songs.

If you are an advocate or activist,it may multiply the passion in you.


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Why should a police man hit me?

Really,aren't you thinking the same?. A police man would order you to do manual labour and punishments. He would order you to frog jump or go on your kneels, a police man! Even solders would beat you mercilessly and expect you to still beg them for mercy.

Really, what section of the constitution or police act empowers an officer to physically assault you?

This happens because we are mentally enslaved as Nigerians that we fail to appreciate the common fact that we are not 2nd class citizens in our own country.

I commend the efforts of a brave few, who have challenged such illegal abuse of power and received financial awards in courts. Only by constant engagement with government authority can we get what rightly belongs to us.

During the british fiasco when parliament deliberated increasing tuition fees by over 200%, thousands of students took to the streets in protest. When a final year student was asked why he per took in the rally since he would not be affected by the decision, he stated that "I may not be affected but I have younger ones who my parents would still have to sponsor through school,if I don't fight for them,who will?"

I was deeply touched by this statement,if Nigerians worked together with this principle in mind, we would wrestle with government, for if the educational sector is not reformed,it is my children that would suffer a great deficiency in education, if the government cannot provide jobs for the youths, then my siblings would never be able to earn their living,hence placing a greater burden on my parents,who are over age and cannot succesfully or vigorously provide adequate labour.

Everything in this country concerns you and I. No one,I repeat no one,would fight for Us, if we don't first take up arms ourselves.
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Young Nigerians to look up to

Yes it is true that Nigeria is full of 60 and 70 year old men running the show and a youth population that is not constructively engaged, it is these old men who serve as role models for our teeming young population,little wonder why young Nigerians perpetuate frauds and commit crimes,its just as a result of what the people before us are doing.

It should be noted however that there are a new crop of young Nigerians who we can emulate and gain from. A new generation of Nigerians who are changing the orientation of our society through their lives stories. In the following weeks,there would be a number of articles on such Nigerians. Hope you find a worthy mentor amongst them.

Let me however introduce you to one of such young Nigerians.

Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) is a Partner in the firm of Sofunde,Osakwe,Ogundipe and Belgore. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2001 at the age of 40. He is one of a few to have been conferred with that coveted rank at that age.

As a lawyer he specialises in Admirality & Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as banking & finance,Commercial Litigation,Natural Resources

Dele Belgore holds an LL.M from Bristol University, England and the LL.B from the University of Hull England. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar, 1985.
 
Belgore joined the Nigerian Merchant Bank Limited from 1985 to 1986 as a Legal Officer. In 1986, he joined  Chief Rotimi Williams' Chambers where he worked as Counsel until 1989 when he left them to establish this firm.  He is founding member and partner in Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore (Legal Practitioners) from 1989 - to date.
 
Dele Belgore was made Notary Public in 1997; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIarb) in March 1997. He is also an approved tutor of the Institute and the current 3rd Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Branch.. He lectures widely on arbitration in Nigeria and abroad. Mr. Belgore is also a Member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Nigerian Maritime Law Association.

Politically, Dele Belgore was the ACN governorship candidate in the just concluded Nigerian general elections for the Kwara state.

He is a young Nigerian I would like top emulate.
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Una dey madt abi

Wetin dey do una naija people sef,e be like say una don dey madt,una
no dey see as our country dey fuckup abi, una don dey too fear I
beg,any small thing una go talk say una no wan die,una no wan
suffer,na wa o,as tuface talk "nobody wan die but they wan go heaven".
Na long thing una dey do.na wa o

Me I ready carry placard enter road o,this government gats dey collect
steady for our hand, but una dey form butter. Na wa o

Na untill this country fall finish na him una go soji abi,untill Boko
Haram don bomb the whole nigeria finish, I dey talk my own now,una dey
form say una no dey hear me. Na so fela talk am wey una no hear.
Funny, na since 1977 na him fela don talk am but una no wan hear.

See e,this people for govt don build estate on top our head o, na we
money dem dey use jaye.Police sef go dey beat boyz as if say na dem
pay person school fees, sojo sef go dey waka as if say na him get the
whole world.

I no know as una dey take reason am o,but I no go lie,me I don tire,
na y I jus dey talk all my frustration for here so.

I dey take God dey beg una,make una stop to dey fall my hand. If we no
fight for our rights,na who go fight na,una think say Bros J go cum
from heaven cum carry placard for road abi or u think say him go cum
help una sweep una parlour. I beg make we soji o.

Me I don talk my own sha,if una ready fight,make una go join NIGERIAN
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE for facebook.

Make una no vex as I take talk o,na jus say I dey para for where I dey.

Anyhow sha,we go still dey yarn... Safe

The Weakest Link; Northern Nigeria

There is a common belief that amongst the 3 major regions in Nigeria,the North is the weakest link, though Its leaders have ruled Nigeria more than any other ethnic group (Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha,Abdulsalami,Muritala Mohamed, Yakubu Gowon, Musa Yar'adua)

The sheer scale of violence in the North has been a real threat to Nigeria's continued existence as a Nation and the north is generally blamed for squandering the nation's wealth and leading the country to ruin.

The major problem attributed to northern Nigeria is lack of orientation and education. According to Yaned Afuwaj, a retired teacher and former president of the Southern Kaduna People's Union, "before 1972, schools in the north were well equipped,there existed moral teaching including everything needed to make a good nation. The objective of government taking over the schools from british colonials was to suppress the general progress of the north",he said. From Afuwaj's view point,the government's neglect of education reflects something deeper in the culture of the hausa and fulani, in hausa culture, no child, no matter how intelligent, could attend school unless he was the son of an emir or of the emir's extended family. They wanted the administration of the community to be controlled by their children. This was at a time when Western Nigeria was promoting free education for all.

Northern Nigeria however was introduced to sharia Law through Usman Dan Fodio who promoted religious jihads. While Nigerians in other regions were orientated to question societal norms and to adhere to rules of moral justice and good conscience, Northerners were groomed to believe in the words of their spiritual leaders, they attributed all aspects of their lives to Islamic law and viewed everyone who did not follow their religion as infidels whose eradication they believe is their sole responsibility,these misguided people are called Almajiri,meaning people schooled in Islamic law but not in western education.

A census conducted in 2006 found that there were 1.2million Almajiri boys in Kano alone; recent national estimates put the total number of such boys at 10million. These Almajiris, in return for the Islamic education provided by the Mallam are required to provide support for him even as they fend for themselves usually by roaming the streets to beg for alms.

A UNICEF researcher found that 60% of these kids never return home.
The Arewa Youth Mobilisation, a non-governmental organisation some time ago presented statistics showing that 30 per cent of Northern Nigeria youths are street beggars
Wole Olabanji, in his "Almajiri (Coaxing an Evil Genie - The Almajiri Challenge", published by Elombah.com said:
"These kids are then from an early age schooled in Islamic knowledge; in certain instances of a radical bent. Put that together with the fact they are not given any other knowledge or skills that will enable them participate in the economy and what you get are young adults who have lived deprived of parental love; who are excluded from the economic life of the society; and in many cases indoctrinated with radical, negative ideas about people who are different in some respect from them".

Wole Olabanji cited that:
"When the average 13yr old Southern Nigerian Christian female child is preoccupied with Introductory Technology as a school subject, her northern Muslim counterpart is discussing the upcoming introduction to her prospective in-laws with her envious mates (she is going to be the fourth wife). Trace the trajectory of their lives and you will find that when the southerner is entering university at 18, her counterpart is in the third trimester of her fifth annual pregnancy. When the southern girl is getting married at 27, it falls on the same date as the wedding of the first daughter of her northern friend, such that nine months later she is a new mother and the northerner is a grandmother – they are now generations apart"

Daniel Elombah in his article " Nigeria; the turbulent North and the Almajiri threat (part 1)" noted that these religious and political problems stemming from the North is fueled by poverty, lack of education, neglect, ignorance, poor judgment and perceptions of their fellow Nigerians; due to lack of basic informational structure in place  to sustain the peace and harmony that we need to prosper as a nation.

He further stated that one other thing to understand about these problems is that, the brainwashing of the uninformed in the North will continue unabated, and as the epicentre of barbaric activities from religious intolerance in Nigeria.

I however believe that only the youths of the north can salvage the region and only through mass education and value re-orientation can this be achieved.
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Vision 2020; An Introduction

The NV 20:2020 economic transformation blueprint is a long term plan for stimulating Nigeria's economic growth and launching the country onto a path of sustained and rapid socio-economic development. The blueprint articulates Nigeria's economic growth and development strategies for the eleven-year period between 2009 and 2020, and will be implemented using a series of medium term national development plans.

NV20:2020 is a rallying call for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, economic status, or religion to unite and stand behind a common cause of placing the country firmly on a path of sustainable growth, and taking it to its rightful place in the comity of nations. The blueprint has, therefore, been designed to reflect accurately the collective interests of the people of Nigeria, using a bottom-up approach that is anchored on a deep understanding of the aspirations of all Nigerian citizens, and knowledge of the future needs of the country. The vision is underpinned by the need to effectively and efficiently mobilise the nation's resources to serve and improve the lives of its citizens, and to respond appropriately to the growing challenges of an increasingly smaller, mutually dependent, and interconnected world.

NV20:2020 encapsulates the key principles and thrusts of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and the Seven Point Agenda of the current democratic administration (2007 – 2011), situating both within a single, long term strategic planning perspective.

The development of the NV20:2020 blueprint commenced with the approval of the Framework for NV20:2020 at the apex of which was the National Council on NV20:2020 (NCV20:2020), by the Federal Executive Council. The NCV20:2020 was given the mandate to spearhead the development and implementation of the NV20:2020 Economic Transformation Plan, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission.

The visioning process involved active participation and input from a broad spectrum of Nigerians. Experts from various ministries, agencies, state and local governments, representatives from the private sector, as well as development consultants and non-governmental organisations, all participated in developing the blueprint. The effort was co-ordinated by the National Planning Commission, working with Messrs Accenture, a global management consulting firm.

The visioning process commenced with the development of comprehensive strategic plans for each sector of the economy at the conclusion of detailed diagnostic assessments and visioning sessions. The country was analysed across 29 thematic areas for this purpose and the effort was delivered through 29 National Technical Working Groups (NTWGs), comprising leading experts on each thematic area. Each of the NTWGs submitted strategic plans that included sector specific visions, policy targets, objectives and priorities for their respective thematic areas and formulated strategies, initiatives and implementation plans. The rigorous strategy development effort, undertaken by the NTWGs, was also replicated in each state of the federation and each Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) at the federal level, by Stakeholder Development Committees (SDCs) set up for this purpose. The development of strategic plans at the state and MDA levels, which involved the facilitation of several interactive SDC workshops across the six geopolitical zones of the country, was designed with a view to generate sufficient public dialogue and input into the process. The work of the NTWGs and SDCs was also complemented by twelve (12) Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to ensure that all relevant perspectives and stakeholders were included in the visioning process. The SIGs were made up of the Legislature, Judiciary, Media, Women, Youths, Traditional Rulers, Religious Groups, Security, Nigerians in Diaspora, Persons with Disability (PWD), Labour and the Civil Service. Responses from a call for memoranda from the general public were also relevant as input into the process.

To develop the final blueprint, two working groups were constituted. The first working group was mandated to develop a consistent macro-economic framework to underpin the vision, and the second, the Central Working Group, to develop the first draft of the blueprint, using all the inputs received in the course of the visioning process. The Central Working Group developed the first draft of the NV20:2020 Economic Transformation Plan across the three broad themes defined as the central thrusts for the Vision.

The NV20:2020 Economic Transformation plan was developed for and by the Nigerian people. It realises the role Nigerian citizens' play in achieving the targets set forth by NV20:2020, and rightly places our citizens and their welfare at the forefront of the agenda. The Vision prioritises and offers strategies to drive the full realisation of Nigeria's potential and her emergence as one of the leading global economies in the world within the next decade.

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POLITICS or POLIRICH

In the last 24hrs I have met 7 youths who told me they would like to partake in governance and politics,when I asked why, their reply was because they wanted to be rich,in their words they wanted to join politics so they could embezzle govt funds.

I was always perplexed whenever I got such a reply, why not for reasons such as to deliver dividends of democracy, to serve my Nation or to serve my people,everyone just wants to join politics in a search for personal gratification.

This is a great shame, the youths on whose shoulders this country rests and whom it is believed would take us forward is fast loosing its way.

If our leaders of tomorrow are already planning strategies on how they would promote corruption then we may as well just kill one another because our future is already doomed.

Adedunmade
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The Publication that got El-Rufai arrested by the State Secret Service

What Nigerians Pay the Federal Government - El Rufai

by Nasir El-Rufai

This year, every Nigerian – all 162 million of us – man, woman and child will 'pay' the sum of N27,685 each to help run the federal government. What we cannot afford, government will borrow on our behalf to pay for its activities. That is why the federal government, on behalf of you and I will spend the sum of 4.485 trillion (over four thousand billion) naira in 2011. This is against the backdrop that our entire oil earnings for the year cannot pay the generous salaries and allowances of politicians on the one hand, and the meagre pay cheques of other public sector workers on the other, while infrastructure and unemployment are barely getting attention.

When you walk into a government office to request for a basic service, the staff you meet may not even bother to reply to your greeting and barely has time to listen to you; the policeman that should protect you on the roadblock, stops you and demands for bribes and has no qualms shooting dead any motorist that refuses to give him twenty naira; the customs officer at the border who is supposed to stop smuggling takes a bribe and actually connives with the smugglers to bring in banned products into the Nigerian market, while harassing the traveller entering Nigeria with two new pairs of shoes; the hospital staff that, contrary to every professional oath, refuses to attend to dying patients because they are on strike; the soldiers who get so bored that they occasionally go on a rampage, using policemen for target practice. With live ammunition, of course; the politician who rigs himself into office then proceeds to loot the treasury: these are all the people whose standard of living we are spending nearly 75 per cent of the 2011 budget to pay for – and borrowing some after spending all our collections from oil and taxes!

It will cost nearly 2.5 million naira this year on average to pay for the salary and upkeep of each of Nigeria's nearly one million federal public sector workers – in the police, civil service, military and para-military services and teachers in government schools and institutions. Whether this amount justifies the service that is rendered is left for Nigerians to decide. In all, the 49 line Ministries, Departments and Agencies specifically mentioned in the 2011 Appropriations Act will each cost an average of N49.49 billion to run.

We elect a total of 360 members to the House of Representatives and 109 Senators to make laws and enhance good governance by checking and balancing the excesses of the executive arm of government. For this privilege, the 469 members of the federal legislature and their support staff at the National Assembly will spend N150 billion this year. It is worth noting that NASS only passed 8 bills as at the end of May 2011. So assuming that they manage to pass another 7 bills before the end of this year, it would cost the Nigerian citizen an average ten billion naira to pass a single bill! This implies that to pass the 2011 budget (which allocates N150 billion to NASS), Nigerians paid 10 billion naira. An even more interesting statistic is the cost of maintaining every legislator every year. It works out to princely N320 million per legislator per annum. At this rate, every four year stint at NASS works out at N1.28 billion per legislator. No wonder machetes, guns and thugs are used at will to "win" primaries and the elections. How many new businesses can achieve a turnover of N1.28 billion within four years with net tax-free profit in excess of 50 percent? Is this social justice?

For the NASS, even the amount of N150 billion above is just what we can see easily but is not broken down for further analysis or accountability. There is a bit more hidden all over the Appropriation Act – another N1.595 billion was tucked away for "In-lieu of accommodation for the Seventh Session of NASS" and another N200 million for "Funding of House Resolution Mandates." What these two provisions mean is best explained by those that legislated them and the executive that will release the sums! What is clear is that none of these will ever be accounted for, or audited!

Last week, I wrote about the cost of justice. I got a few things wrong because I did not appreciate fully the unique role of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in the administration of the nation's judicial system. My friend and former classmate Mrs. Maryam Wali Uwais clarified this and educated me, for which I am grateful. The NJC's budget of N95 billion covers the salaries and allowances of all judges of superior courts of record in Nigeria – that is State High Courts and their federal equivalents, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The NJC also funds the overheads of all the Federal Courts only – the Federal High Court and the appellate courts, as well as the salaries and allowances of all Federal Judicial support staff. The State Governments are responsible for the salaries of all other judicial staff (magistrates, support staff, etc.) and the overhead costs of all courts within their respective jurisdictions. It is therefore slightly more complicated to compute what it costs to keep our entire judicial system running without adding up all the budgetary allocations to the Judiciary in all 36 states. We will return to this sometime soon.

An interesting observation is the fact that the government says the problem of power shortage is a priority, yet the Ministry of Power only got 91 billion naira as total appropriation in 2011, while the National Security Adviser (NSA) controls and will spend 208 billion naira (Recurrent – N51 billion, Capital N59 billion, and another N98 billion for the Amnesty Programme!). This amount does not include the Defence budget. The Defence Ministry will get N348 billion, while the Police will get 309 billion naira. In other words, though Nigerians have never felt so insecure in recent history, the NSA, Police and Defence will spend a combined 865 billion naira – more than 2 billion naira a day, weekends included! This does not include the 36 states' so-called security votes. Even state assembly members and local government councillors now have security votes. Clearly their security is more important than ours!

The point of these statistics is to show how expensive governance has become and how little Nigerians get in return. And the unproductive portions of our national budget have been rising rapidly in the last 4 years, to the detriment of capital investments in infrastructure and human development. Four years ago in 2007, the entire federal government budget was 2.3 trillion naira; today we are spending 4.485 trillion. In 2007, statutory transfers amounted to 102 billion naira or 5% of the total budget. Today, transfers amount to 418 billion or 9% of the total.
This year, the federal government will spend 495 billion naira or 11% of the budget on debt servicing compared to 326 billion naira or 14% it spent the year we finally exited from the London Club debt. More telling is the 1.05 trillion naira or 46% for recurrent expenditure in 2007 against the 2.425 trillion or 54% government will spend this year. Just four years ago, capital expenditure accounted for 36% (830 billion naira) of the budget. This year, the amount for capital expenditure has fallen to 25% (1.147 trillion naira – out of which N1.136 trillion is the budget deficit – that is to be borrowed!).

To the uninformed eye, the figures may seem to represent increases in all aspects, but to what cost, and to what effect? Apologists would want us to believe that the astronomical increase in the cost of government services can be explained by inflation, but even taking into consideration the high inflationary trend (thanks to Jonathan's profligate campaign year spending), statutory transfers in the budget has gone up by a whopping 310%; debt servicing has a 52% increase; recurrent expenditure has gone up by 131% while capital expenditure has increased by 39% over four years. In real terms however, and accounting for inflation, the total budget has increased by 33% with recurrent expenditure going up by 58% while capital expenditure has actually reduced by 6%.

Facts and figures do not lie. Every figure used in this analysis came from official government records. What is the justification for allocating such huge amounts to running the government when a staggering 30 million Nigerians are unemployed? Only N50 billion has been budgeted to create employment, forgetting that money by itself does not create jobs without a well thought out plan to stimulate small and medium scale enterprises and the creation of appropriate regulatory environments. What are the strategies to ensure that these funds are not diverted? How many jobs will be created this year or in the next four years? Are our priorities right?

All these come down to the questions: Will government's 4.485 trillion naira budget make life any better or even provide security for Nigerians? Can we feel the impact of this huge spending? Is the cost of governance justified? If we do not have the courage to ask these questions, we will be doing ourselves a disservice and endangering our people's future.
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20 Million Nigerian Youths

Nigerian youths are the people facing first hand the economic,social and political decay in this Nation.

It is we, the youths who don't have jobs,who are worried about our bleak future, who do not know how we would cater for our children, who cannot afford descent accommodation because of the high cost of living, we live without social security and without hope.

What would happen to us by the year 2020,if we continue to derail this way, Chinua Achebe once wrote "Nigeria is a country that has fallen down". I ask "who would help raise this giant,"would Hercules come down from Olympus?

Power is enshrined in the people, says the doctrine of democracy, however our corrupt leaders continue to cover our eyes with scales so we do not know our rights. Enough is Enough.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Pastor Tunde Bakare,have said Nigeria will not be able to move forward without virile social activism by its citizens. The sacrifices of patriots such as M.K.O Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi and other past leaders must not be the end of social activism.

Prof. Wole Soyinka, further noted that Syria and Greece are smaller countries than Nigeria, but when "push comes to shove," they fight for their rights because they know they have been corrupted and stolen blind by their leaders. So they say 'no, no more',day after day.

In 1970, China actually had a per capita income lower than Nigeria. Today, China holds $2.3 trillion in its reserve accounts, only good leadership accounted for such transformation.

If you a Nigerian and you want to fight for your rights by constantly engaging your local, state and federal government, then join the Nigerian Youth Development Initiative, all you have to do is follow this link http://m.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_140664993008&refid=27 and invite everyone you know too.

Let's us collectively fight our irresponsible government.
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THANK YOU READERS

Thank you readers for nominating IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY among the first 5 political blogs in Nigeria, however its now time to vote our blog as the Number 1 political blog in Nigeria,all you have to do is:
1. Click this link http://nigerianblogawards.com/vote.php
2. Fill your name and email
3. Click on IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY on the list for BEST POLITICAL BLOG
4.Click submit
5. Tell your friends to do the same
Thank you so much once again.
Adedunmade
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