this is good progress, but the road reconstruction lacks true vision. The roads linking the east and westen parts of country should be 3-4 lanes going in each direction. They should have expanded the road to ensure limited congestion, because if one accident happens on these two-lane roads it will really affect traffic.

PapaBrowne:

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1043972_20130224_143741_jpg21913157c2510d099ba3f76f4c976e1a


To think that this is the same road I spent 12+ hrs from Benin to Lagos in 2009. There was hold up in the bush. Wept like a baby. Missed an all important flight. Don't like reliving those times. Nigerians suffered hell on that road!

People that don't live the cities they reside and read newspapers to get propaganda reports only would never understand why people think GEJ has ultra performed. We are experiencing tangible change in this country. In just 2 years the infrastructural transformation is unprecedented.


Pictures of what the road looked like in 2009. Imagine 20km of hold up on both sides of the road.


[img]http://wazobaa.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/hold_up_cause_by_bad_road_on_ore_portion_of_lagos-benin_road.JPG[/img]

[img]http://saferafricagroup.files./2011/03/benin_ore-road-_2.jpg[/img]

it seems like the minister has run out of ideas. How in the world can such a law be enforced.

[size=15pt]FG considers Bill on compulsory breast-feeding[/size]
August 9, 2012
BY PETER OKUTU


ABAKALIKI – THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it was considering sending a bill to the National Assembly, which would promote and make breast feeding compulsory for all nursing mothers in the country.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the grand finale of the World Breast Feeding week in Ugbodo, Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state, said that the bill, when passed into law will stipulate appropriate sanctions for defaulting mothers.

He said the bill, which was still under consideration would seek to increase the number of months for maternity leave for lactating mothers as well as encourage husbands to fulfill their obligations to their wives during the period of lactation in the family.

“I agree with you that legislation can help in the area of stipulating that an employer, whether government or private give more time for maternity leave and we are thinking along that line. Another thing is for us to have a period, when the husbands, who have wives who are lactating can have time to assist their wives because it is important.”

The men must support but often times, what happens is that as the woman is giving birth, the man decides to go elsewhere to enjoy himself.

“He doesn’t give that psychological support to the woman. So we need to support our women to do the right thing. As you know, when you have a law and people are inside their house it becomes difficult to monitor. So what we are doing is even more important than the law,” he said.

Earlier, wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Josephine Elechi, said that breast milk was the best food for the baby as it contained all the essential nutrients required for growth and development of the child.

She noted that exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of child birth had been recognised as the single most effective intervention for child survival and reduction of under-5 mortality and morbidity.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/fg-considers-bill-on-compulsory-breast-feeding/

The title for this thread makes it seem like Iweala was the only candidate that was being nominated. The other person from South American was also nomiated as well. And it's not like she was seeking the job, other countries wanted her to get the job.

I would prefer for her to remain in Nigeria's Finance Minister. I would rather have her putting her energy toward cleaning up Nigeria than worrying about World Bank. I don't see the substantial benefit the average Nigerian would have gotten from her being World Bank President. At least as Finance Minister she can suggest policies and do other things to move Nigeria forward. Then again it would be history for an African woman to head the world bank.

Nigerian's can be their own worst enemy. Instead of supporting their own countrywoman, you have people her rubbishing her and trying to argue why she shouldn't be world bank president. If many countries are nominating her, then she is obviously qualified for the job.

The person nomiated by Obama is not even an Economist. I would think you would want someone with some Economic or Financial background running the world bank. Then again it may depend on the specific role that the president plays.

Imo State government to start airline soon
Thursday, 23 February 2012


Imo state government will start a state government owned airline to be known as Imo Air.

The governor of Imo state Rochas Okorocha said this while delivering the state Appropriation Bill for 2012.

Okorocha has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a UK-based company to execute the airline project.

He said the partnership would make the airline be profitable as it would not be tied down by government bureaucracy.

This comes as rehabilitation and expansion works are being rounded-up in the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA).



http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/111-politics/33638-imo-state-government-to-start-airline-soon

na wa o. dis nigeria sef. i no dey doubt these figures.  we just have heartless people at too many places in govt.

if more public officials in nigeria begin to wake up and see that this country could really break up in 3 years then maybe we will start to see some changes.

Gov Aliyu: Nigeria Risks Disintegration by 2015
23 Jan 2012
By Aisha Wakaso


Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has warned that the country could disintegrate by 2015 if the government continues to treat acts of treason and terrorism with "kid gloves".



He asked Nigerians to stop politicising treason and terrorism as the future of the country was at stake.

Aliyu was speaking at two different fora in Minna Sunday while playing host to Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders Council and members of the House of Representatives from the state.



He said: “We have to work to solve the present security situation in the country. We cannot only depend on prayers without work. Most countries at peace today did not achieve it through prayers or else, we will gradually work ourselves towards the projection that Nigeria will disintegrate by 2015.”

He cited cases of a Boko Haram spokesman who was arrested and jailed for only three years "for misdemeanour" and Pastor Tunde Bakare who called for regime change.



He also referred to a presidential candidate in the last elections who stated that the country would be ungovernable if he failed to win.

Aliyu lamented that no actions had been taken against them, adding that government's attitude was increasing terrorist and treasonable statements in the land.



“People don't want to tell the truth. If we are all able to come out and handle things the way they should be handled, we would have nipped everything in the bud.

“The spokesman of Boko Haram was arrested and only given three years for misdemeanour when we all know that it is terrorism and then we begin to wonder what is going on.



“There are also people who said they would make Nigeria ungovernable if they didn't win the presidential election and I don't think anything has been done about that.

“Someone else took the opportunity of the fuel subsidy removal protests to be calling for regime change and they are all allowed to walk freely on the streets after their treasonable statements.



“A wrong thing is a wrong thing no matter the time it is done or said and if others see that some people have done it and gone away with it, they will wonder why not them,” he said.

Aliyu said it was unfortunate that the elders in the country, who should be saying something about the present situation in the country, had decided to remain silent, adding that it was time for everyone to begin to talk and proffer solution.



“If such coordinated bombings can take place on security installations in Kano, then there is problem in the country.

“Those who should be talking have not found the courage to speak, because this is something that should be rejected in its entirety,” he said.



The two groups came on solidarity visits over the violent protests that wreaked havoc on public and private properties in some towns in the state during the anti-fuel subsidy removal agitation.



http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/gov-aliyu-nigeria-risks-disintegration-by-2015/107704/

nigeria has really been getting milked for a lot of money. I don't know how no one has bothered to really check the NNPC all these years. I think the petroleum minister should be sacked. Jonathan should find some kind of policy expert to take over as petrloeum minister instead of this woman Madueke.

If the PIB is passed, will it eliminate the need for a petroleum minister?

Revealed: FG paid for extra 24m litres of fuel daily in 2011
January 19, 2012
By BEN AGANDE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE


[b]ABUJA—House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee investigating the management of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, was told yesterday that the Federal Government paid for 59 million litres daily, an excess of 24million litres throughout year 2011 despite the 35 million litre daily consumption capacity of the country in the same year.

Alarmed by the revelation, the committee expressed dismay that the gap between what was supplied and the consumption capacity which amounted to 24 million litres daily provided opportunity for the perpetration of sharp practices in the sector.

The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Reginald Stanley, while testifying before the committee, said the amount of petrol imported per day in 2011 was 59 litres. But the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, had on Tuesday given the daily consumption capacity as 35 million litres.

Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Farouk Lawan, said: “How could the nation be made to pay for 59 million litres daily when we consume only 35 million litres daily? The balance of 24 million litres per day might be the area of sharp practices. By making that provision, you are encouraging smuggling because we know that this 24 million litres balance would simply be smuggled out of the country since it has been paid for already and we cannot consume it.”[/b]

When asked whether the country had the storage facility that could accommodate the sum total of the excess 24 million litres per day multiplied by the 365 days in 2011, the PPPRA boss said the nation’s storage capacity could only accommodate 1.4 billion litres of fuel.

“This is a case of serious economic sabotage because when the daily supply excess of 24 million litres is multiplied by 365 days, you get 8.76 billion litres. This is the volume of fuel that might have been smuggled out of the country in 2011.”

The helmsman of the regulatory body drew the attention of the committee to what he called serious challenges facing the oil industry pointing out that of the 46 depots in the country, only four could accommodate “mother vessels” bringing imported products to the country.

He advised the National Assembly to give accelerated consideration to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to facilitate the deregulation of the petroleum sector.

The Executive Secretary, however, said: “It is very important that we begin to build strategic fuel reserves in the country. In most countries of the world, reserves are built to last for at least one month in case of fuel supply cut, but Nigeria does not have reserve that can last for one week.”

Meanwhile, apparently making reference to the outburst of Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mr Julius Ndubusi Nwagwu, on the N45 billion the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was owing the Customs Service, Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Austen Oniwon, at the hearing, promised that the debt would be settled after reconciliation.

Oniwon in a response to a question on the debt, responded that the corporation would pay, but after it must have carried out some reconciliation processes with the Customs.




http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/revealed-fg-paid-for-extra-24m-litres-of-fuel-daily-in-2011/

that is the thing. The masses have not been seeing the full benefits of the subsidy as they should.

I blame the Jonathan govt. for not doing a better job of explaining to the masses why subsidy must be removed. I suggest that whatever projects that will be done using subsidy money should be clearly stated with a sign. Since they failed at explaining why subsidy should be removed, they better be very transparent with how the money is spent.

teeluv:

Mr trueword: is it now our problem is the refineries arent well managed,  or isnt the govt putting their own people there to sabotage the thing,

they say subsidy is for other projects, when they didnt take away the subsidy, which project did they do,  rather they are using almost a billion for food. na moon dem dey chop d food abi no b d same naija we dey,

even if you want to remove subsidy, wont you cushion it,  cant you take it out bit by bit,

Nigeria spent about $7.5 Billion on fuel subsidy which is a whole lot more than 1 billion Naira. If private companies are sinking their own money into building refineries I highly doubt they would allow some kind of sabotage to derail their project and cause them to lose millions/hundreds of millions of dollars.

Nigeria annual budget is about 75% for salaries and consumption while 25% was for capital projects. For Nigerians to start feeling impact of economic growth the FG needs to be spending at least 50% of the budget on capital project which will help to generate employment and economic growth.  

If the $7.5 Billion dollar is used on projects which impact people directly in a positive way people will start to feel the 7.5% annual growth of the Nigerian economy.  

I suppose they could remove it in increments but I guess they feel they must remove it all at once because of the direction it would send the economy if it isn't.

The FG did mention some of the things they were going to do with the money but I dont remember.

fuel subsidy must be removed. You can't keep subsidizing consumption. Nigeria is borrowing the money that it is using to fund the subsidies and if the money isn't diverted to activities that generate economic growth Nigeria will have a large debt profile with nothing to show for it. Greece and other countries in Europe are now facing the consequences of borowing money to fund consumption.

People should stop expecting the Federal Govt. to build refineries because govnernment should not be in the businesses of building refineries. Just look at how poorly the 3 refineries Nigeria has are being managed. Nigeria needs to expedite the process of getting private companies to build refineries, which will help to bring down the price of fuel.

so this toll will be an addition to the toll already being collected by the nigerian police on the roads. na wa oh. Nigeria has plenty of money to tackle many of its problems, only if it will manage it resources well and stop making budgets where 75% of it goes towards paying salaries.

its good to see the nigerian govt standing up for nigerian interest. they should not allow britain to limit Arik Airs operation to Britain while British Airway can freely fly into nigeria. Give Britain taste of their own medicine.

[size=14pt]UN suspends travels to Nigeria over Abuja blast [/size]


Moves food summit to Senegal

Steps govt must take against terror gang, by diplomats

NIGERIA is painfully having to lick more of the economic and social wounds inflicted on it by the terror attack on the United Nations (UN) House in Abuja on August 26, 2011.

In the incident, 23 persons were confirmed dead, with 11 of them being UN personnel.

The latest loss Nigeria has suffered from the incident is the right to host the global food security meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) slated for this month in Abuja now moved to Senegal.

The UN agency, which wrote to the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the decision, said it was due to the UN suspension of all official travels to Nigeria “until further notice.”

FAO said at the weekend that the event would now hold in Dakar, Senegal on October 6 and 7, 2011.

Before the FAO’s disclosure, experts had said that the bombing of the UN House would cost Nigeria indirect loss of revenue through decline in the patronage of its hospitality industry and other services.

The cancellation of the FAO meeting in Abuja, as announced by its regional office, diplomats said is just the beginning of other things, and possibly international appointments Nigeria might lose for being listed in the lower ladder of terror states.

The meeting brings together experts and food administrators from across the world.

In an explanatory note to ECOWAS on why the meeting was moved to Senegal, which was made available to The Guardian, FAO cited security threats and the activities of terrorist groups such as the destructive Boko Haram Islamic sect as reasons.

It said: “Following the regrettable and tragic bomb blast of the UN building in Abuja, all UN official travels to Nigeria have been suspended until further notice. For your information, an Organising Team has been set up since to coordinate the meeting preparation,” the statement added.

On the many possible fallouts of the bomb blast of the UN House and the growing climate of fear in the country, diplomatic experts and watchers of international politics, said it has the potential to draw negative attention to Nigeria as unstable and insecure nation.

There are worries that in the event of the UN scaling up Nigeria on the security threat index, the Federal Government’s renewed drive to attract foreign investors would be a fruitless exercise.

Nigeria is currently classified in the low to medium security threat category.

Ambassador Joe Keshi, technocrat and former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Ayo Adeniran, Nigeria’s former envoy to Venezuela now with the National Defence College, Abuja said investors might adopt a “wait and see attitude.”

On investment scare, Keshi said: “I quickly note that because of the potential of Nigeria, investors might just wait to see what happens next. They will not totally abandon us but we have to win their confidence not through talks but through credible and bold initiatives that reassure them that Nigeria is ready for business and that we can do by focusing attention on a number of issues at home.”

According to him, Nigeria’s problem in this regard, is “further complicated by the perception of weakness of our police and security agencies as well as the judicial system. When the international community in your country begins to ask for increased police protection, you should be worried, especially of the kind of reports they are sending home, which is why we must commend the Foreign Affairs Minister for the prompt decision to reassure the diplomats resident in Abuja of their safety.

“But we must move beyond the assurances and be seen to be taking proactive measures to curb the growing impunity against the country as our inability to do so could compound the poor perception of the country as a zone of insecurity.”

Keshi continued: “Let me try and illustrate what I’m saying. Before the elections, the Inspector-General of Police and his commissioners in the states were competing with the politicians for the camera as they assured us that they were battle ready and prepared for any eventuality. They displayed their new vehicles and bullet-proof jackets and yet before our eyes, riots broke out in some parts of the country to the extent that the Army had to be called out. .

“In October 2010, Abuja, the federal capital, was bombed and almost a year later nobody has been brought to justice. It is the same story either in the Jos crisis or anywhere that bombs have been exploded or riots have occurred. In comparison, it took the British police about six months or so to find the students who were responsible for the attack on Prince Charles and his wife during the students’ riots against the hike in school fees by the conservative government. Only last month, another riot broke out in most parts of Britain and hundreds of rioters and looters were arrested and prosecuted instantly. The magistrates sat throughout the weekend and working with the police, they were booked, charged and justice dispensed. I was in Britain then and I saw the impact on the youngsters and their families. When you do what the British and others like the Americans do, you give the impression of a society that the system works and has the capacity to protect its citizen and is prepared to go to any extent to do so.”

To Adeniran, Nigeria only appears to be losing the war against terror because there seems not to be sufficient efforts geared at coming to terms with the real motives of the bombers and political scare-mongers.

He said: “First, one should ask: What was the perpetrators lait motif? On the immediate damage, he maintained that it would seem now that “the assistance which Nigeria has been seeking at the multilateral level has unfortunately been jeopardised. This country still has myriads of problems and challenges that she cannot solve alone without the international community coming to her assistance.”

Adeniran appears to belong to the school of thought, which sees the Nigerian entity as encouraging impunity of some of its component units.

On what is fuelling the climate of fear in Nigeria and scaring away investors, he said: “… Our adversaries are watching with keen interest and are praying that something untoward happens to Nigeria so that they can jubilate. Should we give them room for laughter? Only recently a foreign ambassador wrote a book on Nigeria’s imminent demise. The book is in circulation worldwide. Should we allow such characters to say de javu? This is food for thought.”







NewsLink

Pulitzer winner's Nigeria newspaper stops printing


(AP)  LAGOS, Nigeria — A Nigerian newspaper run by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist stopped publication Sunday after 2½ years of muckracking and sometimes controversial coverage of Africa's most populous nation, the publisher said.

NEXT newspaper, printed in Lagos, did not appear on newsstands this weekend. Publisher Dele Olojede, a former foreign editor for New York's Newsday, said NEXT was "losing a lot of money" and decided to stop its print edition to reevaluate its finances.

Olojede said it was possible the newspaper could begin publishing again. However, the newspaper's advertising dwindled in recent months, forcing it from publishing six days a week to only on Sunday.

The newspaper's crusading political stance also hurt ad sales, as the salutatory advertisements heaping praise on politicians and the country's elite that fill other publications never made it into its editions.

"In this environment, where the government still occupies a disproportionally and distortionately large role in the economy, it has a ripple effect — said or unsaid," Olojede told The Associated Press. "The result is we've had a very tough time getting business."

He added: "We have to rethink our strategy and see how we can outsmart the system that seems so stuck against us."

NEXT began publishing its print edition in January 2009, focusing on government corruption in oil-rich Nigeria, a nation of 150 million. Its columnists, editorials and reporting set it apart from other Nigerian newspapers, where journalists often accept cash payments from interview subjects or "brown envelope" bribes slipped into briefing materials at news conferences.

The newspaper reached the zenith of its influence when it published an anonymously sourced story claiming late President Umaru Yar'Adua was "seriously brain damaged" and unable to govern while receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. The government attacked the newspaper. However, Yar'Adua never returned to power and died May 5, 2010.

The newspaper also published the U.S. diplomatic cables related to Nigeria obtained by WikiLeaks, causing another stir in the country.

Olojede, who won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2005 while at Newsday, said he hoped NEXT at least would continue to publish stories on its website.

"It's been an extraordinary adventure for us, really. We're going to stick with it and keep poking around to see if we can make a dent in the very many problems of this country," he said. "The country definitely needs, like oxygen, an independent and honest press. ,  The country is not going to go anywhere if money can just determine what the public knows or doesn't know."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/25/ap/africa/main20111320.shtml

kai!! this IG is a serious comedian. We have a bunch of clowns in government. How can he claim he will provide security for the whole of Africa when he cant provide security for even one city or his own police headquarters?

Nigeria should be ashamed that some of the victims had to be flown all the way to south africa for medical treatment. Don't these eeediots in govt. feel any embarassment that the country has no adequate facility to take care of people in these conditions.

[size=13pt]UN house bomb blast: Police arrest 50 suspects[/size]

August 30, 2011
By Victoria Ojeme



[b]ABUJA—The Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim yesterday disclosed that 50 suspects have been arrested in connection with last Friday’s bomb blast at the United Nations House in Abuja which claimed 23 lives with 73 others still hospitalised.

He said four more injured staff whose condition was considered critical have been flown to South Africa for treatment. Four injured staff had on Sunday been evacuated from the National Hospital Abuja to South Africa.

Ringim who had an interaction with the diplomatic community at the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry said President Goodluck Jonathan will soon make a pronouncement on progress made so far on police investigation into the blast.

He also disclosed that, his office has received a number of requests for police protection from embassies in Nigeria, since Friday’s blast, assuring the diplomatic community of adequate security in Nigeria.

The IG, who was invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru to brief the diplomatic corps on the readiness of the nation’s security operatives to offer adequate protection, said: “The security agencies have made some arrests and President Jonathan will soon make some pronouncement in that regard because I want to leave that to him to address the nation.

“All the missions are required to request for specific assistance of security in order to feel more secured and it shall be granted as I have been mandated with other security apparatus to beef up security around all the foreign missions, the entire country as well as the whole of African region”, he said.[/b]

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Ashiru described the incident as an unfortunate one, adding that everything will be done to ensure safety and protection of all the diplomatic corps as well as that of Nigerian people.

He, however, appealed to all stakeholders to rise up and fight the new trend saying, “concerted effort must be made by Nigeria and the international community to combat the new form of terrorism affecting the whole world.”

Ashiru also assured the diplomatic corps of adequate and proper security of their embassies and personnel. “I invited the IGP to address and assure you of our efforts and for you to have confidence in what we are doing to protect you and other people in the country,” he said.

Some members of the diplomatic corps commended government for its efforts in securing and protecting their lives, assuring the federal government of their readiness to help in fighting terrorism in Nigeria.



Four more victims flown to South Africa



Meanwhile, four more victims of the bomb attack, were Monday flown out of Nigeria to South Africa, bringing the number of seriously injured who were evacuated since Saturday to eight.

The Co-ordinator of the UN Communications team in Nigeria, Sina Chuma-Mkandawire, who disclosed this, however declined to release the names of UN staff affected by the blast.

“We are not in a position to give you the names or the nationalities of those affected during the attack. What we can give you are the current figures of those affected”, she said.



Isreali govt condemns attack



In a related development the Israeli government in a statement condemned the attack.

According to the statement, “Israel is outraged by this hateful crime, whose sole purpose was to take innocent lives. We send our condolences to the Government and people of Nigeria, to the United Nations and to the families of the victims, and our wishes of speedy recovery to the injured”.

Also French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé, in a similar statement issued on yesterday, expressed shock at the attack, describing it as a “heinous and cowardly act”, adding that France was willing to assist Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.

The statement said: “In these tragic circumstances, France reaffirms its solidarity with the UN agencies, its personnel, and with respect to their efforts on behalf of the Nigerian people. It also assures the Nigerian government and the people of its solidarity in this ordeal and the fight against terrorism.”





http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/un-house-bomb-blast-police-arrest-50-suspects/

nigeria's defense let them down. For the 3rd goal for France, how was Lacozette that wide open to receive the pass.   If they didn't give up 2 goals in almost 2 mins during extra time, we would have been talking about penalties now.  They really need to work on converting all those chances they get on offense into goals.

oh well, they go home now. I really thought they had a chance to go all the way.

Nigeria to Import Fuel from Niger Republic

By Ahamefula Ogbu

10 Aug 2011



Government of Niger Republic would begin exportation of refined petroleum products to Nigeria by the end of this year, the country’s leader, President Mahamadou Issoufou, has said.

Speaking Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, Issoufou explained that the planned export of products to Nigeria would be aimed at bringing succour to residents of Northern Nigeria, whom he said would be getting supplies of the products from Zinder Refinery in Niger Republic.
The Nigerien president was in the country to hold bilateral discussions with President Goodluck Jonathan on matters of common security especially trans-border crimes, which have negatively impacted on the sub-region.


Speaking earlier, President Jonathan told the Nigerien leader that Nigeria was prepared to cooperate with her neighbours to tighten security and to check crime and terrorism.
He said: “Terrorism and trans-border crimes pose a serious security threat to all our countries. So, we will strengthen border patrols and other areas of cooperation with our neighbours to ensure the safety of our citizens.”
On food security, Jonathan said Nigeria had plans to exploit its gas resources to further agricultural activities through production of power and fertiliser that would best suit the soil of the sub region.


Jonathan assured Issoufou that Niger Republic would be readmitted into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the community’s next summit.He also said the readmission of the country had become imperative in the light of the “full democracy” that had been restored in Niger Republic.


He warned against reported attempts at unconstitutional change of government, which he said would not be tolerated.
Jonathan assured his Nigerien counterpart that he would work with the country in the areas of power, agriculture, rail transport and water supply and re-invigoration of the Nigeria- Niger Joint Commission.


Responding, Issoufou said he was equally worried by the proliferation of small arms in the region and expressed fears of security challenge.
He said he was looking forward to agreements between Nigeria and Niger on how to achieve results in the listed areas of cooperation and called for immediate joint patrols between both countries.


He expressed gratitude to Nigeria over her role in the restoration of democratic rule in his country and assured Jonathan of Niger’s cooperation in the attainment of the joint goal of common security.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-to-import-fuel-from-niger-republic/96242/

Diasporans should help rebuild Nigeria if they are able to.

I think one good way to do this is for various communities in Diaspora to come together and sponsor a diasporan who is a strong leader to contest elections at the local level. If various communities are successful in getting in their candidate from the diaspora to win, they can then be working with that person to ensure they changes needed in that community happens. Once that persons achievement start becoming recognizable they may be able to vie for higher government offices. 

If something like this is successful we may be able to get strong leaders coming up from different regions of Nigeria.

Also, starting a business is not a bad idea, especially if the business can employ a lot of people.

Nigeria will not get better if everyone abandons it. Though there are various barriers for diasporans to return and contribute as they would like, I think there would be more success if people worked together in different groups.

Kobojunkie:

^^^ Continue trying to play double game thinking you can fool others of the intentions of your post. You are not the first to try this and you will not be the last.

 wow.  really.

Kobojunkie:

^^^ Like I said, you should read your own posts because you continue to speak out of both sides of your mouth. You cannot in one statement speak of how everyone is free to choose, but at the same time declare that people should not be free to choose at the same time.

A blackman is free to choose to see another language as a better option for him as he deems fit . . . it is not for you to question his ideals. He is free to teach his kids whatever language he feels is superior for his ideals, whatever you think of it does not matter . . . Kapish?

you are unbelievable.  do u even read what u type? what nonsense.  even a child in primary school will see some reason in what i'm saying. you need help. You can feel inferior all u like that is YOUR CHOICE.

Kobojunkie:

You should learn how to express yourself better. NO, we do not all agree that the language is a big part of our identity -- that OPINION of yours is NOT SHARED by all Nigerians and your example tells you EXACTLY THAT!

And? Again, if a Parent chooses to teach their ward ENGLISH as opposed to any Nigerian language, what is wrong with that? These people, even those who live in Nigeria, have a right to teach their kids whatever language they choose and IT DOES NOT take away from their Nigerianess, no matter what you think.


You do not get to decide who is Nigerian enough and who is not. Each Nigeria is already Nigerian enough -- whether with the language or without -- it is up to them to want to add language or remove it. Not for you to decide that it takes away from them in anyway.

stop taking my statements and turning them into something else. all these new claims u have made where did i say i decide who is nigerian and who is not. Did I say you can't teach your kids english? Did I not say people can change to wtevr language they want?  my gosh. Do you have a reading problem?   So its your belief that in this day and age black man should feel inferior?  You are really unbelievable.

if language is not a big part of ones identity, why can language be used to determine where one may come from?   SMH

Kobojunkie:

Attack?? I simply posited that your OPINION is NOT FACT for ALL NIGERIANS out there and you should know that or at least understand that -- Not everyone buys that argument of yours.

Notice that I was not the only way who QUESTIONED your DECLARATIONS as pertains NIGERIANS  . . . you kept making general statements, for which I kept trying to correct you that WE DO NOT ALL subscribe to the same mind view even as Nigerians.

I did not say every nigerians is of the same opinion I have b/c I know plenty of them have simply thrown away their language.  Only thing I tried to point out was that it was an odd trend seeing how others from less developed countries like nigeria still maintain their language and pass it on to their kids and that we shouldnt forget that language is a big part of our identity. 

 B/C I know there are some who replace their nigerian language with english b/c they feel less than. Some view speaking english as a sign of being superior. If some chooses to forget their language just b/c they want to, that's their choice. I just don't think its a good thing if they changing it b/c they feel less than.

Kobojunkie:

Again, if it you feel it is fit for you to throw at another, then you should be willing to accept that you and your family deserve the same. Or are you under the impression that when you insult others, you are not invariably insulting your family? Well, for someone advocating culture, I would think that would be common knowledge!

If you have issues with ENGLISH COMPREHENSION then I suggest you go back to school. I expressed an opinion and you invariably felt I needed to be insulted for expressing that opinion. If that does not inform you that you are there prescribing for others, then I don't know what else can.

since you are all about respecting people opinions, why did u attack mine and mischaracterize it as coersion? since you have issues understanding what i'm saying, maybe you should go and take a couse in READING COMPREHENSION and CRITICAL THINKING.

again, where did I say that people should be FORCED to keep their language. did i not only say I think its IMPORTANT for nigerians to keep their language.  GEEEEZ.

Kobojunkie:

I can talk of your family all I want since they raised you to call others "lost souls" in the way you have come to think it is ok to. So you do consider it an insult but when you HURLED it at me, it was OK . . . I had to accept it ROFL . . . see complaining ooo!!

You talk of culture yet you refuse the one major reason why we are all able to exist on the same planet  . . . which is respect for the choices of others but you want me to refrain from throwing back at you and yours the same insults you see fit to throw at me? I suggest you look into what that culture really teaches you and learn the good of it. It will help you think better as a human being and as a citizen of this planet next time.

well the insults u throw at my family can go right back to urs. I didnt say nothin bout ur family but u had to say something about my family. where did i say people can't make their own choices. where? all u do is put words into people's mouth and argue against that. So it's wrong for me to think that nigerians should maintain their language. You need to get ur head examined.

Kobojunkie:

Your own family lost souls!

So because I do not subscribe to the numbskull ideals you do, means I am a lost soul? Back at you 100 times over!

You need to ask yourself why you have a stick up your arse there when it comes to OTHER people's liberties/rights to choose for themselves what they will cling to. And here I thought maybe by this time we have people who have learnt to respect the right of others to choose a different path for themselves.

dont talk about my family. dont even go there.  all you can do is hurl insults. instead of thinking with your head u think wt your behind. nonsense. If you don't care about nigeria, that is your business. but don't try to tell me that ancient groups like mayans, etc who still try to keep their language and culture intact don't know why they are doing that.

Kobojunkie:

I think you re the one who failed to read here. Let me give you a short of what I Posted . . . It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS HOW THE NEXT NIGERIAN TAKES THIS CULTURE you hold dear.

It is their freedom to tell you to go to hell with it and you can't do anything about that! Kapish? If you need the next generation to speak the language maybe you should get down quickly and start "borning" your own next generation so they can make up for those who won't. I know NIgerians who don't give a rats Bottom whether Chinese or Indians cling to their culture or not, like you seem to. And even though I may not agree with all they believe, I respect them for not following the crowd just because. If you have a problem withe them, I hate to say you may have to go hug a transformer if you choose . . . lol

Now go back and be sure you understood because it is aptly for people like you who have made themselves arbiters(of a sort) on how Nigerians ought to treat their culture and what not.

You are just a lost soul. If it was up to you, you would allow the languages in nigeria to die. You need to go ask yourself, if preserving ones language is not important, why many others groups ensure theirs is preserved. You really need to open your eyes. Maybe you are just not able to see the bigger picture with the way you reason.