daretaiwo blog

RE: Nigeria's 2007 Election

The Elections are few months away. But the Government has started playing dirty.

Allegations and counter allegations of frauds are flying around between the Presidency and contenders to highest seat of Government.

I still can fathom why African Leaders find it dificult relinquishing power.

This election year is a make or mar year for this country. I look up to God to keep us as a country beyong May 29, 2007 - when the new President will be sworn in.

For now, I'm traveling home to see my Wife and Children for the Weekend while beseaching God to give my Country direction.

To all Visitors to my blog, please leave a comment in your trail no matter how short.

Love you all.

NIGERIA'S IMAGE ABROAD

A lot has been said about Nigerians abroad vis-a-vis their involvement in Scams. While not trying to make excuses without a reasonable basis. I wish to state that Nigeria is the largest and most populous black Country in the World. With an estimated population of almost 150million, there is the general saying that one out of every African is a Nigerian.

Over the years and despite the immense Natural resources Africa is endowed with, we have had the "fortune" of been governed by fraudulent Leaders who find it difficult harnessing our resources for the benefit of all.

Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of Crude Oil in the world. Our Government in collusion with Shell BP and ExxonMobil have perfected the art of corruption to the extent that average Nigerian dont even get to see crumps that fall off the Government's table.

Nigeria has not had it so good within these past years.

Crude Oil prices have hit the roof. Nigerian's 2006 Budget was predicated on $30 per Barrel for brent but we have been raking in Oil revenue at between $70 and $75 per barrel. It is shocking to note that this has not impacted positively on the populace.

The most disheartening is the squalor in which the inhabitants of the Oil producing areas of Nigeria live in.

The rivers in the Niger-Delta region of the Country are overflwing with Crude Oil. These people were predominatly Fishermen before the discovery of CRUDE OIL on their land in 1955. They cannot practice their occupation now because their is no aquatic life in their Rivers, no thanks to Shell and ExxonMobil.

Now, for people that their means of livelihood has been taking from them, what in petes sake do you think they will resort to - crime, hostage taking.

Shell has over the year been paying lip service to the development of these areas. It will interest you to note that these people commute on Cannoes since there are no roads and bridges. Shell Petroleum B.P has been SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE in Nigeria. But they have remained untouchable since they have the blessings of Nigerian Government to impoverish its People.

The major Oil Companies need to be Socially responsible to the People in the Niger-Delta. They need to work assiduosly to restore their Topography so that they can be gainfully employed.

Now to the issue of Nigerians involvement in Fraud. It takes two to tango. An infinitesimal percentage of Nigerians are involved in this despicable act. But they find willing accomplices and victims in greedy Westerners who want to reap where they have not sown.

Let us look at the scenerio. A nigerian sends a letter to someone abroad with an offer of crude which he is willing to dispose of at $30 per barrel. Even a Kid knows that the international price of Crude Oil per barrel is in the range of $72.

The Victim will gullibly and with an intent to defraud the Country send an advance fee to the Con-Artist.

The Nigerian Government also needs to act responsibly by showing themselves worthy of the Peoples mandate which was freely given  to them during elections.

If the atmosphere is conducive at home, why will one want to travel abroad.

The Government has set up an anti Corruption Agency to investigate these Frauds.

The Agency's web site is www.efccnigeria.org You can visit this site and report any case of scam involving Nigerians.

If everybody will report attempts by Nigerians to defraud them to the Agency through this site, you will be helping to restore the integrity of those of us Nigerians that make our money through dint of hard work and God's blessing and in few more years, the malaise would be a thing of the past. Nigerians are industrous and very well educated but the bane of the people over the years has been the government.

Permalink         Comments (1)

---

9/11: Its hiigh time the tactics are changed

Africa and Africans commiserate with The United States on the 5th Anniversary of September 11.

Africans also commiserate with themselves for all Africans and Africans in diasporra that lost their lifes on that fateful day.

Its already five years and this should be the time for stock taking. Its almost 5 years since President Bush declared war on terror. And despite these long years, the danger of terrorism and Terrosists seems not to be abating.

If one should say the truth, the world is more vulnerable to attack than we were 5 years ago.

This is the time to redefine America's war on Terror. Should it be fought at the expense of  American Soldiers' lifes? Do we continue to pay evil with evil?

The global war on terror has been concentrated largely on Iraq as if that is the major breeding ground of Terrorists.

We need to forgive. In forgiveness, the healing process is quickened.

America needs to show commitment more than lip service to the middle east peace process. America should as a matter of urgency stop supplying Cluster Bombs to Israel. It should instead, call the warring parties to the round table under the auspices of the United Nations to find lasting peace in the middle east.

President Bush should be receptive to other Countries ideas in this regards

The Israel/Lebanese war has shown that arial bombardment cannot rout these people. We need to understand that they are aggrieved and they need People that will listen and empathise with them and not what America is doing presently in the Middle East. Carrot and Stick approach will not solve the problem. If anything, it will further aggravate the situation.

Might is not always right.

May God give our Leaders wisdom to lead us aright and may God give them profiting ears.

Permalink         Comments (0)

---

AFRICAN TOURISM: NIGERIA

In the next few weeks, my Blog will be dedicated to showcasing Africa and its rich Cultures. A lot of misinformation have been take as facts in the past and through this medium, I shall try within my busy schedule to share information about Africa, its People, its Culture and its Tourism sites.

Click on Africa under category and avail yourselves with information on Africa.

Who knows, it may be your next holiday spot.

Please read on.

Nigeria, the giant of Africa.

Location	West Africa
Federal Capital	Abuja
Area	923,768.64 Sq.Km
Population	Over 120 million
Principal Rivers	Niger and Benue
National Day	October 1
Official Language	English
Other Languages	Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba
Main Airport	Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt
Road Network	Over 49,920km
Inland Waterways	8,575km
Currency	Naira
Vegetation	Mainly forest and savannah
Rail Roads	3,567km.
Religion	Islam, Christianity and Traditional Religion
Climate	Humid sub-tropical: with wet season from April to October and dry season from November to March
Legal System	Based on English Common Law and Customary Law
Weight and Measures	Metric System
Natural Resources	Petroleum, Tin, Columbite, Iron Ore, Coal, Limestone, Lead Zinc, Natural Gasn
Cash Crops	Cocoa, Cassava, Groundnut, Kolanut, Palm Produce, Cashew Nut etc
Major Industries	Crude Oil – coal, tin, columbite, food processing, palm oil, peanut, textiles cotton, rubber, wood, hide and skin, building materials, footwear, chemicals, printing, ceramic, steel
Commercial Cities	Lagos, Kano, Port Harcout, Warri,, Kaduna, Onitsha, Ibadan, Aba, Maiduguri
Currency	1 Niara (N) = 100 kobo
Electricity	220V

Location
Nigeria is situated in the West African region and lies between longitudes 30 and 140 and latitudes 40 and 140 . It has a land mass of 923,768 sq. km. It is bordered to the north by the Republics of Niger and Tchad; it shares borders to the west with the Republic of Benin, while the Republic of Cameroun shares the eastern borders right down to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the southern limits of Nigerian Territory. The about 800km of coastline confers on the country the potentials of a maritime power. Land is in abundance in Nigeria for agricultural, industrial and commercial activities.

Weather
Temperatures across the country is relatively high with a very narrow variation in seasonal and diurnal ranges (22-36°C). There are two basic seasons; wet season which lasts from April to October; and the dry season which lasts from November till March. The dry season commences with Harmattan, a dry chilly spell that lasts till February and is associated with lower temperatures, a dusty and hazy atmosphere brought about by the North-Easterly winds blowing from the Arabian peninsular across the Sahara; the second half of the dry season, February - March, is the hottest period of the year when temperatures range from 33 to 38°C. The extremes of the wet season are felt on the south-eastern coast where annual rainfall might reach a high of 330cm; while the extremes of the dry season, in aridity and high temperatures, are felt in the north, third of the land mass.

People
Nigeria is famous for her huge population of about 110 million people - the largest national population on the African continent. This population is made up of about 374 pure ethnic stocks. Three of them Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba are the major groups and constitute over 40 per cent of the population. In fact, about 10 ethnic/linguistic groups constitute more than 80% of the population: the other large groups are Tiv, Ibibio, Ijaw, Kanuri, Nupe, Gwari, Igala, Jukun, Idoma, Fulani, Edo, Urhobo and Ijaw. The gender divide of Nigeria's population, as indicated by the last census in 1991, reflects an unusual inbalance in favour of male dominance; 51% male : 49% female.

Education
Due to a massive expansion in the education sector in the last two decades, the coloration and quality of the Nigerian work force has changed to include a large corps of highly trained personnel in mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, chemical and petroleum engineering and bio-technics. There are at present over 30 Federal and State Universities, some of them specialist - Technology and Agriculture. In addition there are at least 20 Federal and State Polytechnics. Over 70,000 graduate in various disciplines from these institutions every year. Disciplines, apart from pure sciences, engineering and technologies include social sciences, business studies (management, banking and finance), architecture, environment and urban management studies. Also, a sizeable Nigerian population has been and is being trained outside the country, in some of the best colleges in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Japan and China. Every year, about 2,000 of these Nigerians return home to seek employment or accommodation within the economy. For the less skilled and unskilled labour, the country depends on the primary and secondary school systems whose annual enrolments are over 3.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively.

In line with the rainfall distribution - a wetter south and a drier northern half, there are two broad vegetation types: Forests and Savanna. There are three variants of each, running as near parallel bands east to west across the country. Forests, Savanna, Saline water swamp, Guinea Savanna, Fresh water swamp, Sudan Savanna, Tropical (high) evergreen, Sahel Savanna, and Rainforest There is also the mountain vegetation of the isolated high plateau regions on the far eastern extremes of the country (Jos, Mambilla, Obudu). The savanna, especially Guinea and Sudan, are the major grains, grasses, tubers, vegetable and cotton growing regions. The Tropical evergreen rain forest belt bears timber production and forest development, production of cassava; and plantation growing of fruit trees - citrus, oil palm, cocoa, rubber, among others

Government
The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of thirty-six states, and the administrative headquarters and capital city is Abuja located in the Federal Capital Territory, which is geographically situated in the middle of the country. Effective participation in governance by all adults is assured through the sharing of power, revenue and responsibilities between the three tiers of government, i.e. the Federal Government, the State Governments and the various Local/Municipal Councils of the federation

Economy
With a population of over 100 million people, Nigeria is obviously the largest market in sub-Saharan Africa with reasonably skilled and potential manpower for the efficient and effective management of investment projects within the country. It is well connected by a wide network of motorable all-season roads, railway tracks, inland waterways, maritime and air trans-portation. Nigeria's economy could be aptly described as most promising. It is a mixed economy and accommodates all comers, individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies, to invest in almost all range of economic activities. Since 1995, the Government has introduced some bold economic measures which have had a salutary effect on the economy by halting the declining growth in the productive sectors and putting a stop to galloping inflation; they have reduced the debt burden, stabilised the exchange rate of the naira and corrected the balance of payments disequilibrium. In the 1995 and 1996 budgets, Government put in place some fiscal measures which addressed the exchange rate regime and the capital flight issue which hitherto inhibited project planning and execution. The policy of expanded production through guided deregulation paid off in 1996 when the economy recorded a real growth of 3.2% of GDP. The rate of inflation declined appreciably from the high seventies to the low twenties.

Culled from: www.nigeriatourism.net

Permalink         Comments (4)

---