NewStats: 3,265,490 , 8,186,930 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 09:41 AM 4x5m4

Ehhh before you take off the shoes you get caught.

Have you seen the adidas shoe posted by CFCfan?

For those who don't know its for fashion. But to CFCfan its a running shoe, getting set to run when danger comes. Forget the "yeah mehn" he speaks, he also has that Boys Scout motto "be prepared" ringing in his head daily.

CFC abi I lie?

No wonder ladies are higher victims of crime.

When you put on shoes as high as dem ones, how will you run when trouble comes?

jammyng: so if Mr Cameron fixes a date to visit a place almost a year before time and the opposition now chooses the same date for a convention, he would cancel his visit?

Mr Cameron will not go there. Those are leaders and not drunkards like Zona.

He scheduled a visit over a year ago and the protocol chiefs of the Governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun had no knowledge of this visit, they still went ahead to fix their convention on the same date? But the guys at WEMPCO knew of the visit.

Tell that story to the marines.

You see why we say Jona is a trainee President learning on the job? Leaders should have a bit of 'class'.

Jonathans' moves portrays him as classless and petty, I wonder who his Chief of Staff is, whoever it is should be fired.

I cannot imagine Mr Cameron visiting Liverpool on the day of the Labour party's convention, he will look absolutely silly. Ordinary people may not see this, on the surface it looks okay, however, that is why you are a leader, you should see these things.

Have a bit of class even if it means rescheduling your activity to accommodate that of a large group of your citizens. It is leadership behaviour!!!

The Governors of Ogun, Oyo and Lagos are all ACN why go and disrupt their convention with your visit?

I laugh when people talk of respect. Respect is earned, this man here behaves like an absolute f00l.

You see why we say Jona is a trainee President learning on the job? Leaders should have a bit of 'class'.

Jonathans' moves portrays him as classless and petty, I wonder who his Chief of Staff is, whoever it is should be fired.

I cannot imagine Mr Cameron visiting Liverpool on the day of the Labour party's convention, he will look absolutely stupid. Ordinary people may not see this, on the surface it looks okay, however, that is why you are a leader, you should see these things.

As a leader have a bit of class even if it means rescheduling your activity to accommodate that of a large group of your citizens. It is leadership behaviour!!!

The Governors of Ogun, Oyo and Lagos are all ACN why go and disrupt their convention with your visit?

If that side window was not bullet proof, it would have shattered. The Police is talking rubbish.

Rimbaldi:

Nigerian security agencies are good given what they have to work with. The problem is the system. Some crimes are never resolved not because they cant but because of many variables; political undertones, favouritism, nepotism, corruption, e.t.c. The western agencies are able to much because of the enabling environment; vast database, surveillance systems, funding, societal norms and cultures, e.t.c
Our system is the problem. A system where a president will come out on the day of a terrorist attack and absolve a well known terrorist group(MEND)of any blames as if he is their spokesman...only for him to turn around later and instigate arrest their 'leader'(Okah) over the same attack that he absolved them of abinitio.

Omokri aka losthope, you done tire? What do you have to say to this?

Come and earn your salary now O. MUHEHEHEHEHEHE

thelastPope:

Some of you try to play smart but end up looking so ignorant

Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs. 900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama's visit to the city.

"The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.

About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/us-to-spend-200-mn-a-day-on-obama-s-mumbai-visit-64106

And you expect us to believe such nonsense from a source that cannot be verified?

Rubbish stupid talk.

She should have just stuck with the talk of "we have challenges and we are working hard to strengthen our institutions to tackle the menace". Simple!!!

But she belongs to a fraudulent and deceitful regime so what do you expect.

What is good for Alams is also good for kidnappers.

What is good for Patience is also good for armed robbers.

What is good for Tompolo is also good for Reverend King.

Amnesty now!!!

In fact open kirikiri and let every inmate there out, ANIMALS!!!

^^^

Most people are not even aware of the risks of cancer.

These are the things that should bother leadership in Nigeria. How do you solve this problem given that African and African Americans are highly prone to cancer? African, African Americans and Carribean men of over 50 are at a high risk of prostrate cancer. How do you make people more aware of these risks?

How do you make diagnosis and treatment available to more and more people? There is a problem, how do you solve it?

There are lots of questions to be answered but our people are not bothered. Everyone wants to steal billions and care less if the healthcare system is in a pathetic state.

It is sad, really sad I must say.

[size=14pt]Cancer on the rise, but treatment costs N0.5m monthly in Nigeria[/size]

Fri, 2013-04-12 00:00
Author(s):
Alexander Chiejina

Rising cases of cancer and the cost implications of treatment are putting Nigerians on edge since the current minimum wage of N18, 000 may not be able to afford diagnosis, let alone procure the right medical service to manage the ailment. Cancer is increasingly becoming a scourge in the country lately, as both the low and high have fallen victim to the ailment.

BusinessDay investigations show that an individual is likely to spend about N67, 000 for breast scan, Mammogram, Biopsy and other tests. An average surgery costs between N80, 000 and N150, 000, while chemotherapy cost ranges between N100, 000 and N500, 000. Targeted therapy in the country cost as much as over N4 million, putting more financial pains on cancer patients and their caregivers.

Experts have predicted that by 2020, the number of cancer patients in Nigeria will rise from 24 million to 42 million, in line with speculations 21 years ago. It is also feared that by same 2020, death rates from cancer in Nigerian males and females may reach 72.7/100,000 and 76/100,000, respectively.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, founder/president, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), said whereas the deaths of prominent Nigerians make news headlines, countless unknown Nigerian women were dying needlessly due to this disease that the advances in medical research was proving survivable even curable.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu pointed that late presentation of cancer in hospitals was due to ignorance, situation the association was trying to change through awareness and enlightenment.

“It must be emphasised that planning integrated, evidence-based and cost effective interventions throughout the cancer continuum (from research to prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care) is the most effective way to tackle the cancer problem and reduce the suffering caused to patients and their families. Until government at all levels deploy resources to raise awareness and create access to affordable treatment and care, Nigerian women will continue to die untimely due to breast cancer,” she said.

Remi Ajekigbe, consultant radio-therapist and oncologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Idi-Araba, revealed that not less than 15 new cases were seen on a daily basis, out of which nine were breast cancer, with breast cancer still the leading cancer in the country.

According to Ajekigbe, Nigeria’s mortality and morbidity statistics for cancer are high due to late presentation syndrome involving 83-87 percent of cancer patients, running up bills of N150,000 to N350,000 every three weeks, as long as the patient survives.

He however explained that some items we use, from food to items that make them sweeter, were chemicals and they were all carcinogenic

“When they them they say it tastes better, all of them are addictive. They are all junks. Even the rich may not survive cancer. It is nice to have money to treat cancer. Poor people will not survive as much as the rich, and this is why we are telling the government that health insurance should include cancer because the treatment is very expensive. The drugs, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are all very expensive.

“Everything about cancer is very expensive. Government should be involved in treatment and should invest more. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) should cover cancer, even if it is only 25 percent of the cause of cancer treatment,” Ajekigbe said.

The rising cancer cases is being fuelled by a combination of risk factors such as exposure to increased environmental factors like carbon-monoxide from automobiles and generating sets, tobacco use, and changing lifestyle, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and harmful alcohol usage.

The socio-economic toll of cancer has a huge public health concern, dominating healthcare expenditures in developed and developing countries, including Nigeria.

While the Federal Government in 2008 established a 5-Year Nigeria Cancer Control Plan (2008-2013) on advocacy, awareness creation, cancer prevention, early detection through regular screening and cancer management, Nigerians are yet to reap the benefits of this plan.

A cursory look at cancer management in the country shows that Nigeria is ill equipped to deal with the complexities of cancer care with dearth in healthcare infrastructure, with inadequate clinical services. Only a few health centres have functioning radiotherapy equipment, and the cost of care remains out of reach for most Nigerians who have received a cancer diagnosis.

Data collected from 11 cancer registries located in various tertiary hospitals showed 7,000 new documented cases, which corresponds with an estimated 100,000 new cases reported in Nigeria annually. From the data, 60 percent occur in women and 39.8 percent in men.

Some of the cancer registries include University College Hospital, Ibadan, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano and Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

Public health experts believe the greatest reduction in cancer should come from a complete government approach to adopting population-wide interventions that address risk factors, sustained primary health-care measures, prioritised packages of essential interventions, palliative and long-term care, should be implemented for those who already have cancer.

via businessdaynigeria.com

Before President Jonadunce infected naija with his gross mediocrity and incompetence, naija had nothing less than 20000 kms of federal highway.

Who built it, monkeys and baboons?

How come under President Jonadunce road rehabilitation of less than 100 km is now an "extra ordinary" achievement?

Sai OBJ!!!

Monkey no fine, ehhhnn leave am like that, we like am like that.

Sai OBJ!!! Damburuba Jonafraud.

Let's talk of IBB's achievement

merengue: For once, you people should try and stay in the middle and analyze things objectively. GEJ can and should do better, this is the era of the social media, the citizen journalist, nothing is hidden, almost nothing is sacred. The list of GEJ's achievements is like a bad comedy script. I fail to see how any of this is different from what any other Nigerian ruler including the mass murderer (Abacha), the bully (OBJ), the King Kong of all criminals (IBB) and others have done. A case in point is IBB and a list of his accomplishments:

Babangida's Achievements; Chronicles of an Over Achiever


Building a New Ultra Modern City - Abuja

IBB realized the vision of Abuja as Federal capital city by providing its most vital infrastructure and moving the seat of government from Lagos in 1991.

Telecommunications

Mobile telecommunications, which is so commonplace today in Nigeria, was introduced as a result of the liberalization of the telecom industry by the Babangida istration, an initiative that over the years has made massive impact on the Nigerian economy.

Privatization

The privatization of the broadcast industry, the licensing of private universities and airlines; the liberalization of the banking industry, including the establishment of community banks (now micro-finance institutions), rank among his best legacies.

Economic Policy

The Babangida economic policy was predicated most importantly on the need to reverse the downward trend of the economy and arrive at a realistic exchange rate for the naira. The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was a necessary strategy to achieve economic recovery. It was not a capitulation to the dictates of the World Bank and IMF, but a critically-considered plan aimed at providing the platform for successfully recapturing the inflationary trend within a stipulated period of economic emergency. Deregulation, privatization and economic self reliance were key elements in the policy thrust. In the process most of the poorly-performing government-owned enterprises were sold off to private investors. The new policy also did away with the regime of import licensing which in turn allowed the entry of essential commodities into the country, thus ending the long and tiring queues, which Nigerians, for some years, had to endure for food.

Rural Development

Rural development was a very key aspect of the Babangida regime�s economic plan for Nigeria. Approximately 90,857.40 kilometres of feeder road were constructed, thus opening up hundreds of rural communities to the rest of the country for the first time; electricity, water supply and improved health services reached many more rural folk than ever before. Most of those projects were implemented by DFRRI � the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure, an agency created by the Babangida istration.

Gender Equality

The Babangida istration was the first to implement a gender sensitive agenda. It created a National Commission for Women that later became the Ministry of Women Affairs. Many women were appointed to key positions in national institutions, among which was the first female vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university; and women occupied strategic portfolios in the Federal Cabinet for the first time. The Better Life for Rural Women, a programme which was anchored by the late First Lady, Hajiya (Dr.) Maryam Babangida, was highly successful in mobilizing women to rise to the challenge of economic empowerment.

MAMSER

MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self-reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery), was and still remains the best ever exercise in political re-orientation undertaken by any istration in Nigeria. Its central goal was to canvass nationwide for the Babangida istration�s Political Transition Programme and to promote self-sufficiency in the nation�s economy.

Youth Employment

In order to halt the ever increasing rate of unemployment among the youth, the Babangida istration created the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 1987. Its main task was to alleviate their suffering and provide them with the necessary skills to be self-employed. By 1997 nearly 107,000 youths had received the benefits of this initiative, and many more still do.

Consultative Government

Despite heading a military regime President Ibrahim Babangida ran the most consultative istration ever in the annals of Nigerian history. Before deciding on the IMF loan, the issue was subjected to a nationwide public debate. When the people gave a resounding NO verdict Babangida went along with their wishes and called off further negotiations. The commencement of the Political Transition Programme in 1988 was also preceded by a nationwide quest to find the right political system for the nation. Conducted by the Political Bureau to a highly enthusiastic participation by the public, the debate produced very concrete suggestions for the establishment of a more balanced and united Federation, and the key elements distilled there-from served as the template for the subsequent structural and constitutional realignment of the Nigerian nation.

National Unity

The Babangida istration, conversant with the geo-politics of Nigeria, particularly the fears of ethnic domination and marginalization, sought to correct the perceived structural imbalances of the Federation by the creation of more states. Eleven states of Nigeria, two of which were born in 1987 (Akwa Ibom, Katsina) and the latter in 1991 (Abia, Anambra, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Yobe and Taraba); and over 200 new Local Government Areas, owe their existence to this August effort.

Foreign Policy

Under the Babangida istration Nigeria demonstrated to the world its capacity to play the highest leadership role in African affairs. The formation of the West African Peace Monitoring Force, ECOMOG (a Babangida initiative), anchored by bold and heroic Nigerian troops, brought peace to war-torn Liberia and Sierra Leone, an achievement that further cemented the role of Nigeria as the great protector and promoter of international peace.

Other Notable Reforms and People-Oriented Programmes

Abrogation of Decree No 4 (Protection of Public Officers Against False Accusation Decree) 1984
Abrogation of import and export licencing regime
Dissolution of Nigerian National Supply Company
Abolition of commodity marketing boards
Elimination of price control
Reduction of import duties on newsprint
Ban on the importation of rice
Ban on importation of wheat
Establishment of the National Planning Commission
Institutionalizing Central Bank autonomy
Establishment of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM)
Deregulation of capital and financial markets
Establishment of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)
Establishment of National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
Abolition of fixed exchange rate for the naira
Establishment of the Peoples Bank
Licencing of more banks and finance houses
Introduction of community banking system
Introduction of bureaux de change
Establishment of stable tariff regime
Introduction of civil service reforms
Establishment of the Political Bureau and conduct of nationwide public debate on the IMF loan
Introduction of two party political system
Introduction of Open Ballot and Option A4 voting System
Introduction of Local Government Reform
Educational sector reform and the Introduction of 6-3-3-4 System
Establishment of more federal Universities and Polytechnics
Establishment of the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization of Public Enterprises under which 55 public enterprises, including nine banks, were privatized through public offers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
Reform of obsolete colonial laws; and abrogation of law making ��wandering�� an offence
Establishment of the Urban Mass Transit Progamme
Institution of the Primary Healthcare Progamme
Establishment of the National Commission for Women
Establishment of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency
Enactment of Copyright Law and establishment of Copyright Council
Allocation of oil prospecting acreages to Nigerian oil companies
Establishment of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority
Establishment of special supervised Agicultural and Industrial Credit Schemes
Establishment of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the creation of the Calabar EPZ
Conduct of the 1991 National Population Census
Establishment of the Federal Road Safety Corps
Establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme
Establishment of the National Agency for Food and Drug istration And Control (NAFDAC)
Establishment Of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), now the Niger Delta Development Commission
Establishment of the National Boundary Commission
Establishment of National Communications Commission
Establishment of the National Broadcasting Commission
Institutionalizing of the National Housing Fund
Establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Establishment of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission
Reorganization of Nigerian Police into zonal commands
Establishment of National Guard
Reduction in the size of the military
Reorganization of security services into three arms from the former single Nigerian Security organization, i.e. State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency
Resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel
Establishment of Technical Aid Corps
Major Projects Completed
Federal Government Secretariat (Phase 1 & 11), Abuja
International Conference Centre, Abuja
Abuja International Airport (Phase 1 & 11)
The Presidential Villa, Abuja
National Assembly Complex, Abuja
The Supreme Court Complex, Abuja
Lagos Third Mainland Bridge
Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualization
Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri-Ore standard-gauge railway line
Digital telecommunication gateways: Lanlate (North), Enugu (East), Lagos (West)
Onne Fertilizer Plant in Rivers State
Kaduna Superphosphate Fertilizer Plant
Warri Petrochemical plant
Elesa Eleme Petroleum Refinery in Rivers State
Kaduna Petrochemical plant
The Escravos-Lagos Gas pipeline
Jebba and Shiroro hydro-electricity projects
Egbin Thermal Power Station in Lagos
Challawa Gorge Dam
Nigeria House in New York, USA
Ajaokuta Steel Plant (Phase 1)
The Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project, Bonny
The Oso Condensate Plant in Akwa Ibom State
NNPC headquarters in Abuja
Aluminium Smelter Plant in Akwa Ibom State
NigerDock (Africa�s largest dry dock), Snake Island
Nigerian Machine Tools Manufacturing Co., Oshogbo
Military cantonments, Abuja
National Intelligence Agency istration headquarters
Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company factory, Abuja

Has Jona done anything different? Has he even done 1/4 of this?

thelastPope:

You have actually really helped us to differentiate between propaganda and actual work. 80% of what you listed there does not exist today. To be fair on IBB, every government cannot acutally be 100% bad. But you ignorantly can't separate between real grounded economic policies and military band aids. That is why a civlian government will always be 100 times better than the military. The miitary completely destroyed Nigeria between 1983 and 1999. When OBJ took over, nothing was working at all. At least now, some things work. To say IBB needed to create phantom jobs in 1987 is very laughable. In 1985, Nigeria did not even require a visa to travel to the UK and America. Unemployement rate was very low. You got a job immediately you left the university. Nigeria finally crash under IBB between 1989 and 1993. Abacha came in and finished it everything to the ground

Abuja was not an achievement. Abuja was a curse. Abuja construction finally wrecked Nigerian economy. It was to be a 50 year project, but after the Orkah coup, IBB literarily poured all our earnings into Abuja and brought us to our knees. Most of you are too young to comment on these thing really.

So Nnamdi Azikiwe airport does not exist today? Aso villa where Jona hid from Turai does not exist today? Those roads in ABJ do not exist today? The Warri to Itakpe rail line is not there today? Third Mainland Bridge is not there today? International Conference Center does not exist today? I saw DFRRI projects all over those days.

During IBB's time I dey travel Lagos to Pitakwa under 8 hrs, the federal roads were good.

Nigerias economy grew by 9% during IBBs time.

Go and get a life you m0r0n. Is Abuja not a part of Nigeria?


Sai Baba!!! Forgive us for President Jonadunce has shown us what an exemplary leader you were.

Sai IBB, damburuba Jonafraud.

200 billion naira allocated to the Federal Ministry of Works budget last year.

What happened to all the money?

Now dem come with Shior-P!!!

Amadioha magbukwe unu n'ile.

In fact bring back IBB!

With the mediocrity displayed by Jona, one is tempted to beg IBB for forgiveness.

Sai IBB!!! Shege banza fraudulent Nigerian and Zona.

Let's talk of IBB's achievement

merengue: For once, you people should try and stay in the middle and analyze things objectively. GEJ can and should do better, this is the era of the social media, the citizen journalist, nothing is hidden, almost nothing is sacred. The list of GEJ's achievements is like a bad comedy script. I fail to see how any of this is different from what any other Nigerian ruler including the mass murderer (Abacha), the bully (OBJ), the King Kong of all criminals (IBB) and others have done. A case in point is IBB and a list of his accomplishments:

Babangida's Achievements; Chronicles of an Over Achiever


Building a New Ultra Modern City - Abuja

IBB realized the vision of Abuja as Federal capital city by providing its most vital infrastructure and moving the seat of government from Lagos in 1991.

Telecommunications

Mobile telecommunications, which is so commonplace today in Nigeria, was introduced as a result of the liberalization of the telecom industry by the Babangida istration, an initiative that over the years has made massive impact on the Nigerian economy.

Privatization

The privatization of the broadcast industry, the licensing of private universities and airlines; the liberalization of the banking industry, including the establishment of community banks (now micro-finance institutions), rank among his best legacies.

Economic Policy

The Babangida economic policy was predicated most importantly on the need to reverse the downward trend of the economy and arrive at a realistic exchange rate for the naira. The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was a necessary strategy to achieve economic recovery. It was not a capitulation to the dictates of the World Bank and IMF, but a critically-considered plan aimed at providing the platform for successfully recapturing the inflationary trend within a stipulated period of economic emergency. Deregulation, privatization and economic self reliance were key elements in the policy thrust. In the process most of the poorly-performing government-owned enterprises were sold off to private investors. The new policy also did away with the regime of import licensing which in turn allowed the entry of essential commodities into the country, thus ending the long and tiring queues, which Nigerians, for some years, had to endure for food.

Rural Development

Rural development was a very key aspect of the Babangida regime�s economic plan for Nigeria. Approximately 90,857.40 kilometres of feeder road were constructed, thus opening up hundreds of rural communities to the rest of the country for the first time; electricity, water supply and improved health services reached many more rural folk than ever before. Most of those projects were implemented by DFRRI � the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure, an agency created by the Babangida istration.

Gender Equality

The Babangida istration was the first to implement a gender sensitive agenda. It created a National Commission for Women that later became the Ministry of Women Affairs. Many women were appointed to key positions in national institutions, among which was the first female vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university; and women occupied strategic portfolios in the Federal Cabinet for the first time. The Better Life for Rural Women, a programme which was anchored by the late First Lady, Hajiya (Dr.) Maryam Babangida, was highly successful in mobilizing women to rise to the challenge of economic empowerment.

MAMSER

MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self-reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery), was and still remains the best ever exercise in political re-orientation undertaken by any istration in Nigeria. Its central goal was to canvass nationwide for the Babangida istration�s Political Transition Programme and to promote self-sufficiency in the nation�s economy.

Youth Employment

In order to halt the ever increasing rate of unemployment among the youth, the Babangida istration created the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 1987. Its main task was to alleviate their suffering and provide them with the necessary skills to be self-employed. By 1997 nearly 107,000 youths had received the benefits of this initiative, and many more still do.

Consultative Government

Despite heading a military regime President Ibrahim Babangida ran the most consultative istration ever in the annals of Nigerian history. Before deciding on the IMF loan, the issue was subjected to a nationwide public debate. When the people gave a resounding NO verdict Babangida went along with their wishes and called off further negotiations. The commencement of the Political Transition Programme in 1988 was also preceded by a nationwide quest to find the right political system for the nation. Conducted by the Political Bureau to a highly enthusiastic participation by the public, the debate produced very concrete suggestions for the establishment of a more balanced and united Federation, and the key elements distilled there-from served as the template for the subsequent structural and constitutional realignment of the Nigerian nation.

National Unity

The Babangida istration, conversant with the geo-politics of Nigeria, particularly the fears of ethnic domination and marginalization, sought to correct the perceived structural imbalances of the Federation by the creation of more states. Eleven states of Nigeria, two of which were born in 1987 (Akwa Ibom, Katsina) and the latter in 1991 (Abia, Anambra, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Yobe and Taraba); and over 200 new Local Government Areas, owe their existence to this August effort.

Foreign Policy

Under the Babangida istration Nigeria demonstrated to the world its capacity to play the highest leadership role in African affairs. The formation of the West African Peace Monitoring Force, ECOMOG (a Babangida initiative), anchored by bold and heroic Nigerian troops, brought peace to war-torn Liberia and Sierra Leone, an achievement that further cemented the role of Nigeria as the great protector and promoter of international peace.

Other Notable Reforms and People-Oriented Programmes

Abrogation of Decree No 4 (Protection of Public Officers Against False Accusation Decree) 1984
Abrogation of import and export licencing regime
Dissolution of Nigerian National Supply Company
Abolition of commodity marketing boards
Elimination of price control
Reduction of import duties on newsprint
Ban on the importation of rice
Ban on importation of wheat
Establishment of the National Planning Commission
Institutionalizing Central Bank autonomy
Establishment of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM)
Deregulation of capital and financial markets
Establishment of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)
Establishment of National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
Abolition of fixed exchange rate for the naira
Establishment of the Peoples Bank
Licencing of more banks and finance houses
Introduction of community banking system
Introduction of bureaux de change
Establishment of stable tariff regime
Introduction of civil service reforms
Establishment of the Political Bureau and conduct of nationwide public debate on the IMF loan
Introduction of two party political system
Introduction of Open Ballot and Option A4 voting System
Introduction of Local Government Reform
Educational sector reform and the Introduction of 6-3-3-4 System
Establishment of more federal Universities and Polytechnics
Establishment of the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization of Public Enterprises under which 55 public enterprises, including nine banks, were privatized through public offers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
Reform of obsolete colonial laws; and abrogation of law making ��wandering�� an offence
Establishment of the Urban Mass Transit Progamme
Institution of the Primary Healthcare Progamme
Establishment of the National Commission for Women
Establishment of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency
Enactment of Copyright Law and establishment of Copyright Council
Allocation of oil prospecting acreages to Nigerian oil companies
Establishment of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority
Establishment of special supervised Agicultural and Industrial Credit Schemes
Establishment of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the creation of the Calabar EPZ
Conduct of the 1991 National Population Census
Establishment of the Federal Road Safety Corps
Establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme
Establishment of the National Agency for Food and Drug istration And Control (NAFDAC)
Establishment Of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), now the Niger Delta Development Commission
Establishment of the National Boundary Commission
Establishment of National Communications Commission
Establishment of the National Broadcasting Commission
Institutionalizing of the National Housing Fund
Establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Establishment of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission
Reorganization of Nigerian Police into zonal commands
Establishment of National Guard
Reduction in the size of the military
Reorganization of security services into three arms from the former single Nigerian Security organization, i.e. State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency
Resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel
Establishment of Technical Aid Corps
Major Projects Completed
Federal Government Secretariat (Phase 1 & 11), Abuja
International Conference Centre, Abuja
Abuja International Airport (Phase 1 & 11)
The Presidential Villa, Abuja
National Assembly Complex, Abuja
The Supreme Court Complex, Abuja
Lagos Third Mainland Bridge
Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualization
Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri-Ore standard-gauge railway line
Digital telecommunication gateways: Lanlate (North), Enugu (East), Lagos (West)
Onne Fertilizer Plant in Rivers State
Kaduna Superphosphate Fertilizer Plant
Warri Petrochemical plant
Elesa Eleme Petroleum Refinery in Rivers State
Kaduna Petrochemical plant
The Escravos-Lagos Gas pipeline
Jebba and Shiroro hydro-electricity projects
Egbin Thermal Power Station in Lagos
Challawa Gorge Dam
Nigeria House in New York, USA
Ajaokuta Steel Plant (Phase 1)
The Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project, Bonny
The Oso Condensate Plant in Akwa Ibom State
NNPC headquarters in Abuja
Aluminium Smelter Plant in Akwa Ibom State
NigerDock (Africa�s largest dry dock), Snake Island
Nigerian Machine Tools Manufacturing Co., Oshogbo
Military cantonments, Abuja
National Intelligence Agency istration headquarters
Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company factory, Abuja

Has Jona done anything different? Has he even done 1/4 of this?

^^^

Tell them OBJ also had a fraudulent campaign called NAPEP

Nothing has changed, it is still the same lies and deceit albeit this is the worst we have ever seen.

Adura_ngba: ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (NCAA)

The creation of NCAA in 1999 brought about the enthronement of professionalism, integrity and discipline in the conduct of aviation business and in safety oversight.
Effective regulatory activities and re- certification exercises.

Successful outing in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) universal audit of 2006 where Nigeria came up with about 93% record performances.

A performance which ICAO recommended for other African countries to emulate.

Periodic economic audit of Nigerian Airline as a Surveillance mechanism to create a synergy between the financial health of an airline and its ability to provide safe and secure commercial aviation operations.

Six Nigerian carriers have been allocated regional and transcontinental routes.

ACHIEVEMENT OF NIGERIAN AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AGENCY, NAMA

Injection of huge antennae of High Frequency [HF] and very High Frequency aeronautical radio among other communication facilities.

Procurement and Installation of 20 Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range [VOR] equipment, 10 instrument landing system, locator beacons, On-Range directional beacons, Very High Directional Finder among others.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET) SINCE 2003

Procurement and Installation of rural radio internet for dissemination of meteorological and other Information to rural dwellers.

Sophisticated, modern, computerized and automated equipment installed in its network to improve its data collection, processing and dissemination.

Forty-eight Automatic Weather Stations (AWOS) have been installed in Bauchi, Yola, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Markurdi, Abuja, Ibadan, Ilorin Obudu, Yenegoa, Calabar, etc

Nigeria was selected as one of the four beneficiaries of the 2nd generation satellite Group Receivers of Meteosat image in Africa through the untiring effort of the Agency.

Installation/Refurbishing of 17 port cabins in the network by SAHCOL
Installation of 2 new Digital Weighbridges at Lagos Warehouse by SAHCOL
Transportation infrastructure
Expanding the frontier of development
Before 1999
Dilapidated and failed roads nationwide, leading to poor transportation networks and increased highway accidents.
Emphasis on road rehabilitation, maintenance and management through the establishment of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), leading to rehabilitation of 500 roads in 2004 and over 1000 roads by the end of 2006.

Giving Nigerians better and expanded access through functional Highways and efficient Waterways.

Facilitating the creation of efficient railway networks.


PROSPECTS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This trend will continue and be consummated PROVIDED:

• Reforms are consolidated and sustained

• Prosperity not powered by oil, although primary commodity sector
still dominant

• Private sector growing by the day and owns the reforms - broadened
Stakeholders

• Growth of 12% can be achieved by exploiting hidden reserves for
growth in areas listed below:

• Youthful population, provided educational revolution succeeds
• 60% of arable land lying fallow
• Diaspora as reserve of skills and resources
• Exploiting dormant natural resources – solid minerals, oil and gas, etc
• Awakening Nigeria’s dormant capital – real estate/mortgage revolution
• The SME revolution

Breaking Dynasties of poverty: spatial inequality
Nigeria one of most unequal societies - need to enlarge the cake

Breaking the Natural Resource/Oil Curse

Infrastructure Gap: power; transportation; national gas policy; security and law and order

Taking Reforms to the States - the ‘other hand’

Decisive Solution to the Niger- Delta

Employment, especially urban youth unemployment
Macroeconomic Stability - new models and framework to lock-in recent gains: fiscal responsibility and consolidation; domestic debt burden; inflation targeting framework for monetary policy and Naira Revolution

Constitutional Reforms - especially aspects that constrain effective economic management

Electoral reforms and sustenance of Democracy

Urban Renewal across states, especially Lagos

Deepening the ICT Revolution and educational reforms

Revolutionalise Science & Technology Infrastructure

Agrarian revolution

Tourism

Challenges of the Business Environment

Social Service Delivery

Ports and Customs Reforms - clear customs in 6 hours - in Latin America it’s done in 2 hours

istrative red-tapes; e.g. Land registration

Deepen NIPC’s one-stop shop

Institutionalizing Reforms

Leadership of the President and his team

National Council on Reforms and Transformation

Challenge of right skills: economy getting too sophisticated and needs new skills


BROAD CONSENSUS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Nigerians seem to have broad consensus on the imperatives of Africa’s giant. According to the President-Elect, the four key consensus by Nigerians are:

a. Deepening Democracy and Rule of Law
b. Economy to be driven by the private sector
c. Zero tolerance on corruption, and
d. Need for Good Governance

“Nigeria’s greatness lies in consolidating on these basic agreements and extending the frontiers of reforms” - Yar’ Adua, May 4, 2007

Both Goldman Sachs and Financial Times of London agree:

“We have a super-conviction about Africa. We are very optimistic that the corner has been turned economically. You have to imagine where it will be in two or three years’ time, and it is going to change in ways that people don’t expect. … Irrespective of its chequered and often bloody history, and in spite of ongoing political uncertainty, Nigeria is attracting an unprecedented wave of interest from bankers and investors…. Renaissance is making a big push into Africa, with Nigeria at the heart of its strategy”

Adura_ngba: NAFDAC

An investment in the dignity of Man
Restructured and modernized food and drug istration regulatory processes Counterfeit drugs in circulation dropped from 41% in 2001 to 16% in 2006.

Production capacity of local pharmaceutical industries increased from 25% to 40%; and their number rose from 70 to 200 in 6 years.

110 destruction exercises of counterfeit and substandard products valued at N20billionPharmacovigilance Centre established to monitor adverse drug reactions and safety of medicines.

Over 400 Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reports have been received.
45 convictions secured in respect of counterfeit drugs related cases.

NAFDAC itted as a member of the National Centre participating in the WHO Drug Safety Monitoring Programme.

On the strength of NAFDAC's monitoring of salt iodization, Nigeria is rated as the first developing country to achieve Universal Salt Iodization.

Use of bromate by Nigerian bakers has dropped from over 95% in 2001 to less than 0.01% in 2006.

There is now very strict control on Narcotics and Controlled substances.


NIGER DELTA 1958 - 1998
• 1958: British colonial government established Willinks Commission to tackle development challenges

• 1961: Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) was created to facilitate development of the region. NDDB failed.

• 1970: 6 out of 11 River Basin Development Authorities were established to address challenges of development in the Niger Delta

• 1970 - 1980: Out of N214bn meant for all River Basin Development Authorities, only N227.2m went to the 6 RBDAs in the Niger Delta

• 1981: Presidential Task Force (PTF) established and allocated 1.5% of Federation to develop the Niger Delta region. RBDAs and PTF failed.

• 1992: OMPADEC established for rehabilitation and development of oil producing areas.

• 1992 - 1998: OMPADEC received N23.2bn but failed to change the situation in the region.

Niger Delta: 1999 - 2007

• 1999: 13% derivation introduced, leading to increase in revenue for the Niger Delta states from 26% in 1999 to 44% in 2003.

• 2000: NDDC established to address challenges of development in the Niger Delta.

• 2000 - 2006: NDDC received N176bn as allocation, six times the total monies allocated to past development commissions on Niger Delta development from 1961 - 1998.

• 2000 - 2006: NDDC executed 2,035 projects involving 160 classrooms, 480 health centres, 173 roads, 47 bridges, 316 electrification schemes, 283 water projects, 62 jetties and 25 shore protection and erosion control projects.

• 1999 - 2005: FGN spent N1.12bn on erosion and flood control projects in 5 Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Delta

• A new five year development plan for the Niger Delta to cost N20 trillion:
– Dualisation of the East-West road at N230bn
– Rural electrification of 396 communities in the region
– Upgrading of the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Delta State to degree awarding institution. N1bn already released for expansion of infrastructure and upgrading processes.
• Launch of the New Master Plan for the Niger Delta by Mr. President in April 2007

• Inauguration of a 50-Member “Consolidated Council on Social and Economic Development of Coastal States”

• N2, 461,900,000,000tr allocated from the Federation to the six (6) States and all the LGAs in the South-South geo-political zone between June 1999 and April 2007.



EDUCATION: 1999-2007

• Introduction of Universal Basic Education led to:
– Increase in primary school enrolment from 17million in 1999 to 22million in 2005
– Increase in Secondary school enrolment from 3.8m in 1999 to 6.2 in 2005
– Increase in tertiary school enrolment from 312,334 in 1999 to 779,253 in 2005
• Restructuring of the Education Sector

• Online processes for JAMB, NECO & WAEC Examinations
• 40,000 teachers trained and retrained in 2006

• Revitalization of the Education Tax Fund; and resuscitation of the scholarship scheme for students in tertiary institutions

• Repositioning and reintegration of Polytechnics

• Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP)

• Procurement and distribution of 515 computer sets with complete accessories. Over 100 million has so far been spent on the computerization project.
•
• Housing for All Teachers (HAT) initiative, using the Federal Capital Territory as a pilot scheme.

• Renovation of structures; provision of additional classrooms, hostels and other facilities.

SPORTS and SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

You will recall that the 2003 All-African Games was more than a game.
It created an upsurge in economic activities
It was a major boost to tourism in our country
It generated 50, 000 jobs which included volunteers and those engaged in informal businesses

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Nigeria’s first communication satellite (NIGCOMSAT -1), has just been launched on May 13th, 2007. A hybrid satellite designed to operate in C, Ku, Ka, and L bands with footprints over Africa, part of Middle East and Southern Europe. It is sub-Saharan Africa’s first geostationary communication satellite. Fifty-five (55) Nigerian engineers involved in the design and building of all sub-systems of the satellite.

Through NIGCOMSAT-1, Nigeria is expected to receive $400m from African countries for their international telephone traffic alone.

It is expected to trigger further convergence in ICTs and cause a reduction in subscription rates of ICT related services.

NigeriaSat-1 (low earth orbit sensing satellite) was launched in September 2003.

NigeriaSat - 2 (with a ground resolution of 2.5m) is also due for launch in 2007.
Nigeria’s ICT policy framework was approved in 2001, following which the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was established.

Nigeria had earlier launched her Micro-Satellite, code named NigeriaSat-1, an earth observation Micro-Satellite, the first low orbit remote sensing satellite, with its ground control station situated in Asokoro in Abuja and manned by Nigerian engineers.

Nigeria now a Member of International Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) comprising the United Kingdom, China, Algeria, Turkey, Thailand, and Vietnam. This hip enables Nigeria have a global coverage and to receive daily revisit provision of real time data for dynamic remote sensing thus making the satellite in the DMC operationally marketable, apart from reduction in cloud problems and increased commercial value, setting a New international Earth Orbit standard and stimulating partner-nations-value added business and high profile in of international disaster ; and world's first coordinated EO satellite constellation.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), the statutory body responsible for Nigeria's Space science and technology programme, through its Space Application for Sustainable Development (SASSD)has: Facilitated the supply of high resolution imagery and generation of topographical maps for the preliminary planning of the railway alignment.

Ensured the development of a Fadama Land Information Management System (FLIMS) through its long term rice yield prediction and production monitoring using soil/agronomic data typical of landscapes and agro-ecological zones.

Mapped settlements and major highways in Nigeria.

Developed Early warning Systems for food security to provide warnings of imminent crop failure and other food security problems.

Developed models for cassava yield prediction through remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to provide relevant spatial and agro-meteorological data for field assessment and yield potential modeling including sub-plot sampling using satellite data and radiometer for field measurement of spectral reflectance and creating spatial database of Land and conditions suitable for sustainable production of cassava in Nigeria for the purpose of strategic national planning.

Updated the Land Use/ Cover Mapping of Nigeria
Identified Artisanal and Illegal Mining Sites in Nigeria using Remote Sensing GIS and GPS technologies

Mapped and monitored the impact of Gully Erosion in South-East Nigeria.

Mapped and monitored Flood Disaster Vulnerability in Nigeria

Provided Remote Sensing and GIS in Vector-Diseases Studies; for instance, Malaria Epidemiology

Nigeria now boasts of the likes of Zinox and Omatek (indigenous producers of branded systems which have flourished under the Obasanjo istration).

THE HEALTH SECTOR

• We have introduced the Ward Health System as a strategy for the revitalisation of the Primary Health care System

• In 2003 Government made provision for the construction of 200 Ward Health Centres (WHC).

• A total of 154 WHC sout of 200 have been completed and are fully functional.

• Contracts for additional 380 PHC centres were awarded in 2004 to bring the total to 580 PHCs Nationwide

• Government invested 100 million Euros to equip and upgrade 8 teaching hospitals to “Five Star” status. These are:
– University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
– Lagos University Teaching Hospital
– Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria
– University College Hospital Ibadan
– Jos University Teaching Hospital
– University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital
– University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
– University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ozalla, Enugu State

• 15 other Federal Hospitals, 23 Federal Medical Centres, 3 Orthopaedic Hospitals and 8 Neuropsychiatry Hospitals have also been renovated and re-equipped.


AIR TRANSPORT

• Re-certification of MMA by the United State Federal Aviation istration (FAA) on December 22, 1999.

• Resurfacing and extension of runway of Yola, Enugu, Calabar, Kastina, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan Airports to accommodate 747 Tyre Aircraft.

• Training and Retraining of security, fire & safety personnel to meet the challenges and threat of terrorism.

 Purchase of screening machines for all Airports.
 Purchase of apron buses for major international Airports.
 Provision of flight information display system (FIDS) for MMA.
• Installation and Upgrading of airfield lighting in major Airports.

• Installation of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at Sir Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.

• Acquisition of motorized Air Traffic Control Tower, the first of its king in Sub Saharan Africa.
• New concession for variously needed infrastructure at Airports have been granted:

5 Star Hotels
Aircraft maintenance facilities ( Hangers)
Warehouses (Cold and Dry)
Shopping Malls
Office Complexes
Aviation Fuel Deports
Petrol Station
Car Parks

Adura_ngba: NEW RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE


• Federal Government has approved new railway plans for the standard gauge
• $8.3bn estimated for the project. $2bn is obtained as a soft loan from the Chinese government
• 3 longitudinal lines: Lagos – North; Warri – North; and Port Harcourt – North
• 4 Latitudinal lines, with extension lines to cover all State capitals and major commercial cities

ELECTRICITY PATHETIC PAST

• 1986-1999: No major overhaul carried out on existing plants
• 1990-1999: No new power stations built
• 1999: Only 19 out of 79 generating units in operation, with actual daily generation averaging 1800MW
• The last transmission line built in 1987

ELECTRICITY SINCE 1999
Major Infrastructural Expansion

• Geregu Plant, Kogi State: completed and commissioned February 2007
• Omotosho Plant, Ondo State: completed and commissioned May 2007
• Papalanto Plant, Ogun State: On going
• Alaoji Plant, Abia State: On going
• Egbema Plant, Imo State: On going
• Omoku Plant, Rivers State: State complted, Federal On going
• Calabar Plant, Cross River State: On going
• Gbarain Plant, Bayelsa State: On going
• Ihovbor Plant, Edo State: On going

MAMBILLA HYDRO PLANT: 2000MW: Contract signed and civil works have begun.


WHAT has CHANGED?
• Energy generation increased from 1,800MW in 1998 to about 2700MW in 2004

• Funding increased from about $50m in 1999 to about $380m in 2005

• 19 new power stations under construction to generate 4,500MW of power

• 7,000km of transmission lines nationwide and 22,000 transformers to be installed

• Over 600 project sites nationwide to bring electricity to about 1000 rural communities. The entire project will involve about 20,000 shipments comprising:
• - 200km of gas pipeline
• - 10,000 tons of material for power station equipment
• - 67,500 tons of transmission tower materials
• - 15,000km of distribution conductors
• - 25,000 distribution transformers



INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SINCE 1999

Market Liberalization
International Recognition
Telecommunications Sector Reform
Communications Infrastructure Development

• State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI Project)
• Wire Nigeria Project (WiN)
• Internet Service Exchange (IXP)
• Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)

Unprecedented Impact in Socio-Economic Development

Phenomenal Industry Growth (connected mobile line grew at about 100% annually)

Improved Tele-density (tele-density increased from a mere 0.45 lines per 100 persons in 1999 to 25 lines per 100 persons as at January 2007)

Nigeria was adjudged the fastest growing telecoms market in Africa and one of the fastest in the world by 2006

Private investment rose from $50m in year 1999 to $9.5b in 2007. This was also influenced by the revolution in the telecommunications

Over 34million connected lines

Massive employment generation

Two major projects initiated to provide rural telephony in 108 local governments spread across the country

Massive rural telephony project launched two weeks ago by Mr. President

NIPOST now a world class postal institution


HEART OF AFRICA PROJECT
A cohesive information programme for Nigeria's image management and economic progression.

Arguably the most ambitious marketing and ethical blueprint designed by any Nigerian government to tell the Nigerian story.

Ensured the right kind of information is received about Nigeria, both locally and internationally.

Repositioned Nigeria to serve as Africa's preferred destination for political, business, social and cultural events.

Embraced a value orientation programme involving attitudinal and behavioral change tagged PRIDE - Patriotism Resourcefulness Integrity Distinction Enterprise.

Hosting of the largest colloquium of Nigerian mothers - “Mother's Summit”. The summit became the plank for the implementation of PRIDE - The internal component of the project.

Nigerian brands marketed abroad through bus, escalator and tube branding.

Adura_ngba: Obasanjo Legacy: Lest We Forget

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE ECONOMY PRE-1999

Near Collapse of Economic and Social Infrastructure
• Slow Growth in GDP – 1.19% in 1999
• High Double-Digit Inflation in the range of 20 – 25%
• Loose Fiscal Policy with fiscal deficits averaging 3.5% of GDP
• Low growth in oil sector due to lack of investment – 7.5% in 1999
• Huge debt overload – external and domestic debt 70% of GDP resulting in difficulty in debt servicing


The Economy SINCE 1999

• FDI and Portfolio inflows more than doubling every year – $7bn in 2006; non-oil exports grew by 24% in 2006 and China and India becoming preferred partners.

• In 2006, the Nigerian economy grew by 7% (GDP growth rate). Inflation rate dropped from 17% to 10% by September 2006

• In 2006, the non-oil sector, especially agriculture, grew by 8% up from 6.5% in 2005 (almost twice as fast as the oil sector)

• Nigeria has the most profitable Stock Market in the world with an average Return on Investment (ROI of over 31%)

• Stable prices (exchange rate, inflation) and stronger banking system powering NSE; thousands of Nigerians are making money out of the capital market; NSE capitalization expected to be $100bn in 2008, ahead of Egypt and second only to JSE

• The Pension Reforms Act 2004 established for Nigeria a new and contributory pension scheme for both the private and the public sector. Pension Fund now in excess of N600bn

• 21 companies with market capitalization of US$1bn and above. There are 22 companies with such profile in West Africa, out of which 21 are in Nigeria – none in 1999.


AGRICULTURE SINCE 1999
• Growth rate in Agriculture sector increased from 2.9% in 1998 to 7% in 2005.

• Annual production of fingerlings and table fish increased from 2.0 million metric tones and 30,000 mt in 2004 to 50 million metric tones and 80,000 mt respectively in 2006.

• The Nations silo storage capacity increased by about 100,000 mt.

• The current growth rate is slightly higher than the 6% target set for the sector under NEEDS and NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme


Agriculture, Water Resources
and Rural Development
SINCE 1999
• Water supply coverage increased from 35% to 65% between 1999 and 2007, hence increased food production through irrigation.

• A total of 2,170km rural feeder roads awarded for rehabilitation under the 2006 MDG Poverty Reduction Fund Release.

• The output of cash crop such as rice, cocoa and rubber also grew by 24%, 36% and 10% respectively.

• Cocoa production increased from 170,000 mt in 1999 to about 460,000 mt in 2006.

• Five new improved cassava varieties with potential yield of 30 - 80 tons/ha compare with the present yield of 12 - 15 tons/ha have been formerly released to farmers nationwide.
• 89 boreholes, 41 open wells, 24 micro earth dams, 480 tubewells and over 536 fish ponds constructed under the National Special Programme for Food Security (NSPFS)

• Annual production of cassava tubers increased from 35million metric tonnes in 2005 to over 49 million metric tonnes in 2005.

• 1,044 water pumps distributed

• Annual production of over 10,000 mt of assorted vegetables

• The construction of the Gurara water transfer project (capacity 850 million cubic metres), is a tremendous achievement in the development of dams and reservoirs.

• One of the global leaders in poultry production


Agriculture sector
Ensuring Food Security before 1999
• Scarcity of seedlings for farmers
• Unavailability of fertilizer to farmers
• Wastage of farm produce
• Lack of emphasis in agriculture
• High importation of locally produced food
items such poultry products, fruit juices, plantain chips, leading to undue pressure on
the Naira


Agriculture sector slide 8

ENSURING FOOD SECURITY SINCE 1999

• Presidential initiative on rice, livestock, cassava, vegetable oils, tropical fruits and tree crops have led to a significant boost in agricultural production
• Increased interest in agriculture due to improved government policies
• Improved allocation and distribution of fertilizer and farming implements
• Enhanced local and foreign markets for farm produce
• Increased in agricultural research funding
• Increased in output of major crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, rice, beans, yam, cassava etc.

ROAD & RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

• Between 1999 and February 2007, FGN spent N116bn to complete 117 roads and bridges covering 4,747km

• Currently there are 118 new and on-going projects covering 632,428km with some attaining completion levels of 96.6%. Amount spent on this so far is N187.35bn

• Total length of road projects awarded (completed and on-going) since 1999 is 19,801.05km estimated at N229.019bn

• Some of the road dualisation projects are Ibadan-Ife; Benin-Asaba; Mile 3 diobu – P/Hacourt; Benin By; Kaduna Refinery road; Onitsha-Owerre; Nyanya-Keffi; Ibadan-Ilorin; Benin-Warri; Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta; Kaduna Eastern By; Abuja-Lokoja; East-West and Kano-Maiduguri

• Many roads are aklso under design for future dualisation, including Kano-Kongolam; Lokoja-Benin; Keffi-Jos; Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi

• The plan is to dualize all major federal roads by 2020

Rossikk:

Even ing for purchasing power parity, it is manifestly ABSURD to claim that 80% of Nigerian live on ''less than $1 a day'' or indeed, ''less than $2 a day''. Both are ABSURD and MANIFESTLY WRONG FIGURES.



Have you been in a Nigerian restaurant in the USA?




You actually think PPP is based on the value of a dollar in the US in 1985!!!

Somebody please hand me a tissue.

You do not understand and its extremely difficult to explain a complex topic to someone who has limited knowledge of how the counts are derived.

Firstly the World Bank in setting the extreme poverty line placed it on $1 US at 1985 PPP prices. Such that $1 US in 1985 PPP is $1.08 in 1994 PPP and $1.45 in 2005 PPP. Today the figure has gone above this 1985 price in PPP .

So like I say let the writer get the knowledge first before ignorantly disputing figures computed by these guys. How absurd is it to link it to N155.

Those guys that computed those figures are not the problem, ignorance is the problem!

Rossikk:
First of all, the National Bureau of statistics never gave a dollar figure for average national earnings in Nigeria. They simply stated the percentage of those who lived below the poverty line by their calculations.

Two, you are guilty of not addressing the practical implications of the $1 a day claim by the World Bank as urged by the poster, instead seeking to confuse people by claiming ''earning $1 a day'' somehow translates to ''poverty in of basic needs, vulnerabilities''.

Hold it there! We talk of the poverty head count a percentage of people living on US$1 PPP a day (the poverty line) called extreme poverty and $US2 PPP a day called poverty. It was a poverty headcount as used by the NBS.

You have mentioned akamu and akara in New York. Now the PPP U.S dollar is not the same thing as the US$ you change at Alhaji's BDC in yaba. The PPP standard denotes not what the US dollar can buy in the country concerned but what a US dollar would buy in the US in 1985 prices in some cases (as used by the World Bank World Development Report 2007). The value of a $1 US PPP is more than that N155 you all keep quoting.

I repeat, the study of poverty is very complex as it goes beyond what most of you understand. It will be good to read more about it instead of rubbishing Professionals who put their all in all to bring out these figures.

OP relocating to naija is a good thing but it has to be planned, see it as a project. You know your strengths, you know your weaknesses, I trust you can assess what is best for you. Basing your decision on what most of the trolls on here post will be misleading.

To be honest if I were to relocate to naija, kidnapping will be the least thing that will deter me. I visit naija at least two times a year. Even at the heat of the insurgency in the Niger Delta, I did visit quarterly. The bulk of my annual leave was spent with my old man and friends in PH.

One thing you must have in mind is, you are not going to get the same quality of service like you get in SA. It's a lot more different and you must be prepared for it.

The western media (Europe and America) have suddenly become fixated with constantly reminding the rest of the world that majority of Nigerians live on less than $1 a day (N155). Bump into any western news report on Nigeria and whether it's good news or bad news, they never fail to mention the ‘fact’ that 'majority’ of Nigerians live on less than $1 a day (it used to be $2 but was recently reviewed downwards). I'm not angry with the ‘oyinbo’ media; it's the rest of us, especially the intellectual class that I’m angry with. Most of us simply agree with these distorted statistics. Nigeria has a lot of government funded and private research institutes and none have ever considered it necessary to research into these claims deliberately designed by the west to ridicule the black race - Yes I said it, my conspiracy theory begins here.

I am sorry, this shows extreme ignorance!

Who told you the statistics was derived by your "western media"? The last Poverty count by the National Bureau of Statistics (under the Presidency) put the rate at over 60%. So one will expect that you get a proper knowledge of how data is sourced before penning such a ridiculous article. The "western media" use data sources, perhaps you can also learn how to source data before penning such a ridiculous article.

Secondly you have not examined the methodology for data collection and processing but in an ignorant manner you have made reference to "nollywood" movies as to why it cannot be true.

Thirdly, I have seen people make reference to $1 or N155 per day as the basis of poverty. Fact is the study of poverty is more complex than just one figure.

We look at poverty in of vulnerability, poverty in of basic needs, capabilities, unjust deprivation. We look at poverty absolutely or relatively. People study poverty up to PhD level, do not stop there and you think one figure is enough to explain what poverty means?