NewStats: 3,265,293 , 8,186,278 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 10:01 AM 6j6e59

Over 160 million nigerians would vote for Goodluck Jonathan,he's even doing nigerians a favour by contesting and winning his type is very rare to come by,we know we have him by luck,go on mr president we are more that are behind you #TEAMGEJFOREVER.

Rubbish this is how they decieve gullible nigerians what's 1.8b for the president of nigeria? They should have said commissioner seeks 1.8b idiots

Sadist

Welcome home mr president,God bless you and the federal republic of nigeria.

May God heal and bless the president Good luck Jonathan and God bless the federal republic of Nigeria

Pictures of on going demolion at dutse

All i can say is goodluck 2015.

rudedough:

[b]Maybe you don't know much about your bible but like I said, everything about Jesus was added recently to the bible when the Modern Church started questioning the old ways of "God".

Jesus is just the sugar coating of the real thing called "God" which was the norm at the time. As a king, you can kill at will, so they painted God to be "fierce" but as man develops, they created a modern day "God" called Jesus, a more civilised God.

Just in case you don't know I'll list your bible chapters and dates of publications so that you know that some men here on Nairaland are older than your bible new testament and I urge you to do some research.

Matt - 1960
Mark - 1950
Luke - 1960
John - 1980
Acts - 1961
Romans - 1955
1 Corinthians - 1954
2 Corinthians - 1955
Galatians - 1949
Ephesians - 1960
Philippians - 1961
Colossians - 1960
1 Thessalonians - 1950
2 Thessalonians - 1950
1 Timothy - 1962
2 Timothy - 1963
Titus - 1962
Philemon - 1960
Hebrews - 1960
James - 1940
1 Peter - 1963
2 Peter - 1963
1 John - 1980
2 John - 1980
3 John - 1980
Jude - 1960
Revelations - 1980



So within 1950 - 1980 lost manuscripts suddenly started falling from the sky into the hands of religious leaders to form the new testament.

Christians are very gullible people.[/b]

You say christains are gullible,but christainity and Jesus christ plus other religions has helped glued society together harmoniously since you claim to know all bring another book that can help hold mankind together,there's is no other book like the bible in the whole world,even your so called science cannot trace or give a true origin of water,and mind you mars is not the only solar planet tell your science people to keep looking for another planet and waste money they can give to the poor they would never find what they are looking for except is its given by God.

rudedough:

[b]Maybe you don't know much about your bible but like I said, everything about Jesus was added recently to the bible when the Modern Church started questioning the old ways of "God".

Jesus is just the sugar coating of the real thing called "God" which was the norm at the time. As a king, you can kill at will, so they painted God to be "fierce" but as man develops, they created a modern day "God" called Jesus, a more civilised God.

Just in case you don't know I'll list your bible chapters and dates of publications so that you know that some men here on Nairaland are older than your bible new testament and I urge you to do some research.

Matt - 1960
Mark - 1950
Luke - 1960
John - 1980
Acts - 1961
Romans - 1955
1 Corinthians - 1954
2 Corinthians - 1955
Galatians - 1949
Ephesians - 1960
Philippians - 1961
Colossians - 1960
1 Thessalonians - 1950
2 Thessalonians - 1950
1 Timothy - 1962
2 Timothy - 1963
Titus - 1962
Philemon - 1960
Hebrews - 1960
James - 1940
1 Peter - 1963
2 Peter - 1963
1 John - 1980
2 John - 1980
3 John - 1980
Jude - 1960
Revelations - 1980



So within 1950 - 1980 lost manuscripts suddenly started falling from the sky into the hands of religious leaders to form the new testament.

Christians are very gullible people.[/b]

You say christains are gullible,but christainity and Jesus christ plus other religions has helped glued society together hamoniously since you claim to know all bring another book that can help hold mankind together,there's is no other book like the bible in the whole world,even your so called science cannot trace or give a true origin of water,and mind you mars is not the only solar planet tell your science people to keep looking for another planet and waste money they can give to the poor they would never find what they are looking for except is giving by God.

rudedough:

Are you kidding me? Jesus preached love? LOL Jesus doesn't exist, the new testament was added to the bible only recently when the Modern day Church started questioning God's actions in the old testament.

God was a psycho, as in, insane. The man dey kill anyhow.

Threw angel Lucifer down from far away heaven, no even care if him leg go break.

Disowned Adam and Even, the same people he made in his own image and likeness.

Wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah.

Killed lots wife for looking back

Killed every 1st born of the Egyptians.

ed numerous wars and killed many people in battle. Even made the Midianites soldiers kill themselves.

Killed Children for making fun of Elijah's bald head.

...and many more

If God was for real, that man would be at Yaba left chained for life.

I have work to do and cannot answer every reply you post,how well do you know the bible?was and is part and parcel of the old testament prophecy that was fufiled in the new testamet even some jews are still waiting for his coming ,here are some scripture verses for you.

44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled
Prophecies About JesusOld Testament
ScriptureNew Testament
Fulfillment
1Messiah would be born of a woman.Genesis 3:15Matthew 1:20
Galatians 4:4
2Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.Micah 5:2Matthew 2:1
Luke 2:4-6
3Messiah would be born of a virgin.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:22-23
Luke 1:26-31
4Messiah would come from the line of Abraham.Genesis 12:3
Genesis 22:18Matthew 1:1
Romans 9:5
5Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac.Genesis 17:19
Genesis 21:12Luke 3:34
6Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.Numbers 24:17Matthew 1:2
7Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.Genesis 49:10Luke 3:33
Hebrews 7:14
8Messiah would be heir to King David's throne.2 Samuel 7:12-13
Isaiah 9:7Luke 1:32-33
Romans 1:3
9Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal.Psalm 45:6-7
Daniel 2:44Luke 1:33
Hebrews 1:8-12
10Messiah would be called Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:23
11Messiah would spend a season in Egypt.Hosea 11:1Matthew 2:14-15
12A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace.Jeremiah 31:15Matthew 2:16-18
13A messenger would prepare the way for MessiahIsaiah 40:3-5Luke 3:3-6
14Messiah would be rejected by his own people.Psalm 69:8
Isaiah 53:3John 1:11
John 7:5
15Messiah would be a prophet.Deuteronomy 18:15Acts 3:20-22
16Messiah would be preceded by Elijah.Malachi 4:5-6Matthew 11:13-14
17Messiah would be declared the Son of God.Psalm 2:7Matthew 3:16-17
18Messiah would be called a Nazarene.Isaiah 11:1Matthew 2:23
19Messiah would bring light to Galilee.Isaiah 9:1-2Matthew 4:13-16
20Messiah would speak in parables.Psalm 78:2-4
Isaiah 6:9-10Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35
21Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted.Isaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:18-19
22Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.Psalm 110:4Hebrews 5:5-6
23Messiah would be called King.Psalm 2:6
Zechariah 9:9Matthew 27:37
Mark 11:7-11
24Messiah would be praised by little children.Psalm 8:2Matthew 21:16
25Messiah would be betrayed.Psalm 41:9
Zechariah 11:12-13Luke 22:47-48
Matthew 26:14-16
26Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field.Zechariah 11:12-13Matthew 27:9-10
27Messiah would be falsely accused.Psalm 35:11Mark 14:57-58
28Messiah would be silent before his accs.Isaiah 53:7Mark 15:4-5
29Messiah would be spat upon and struck.Isaiah 50:6Matthew 26:67
30Messiah would be hated without cause.Psalm 35:19
Psalm 69:4John 15:24-25
31Messiah would be crucified with criminals.Isaiah 53:12Matthew 27:38
Mark 15:27-28
32Messiah would be given vinegar to drink.Psalm 69:21Matthew 27:34
John 19:28-30
33Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced.Psalm 22:16
Zechariah 12:10John 20:25-27
34Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed.Psalm 22:7-8Luke 23:35
35Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments.Psalm 22:18Luke 23:34
Matthew 27:35-36
36Messiah's bones would not be broken.Exodus 12:46
Psalm 34:20John 19:33-36
37Messiah would be forsaken by God.Psalm 22:1Matthew 27:46
38Messiah would pray for his enemies.Psalm 109:4Luke 23:34
39Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side.Zechariah 12:10John 19:34
40Messiah would be buried with the rich.Isaiah 53:9Matthew 27:57-60
41Messiah would resurrect from the dead.Psalm 16:10
Psalm 49:15Matthew 28:2-7
Acts 2:22-32
42Messiah would ascend to heaven.Psalm 24:7-10Mark 16:19
Luke 24:51
43Messiah would be seated at God's right hand.Psalm 68:18
Psalm 110:1Mark 16:19
Matthew 22:44
44Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin.Isaiah 53:5-12Romans 5:6-8
[b][/b]MY ANSWER AND QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS give me anybook in your so called scientology that has addressed comion and love like the way JESUS and the bible has done ,you say your science has solved everything with books as proof so give me one book as proof on love and comion so i can have a different view about life all that's going wrong in our society is lack of love and comion for each other GIVE ME BOOK OO ABEG GIMME BOOK ON LOVE AND COMION I WAN DIE FOR BOOK OF LOVE AND COMION,what do you know about life ?do you know how much mans wickedness has cost fellow man and you say we don't need JESUS our model just say there's no need for religion as a whole in the society without religion society would disintergate religion holds society together,religion is the drug we need to survive because of mans wickenedness to fellow man,religion is the opium of the masses karl marx,i rest my case

emk4lif:
LMAO,keep slaying em deluded xtians, they'll believe anything written in that book of fables of theirs,praise white Jizz-us

Sorry for your life if you can believe sicence and social sciences that keep correcting their flaws then am so sorry for you,initially they said the earth was round and today its no more round but you believed it was circle back then , you see the bible is not like that if you need everything about love comion and how to live a good life then get the bible over a billion people can't be stupid or wrong ,i think you should check yourself bro.

Ola def2: why ar u calling him Bros?

I want him to see the light,he lost and needs love,no vex i no expect you to pick offence

rudedough: Just one question for our bible believing "Christians".

If Satan was once an Angel (Lucifer), who tempted Angel Lucifer to sin when there was no Devil or sins back then?

Bros you don't need anybody to tempt you when you have envy,he wanted to be God,you can tempt yourself its easy.

rudedough:

Man all those supernatural BS you see in your Church ain't real, they are acting and you're paying for entertainment.

Give that your offering to the less privileged. That your cleaner may not have had a good breakfast before coming to clean your house or office, and her child may have had just dry pap without any milk.

Help the people around you, that's the way I practice religion. I don't need to read any story book, go to Church or follow Jesus before I do what is right.

Fine now you talking,but mind you someone laid himself down as a model for comion,so when you asked if he's still relevant in our everyday life you say yes,because you can't find anybook in your so called scientology that has addressed comion and love like the way JESUS did so he's a model in this aspect,is like someone saying, karl marx and max weber are irrelevant in let's say sociology.

coolzeal: Is what is morally good commanded by God because it is morally good, or is it morally good because it is commanded by God?.. Jesus is not white and the first church was build in Ethiopia.. research Lalibela

Bros its clear to me now that you need JESUS because you can't use google to do your reaserch well if you had used google very well you would have seen this (((((This article lists some of the oldest church
buildings. The oldest extant building identified as
an early site of Christian worship is the Cenacle in
Jerusalem, according to the Catholic
Encyclopedia:[1] "the first Christian church". In
most instances, buildings listed here were
reconstructed numerous times and only
fragments or the foundations date to the
foundational period.
"Church" may also be used in the sense of
" Christian denomination", or in the singular as the
Christian Church as a whole. The
"church" (ecclesia) is traced to Pentecost and the
beginning of the Christian mission in the 1st
century. Individual congregations may also give
later foundation dates, dated to the
Christianization of the respective area.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of
the Armenian church, built in 301-303 and still
standing is often called the oldest church in the
world.
)))))))))BEFORE THIS

Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, Originally built
in the 4th century, rebuilt several times, most
recently in 17th century, Possibly oldest church
building in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopian
Orthodox Church)


HAVE YOU EVER READ THE BIBLE BEFORE?If you have I would want you to tell me what you find that's morally wrong that's in Gods commandment or his word this bible is a guide and light to human existence or do you have any course or discipline that address love and good morals?if you have pls tell me i would like to study it,I need answers .

The world would go mad without christainity,christainity is based on love and good morals and this is an aspect of society man cannot address,christainity is not like other religion that can tolerate hate and violence.christainity is about love ,love for fellow humans are they bad eggs yes but that does not override the undelying fact of love for fellow human and life,go read about JESUS and his life style then you understand why we praise his holy name.

rudedough:

No! it is you who lack common sense and the ability to think on your own. OK, I lack common sense but let's do some common sense test.

Scientific Common sense: is the wall wet? (Yes/No)
Man goes to wall, touch it, says yes the wall is wet.

Religious common sense: Who is God?
Omini-present, Omini-potent, awesome, forgiving, strong, mighty, blah blah blah.

Where is he? In heaven above

Scientists went as far as Mars, no sign of God.

So where the hell is God? You'll see him when you die.

Dead people don't talk, so who's to confirm his existence?

Never mind, just pay your tithes and offering and you'll have a place in his golden kingdom.

Is that what you call common sense? I wonder how Christians buy these $hits

Have you ever seen or exprienced spiritual or supernatual works of any form in your life be it black magic or white magic if you have then you don't need to doubt the supernatural,apart from that do you have course that people can go and study and teach other about love?if not forget it you have no point.

coolzeal: A picture of a white man with blue eyes posting in almost all the churches in Africa(black nation). Brainwashing the masses as the messiah, ridiculous. Sorry man, it is just an illusion, he does not exist.

JESUS is not an african thing he's worldwide,the picture means nothing its the message behind the picture that means everything,you think we are fools think again,life would be meaningless without him,if you say its just an illusion try and create one,who would teach us love and forgiveness ?or do they teach that in schools?life should never be viewed from one perspective go learn about JESUS bro.

rudedough: Jesus can come suck my balls.

You never know how useful the name JESUS is to billions of lives around the world a trial would convince you,we that know his usefulness always ask for his grace and mercy and we extend it to you,may the son of God have mercy on your lost soul.

ikeyman00: @@

and that mad man that always leases his madness on twitter avoid telling us there is hell in the north

That guy is a joke ppl still insult him on twitter if you don't have respect for constituted authority no one would ever have respect for you.

And the post never made front page ,mod do you have a problem with the post.

jking001: The obsession of Africans with religion is predicated
on finding a short-cut to stupendous wealth that does
not entail risky and hard labor. After all, self-ordained
'men of God' are blessed by God with chains of
private jets and flashy cars. All they needed was the
power of oration and the ability to convince people
that God will shower richness on them from nowhere
only if they believed and kept the faith. People offer
the little they have to their 'men of God' and since
little drops of water make a mighty ocean, they make
the day of the chosen 'prophets' with stupendous
wealth.
Like robbers and kidnappers, politicians feast on this
weakness and also fall victim to the weakness.
Presidents fall on their knees before running cameras
and encourage the mass stupefaction as role models.
They seek prayers from pastors to win elections
asking God to rain fire on their opponents. Robbers go
to church to offer thanksgiving. Kidnappers share
their wealth with their chosen 'men of God' while
thanking God for successful operations. Pastors see
them, know who they are but wallow in the pleasure
of sharing the wealth and standing tall. These are the
blessings the ordinary man craves who goes to church
regularly praying and hoping that God will one day,
work the wonders to lift him up from his abject
standard.
The witch doctor boasts and brags of powers and
knowledge of life beyond the realms of perception.
He offers robbers and kidnappers concoctions to
make their skin bulletproof. He tells of
communication with spirits and ancestors, offers
rituals to create wealth and electoral successes. Yet
the greatest inventions that have helped mankind
through history do not come from African witches.
The whiteman who encourages science and
disparages the African obsession with spirits has done
a lot to improve the life of humanity.
Yet the obsessed Africans (not all) consider their
beliefs and obsessions as superior to others in the
world. The end-result is neglected education with
cultism thriving in universities in the stead of
scientific learning and intellectual advancement.
Infrastructural decay is an inherent trait of the African
life because the race for wealth aims to finish with as
little labor as possible. Graduates roam the African
streets with poor intellectual disposition. Generations
over generations are systematically being wasted
away. What future does Africa hold on such a sleazy,
bleak platform.
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=206191609527254&story_fbid=359664127513334

The obsession of Africans with religion is predicated
on finding a short-cut to stupendous wealth that does
not entail risky and hard labor. After all, self-ordained
'men of God' are blessed by God with chains of
private jets and flashy cars. All they needed was the
power of oration and the ability to convince people
that God will shower richness on them from nowhere
only if they believed and kept the faith. People offer
the little they have to their 'men of God' and since
little drops of water make a mighty ocean, they make
the day of the chosen 'prophets' with stupendous
wealth.
Like robbers and kidnappers, politicians feast on this
weakness and also fall victim to the weakness.
Presidents fall on their knees before running cameras
and encourage the mass stupefaction as role models.
They seek prayers from pastors to win elections
asking God to rain fire on their opponents. Robbers go
to church to offer thanksgiving. Kidnappers share
their wealth with their chosen 'men of God' while
thanking God for successful operations. Pastors see
them, know who they are but wallow in the pleasure
of sharing the wealth and standing tall. These are the
blessings the ordinary man craves who goes to church
regularly praying and hoping that God will one day,
work the wonders to lift him up from his abject
standard.
The witch doctor boasts and brags of powers and
knowledge of life beyond the realms of perception.
He offers robbers and kidnappers concoctions to
make their skin bulletproof. He tells of
communication with spirits and ancestors, offers
rituals to create wealth and electoral successes. Yet
the greatest inventions that have helped mankind
through history do not come from African witches.
The whiteman who encourages science and
disparages the African obsession with spirits has done
a lot to improve the life of humanity.
Yet the obsessed Africans (not all) consider their
beliefs and obsessions as superior to others in the
world. The end-result is neglected education with
cultism thriving in universities in the stead of
scientific learning and intellectual advancement.
Infrastructural decay is an inherent trait of the African
life because the race for wealth aims to finish with as
little labor as possible. Graduates roam the African
streets with poor intellectual disposition. Generations
over generations are systematically being wasted
away. What future does Africa hold on such a sleazy,
bleak platform.
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=206191609527254&story_fbid=359664127513334

My opinion is that their elites use their poor masses for political and economic gain,why not make education complusory for everyone in the north atleast elementary education they would rather leave their poor massed to beg and become danger to the society and the worse of it all they don't teach their people to love human life and most importantly their neighbour and not discrminating anyone because of their religion,or region,but this is not the case just call a small aboki around you and ask him what he thinks about christains and you would be shocked at his reply,according to nelson mandela people are taught to hate,they can be taught to love.

My opinion is that their elites use their poor masses for political and economic gain,why not make education complusory for everyone in the north atleast elementary education they would rather leave their poor massed to beg and become danger to the society and the worse of it all they don't teach their people to love human life and most importantly their neighbour and not discrminating anyone because of their religion,or region,but this is not the case just call a small aboki around you and ask him what he thinks about christains and you would be shocked at his reply.

Mother of Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari said
Nigerian actor, Jim Iyke will suffer untold
hardship for making her daughter believe he
would settle down with her, and finally broke
her heart.
According to Hajia Buari, the love birds were so
close and appeared so much in love and everyone
thought that it was just a matter of time before they
tie the knot, until Jim posted on his Twitter handle
that he was not going to marry the Ghanaian
beauty, while Nadia herself responded by deleting
Jim's pictures from her Instagram . A
Ghanaian entertainment site quoted Nadia's mother
saying: "They were great together. They were like a
couple and we thought they were heading for the
altar. She was very connected to him." "She has
talked to me about getting married and having
children. She plans on settling down but not right
now. She has to focus on her career. That Nigerian
boy will suffer for daring to break my baby's heart,"
another source in Ghana quoted the angry Hajia
Buari as saying.


http://www.informationng.com/2013/11/that-nigerian-boy-will-suffer-untold-hardship-for-breaking-my-daughters-heart-nadia-buaris-mother-curses-jim-iyke.html

Mother of Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari said
Nigerian actor, Jim Iyke will suffer untold
hardship for making her daughter believe he
would settle down with her, and finally broke
her heart.
According to Hajia Buari, the love birds were so
close and appeared so much in love and everyone
thought that it was just a matter of time before they
tie the knot, until Jim posted on his Twitter handle
that he was not going to marry the Ghanaian
beauty, while Nadia herself responded by deleting
Jim's pictures from her Instagram . A
Ghanaian entertainment site quoted Nadia's mother
saying: "They were great together. They were like a
couple and we thought they were heading for the
altar. She was very connected to him." "She has
talked to me about getting married and having
children. She plans on settling down but not right
now. She has to focus on her career. That Nigerian
boy will suffer for daring to break my baby's heart,"
another source in Ghana quoted the angry Hajia
Buari as saying.

It was a shocking revelation, on Thursday, at
the House of Representatives Ad-hoc
Committee probing alleged illegal land
allocations and racketeering in the Federal
Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja as the
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other related Offences Commission, IC, Mr Ekpo
Nta testified that his agency had seized a total of 61
houses, 45 plots of land at different locations within
the FCT and a duplex from an officer of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in the
course of on-going investigations into land scams in
FCT. Nta also revealed that several bank s
which the official used for the illegal land deals had
been traced and frozen by the agency. The IC
boss, however, disclosed that the 61 houses seized
from the Civil Defence Corps topshot was made up
of 40 three-bedroom flats, 20 two-bedroom flats
and a duplex. He said official letters had been
written to the appropriate government land
authorities on the status of the seized property and
publication made in national dailies for the public to
know so as not to fall victims of illegal deals again.
According to him, the agency swung into action
following a tip-off from the Commandant-General of
the NSCDC, Dr Ade Abolurin who personally visited
him on May 15. He said that Abolurin raised alarm
that some officials of the corps were believed to be
involved in illegal land deals using the agency as
back-up. He also said they operated under a non-
existent housing estate scheme in Abuja and
Nasarawa State. Nta further said: "Impressed by the
action of the Commandant-General of the Corps by
reporting his own officials for alleged wrong-doings
and demanding an independent investigation while
other heads of agencies or organisations will be
covering it up if it were to be in their organisations. I
commenced an immediate investigation by
directing the Special Squad I set up on land matters
to swing into action and the team even started with
some officers who came with the C-G. "We made
findings, we also made efforts to get additional
information from other government agencies and
banks which assisted us immensely in the course of
our investigations. In the course of the
investigation, we established that six different
companies were used in the scam, and the bank
s of certain officers and the companies used
were frozen while we seized several property
including 61 houses, 45 plots of land and a duplex
traced to some of the officers. Interestingly, the 61
houses are made up of 40 units of three bedroom
flats, 20 units of two bedroom flats and a duplex
were seized from a single officer". He further stated
that the company through which the NSCDC officials
carried out the illegal deals were not among the six
other companies that were investigated, even as he
promised to commence another round of
investigation on it. While stating that all the
interrogated officers had been released on
istrative bail except an official who was on
the run, Nta said that investigation had revealed
that the affected officers used the NSCDC's Co-
operative Society to swindle of the public
who thought it was a genuine transaction especially
when it involved the name of the organization, the
transactions taking place within the premises of the
FCT Command of the Corps located at Gudu district
and the officers wearing NSCDC uniforms during
such illegal transactions. Asked if there would be
any compensation for the 186 victims of the scam
since the property of the perpetrators had been
seized, Nta said: "That is beyond our power, the
final decision rests on the court. Ours is to arrest,
investigate and prosecute, but as we speak, we
have established abuse of office against some of
the officers investigated, it is the court that will now
decide their fate, but the law recognizes the interest
of procurer". Elated by the testimony, the
Committee chaired by Hon Bimbo Daramola
expressed gratitude to the IC boss, saying the
revelation will help put an end to land scams in the
capital city.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/ic-recovers-61-houses-nscdc-officer/

The Nigerian Golden Eaglets coach Manu
Garba has asked national coach Stephen
Keshi to give some of his players a chance to
train with the full Super Eagles squad, but
its that next year's World Cup
might be a bridge too far for them. "I want to appeal
to Keshi to give some of the Eaglets a chance to
train with the senior national team as that will be of
immense benefit to them in the future," Manu said.
The Golden Eaglets have swept all in their path to
reach the Final against Mexico on Friday, playing a
brand of football that has captivated fans and
destroyed opponents. The likes of Kelechi
Iheanacho, Chidera Ezeh and Taiwo Awoniyi have
stood out, and Manu believes they can get their
senior opportunity. "I believe that some of my
players are good enough for the Super Eagles," he
said. "They can even play at next year's World Cup,
although it may be too early for them.Mikel tips
'wonderful' EagletsChelsea star Mikel Obi has
tipped Nigeria to win a record fourth U17 World Cup
on Friday, describing the team as "wonderful". The
Golden Eaglets face Mexico in Friday's final in Abu
Dhabi after a superlative run in the tournament and
Mikel said they will be champions again if they are
not over confident. "They are great kids. They play
wonderful football. I salute them and their coaching
crew for wonderful job. I believe they will be the
champions," said Mikel, who featured at the 2003
U17 World Cup, where Nigeria failed to go past the
group stage. "All they need is not to think about the
trophy before playing the final match, but I see
them winning the trophy." Several other Eagles
stars have also thrown their weight behind the
U17s. Sporting Braga defender Elderson Echiejile,
whose Eaglets Class of 2005 failed to qualify for the
World Cup, said he expects the current team to go
all the way. Now there is no stopping these
wonderful kids from being world champions a
record fourth time#Eaglets," Elderson tweeted
through his handle@Eldersonech

Let's hope it makes front page with more comments, i guess it might ,over to mod.

Last week, the National Teachers’ Institute announced that about 80 per cent of teachers in Northern Nigeria were not qualified to teach. Just before that, the Federal Ministry of Education had announced the cut-off marks for ission into the Federal Government Colleges, known as Unity Schools, with the shocking piece of information that while the cut-off mark was as high as 139 for a Southern state like Anambra, it was as low as two, yes two, (out of a possible 200 marks) for pupils of a Northern state like Yobe.

According to the Federal Character Commission, “In 1954 when Nigeria opted for a federal form of government, the concept of Quota System as a policy was adopted in the recruitment of persons into the officers’ corps of the armed forces and the police as well as in issions into educational institutions,” to promote a fair representation and close the existing disparities among the parts of the nation. On the surface, it is a good idea, because it ensures that no single area gets into federal establishments to the detriment of other areas.

However, over the decades, it has dealt a heavy blow on the psyche of Northern Nigeria. Man is naturally competitive. Man performs at his peak in times of difficulty: the maxim “necessity is the mother of invention” captures it. The collapse of communism bears testimony to this. Remove competition among people, provide amenities for them equally, reward them equally — no matter their individual contributions — and the will to excel evaporates. Even though the Federal Character policy was established with good intentions, those who created it and those who still its continuance are indirectly not wishing the North well.

In the 2007 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Imo State produced more candidates seeking ission into the universities than all the 19 Northern states put together. That is not just shocking but dangerous. The top five states with the highest number of candidates were Southern states. They are as follows: Imo 93,065; Anambra 64,689; Delta 61,580; Edo 57,754; Akwa Ibom 47,928; while the  lowest five states were Northern states as follows: Sokoto 3,925; Taraba 3,832; Zamfara 2,904; Jigawa 2,541; and Yobe 2,516.

The trend remains virtually the same year after year. For example, last year, the top three states were Imo (123,865 candidates); Delta (88,876); and Anambra (71,272); while the last three states were Northern states.

Last month, UNESCO released a report that ranked Nigeria as the country with the most number of children out of school: a whopping 10.5 million – the population of Portugal! No doubt, a larger proportion of these children would be from the North. Some blame the almajiri system for this. It is a system that was created to offer young boys the opportunity of being groomed and tutored by a religious leader, so as to grow into exemplary of society. But it has gone awry, making these young boys roam the streets begging, with nobody to direct them, and then growing up into angry youths that can be used to cause mayhem at the drop of a hat.

Right from birth, the Northern child is disadvantaged. While his Southern counterpart grows up attending school, the Northern child does not. Through education and entrepreneurship, the Southern youth grows up with more opportunities in life. He knows that he can only succeed in life through excellence. That drive makes a southerner successful and he trains his children in good schools, instilling self-reliance and competitiveness in them, thereby improving the chances of the children even succeeding more than him. The average Yoruba person does not want an Igbo person to beat him in any field of human endeavour and vice versa; that spurs both sides to excellence. The average Urhobo person, Efik person or Bini person does not want an Igbo person, or Yoruba person or Ibibio or Ijaw to beat him. So there is healthy rivalry among them, which leads to excellence and success.

On the contrary, with no education, no artisanal skills and lack of competitive spirit, the Northern child grows up with extremely low chances of success. He cannot secure a decent job; he cannot even offer specialised services of an artisan; he is afraid to start off a small-scale business because he virtually has nobody to understudy. The only available job is the most difficult and yet the least remunerated: the work of a labourer. He supplies water in 25-litre kegs to people who live on the fourth floors with no elevators for N50 per keg. He uses a wheelbarrow or tub to move sand and concrete at construction sites; he stays around markets to help those who have bought heavy items like tubers of yam and bags of rice to move these items from deep inside the market to their vehicles or even home. And for all this hard labour, he gets paid pittance.

As he renders this poorly paid service to people, does anybody expect him to be happy with the successful people around him? It is impossible.

The Northerner is not less intelligent than his Southern counterpart, neither is he weaker or less creative. How many people can beat the business acumen and creativity of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, or the automobile design ingenuity of Jelani Aliyu, or the academic intelligence of Nasir el-Rufai, or the resoluteness of Col. Abubakar Umar and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, or the football skills of Tijani Babangida and Daniel Amokachi, or the musical talent of Innocent Tuface Idibia, or the organisational and leadership abilities of Sir Ahmadu Bello?

Some would claim that Islam is the reason for the North’s poor embrace of education. If that were so, why is a predominantly Christian state like Taraba found among the states with the lowest literacy rate? Saudi Arabia, the headquarters of Islam, is very education-focused with a literacy rate of 85 per cent, ranking 116th of 194 countries. Indonesia, the most populated Muslim country in the world, is education-savvy with 92 per cent literacy rate. The United Arab Emirates has 90 per cent literacy rate. Nigeria has 72 per cent literacy rate, but should actually be in the 90s.

The danger in having the North lag behind is that Nigeria has to always move at the pace of the North or put appropriately, lag behind with it. Nigeria is a unit and cannot move and leave some parts behind. Again, the more the South moves ahead of the North, the more conflicts will arise between the North and the South. While the North will feel that the South is cornering the t resources of the nation, the South will feel the North is pulling it backwards.

One other factor that has worked against the North is its long years of ruling the country. There is a form of complacency that comes from the feeling of “We are in charge.” At such periods, you let your guards down; you don’t complain so as not to overheat the istration of your “kinsman”. But when your brother is not in charge, you feel left out and thereby complain the loudest of marginalisation. Those in charge bend backwards to satisfy you with different projects. The North should de-emphasise its focus on the presidency. Forty years of Northern presidency – civilian or military – have not offered the North any tangible advantage.

Those who hate the truth would rise in righteous anger, seeing this treatise as the work of an enemy rather than digesting the hard truth and finding solutions to a worsening problem. And those who love ethnic bashing will quickly see it as advantage to start shooting at the North. But the truth is that the progress of the North will serve both the interest of the North and South.

There should be a two-way approach to this problem. The North should set up a 20-year target to catch up with the South in education and entrepreneurship. The Northern states must make it an offence for any parent to deny their child education. The state governors and local government chairmen need to start a programme of sending as many Northern children as possible to Southern states for their secondary and tertiary education. The new Northern youths need to leave their comfort zone: compete with their Southern counterparts, interact with them and imbibe some of the ways of the Southern people.

The second aspect concerns uneducated youths who may no longer want to go to school. Lack of education is no impediment to success. The Northern governors and local council chairmen should start an intensive skills acquisition programme for the youths. A labourer cannot train another, neither can he rise much in life if he continues as an unskilled labourer. But someone who has learnt masonry, tiling, sewing, vehicle repairing, generator repairing, painting, plumbing, etc, can grow to a level where he will have apprentices. Massive construction takes place non-stop across the federation. Nigerians have an unquenchable appetite for cars and fashion. So, they need these services. That way, the number of skilled workers increases; the earning power of the people increases; and such people can afford a better life for their children, gradually changing the face of their community.

Quota system or federal character is derogatory and has worsened things for the North. Every Northerner who loves the North must tell Nigeria to stop insulting the North with this federal character bait. The North must refuse anything offered it on a platter: it is either a Greek gift or a poisoned chalice. The North should save itself by rejecting this insulting Unity Schools’ cut-off marks that cut it off from development and modernity.


http://www.punchng.com/opinion/the-harm-nigeria-does-to-the-north/

The Nigerian government has approved a 300-million-dollar credit facility to tackle housing deficit.

The loan from the International Development Association, which was approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, will increase access to housing finance by deepening the primary and secondary mortgage markets.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will manage the loan on behalf of the Federal Government while the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke, will issue the legal opinion required to render the project effective.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama told reporters that the loan was interest-free and would be repaid over 40 years.

According to Nigeria’s Housing Authority, the housing deficit in Nigeria is estimated at 17 million.

A breakdown of how the loan will be expended shows that 250 million dollars will be used to establish a Mortgage Refinance Company and another 25 million dollars for the establishment of the Mortgage Guarantee Product.

The remaining 25 million dollars will be given as loan to Housing Micro Finance banks to enable them provide finance for housing.

The project is also expected to create investment opportunities in the sector and create jobs.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/11/06/fec-approves-300-million-dollars-credit-facility-for-housing/