I live in a beautiful country

As 2012 hurtles to a close, I want to take a break from the so-called problematics of government to savour the great wealth and beauty that is my home country, Nigeria.

Chalet at a beach resort in Lagos, Nigeria

May we manifest our potential as a great nation of good people.  Amen.
  
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The Hug

A lot has been written about the "carnival" as Patience Jonathan returned to her homeland and her husband the President of Nigeria. 

Personally, I like the Public Display of Affection between man and wife.  Very sweet.

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Ondo Election: What's new

The gubernatorial candidates include Labour Party (LP) incumbent Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and two high-flying lawyers:
Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
and Olusola Oke of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)
See full list of 13 candidates and their running-mates

Live Updates on the Ondo State governorship polls below

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Sure and steady Jona

Many people are distributing this Progress Report issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria (GEJ administration.) 
Full of nice pictures, the downloadable document has a few pages of highlights - captioned photos and bullet points - from every Ministry regarding their accomplishments.

This is accountability, good democracy.  

Sure and Steady Transformation Page 155

Of course, comment is free, and the criticism will start to flow as soon as people have read it.  As it should.  Criticism is good democracy too. 

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Let the technocrats work

There is a debate raging over the restructuring of the physical form of Nigerian currency. A new N5,000 bill is to be introduced, and coins will be re-introduced, in effect.  It appears to be utterly sensible.

Six to Ten months ago, there was more than a debate over subsidies on fuel importation.  You may remember the strikes, rallies, and near-riots.

 Nigerians prayed for a technocracy and got it somewhat.
Now, the technocracy needs communication skills, or the public will not allow it to work.

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Naija anthem

My heart beats for Nigeria
My homeland ever dear
A land of peace and plenty
Hundred million hectare
A vast white and green nation
In whose sweetness I share. 

Our minds and bodies bring forth
the best in play and work
For our ancestors and children
we keep moving forward
Nigerian love and kindness:
a light to the whole world.

in Comrade (Tosin Otitoju, 2010)

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Eternal Sunshine

The Seven Wonders of Nigeria are:

OSUN GROOVE  //  IDANRE HILLS  //  BENIN MOAT  //  NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM   //  OBUDU MOUNTAIN RESORT  //   KANO CITY WALL   //  SUKUR KINGDOM

Congratulations to Ikechi Uko, tourism professional and project director of Nigeria Seven Wonders at UpNaira, also on (naija7wonders.com, and facebook)
Incidentally, Sukur Kingdom and the Osun (Osogbo) sacred grove are UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well.  Have you visited these monuments or any significant monuments?   

The Seven Wonders of Nigeria

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Talk talk and responsibility

What is a vision if we've lost sight of it?
What is the vision, anyway, and what's your part of it?   Because it entails to-do items for everyone: teachers, presidents, bankers...so let's go!

 Browse:

Abridged NV2020
Vision 20:2020 doc (download from npc.gov.ng)

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Delayed

PIB:
In January of this year, Nigerians were promised a Petroleum Industry Bill in 30 days.  In February, that was pushed to March.  And so we wait.

Jona-bus:
The buses promised as the start of a system of affordable transportation have been procured and exhibited, but certainly they are not yet plying the streets of Lagos.

YouWIN:
The winners of YouWIN, the exciting grants program for young Nigerian entrepreneurs, should have been contacted last month.  We await an announcement this month.

Power companies:
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria was legally broken into 17 successor companies in January for sale in April.  That sale has now been postponed till October.

An oil rig

While I buy in to the above programmes, it appears that we're always late.  We need project management or something.  

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Not so SURE about subsidy removal?

The subsidy on imported petroleum products had to go.   Predictably, the subsidy remains misunderstood and Nigerians are protesting its removal.
Let's be honest, it's not easy to deal with a sudden doubling in pump price of petrol.  This is why the promised alleviation programs must begin quickly.  Already, at least one state government has announced free buses for workers.  Many states should partially subsidize mass transit, at least for a few months.  

Also, even though the government lists several development projects (health and agriculture, electric power and rail transport, etc) that will be funded using the savings from fuel subsidy removal, many are skeptical of a corrupt system. How do we know that this money won't also be stolen, they ask?
This means that again, the Nigerian government has to prove itself through successful programs and real improvement in quality of life and economic indicators.  See the SURE document here: Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

If the subsidy had to go, another item that needs to be cut quickly is recurrent expenditure: a lot of the money spent on pampering government officials could go to development.  This will have another positive effect: politics will become a less attractive career option for thieves and thugs.
If Nigerians can be quickly assisted with lower transport fares and if we start to see government cutting its own waste and investing in our own needs like power, jobs, refineries, and all that, everybody will calm down and stop protesting. 

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