Random Discussions: Is the Oil Boom of 1970 the cause of Nigeria's problems?

Hey y'all...

How are you guys doing? I am OK..doing great... My project is almost done... Hallelujah!!! You don't know how happy I am....

Anyways, the above question came up in class today and I agree that it is the cause of our problems but this chic said that it is not the cause and that without oil, our nation will be messed up like some other nations... so I have come here to ask for your opinion. I am just a young guy and what do I know? Will appreciate it deeply if you comment...

Please when you are done can you check Anani Speaks... I got something that YOU need to read there... it is a personal testimony...

Trotcha!

Blog... I must... Pray for Nigeria...I shall!!!

Hey y,all!!!

How is it going down? I know I have not blogged like BLOGGED  in  a while but its just cause I have been really busy. Yeah... that's the truth...

Anyways, things have been OK lately... Xmas was kinda boring but it's all good.. at least I got to hang out with family on that day. Is that not what Christmas is all about???

The Nigerian that tried to blow up a plane is just... I dunno... his dad was a former Bank MD, the guy must have had money at his beck and call. Truth is we can never really tell what prompted him to want to embark on that kinda suicide mission... God help us... The guy, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab has been charged by the FBI with bringing a destructive device onto a plane and attempting to destroy a civilian aircraft of the United States in other words...he is a confirmed terrorist... Truth is.. the guy has had his radical views since his teens and they say that he defended the Taliban in class. The Federal Government has ordered a review of security in all airports in Nigeria.

In a weird way, I feel I need to pray for him, he is in the hospital now with burns and all. Let's pray for his healing and that God will change his heart. More importantly, we should pray for Nigeria. There is so much wrong with this country and we have been tagged as corrupt, scammers, cheats... we do not need terrorist added to the list.

I want all of us to pray... travelling to the US is gonna be super hard for us and the protocol go tire you.. na true talk oh!! Also, our fellow Nigerians abroad need our prayer... who knows what the US government will do or say now. Currently, Obama has ordered  an urgent review of how US authorities use terrorist watch-lists to foil attacks on US targets.

God help us oh.. help Nigeria... we need you now!!!

Trotcha!

PS: How can DSTV make a child go into terrorism??? Somebody explain because this man did not make any sense...

PS again: Maryam Babaginda will be buried any minute from now.

America gave our policemen bikes...hmmn.....

So to those of you who have no clue, policemen in Kaduna were given bikes. This was in Feb of this year. Yeah...I just find out and I am as shocked as you are... I just came across it in a magazine that the US Diplomatic Mission/Embassy/Consulate (Not sure what they call it) in Nigeria publish. Well, here is the story straight from their website

U.S. Ambassador Robin Renée Sanders on February 17 handed over 150 bicycles donated by the U.S. Government to the Nigerian Police Force, concluding a multi-year Community Policing project.  Speaking at the Police College, Kaduna, at an American National Week event, Ambassador Sanders said the Community Policing project is a concrete example of the benefits of our partnership with the people of Nigeria to ensure peace and security in their communities.   These bicycles complete the total donation of 500 bicycles provided by the U.S. Government for this project.

The community policing project began in 2004 at the Kaduna Police College.  The U.S. Government has provided $152,000 (22.8 million Naira) for the project to support the community policing efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.  The project includes classroom lessons and practical training for police officers and constables in the Kaduna area. Community policing is also an integral part of the curriculum for the basic recruit course at the Police College.   This integrated approach strengthens the relationship between the community and the police by enabling the police to communicate effectively with and gain the trust of the local community. 

Under the project the USG trained mid level, senior level officers and constables through classroom and practical lessons after which they were presented with 25 bicycles to enable them patrol Rigasa division in Kaduna to interact and report crimes.

The project was also introduced to 18 members of an NGO, Interfaith forum (IFF) which works with the community and the police to promote peace and prevent communal clashes.  Interfaith Forum does this through keeping the community informed of the functions of the police.

A final training was conducted in bicycle patrol for constables in 4 divisions within the Kaduna State command namely Kawo, Ungwar Rimi, Ungwan Sanusi and Kakuri divisions.

 OK. I want to first of all say that I love the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and this is not a hate post and I commend the work our policemen have been doing so far...but please... BIKES? to policemen? How are they gonna be effective on bikes? That is a very honest question and I will really like an answer from someone who can tell me how policemen who have not finished catching robbers in their cars will do that on bikes. I have not been to America before but I know that when there is a robbery attack, their policemen don't show up on bikes. Or do they?

NOTE: This is supposed to strengthen the capacity of our law enforcement agencies. She says it will come in handy during patrol and it will help in rural areas... cause of lack of resources to get fuel (WAIT! I thought we produce fuel? OMG! There is even a refinery in Kaduna!)

It gets better. The Kaduna State Police Commissioner says that this will enhance the service of the police force in providing effective crime control in Nigeria. WOW! The bikes will do the trick!

I appreciate the gesture and I want to commend the Ambassador and the US government for the effort they are making to develop a healthy relationship with us but 22.8 Million Naira will go a long way in helping orphaned children or abandoned babies living with HIV/AIDS or something. If you ever wanna make a donation, call on me, I have many ideas.

But what do I know? I am just a 20 year old undergraduate student who loves his country.

Trotcha!

Nigeria we hail thee...

I love my country. With all the drama and all the.. you know now... It is still an amazing country. There are so many things going down in Nigeria right now and I want to share some of them with you.

Nigeria is the world's darkest nation
As in, I am not surprised. I am just thankful to God that finally,we have had light for 12 hours straight. Hallelujah! Well, the article is in Tell Magazine if you don't believe me.

CBN and its sanitization of Nigerian banks
Well, Sanusi means business oh. Hmmn, he recently removed 5 bank CEOs (Is that legal) and he has declared many top people including Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote and Jimoh Ibrahim as owing banks major cash. Dangote claims he has paid of his loans though. Well, Sanusi is gonna be hearing from their lawyers I guess. Due to all of this, our financial rating has been downgraded on the international stage. Also, Cecelia Ibru's lawyer ahs already contacted the CBN. Hmmn, this is gonna be good

ASUU Strike... Can they just stop
Y'all may say I am in a private University so what do I know. Please. ASUU should give it a rest. Students have been out of school for over a month and when they resume they will be writing exams on topics they have not treated in class. It is messed up honestly. I know a couple of peeps at home who are already frustrated because some people are thinking of their stomachs instead of the students who need an education. Funny thing is most of the peeps at ASUU have kids in private universities. Classic hun?

Nigeria Musicians are going on a HUNGER Strike to fight Piracy
Honestly, this one is too funny. They actually think the wisest way to fight piracy is by going on strike. What do I know? Well, they want to stop accepting offers to perform and all till piracy is fought. I can't even laugh. When I read it in yesterday's Punch, I had to wonder who will lose. The musicians who need money from shows and endorsements or the pirates. Well, your guess is as good as mine. They also declared September 1st as No Music Day. They are going to order all broadcast stations in Nigeria not to play music and no artist will perform on that day. The downside is, its just one day. I can live without listening to music from Nigerian radio or TV. Second, I'll just watch MTV, BET or Channel O. They will most definitely play a Nigerian song (If I am desperate to here one) also I have an iPod or some music device. Honestly, I think they should revisit this action. I love you guys too much for this.

This is whats up for now... Imma be back with more 9ja news

Trotcha!

THE GOOD IN NIGERIA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT.

Is it just me or has anyone wondered what exactly is good in Nigeria? Well, I have. A lot of times, to be more precise. I guess you won’t be blame though. In a country where there is no electricity, no consistent water supply, I mean in a country were nothing ‘appears’ to be working, it won’t come as a shock to find out what is good in the country. As Nathanael said to Philip “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” so do the people of this nation and the world in general ask “Can there any good come out of Nigeria?” Personally, there is good in Nigeria. Whether the good is out or is about to come out the truth is there is good on Nigeria and in a matter of time this good will show.

I know you are wondering what the good is in this country. If you are Nigerian, you must have probably said that the country is heading for disaster and that with nothing working in the nation it is probably a much messed up nation with no good. If you are not a Nigerian, you will probably be saying that there can be no good in the nation because of the news you have heard about the internet scams and maybe because of Ms Winfrey (Don’t ask. That’s a post for another day). The truth is Nigeria has good and that good is in the youth.

I just bust your bubble. I know. You were probably expecting a long list of all the things that work in Nigeria but I am not giving you that. You probably know that already. You know all the resources we have and how much is in our reserve and blah blah blah. Truth is that is not the good. I mean these ‘things’ that we call good have been there since independence and what’s the story? You probably know it better than me so I will not call that good.

The youth is the good in Nigeria because they are the ones that can transform this nation. The young people are the ones with ideas, they are problem solvers, they know what’s up, and they can effect this change more than anyone else. They are the good this nation has.
So what are the youths doing about Nigeria’s problems? Sometimes I ask myself, do we know that the future and the advancement of this nation rest on our shoulders? Do we know that it will take more than concerts and reality shows to transform this nation? Your guess is as good as mine. The reality that it will take upright young people, filled with integrity who are change driven and knowledge seekers to change the way this nation is. I mean we learn from our mistakes but what happens when the people to cause a change have no clue the root cause of every mistake made by the older generation.

Let us leave the older generation alone. At least they tried. What we need now is a transformation from the inside out. Our mindset needs to be changed. We start thinking big and outside the box that has held us captive for God knows how long. We need to expand our horizons, research and look for ways through which we can better Nigeria. Our agenda now should not be how to be a big boy or how to become the most popular chic in Lagos. It should not be how to throw the largest parties on the face of the globe or how to become a big celebrity. Our agenda now should be Operation Transform Nigeria. Let us go back to the drawing board and look for where all the mistakes were made. Then we create a plan on how we can cause a change and affect our generation and make Nigeria a wonderful place for our children. It starts with you. No be una say little drops of water make a mighty ocean???

The Real Deal

I am Nigerian, will be and wold always be. Yes, I could happen and sometimes love to know the happenings around the globe but please I would not be obsessed with another countries joy. I am happy that a Black man is ruling America, really I am but some Nigerians are taking it to the extreme. Most of the Nigerians who followed the American elections have never before followed that of their country.

Do not get me wrong, I don't have a problem with President Barack Obama, in fact I am HAPPY that he is the new president of the United States, seeing as he is the one who can cause a change in that society. My point is for Nigerians reading this to tty and be more interested in our Nation's politics the way we were with that of the Americans. i know y'all will say, corruption and blah blah blah but also remember that your little seeds of patriotism to your country will reap an abundantly harvest soon. Maybe not in this generation but in the one to come.

Till my next post...

I am still The Talkaholic!

AT THE 2008 NIGERIAN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

Hey,

I know it has been long since I last wrote here. It is cause of school and all. I have been busy with registration and thw wifi in my school has not been superb but at least thank God I am here...blogging.

Yesterday was an amazing day as the 1st ever Nigerian Bloggers Conference 2008 was held at Elomaz Hotel, Maryland. It was organised by one of Nigeria's respected bloggers, Deolu Akinyemi www.deoluakinyemi.com.

The event saw various bloggers from various works of life coming together to see how an effective blogging industry could be created in Nigeria. Discussions where held from blogging basics to the importance of having your very own domain name. Making money of your blog was aldo discussed as well as the importance of RSS Feeds and how to wake up a dead blog.

It was an amazing experience I must confess. I thought I knew blogging until I was at that conference. We, Nigerian bloggers are hoping for a better and bigger conference in 2009. Looking back at this conference, I know that there is hope for the blogging industry in Nigeria. The best os yet to come.

Till I return, I am still The Talkaholic

xoxo

Trotcha!