Nigeria's Strategic Plan: Steps to Economic Powerhouse. By the Year 2020. By Emeka Chiakwelu

Nigerian policy and decision makers have not certainly explored the power of image making. The image of a nation both abstract and aesthetic speaks a volume of the nation. Nigeria must be able to tell the world that she is ripe for investment and tourism without obstruction. No foreign institutions or countries can tell the world about Nigeria more than Nigerians could do. Even if Nigeria rent CNN, BBC, and New York Times, the primary and fundamental responsibility of dissemination of news about Nigeria resides in the hands of Nigeria. Details

State Creation and Institutional Inefficiency in Nigeria. By  Gideon Nyan

State creation does not solve the fundamental issue of institutional inefficiencies.  What we see with new states is that a new crop of elite rise and exploit whatever divisive issue that they can to maintain power.  This is self evident by the different committees and groups currently fighting for the control in order to be recognized as the official group to represent the new state creation.  This struggle is not ideological or axiological based, however whoever gains control of the new state controls the money while he who controls the money he can embezzle and live ostentatiously, while their subjects live in abject poverty. Details

Killing the Unborn Child.  By Ezugwu Benson Whyte

It is very ridiculous for Yar'Adua to ask the economic value of hosting such tournament by a country adjudged as the giant of Africa. And even more ridiculous for him to have given finance as an excuse for not hosting the tournament. This is a country that is ranked as the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. Details

Organized Bank Robberies: Deterrence Strategy As Another Option For Mike Okiro And His Men. By Emeka Oraetoka

It is becoming apparent to discerning Nigerians that the incessant banks' robberies in the country may have been masterminded by highly placed insiders in those banks, from the clinical manners in which the robbers execute their operations. From reports of various bank robberies in the newspapers, the armed security policemen on duty in these banks are usually the first casualties in these operations, in the process justifying the suggestion that bankers themselves are the authors of most of the robberies. Details

Reassessing Our Value Systems. By Tola Ojo

No wonder, the fence of an average comfortable Nigerian is like a prison as a result of high disparity between the ruling class and the governed. Despite the proliferation of places of worship, the extent of corruption and moral decadence in the society has propelled one to ask; where has moral values gone to? It is neither strange to see beautiful ladies working down the street naked in the name of fashion, nor is it news that selling the sale innocent babies to strangers.  Details

The North and Almajiri Phenomenon. By kabiru inuwa

To start with, all the solutions proffered so far seem to localise the issue to the confines of Northern Nigeria alone as if the phenomenon is peculiarly limited to it. The international dimension of the problem has never been given any serious thoughts and recognition despite the fact that most of the beggars and almajiris have quite contrary to the popular but yet mistaken belief, emanated from neighbouring countries, notably Niger republic, Mali and far flung countries like Senegal. Details

Presidential Election Appeal- The Judiciary On Trial. By  Shehu Yakasai

We know the task before the justices at the apex court is not an easy one, and they are Nigerians. We do not want to believe the stories of they being asked to nominate minister in return for a favourable judgement, nor do we want to be complacent and dismiss the allegations. They each have an individual choice to make, and be prepared to live with consequences of it. We have confidence in justice Kutigi and many of them, but a tree doesn't make a forest.  Details

KAI Brigade & the Nigerian Factor. By Tochukwu Ezukanma

To punish people for hawking on the street is comparable to punishing people for sleeping on the street. No sane person with the option of sleeping in the house will choose to sleep in the street. People sleep in the street because they are down and out, totally devoid of option and completely destitute. So, while sleeping on the street might constitute an environmental eyesore, it presents the society with a problem that needs to be accommodated on the short run and solved on the long run. For government officials to dwell on the environmental unsightliness of people sleeping on the street and refuse to address the social injustice that brought about this problem and to empathize with the immense hardship suffered by those who sleep on the street is unconscionable. Details

Namibia's Post-Humous Honor on General Murtala. By Musa Ilallah

One can also recall that Nigeria 's late military leader, General Murtala Muhammad, as a Pan-Africanist joined forces with the likes of Nujoma to fight for some African countries freedom from the white racists' rules. It was therefore no surprise that recently the leaders of Namibia remembered the efforts and sacrifice of General Murtala Mohammed, of blessed memory and decided to honour him with a street named after him in the Namibian capital, Windhoek . Late Murtala was no doubt a selfless, patriotic, humane, nationalist and Pan-African leader who had come to serve humanity with all his strength. Details

If The Niger Bridge Collapses … By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

…. Well, thank God, the Niger Bridge, though now a death trap, is still standing there like a well-beaten warrior, still faithfully shouldering heavy vehicular and human traffic between Asaba and Onitsha. But experts are warning us that if nothing is urgently done, that bridge would soon cave in, and crash down before Christmas – the time many Easterners would pass through it to return to their villages to spend the season with their kit and kin at home.  What this means is that we have just less than two months to fix that bridge and save the nation the trauma of another tragedy. But from what we are seeing, the Federal Government is not behaving as if it is aware that a devastating tragedy is lurking at the corner, waiting to strike. Many people from virtually everywhere in the country use this bridge daily. Many more will use it this December and the New Year. Details

Nigeria’s Political Arena: When the Government is Everything. By Aliyu A. Ammani

Is there any Nigerian foolish enough to think that Obasanjo’s third term agenda was foiled because we had a strong opposition or a vibrant legislature? The failure of Obasanjo’s third term bid has more to do with divine intervention as the PDP became a house divided against itself: the fracas between President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the one hand, and the presidential ambitions of political juggernauts like General Ibrahim Babangida on the other. Details

The Decadence Of Islaamic Practices In Nigeria: A Matter Of Serious Concern. By Abubakar A. Muhammad

We must accept by now that the western political democracy as it operates in Nigeria has lost its bearings and has completely failed the Nigerian nation in general. You may argue it is the political operators of the Nigerian constitution that have failed to provide dividends of the so called democracy and that there is still a chance for western democracy to succeed in the largely Muslim North. In my candid view that is still taking more chances to criminalize the society by replacing the Sharee’ah system known to the Ummah Details

The Trouble with Hypocrites. By Saka Raji Audu

Above all, I am glad that after all the pains and troubles he took to criticise Governor Shekarau, he has now realised the futility of his adventure by pleading with the governor and his administration forgiveness, admitting that he and his fellow travelers in Kano "held no grudges against the person of their teacher and mentor who has over the years helped to mould their thinking on moral rectitude, honesty, dedication and hard work." Details

Yar'Adua, Jonathan and Fractured Presidency. By Senior Fyneface

When President Umaru Yar’Adua announced a restricted access to him by majority of the ministers and state governors, the Presidency must have weighed the consequences and the interpretations of such decision beyond whatever explanation his aides are going to come up with. ... Why won’t the serving ministers beseech the Presidency to know their fate as the President’s indecision has generated so much fear and speculation thereby turning the proposed exercise into another platform for bribery and corruption by some of the ministers who fear they might be dropped and for some aspirants whose names may have been peddled for appointment?  Details

Muhammad Haruna, NNDC, and Nostalgia. By Abdullah Musa

Muhammad Haruna is a good fellow whom I have never met. Unfortunately, he has swallowed the bewitching concoction called ‘Sardauna legacy’. This legacy will always keep Arewa on its knees: institutions that ought to die due to mismanagement are kept alive an ‘infusion/hemorrhage’ endless circle! Details

Is Nigeria Truly Independent? By Kabiru Inuwa

Candidly speaking, the recent low keyed celebrations of independence and the apparent lack of enthusiasms shown by the generality of the citizens across the length and breath of the country, have amply demonstrated the extent to which Nigerians have become disenchanted with the hopeless situations in the polity. Details

The Nigerian Brand. By Joshua Ocheja

Ethnic divide is indeed at heart of the unfounded allegations of marginalization by a group of mischief makers. Nigeria is one and would remain one, which I see no reason why certain position of authority should be the preserve of a geographical zone. Our emphasis should be premised on qualification, expertise, experience and suitability for the job. Details

Nigerian Unity Not By Force Now. By Farouk Martins Aresa

There are so many events lately that have given ammunition or might vindicate those who pledge for the breakup of Nigeria. One of the new friends I made urged me to join them in the breakup of my beloved Country. The sad part of these events is that it is not new. These are recurring problems after which committees are set up; promises made to investigate culprits that would be swiftly brought to justice. It’s all talk and little action.  If it is no t violence, it is corruption in high and now even in low places. They are killing our ingenuity to invent and discover our way to progressive society. Details

Anti-Graft War: Between EFCC and Drumbeats of Unholy Infiltration. By Ifeanyi Izeze

The problem with this country is that the gulf between good concepts and their implementations is so wide that majority of the uninformed citizenry take it for granted that no good concept can honestly be implemented by anything called government agency- be it federal, state or local. Anybody who is not disturbed by this retrogressive trait that is messing up good ideas of governance in this country cannot from the heart of his heart say: I am proud to be a Nigerian. Details

EFCC Where are Corrupt Ex-Governors. By Ezugwu Benson  Whyte

Recently, there have been spate of arrests and invitations by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to officials of states government across the country. Media reports claimed the anti-crime agency some weeks back swooped on Ondo state government, and arrested the state Accountant General over alleged N1 billion deals. Though the Secretary to the State Government said it was mere routine exercise, but confirmed also that other officials of the state have been guests of the EFCC, on normal routine invitation. Well, it is difficult to say whether the office of the EFCC and that of the Ondo State government have become family friends or it was just PDP, usual phrase, ‘family affair’’. Details

Constituency Delineation And Ideato Federal Constituency. By Dr. Amaeze Irechukwu

Now coming to the issue of creation of an additional state in the South East, political calculations demonstrate that other Nigerians and majority of Ndigbo will most likely support only a new state that will include contiguous territories from all the present five states of the South East. Recall that creation of an additional state in the South East was conceived on the basis of equity to all Ndigbo as a whole, and not as a means of compensating Orlu people (by creating an Orlu or Njaba State); Nsukka people (by creating Adada State), Oguta people (by creating Orashi State), Ngwa people (by creating Aba State) and so on. Details

National Security: The Changing Face of NIPOST in Nigeria. By Emeka Oraetoka

It is a well known fact that before the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, and the unprecedented finding of anthrax sent through the U.S mail, which left five innocent people dead and sickened others; the United States of America’s Postal Service, and its counterpart in Britain and other European countries were seen and largely concerned only with enhancing effective communication, which in actual fact is the reason behind their establishments. Threats of parcel bomb, biological weapon of mass destruction via mail, have combined to give global postal services new but challenging functions-National Security and associated function. Details

Dead Nigerians in a Lebanese Factory. By Tochukwu Ezukanma

Some foreign businessmen, especially these wonna-be Whites (the Lebanese, Indians, Koreans, Chinese, etc), in Nigeria are arrogant, rude and obnoxious. Generally financially comfortable and in addition, having a false sense of racial superiority, they feel they can ride roughshod over Nigerians. They often treat their Nigerian employees as peons - wage-earning slaves. They abuse, demean and exploit them and forced them to work under very dangerous conditions. Subdued and disconcerted by an oppressive system that reduces people in their own country to second class citizenship, their Nigerian employees uncomplainingly, acceptingly endure these ill-treatments. The death of eight Nigerians in a Lebanese owned company, Maikano Engineering, in Abuja epitomizes of this reality. Details

Defamation: Before The High Court Rules. By Kabiru Bello Dandago

Now that the groundswell of popularity the Kano state Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau once enjoyed has, like the Wall Street shares, crashed and the crass public disillusionment associated with his administration and policies manifests even at the most unexpected places and events, it would appear, on the surface though, a wise idea for the topmost operatives in his government, who equate themselves to the state, to divert public attention from the woes they crafted or initiate a move to distance themselves from the administration and such controversial policies at the last hour. All said, they are also politicians, they appear to have reasoned. Details

Issues In The Kano Vehicle Controversy. By  Ammar Muhammd Yola

Who is going to inform our opinionated columnist that Malam’s travels to Saudi Arabia are never personal, even though as a practicing Muslim, he has the right and means to visit the Holy Land and perform his obligations?  The accusation that Malam is “always travelling to Saudi Arabia and foreign countries as if he has no work to do” is borne out of ignorance of the duties and responsibilities of a Governor and a distressing lethargy about finding out what the travels were meant to achieve.  Malam has never made personal trip abroad, not even to Saudi Arabia. Details

Kano: Democrats vs. Sycophants. By Kabiru Inuwa Tsakuwa

Finally and for the records, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau is like a father to us and all the numerous students of the famous Rumfa College Kano, that are up and doing in many fields of human endeavours owes a quantum of gratitude to him for his untiring efforts. And for that we shall forever remains grateful Sir. Details

Celebrating with His Highness Ado Bayero The Great. By Shehu Mustapha Chaji

The courageous activities of Ado Bayero to reduce the oppression against the poor led the Northern People's Congress (NPC) to accuse him of being a secret member of the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU) which had been formed by the late Mallam Aminu Kano in a bold effort to mobilise the masses and check the abuses of the citizen's right. They silently removed him as Wakilin Doka and appointed him as Nigeria's Ambassador to Senegal. Details

Aftermath: Visiting the Niger Delta Region. By Yushau Shuaib

There are two new dimensions on the youth restiveness and militants’ aggression: a war of - supremacy of ethnic groups and struggle for sharing of oil wealth. Unfortunately unlike past struggles by respected youth leaders and activists like Isaac Boro and Saro-Wiwa towards a better condition of the entire people in the region, the present oil war is influenced by the greed of some few who extort the states and the oil companies through intimidation, kidnapping and blackmail.  As they pocket millions of local and hard currencies from nefarious activities, their communities and the poor people, they claim they fight for, remain in abject poverty. The money that could have been deployed to further develop their areas is used to acquire highly sophisticated weaponry, purchase assets outside their localities and engage in aggressive media propaganda through online and foreign media. Details

Still on That Ministry of Niger Delta. By  Prince Nwaokugha Ikeokwu

According to the Analysis of Net Statutory Allocation to States [1999-2007], from The Economic Confidential Magazine, an online Journal, Rivers State received the highest allocation of N517 billion naira, followed by Delta N463 billion, Bayelsa N414 billion, Akwa Ibom N384 billion, Ondo N183 billion, Edo N119 Billion , Cross River N115 billion respectively. It is absolutely not bad for a child to ask for more or better still a larger percentage of his resources, especially when the explorations of such resources result to the degradation of his environment. But this can only be justified if and only if the little he received had been judiciously used. Details

Igboezuo State Best Represents The Parity Nigerians Intended For Southeast. By Aloy Ejimakor

The polarizing demands dusted up from closed history by patchy groups of Igbos, so desperate to be now recognized as culturally distinct from the rest of the Igbos, has long been deemed inferior to the greater force and merits of the ‘geopolitical parity’ theory. Reason: All well-meaning Igbos everywhere fear (with some historical justification) that if allowed to proliferate, the purveyors of this ‘we are separate’ arguments will again frustrate what was initially a ‘one-Igbo’ effort, split Igbos into bitter groups against one another and eventually create the scary situation where other Nigerians may withdraw their universal support and deny the Igbo while pointing to their famous (or infamous) disunity as the sole reason. Details

Maurice Iwu And The Games Igbos Play With Their Most Famous Sons. By Dr. Yakubu Tsav

It is troubling that the Igbo bask in scattering into smaller groups that quarreled amongst themselves while other Nigerians are pulling together. They forget that the Yorubas faired better because they always stuck to Awolowo and the Hausa/Fulani stuck to Sardauna, even in death. Instead of banding behind Ojukwu when he returned, the Igbo conspired to procure one unknown Onwudiwe to ‘defeat’ the charismatic Ikemba in the Nnewi senatorial election. Since then, Nigerians have never heard of that Onwudiwe again, not to talk of while he was in the Senate. Details

Iwu, Igbo And Politics Of Self Destruction. By Emmanuel Ighodalo

The major cry of all ethnic nationalities in the country today is marginalization. According to reports, they all feel shortchanged by the central government of the basic amenities of life. The most stringent of these cries is the one coming from the Igbo-speaking people of the South Eastern part of the country. Crisscrossing the country through land will throw up a scenario that tends to allude to the fact that the South East is worst hit by the plethora of decaying or lack of basic infrastructures especially bad roads. Details

Andy Nnamdi Uba: An Enigma With A Powerful Agenda. By Ugo Harris Ukandu

When history will look into the work and activities of all the Igbo leaders especially at the Federal level under President Olusegun Obasanjo, a name that history will not forget and whom history will eventually judge fairly is an obscure Mr. Andy Uba the former Presidential assistant for domestic affairs for his insight and contribution to the re-emergence of Igbo ingenuity into the Federal government of Nigeria during president Olusegun Obasanjo Administration. Despite the problems he has had in the courts nullifying his election as the governor of Anambra State ; the fact will remain that Andy Uba is a rare gem who has been unfairly misunderstood and vilified for actions and deeds committed by other people and political associates close to him. The question is, should a person be judged by other people actions when it is convenient for political expediencies? Mr. Andy Uba should be judged on merit and on his actions and not judged on innuendo, lies and fabrications by his political enemies just to gain political points. Details

Atiku Abubakar: The Most Powerful Vice-President Returns. By Abdulkareem Yakubu

The immediate past Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is arguably the most powerful Vice-President the world has so far produced. To say that Atiku Abubakar was exceptionally powerful during his tenure as the Vice-President of the Country is to say the least in view of the fact that he survived the political game plans hatched by his erstwhile boss and his cronies to make him irrelevant in the then political landscape of Nigeria. Details