Nigeria at 48: Looking Back, Going Forward

October 1, the anniversary of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation slipped by a few days ago. Aside from the usual tepid national broadcast by the President, little else stood the day out as special. Of course, listless squads of marchers went through the routine in various local government headquarters and state capitals. There were public displays, sumptuous banquets in various government houses and frolickers had memorable times at popular beaches, recreation parks, eateries and nightclubs. The usual prayers were held in various mosques and churches. Bemused viewers watched the special service held at the National Ecumenical Centre Abuja on NTA network: the richly attired and dazzling worshipers and the contented manner Mrs Patience Jonathan reclined patiently on the sofa provided for her and the Vice President! Read more

Nigeria Heads Back To Slavery

The Federal Government at the tail of last week announced that she has approved the sourcing of a loan of Forty Billion Naira (40 bln) to enable her rehabilitate some dilapidated federal high ways across the country.

This journey to slavery of the international lending agencies was announced by the minister of information at the end of the federal executive meeting.

One of the moves by ex-president Obasanjo that endeared him to Nigerians was the payment of the debts Nigeria has owed the World Bank, IMF, Paris Club and other agents of non-development in Africa.

Nigerians are worried that despite the unprecedented increment in the global price of crude oil, the Yar’Adua administration is asking for loan to rehabilitate roads. Nigerians want to know what happened to the excess accruing since crude hit $118 per barrel, estimated at $18bn in the Excess Crude Oil Revenue.

The Obasanjo regime regaled us that the missing Abacha loots were used for debt buy back, liquidation and out right redemption of Nigeria from the strangle hold of the international money lenders.

Meanwhile President Yar’Adua has rounded off a state visit to France where he made pledges of corporation between France and Nigeria.

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RE:Borno State Govt Recruits 30 Egyptian Doctors

Instead of the usual comment, one our top notch commentators decided to write this long epistle when he wants given prominence.

As much as he was full of praises for the efforts of the Borno State government, he still wishes that more needs to be done to restore the past glories of our health system; furthermore, that our medical professionals are equal to the task. The only need to be motivated and we renumerated.

Hear him;

The Crisis of our Nation’s health system saddens me. I speak authoritatively on issues of health in our beloved Nigeria and as someone who has accessed the best their is that our professional Doctors, Nurses and health personnel could offer.
 
I was once admitted to Adeoyo General Hospital in Ibadan suffering from an infection of Tetanus or ‘Lock Jaw’ as my doctors would call it at the time. That I received the best treatment money could buy anywhere in the world is not in doubt. The professionalism of medical staffs and their caring was top notch.
 
I ask myself what has gone wrong from the hey days of the ’80s to our current medical status? Why can’t we just invest into our health system? Why can’t we work to eradicate preventable deaths in our hospitals up and down the country?
 
On the plus side, I commend the efforts of the Borno State government but we have got to invest more into our own, Nigerian health professionals…. JO

We do share your sentiments and look forward to better days ahead.

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Borno State Govt Recruits 30 Egyptian Doctors

According to THISDAY;

Borno State government has recruited about 30 medical doctors and experts from Egypt, to take charge of the newly commissioned Umaru Shehu ultra-modern hospital, Maiduguri. Nigerian doctors based outside the country are also appointed. The state government  also directed all its 27 local government areas  to recruit at least one medical doctor and two nurses, for each of the comprehensive health centres  at all the local government areas of the state.

I was just wondering the rational behind the decision and it really beats me. Read carefully the words in italic to show you that the Nigerians employed were just to make it up.

In the characteristic Nigerian way, I hope federal character was applied in the employement if not I hope there are subsisting labor rules that makes it imperative as obtains here in the UK that no UK or European citizen is qualified to hold such position before giving it to a foreigner.

To the best of my abilities, Nigeria ‘harvest’ more medical doctors than any other country in Africa to an extension the world. Talking about well trained, Nigerian trained doctors have proven themselves outside the shores of Nigeria. We are not talking about application of attendant technologies in medicine.

I think it is high time the North rid itself of this imperialist thinking that have perpertually under-developed it and hindered the overall development of Nigeria.

This brings me to this clip below. Does it really mean this policy of the 60’s by the North still exist in today Nigeria?

What do you think?

Please see this clip and have your say too; Remind us if you can who the first speaker on the clip was in 1964? ** Clip is not about FELA**

 

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Senator Obasanjo Bello granted bail

This wednesday, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello was granted bail by the court that earlier on Monday remanded her in police custody.

The bail bond posted was to the tune of N10m ( Ten million Naira ) the same amount, she allegedly collected from the embattled Health Minister (Ministry) as Chairman of Senate committe on Health.

There are no suprises, the bail was expected. We can now sit back and enjoy the circus as it has formally opened, I doubt if it will be worth my two kobo. What do you think?

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RE: Senate Clears Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello

1. When will this rubbish stop? Why should aa legislature, wwith its budget/appropriations duly approved collect funds from the ministries? Under which statutes ? Is the legislature haveing two streams of income- from the ministries and from the annual budget?
2. YOUR PROBES……… Where were all of you whether in the Obasanjo era when all this abracadabra was taking place? What happened to your oversight functions? You never went or never saw the despoilation of our common patrimony?
3. YOU all should be very very ashamed of yourselves. Youyr constituencies have no amenities , yet the ministries are having surpluses at the end of the year. Your constituencies lack almost every social amenitires and you are happy with a foreign account balance in the positive that is only diminishing in value by the day, no thanks to the falling dollar.
4. WHEN will you rise up to the occassion? After we all perish out of frustration? Are you not from families and homesteads across Nigeria?
5. WHY,WHY,WHY?

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