Thursday, April 7, 2016

Work Begins Soon On Lagos-Kano, Lagos-Calabar Rail Routes – Osinbajo -


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government would soon commence work on the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail routes to boost economic activities in the country.
Osinbajo, in his keynote address at the “First National Forum on Economy” organised by Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation Newspapers, on Thursday, also disclosed that the Federal Government would also begin work on 31 major road projects across the country to stimulate the nation’s economic revival.

Violent Political Organizations – an opinion

by Gavin Don

An old Chinese curse runs “may you live in interesting times”. These are interesting times. Today’s geopolitical strategists learned their trade in a bi-polar world, in which two clear competing ideologies wrestled for global dominance within a fairly weak framework of international law. Occasionally the wrestling match became violent, but for the most part lethal violence was confined to wars between states – North Korea against South Korea, North Vietnam against South, Egypt against Israel, among others. Occasionally lethal violence between Capitalists and Communists cropped up in civil war within states, with the two camps each supporting a side (think Angola and Afghanistan for significant examples). But in general the Cold War was characterised by the lack of open war fighting, and a pleasingly low level of general violence compared with what might have been.

The EU’s “suicide by reality denial”

This article was written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/the-eus-suicide-by-reality-denial/

What had to happen did happen. The EU, being the chain of weak links it is, did eventually give in, and the Dutch people were the first one to vote against the association with the Ukraine. Of course, the Euroburocrats can now find some reason to declare the vote invalid, they can declare that some law was violated, they can even negotiate some minor change the to association agreement, or they might even decide that they can simply ignore this vote. But none of that will make any difference: the undeniable truth is that the Ukrainians are not welcome in the EU, not as associates and even less so as members. So no EU, no NATO no “European future” for the Ukraine. The entire hot air balloon which has been fueling the naïve and ugly hopes of the Euromaidan has burst and the Euro-Ukrainian project is crash and burning like the Hindenburg.

Chaos….Success!

This comment, in response to the post ‘The Daesh Chronicles:…”, was selected by mod-hs. He felt that it provided an alternative view of the current world situation, a view that sees everything going quit well for the US and NATO, with all goals being met. Quite cynical and thought provoking.

by FromSerbia

The author writes: “It was as if they did not learn from Afghanistan…Iraq…Libya” My question is – learn what? All 3 cases are a resuonding success for the empire. Look at the facts:
Afghanistan – total chaos rules in the heart of Central Asia. Heroin production is better than ever. ISIS is spreading fast and radical Wahhabis are poised to threaten CSTO members, and Russia and China, eventually.

Iraq – total chaos and lawlessness rules large parts of Iraq. The central gov is weak and cant do much about the lawlessness. The Kurds can declare independence and get away with it because there is no one to stop them. Through the destruction of Iraq they facilitated the creation of ISIS since the core of the organization is made up of ex Iraqi officers and soldiers. I presume that the plan was also to have ISIS infiltrate Iran and Caucuses once they were done in Syria/Iraq.

And lastly, Libya. Besides plain robbery of the Ghadaffi family in particular, and the Libyan and African people in general, the goal was once again chaos. Instability in Libya means instability in all surrounding regions. Egypt will never finish off Muslim Brotherhood so long as there is a jihad highway coming in from Libya. Tunis is threatened, and so is another gov that the empire would love to bring down – Algeria. Mali has been taken under control of the empire due to Libya’s instability. All of east, west, and central Africa is threatened by ISIS. So Libya, perhaps, is the biggest success of the empire.

Lastly, let’s take a quick look at why this was panned. Refugees, and terrorist infiltrators, are not some blowback – it is a planned campaign. The first part of the plan was to surround America’s “allies” (read, colonies) by chaos from the south (all of Levant and south coast of Middle Earth Sea – yes, thats how we call it in Serbia – ruled by ISIS & collaborators such as Muslim Brotherhood and assorted local Wahhabi lunatics); the second part of the plan is the threat represented by the big bad bear from the east and north (Arctic).
Is the plan working? It is, and magnificently. True, the empire cant get their natural gas pipeline to Europe, just yet. They certainly won’t stop trying. In the meantime, NATO presence in Europe, and around Russia and China in general, is being drastically strengthened. For now, it’s just another American battalion here and there, but the long term buildup is obvious. The NATO forces serve 2 purposes in Europe:
1st (and foremost) to occupy Europe and keep it in America’s grip tightly. 2nd purpose is to threaten Russia. Has the empire succeeded with respect to both purposes? Spectacularly. Destroying all those countries was a resounding success for the empire.
Whats a few thousand American/ NATO soldiers/ cannon fodder lives in the end? To the empire it means nothing.
Whats a trillion dollars spent, more or less? How hard is it for them to just add a few more digits into electronic accounts, or print more dollars? Who’s going to stop them?
And now, let’s talk about the refugees, and terrorist infiltrators. Is somebody actually trying to argue that the planners of Arab Spring (but really, Arab fall) didnt anticipate the mass migration? That it wasn’t planned, and supported by colonial EU governments? Don’t be fooled by Mogherinis crocodile tears. She is probably dancing on the graves of the victims right now.
The goal behind the refuge crisis is, once again, chaos. Surprised? Don’t be. The Saker said that he expects popular revolutions across the EU, starting with the rebellious and free spirited people of France. He expects them to say “enough is enough” to their respective colonial governments. So do I. And so does the empire. Hence the terrorist infiltrators. All of EU will burn before they are free of imperial oppression. When people do rise, first will come attempts to co-opt them, and hijack popular revolutions. Syriza anyone? If that doesn’t work, the empire will do what it does best – create chaos. There will be war in Europe.
The war in Europe can take on many forms: right vs. left; Christian vs. Muslim; terrorist vs. police/army. It doesn’t matter. The point is, Europe will burn.

The empire will never allow any colonies to become free. EU, Japan, Korea, and Wahhabi kingdoms will all burn before they are free. The logic is very simple, yet exceptionally effective. When the rich and powerful who are used to neoliberalism face the prospect of their entire country burning before their eyes, where will they go? Russia, China, or USA?
The rich will move to USA, bringing their wealth and thus allow the empire to continue to prosper, for a while longer. The USA will continue to play the role of bastion of economic/political/security stability while the world burns. Thats how they are going to remain powerful for now and the foreseeable future.

The empire does not look ahead for 1,2 or 5 years, nor does it aimlessly wander from one crises to another depending on the presidential administration. Their plans are set for decades, even centuries ahead, and all apparatchiks work towards the realization of the plans that are far bigger than them.

There are no mistakes or coincidences in the policies of the empire. Iraq and Libya (and all victims of the empire) were not mistakes; it was policy. The policy will continue. It seems that the witch Hillary Clinton is to become the public face of the empire. A criminal (according to American law) & a lunatic like her coming to “power” signals that the empire’s policy if chaos and destruction of nations is about to go into overdrive.

I hope that Donald Trump represents the other side of empires policy, the need to retreat and regroup in the face of recent defeats. Although I sincerely doubt that anything will change regardless of who is the president, or, better put, the public face of the empire.

US-Turkey-Saudi Arabia Arm Terrorists with Surface-to-Air Missiles in Syria

Second Syrian plane shot down by Islamist rebels in one month as al-Nusra and Daesh continue to acquire American weaponry from Turkey, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia.


​On Tuesday, Islamist rebels shot down a Syrian plane, the second such incident in less than a month, and captured the pilots. Inquiries are being made at the highest level as to how the al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria, has come into possession of advanced Western surface-to-air missiles.


Loud & Clear’s Brian Becker sat down with Institute of Islamic Thought director Zafar Bangash on Thursday to discuss the developing situation in Syria and whether access to this weaponry will undermine Syrian air superiority.

Angola, Hit By Collapse Of Oil Prices, begs IMF for Aid

Angola said Wednesday it had asked the International Monetary Fund for help after the crash in oil prices ravaged government finances. The IMF said discussions would begin next week in Washington on what could be a three-year support plan for the government.

“The sharp decline in oil prices since mid-2014 represents a major challenge for oil exporters, especially for those economies that have yet to become more diversified,” the Fund said in a statement. “The IMF stands ready to help Angola address the economic challenges it is currently facing by supporting a comprehensive policy package to accelerate the diversification of the economy, while safeguarding macroeconomic and financial stability.”

Multiple Car Accident On Lagos-Ibadan Highway. Photos


Here are photos of from the multiple car accident which happened yesterday near Otedola Estate on Lagos/Ibadan expressway. The accident which occurred after the cars collided with each other -got some passengers seriously injured as the number of casualties is yet to be known....

Father, Two Daughters Die In Lagos Explosion (photos)

A 65-year-old man, Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajibade and his daughters, Wuraola (19) and Shakirat (15) died on Tuesday in Somolu area of Lagos when their generator exploded. The incident, according to neighbours, happened about 10p.m. at 5, Adebiyi Street, Somolu.

Witnesses said Ajibade was pouring fuel inside his generator near a burning stove at the back of their apartment while Shakirat held the torchlight for him when the generator exploded. The sound of the explosion, the neighbours added, attracted Wuraola’s attention. According to them, she rushed outside but fell into the fire while trying to rescue her father and sister.

Driver Shot Dead In Katsina By Customs Officer For Smuggling Contraband Spagheti

I am not very good in Hausa but from the little I understood from the person who shared the photos on Facebook(Zuma by name),a bus driver was shot dead in Batagarawa in Katsina for smuggling contraband spaghetti.Our Hausa readers should please explain. See photos above

Senator Blames Jonathan For Buhari’s Frequent Foreign Trips

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Mohammed Sabo Nakudu has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent trips abroad were part of the price Nigeria had to pay for the impunity and reign of terror witnessed in the country during the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nakudu, who spoke with newsmen said the 2016 federal budget which focuses on the diversification of the economy would address the problems of unemployment and poverty if faithfully implemented.


President Buhari Receives Details Of 2016 Budget

Presidency has finally received the comprehensive details of 2016 national budget on April 7, Thursday. Chief of Staff to President Buhari Abba Kyari has got budget from Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly matters Senator Eta Enang and Hon. Kawu Ismaila in Statehouse. Buhari laid the document before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on December 22 last year. But shortly after that the appropriation bill became involved in controversy due the inconsistencies, errors, omissions and padding of figures.

Dangote Trailer Kills Five On Auchi-Benin Road (PHOTOS)


News reaching IDOMA VOICE from Edo State has it that no fewer than five persons have been crushed to death by a trailer belonging to Dangote Group of Companies after colliding with a Bedford truck in Ikwo village along the ever busy Auchi-Benin road.

Wife Kills Husband In Lagos As He Slept b

Detective at the State Criminal Investigation department, SCID, Panti, Yaba have unraveled the circumstances that led to killing of a 49-year old man by his wife in Lagos State Western Nigeria.

Just like a Christmas goat, the victim, Lucky Bassey was murdered by his wife, Grace after she used a kitchen knife to slice his throat while he was sleeping on their bed.

Lucky bled profusely and helplessly as Grace watched and ensured that he died before she alerted their neigbours, a police source said.

uhari bans govt officials from flying first class


President Muhammadu Buhari has banned ministers and all top government officials from flying first class while embarking on officials trips. Festus Akanbi, media adviser to Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday. Akanbi said the decision was taken in a bid to reduce the amount being spent on overheard expenditure. The statement said permanent secretaries, chairmen of federal government committees, chairmen and chief executives of parastatals and agencies are to travel on business class. Akanbi said the directive had been captured in a circular on review of overhead expenses released by the office of the secretary to the government of the federation. He said the development was one of the recommendations made by the efficiency unit which was set up by Adeosun in order to reduce overhead expenses.

Foreigners Responsible For Killings In Kaduna –El-Rufai

…Says gold deposit in Kaduna surpasses S/Africa
KADUNA State governor, Mr. Nasir el-Rufai yesterday linked the frequent killings and other violent activities in the state to cattle rustlers, who he said were mostly Fu­lani from neighbouring coun­tries.
The governor, who spoke during a television pro­gramme, Sunrise Daily on Channel Television monitored in Lagos, however, expressed delight that such killings have ceased within the last six months due to some measures put in place by his administra­tion.
According to the former minister, the intervention of a committee he set up under the leadership of Gen. Martin Lu­ther Agwai (retd) did a very good job. His words: “By go­ing round and tracing the root of these killings, we found that most of those who come in to do those killings are from oth­er countries like Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Senegal.

There’re Many Things Wrong With APC -Babatope

CHIEF Ebenezar Babatope is a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP). He believes that so many things are wrong with the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he spoke on vari­ous national issues including the need to address the issue of Biafra. Excerpts:
With the situation of things in the country today, there is no gainsaying that there is tension in the land. What are your reflections on the state of the nation?

NLC Deplores FG On Economy


Threatens nationwide strike over electricity tariff hike, fuel scarcity, el-Rufai
N’Assembly concludes work on budget, to transmit bill to president thursday
Bolaji Adebiyi, Paul Obi, Damilola Oyedele in Abuja and Ejiofor Alike in Lagos
Reacting to the outcry against the excruciating pains felt by Nigerians under the current economic clime, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has deplored the Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing on several fronts in its promises to the electorate.
The NLC also threatened to declare a one-day nationwide strike to protest against the insistence by the federal government to go ahead with the electricity tariff hike, the perennial fuel scarcity in the country, and the current economic hardship Nigerians are facing under the Buhari administration.
Declaring open the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the NLC, its president, Mr. Ayuba Wabba accused the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government of failing on several fronts in its promises to the people.

Okonjo-Iweala: My Mother Was Kidnapped Because I Told Jonathan To Remove Fuel Subsidy.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, says her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped because she advised Goodluck Jonathan, former president, to remove fuel subsidy.
In an interview with Le Monde, the 61-year-old economist said the fight against corruption was at the root of the kidnap, with the abductors demanding her resignation on live television.
When asked what her failures and successes in the fight against corruption were, Okonjo-Iweala said: “Your answer would take a whole day.

Alamieyeseigha’ll Get Solemn But Heroic Burial – Bayelsa

As the funeral rites for the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, begins on Thursday (today), in Yenegoa, the government has promised that he will be given a solemn but heroic state burial.
A former Commissioner for Information, who now heads the Publicity Sub-Committee of the burial committee, Esueme Dan-Kikile, said Alamieyeseigha, would get a state burial befitting of a hero of Ijaw nation.
He said Alamieyeseigha would not be buried at the Ijaw Heroes Park like the late Gen. Owoeye Azazi and Isaac Adaka Boro.

APC: Why We Can’t Stop Blaming PDP For Nigeria’s Economic Woes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it will not stop blaming the Peoples Democratic Parties (PDP) for the nation’s economic woes because of the overwhelming impact of its misdeeds during its 16-year rule.
In the last few days, the ruling APC and opposition PDP have been trading blame over the current state of the economy. This was followed by a statement by the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Tuesday, when he advised the APC and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to stop blaming the opposition party for its failure to arrest the economic crisis that is presently suffocating the citizenry.

Blackout: Power Generation Down To Zero Mw In 2 Days

FOR two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday Nigerians have been thrown into darkness as power generation remained at zero mega watts yesterday.
Abridged statistics from the website of the Nigeria Electricity System Operator posted that zero mw was generated at 07.13 hours.
As at 7.15pm yesterday, power generation remained at zeromw.

2016 Budget Will Cushion Hardship –Onu

THE current hardship being faced by Nigerians would be a thing of the past once the 2016 budget is implement­ed, Science and Technol­ogy Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has assured.
He declared that contrary to claims in some quarters that the President Muhamma­du Buhari administration was not doing anything to address economic challenges faced by the populace, government had done so much to fix the rot in the system.

NNPC Receives Seven Cargoes Of Petrol To Ease Fuel Scarcity

The long fuel scarcity may soon abate going by plans announced by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to embark on massive importation of products which should guarantee availability of petrol across the country.

This is aimed at ensuring the lingering scarcity ends this week as promised by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

Speaking to journalist in Lagos on Tuesday, the Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, Pipeline Products and Marketing Company, Mr Justin Ezeala, said that normalcy should return following increased efforts in areas of monitoring, enforcement and product supply.


Governors Did Not Allow Jonathan Save.


Speaking to dwindling oil prices, Okonjo-Iweala said state governors did not allow Jonathan save for the rainy day, yet they are the ones complaining today.
“Some economists are very concerned for Nigeria, which could greatly suffer from the fall in oil prices. Others say the contrary, that its economy is strong enough to turn the corner. “Both are right. But one thing saddens me.

Case Closed: Putin Not on Offshore Fraudster List, Has Nothing to Add

Vladimir Putin said that he is not mentioned in the so-called Panama Papers, so the discussion about it is pointless.


ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he is not mentioned in the so-called Panama Papers on offshore activities, so the discussion about it is pointless.
"Your humble servant is not there, so there's nothing to talk about," Putin said at a media forum.

Musician Sergei Roldugin, listed in the Panama Papers leak, did try to run a business, but not billion-dollar business, Vladimir Putin said.