On-Shore/Off-Shore Stuff!

[Ibro2g]

:-/
on-shore/off-shore crises.
       Nigeria, a land blessd with numerous minerals and rich agricultural lands, profitable rivers and profitable coasts. However, its unfortunate despite all these numerous means of optimum income, we largely depend and concentrate on crude oil alone. we could cultivate other resources and means, and produce an income 100 times more than we take in presently, but I guess the oil will do just right!.
       Nigeria is one nation. The crude oil happens to be concentrated at the southern part of Nigeria, and a nations wealth, irrespect of its location belong to that nation as a whole. That is why it sounds ridiculous and absurd when the southern state governments claim a better share of the nations budget. Upon all that, they have a share of the barrels that are being drilled out everyday. But I guess that isn't enough, all they have had was the oil in their provinces now they want a share of the off-shore oils too!
      I had wanted to right up alot, but I guess I have less time, and besides I should let u all speak for urselves. I think its unthinkable...so to u, is it tolerable? :-/

[Barde]

:-/
on-shore/off-shore crises.
? ? ? ?Nigeria, a land blessd with numerous minerals and rich agricultural lands, profitable rivers and profitable coasts. However, its unfortunate despite all these numerous means of optimum income, we largely depend and concentrate on crude oil alone. we could cultivate other resources and means, and produce an income 100 times more than we take in presently, but I guess the oil will do just right!.
? ? ? ?Nigeria is one nation. The crude oil happens to be concentrated at the southern part of Nigeria, and a nations wealth, irrespect of its location belong to that nation as a whole. That is why it sounds ridiculous and absurd when the southern state governments claim a better share of the nations budget. Upon all that, they have a share of the barrels that are being drilled out everyday. But I guess that isn't enough, all they have had was the oil in their provinces now they want a share of the off-shore oils too!
? ? ? I had wanted to right up alot, but I guess I have less time, and besides I should let u all speak for urselves. I think its unthinkable...so to u, is it tolerable? :-/

It's intolerable,the earlier our northern leaders realise that the better for us,Afterall we have abundant of natural resources which has more prospect and  more reliable than oil,My heart bleeds for the north and nigeria in General, with America and their allies already capturing the oil in Iraq, only God knows what will happen to our dear country,since we solely depent on this oil for revenue,I have the believe that America will bring down the price to lowest possible and if the price is down Nigeria will not be getting anything resulting to decrease in our revenue.So the best way to salvage our nation is for us to go back to the farm.

[Sas]

Salamu Alaikum

I think those Governors deserve to get a better share of the money, at least a resonable difference, because number reason is that they have to deal with the safety of their paople in terms of the pollution of the oil while drilling. This is the Custom with every country in the world so why shouldn't Nigeria do so. If they all get the same amount other states will benefit because they don't have these problems. Apart from that the more money a State needs, the more he gets. You can't give Kano, Lagos etc the same amount that you will give Jigawa, Nassarawa. That will not be fair because the smaller states don't need as much money as the bigger ones. In the U.S for example you can't give Texas (almost as big as Nigeria) the same money you give Rhode Island (about a quater of Kano). Hope I make some sence.

[Barde]

Salamu Alaikum

I think those Governors deserve to get a better share of the money, at least a resonable difference, because number reason is that they have to deal with the safety of their paople in terms of the pollution of the oil while drilling. This is the Custom with every country in the world so why shouldn't Nigeria do so. If they all get the same amount other states will benefit because they don't have these problems. Apart from that the more money a State needs, the more he gets. You can't give Kano, Lagos etc the same amount that you will give Jigawa, Nassarawa. That will not be fair because the smaller states don't need as much money as the bigger ones. In the U.S for example you can't give Texas (almost as big as Nigeria) the same money you give Rhode Island (about a quater of Kano). Hope I make some sence.

Assalamualaikum,is 13 percent not reasonable enough?More over what have they got to show for the money ?they are collecting ?The money is just going in to their pockects.

Ma'assalam

[Ibro2g]

You can't give Kano, Lagos etc the same amount that you will give Jigawa, Nassarawa. That will not be fair because the smaller states don't need as much money as the bigger ones. In the U.S for example you can't give Texas (almost as big as Nigeria) the same money you give Rhode Island (about a quater of Kano). Hope I make some sence.

Now you are talking about size and population, which has nothing to do with our discussion, If you have'nt noticed, thats the way things are and aught to be done... by using population during determining budgets...
   Besides...what credit does the northern states have, when it was with thier agriculture that the oil sector was developed in the first place...lets be fair.

[Sas]

Yeah I know that some of the money goes to their pockets which is the case for all the other states. You have to consider the safety of their ppl. The federal government should not consider the fact that they are going to put the money in their pockets, all they will do is to consider what they are going to do with the money. My example with Size and Population doen'e matter but the Need for the money.
With whose agriculture was the Oil sector developed? It wasn't the North's although they provide some part of it. I don't think the FG should consider that and give them more money for all these years and some more to come. Hope you get my points. ;D ;D

[Muhammad]

Assalamu Alaika
Ibro2g you are being selectively partial. Don't say that the natural gas and crude NIgeria has " happens to be concentrated at the southern part of Nigeria, and a nations wealth, irrespect of its location belong to that nation as a whole." That is true to certain extent but the host communities must have a greater share of the resource than the land that doesnt produce OIl. It will hurt the non-producing states when the derivation formula is overwhelmingly in favour of the Niger deltans. But, justice demands compensation to the communities that were uprooted so that the nation will loot their resource.
I fully support the on/off shore stuff and also believe that the derivation formula should be 10% not the 3% applicable today.
Bissalam

[lionger]

Well said Amin. However, Nigeria's democrracy so far has simply been a chaotic rush by many to do what Abacha and his few henchmen were doing for 5 years. Corruption spoils everything.

[Anonymous]

Corruption spoils everything of course but particularly it spoils the idea that work is the proper way to earn reward. Oil has been a mixed blessing for Nigeria. So many great things should have been done with the revenues from oil. Instead it encouraged theft and corruption. But the States scramble for oil revenues has obscured the other great assets that Nigeria should be developing. As many of your correspondents have pointed out Nigeria has a rich agricultural potential. Here in Scotland, UK when I go to a supermarket to buy vegetables I will find many varieties come from Gambia, Kenya etc. But not from Nigeria. When I was in Kano the State lost two men of great vision. One was Mallam Aminu Kano whose promotion of justice for the poor and education, particularly for young women, should never be forgotten. The other was Audu Bako, a true visionary who realised that the Bagauda and Tiga dams and the irrigation canals from them could turn Kano State into a rich agricultural producer WHICH COULD PROVIDE SOME RANGES OF CASH CROP VEGETABLES ENOUGH TO SUPPLY ALL OF EUROPE. Without Alhaji Audu as State Governor the vision died. The scheme was not carried through. So sad.

[Muhammad]

David the issue you raised is indeed an important one. It is however important to notice that agriculture in Nigeria is suffering from huge population growth and neglect.
As we have also seen in many aspect of centralized govt control of industries, government run programs usually fall short of the required results. So I will say to you that the failure to see Nigerian vegies in scotland is not because govt of today is failing but rather due to the whole i-dont-care-attitude of rich industrialists who have for years shunned the agriculural subsector.

The overwhelming dependence on Oil as the source of revenue for the govt has not helped matters. The vast arable land is nigeria is annually left uncultivated because farmers and businessmen alike find it easier to become rich in trade than in farming.
Perhaps this will change if people realize this is a matter of national survival. But I doubt not.

Lionger what you said is also true.  Like Abacha did, Obasanjo is helping others, perhaps including himself, do. If you read the papers recently, you must have heard of the story of the missing 302bn naira, as reported by RMAC. That is almost 3 billion dollars. Remember also the case of the accountant general where he pointed out to the nation that vast sums of money, almost 2 billion dollars, were unaccounted for. If you connect the dots, it becomes apparent that the present admistration is very indifferent to the issue of corruption unparrarelled by none except Abacha.
Nigeria is one giant mess!
I hope we see the light soon.
CIAO

[Anonymous]

Amin
I agree with all you say. Nigeria is in danger of hyperinflation - which can mean that the average people find their money becomes so devalued that it can't even buy them the neccessities to live and eat. Then what happens? But Nigeria is a country of huge natural resources, with hard-working and many educated people but the scramble for the oil revenues has obscured all the proper things that have to be done to fulfil the potential of Africa's greatest state. I find many progressive and concerned young people on Kano Online and I pray that the generation coming now can sort Nigeria  (where I spent the best years of my life in Kano)

[Barde]

Amin
I agree with all you say. Nigeria is in danger of hyperinflation - which can mean that the average people find their money becomes so devalued that it can't even buy them the neccessities to live and eat. Then what happens? But Nigeria is a country of huge natural resources, with hard-working and many educated people but the scramble for the oil revenues has obscured all the proper things that have to be done to fulfil the potential of Africa's greatest state. I find many progressive and concerned young people on Kano Online and I pray that the generation coming now can sort Nigeria ?(where I spent the best years of my life in Kano)

With determination and prayers,we shall salvage our dear country inshaAllah.

[Ibro2g]

...and by GOD we shall...