The price for more refineries in Nigeria

The word "deregulation" has come again and the merchants of linguistic abuse have not relented. We hear it is the price for more refineries in this country. Those with clear eyes will see the surrogates of international leeches in the 'oil' waters. These sophists are trying every possible trick to offer our sovereignty on a golden platter to whom they wish for their personal benefits. These controversies are foretastes of the deceits in NNPC. I still believe we have a clout holding NNPC in recurrent pin-fall. Either this clout gets a re-grafted brain or is compelled to have a robotic thinking pattern for Nigeria as a nation. Jonathan will certainly fail if he has weak handle on NNPC. The way NNPC is 'regulated' determines the survival of Nigeria and the national policy defined by law will check the excesses of psychopathic deviants in the oil sector. Let's know what PIB contains!

Read this: NNPC Insolvent? Never! Says Levi Ajuonuma.

Some points to note in the report that stimulated my comment:

“……you will agree that NNPC is the most efficient and transparently set-up in Nigeria.”

“Do you realize that for more than 12 years, the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the Kaduna refinery was not done because of bureaucracy?”

“…..the Russians are here for our gas, the Germans are here for power, and the Chinese are investing about N8 billion to establish three refineries in the country.”

“Importation is important but we need more refineries to be built, and the only way more refineries can be built is if the prices are right.”

 

CBN and Petroleum Subsidy!

On these blog pages, I analysed some of the issues around international politics of oil subsidy. Goodluck dismantled the mafia at NNPC and we have fuel in every filling station. I see the Nigeria of my dream again in that sector with fuel availability. What about the sustainability of the policy? With resistant strains like the CBN boss (LS) in a thinly walled sequestration, a recrudescence of the fuel infamy may be possible. Jonathan will lose his good-luck with unrestrained and unrepentant extremist neo-capitalist ideologues on his flanks. Nigeria must survive with the thoughts of real Nigerians.

Post-UTME: a backward journey!

Post-UTME, antidote to exam malpractice – UNILAG Parents’ Forum

Can we really justify Post-UTME examinations. When JAMB cannot be strengthened to increase our confidence in the institution, the poor confidence will spread to NECO and SSE and finally lead to the deprecation of all public institutions conducting examinations. Universities are not free from examination malpractices and it is not a haven to run to. The Post-UTME examination is a move in the backward direction, and it is illegal. Universities can only screen candidates to ensure genuine qualifying certification before admission. The reason for falling standards is associated with poor entry qualifications before admission: fake POST-UTME, UTME, NECO, SSE, two or three credits in two sittings with undertaking to pass others after university admission, lack of interest in the course of study, etc. We should fund researches into institutional performance and higher education strategies in Nigeria. A lot remains to be uncovered regarding why higher education is failing.

The lawmakers should insist on the correct position of the law and be more pro-active in studying the problems of the Nigerian educational system in order to provide lasting solutions.

Up Covenant University!

I love what you are doing through your proprietors. Setting good standards and engaging the people to rise to the occasion! A development-oriented university is research-driven so that students understand problem investigation and seek knowledge-based solutions. A grant system that ensures persistent funding of researches on individual or group basis addressing local issues and problems will guarantee a sustainable future for Nigeria. Teaching from internal knowledge generation and not only from textbooks is what Nigerian universities lack. We teach preconceived concepts without clear validation from local content. Our graduates fail from this standpoint, because they often have tools that don't march local challenges. Your interview did not espouse this viewpoint. Anyway, I believe in your Covenant project- training the new generation that will create and sustain the changes in our dreams.

In defence of Prof. Akunyili

Uproar as Senate screens Akunyili Vanguard

If honest people become the villains in Nigeria, there is no future. In public poll recently, Dora's action and statements were endorsed by a majority of Nigerians. Any member of Senate who plays in a different direction is unpatriotic. Even when Dora was loyal, she was honest. Living by the National Pledge is a lesson senators must learn and they can't afford to fail Nigerians.

Deregulation for who?

Jonathan must move with clear eyes and goals. Deregulation in the petroleum sector is a scam. The sector must be regulated for meaningful sovereignty and national dignity. If Barkindo has no tenacity of purpose on the side of the people who own oil, he should back out. De-monopolizing the sector can commence and continue, but the policy of government to enforce standards and benchmarks in this sector is what regulation is. We cannot watch the international conglomerates exploit Nigerians in a deregulated regime. Let the laws spell out the deregulated landscape and we will know how deregulation can cater for our interests within the law; that is, when the laws are enforceable. Jonathan must not be goaded into putting the cart before the horse. Where is PIB? Can we know the details? Where are the regulations that will make “deregulation” a boon. I am yet to see them.

Jonathan backs deregulation, says NNPC boss

Xmas without fuel in Nigeria: personal experience.

December 24, the eve of Xmas. The need for fuel to move around called for frantic search. I heard earlier from the Information Minister that the fuel scarcity was because of hoarding of fuel by marketers awaiting government’s announcement of opportunities to make more money. I thought that driving 10 km from my location to NNPC mega-station at Madugu would provide succour. Usually, hoarding would not be an issue and pumps would be working at NNPC stations. I met a short queue on arrival at the station. After a while, the cars started to leave the queue. I went to the operatives to ask what the situation was. I was told the remaining fuel was on reserve for some selected cars and they were dispensing into a few ‘jerry cans’. Nine fuel tankers were parked around the premises. I asked whether the tankers were going to discharge their fuel so that I could wait or come back later. I was shocked to hear that they were empty and could not go back to the fuel depot because there was no diesel for them to drive back. I gave up my effort. Now, I hear that NUPENG is probably on strike.

Goodluck! Have a pleasant holiday.