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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
