Opinion: How to lose $35 billion: A Nigerian handbook

by Simon Allison Predictably, Ribadu’s report was not exactly met with enthusiasm by other officials in the Nigerian government. Particularly harsh criticism has come from two members of the committee that helped draft it. In Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu occupies the same position that Thuli Madonsela does in South Africa: an island of principle and moral... Read More

Goodluck Jonathan, government, nigeria, nuhu ribadu, Steve Oronsaye

October 29, 2012

TICKER: Kaduna gov’t to pay bills of blast victims

The Kaduna State government yesterday pledged to pay the medical bills of the 145 victims of St. Rita’s Catholic Church attack in Kaduna. Deputy Governor Mukhtar Yero spoke when he visited some of the victims on admission in four hospitals. Yero condemned the attack and assured that government was committed to the protection of lives... Read More

blast, government, kaduna

October 23, 2012

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: Nigeria’s ‘Arab Spring’ is already here (YNaija Frontpage)

Our youth have quickly learnt that as was the case in January with the fuel protests, this is Nigeria where martyrs are soon forgotten and freedom is buried… “You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.” – Gill Scott-Heron I spent... Read More

Arab spring, freedom, government, occupy nigeria, Okada riders, protest

October 18, 2012

Don’t “go for it”! 8 things that will f*** up your business

by Howard Turner Forgive the cuss words and the United-Kingdom references, this piece from the SabotageTimes.com might change your life. Or not. You You will be the main thing that fucks up your business, because until you get partners, then you are totally responsible for the decisions that will ultimately determine success or failure. No... Read More

Business, competition, government, Staff, twat

October 13, 2012

Jonathan, Sambo, Anyim to spend N1.6 billion on welfare in 2013

by Isi Esene According to the proposed budget 2013 submitted to the National Assembly by the executive arm of government, the welfare package of the three principal functionaries of the executive namely the president, vice president, and secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF) will gulp a total of N1.59bn. The SGF office will... Read More

budget, Goodluck Jonathan, government, Namadi Sambo, nigeria, police, Presidency, proposal

September 12, 2012

Opinion: Between youth and violence

by Emmanuel Onwubiko and Nneka Okonkwo From all indication, youth unemployment is a menace in Nigeria and constitutes a real danger and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. IN Nigeria, democracy has been restored over a decade ago, with so much hope and expectations by the people. For instance, it is assumed that with democracy, people... Read More

democracy, Emmanuel Onwubiko, government, Leadership, Nneka Okonkwo, unemployment, youth

September 6, 2012

Akintunde Oyebode: Save Patience Jonathan (YNaija FrontPage)

The speed and secrecy with which Dame Jonathan was shipped out of the country suggests our leader might believe in Nigeria, but won’t put all his eggs in this basket. A few years ago, a well known professor was invited to Nigeria from the United States at the behest of one the South-West governors. The... Read More

Akintunde Oyebode`, government, Health, hospita, Patience Jonathan

September 4, 2012

From the Magazine: 10 Questions with Pat Utomi

Director, Centre for Applied Economics, Lagos Business School WHY DID you decide to contest in the presidential elections? All of my life, I have struggled to walk my talk. I have tried very hard to do what I preach. In Nigeria, it is too easy for people to complain and hope that other people solve... Read More

10 questions, acn, fuel subsidy, government, Lekki toll, pat utomi, President Goodluck Jonathan, presidential elections, social media

August 31, 2012

Nasir El-Rufai: The tragedy of abandoned projects?

Eleven thousand, eight hundred and eighty-six (11,886) abandoned projects that will cost an estimated N7.78 trillion to complete! These alarming figures are from the report of the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) set up in March 2011, by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into cases of abandoned Federal Government projects. If the government does not... Read More

government, Nasir el-Rufai, projects, strategy and development

August 28, 2012

Ijeoma Nwogwugwu: Economic saboteurs in our midst

Nigeria is a bundle of contradictions. For years we’ve lost sleep over the amount of money wasted on private electricity generation, how the lack of regular power supply has shut down businesses, led to job losses, and turned thousands of artisans into commercial motorcyclists that constitute a menace on our roads. For years we have... Read More

economy, government, ijeoma nwogwugwu, labour unions

August 21, 2012

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: Training our public officials (YNaija Frontpage)

“Maybe you can be my intern, and in turn I’ll show you how to cook up summer in the winter”- Kanye West (Gone) One of the most interesting quirks about politics and public life in Nigeria is what constitutes preparation for it – and I very strongly believe this... Read More

government, iyinoluwa aboyeji, Politics, training

August 17, 2012

Opinion: What do investors look for?

by Solomon Etim As they are aware that certain things like lunch and handouts would be offered, they come there to enjoy freebies. Three, as they understand that even the entire issue is tipped in deceit, they come there to meet the organisers of such conference as they look for ready arrow-heads or local drones... Read More

economy, government, Investors, Soloon Etim

August 14, 2012

Opinion: With nothing we went, with nothing we returned

by Oluwatobi Odetola “Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire” – Arnold H. Glasgow. For seventeen days, Nigerians waited in vain for the country’s name to be registered on the medals table. For those seventeen days, Nigerians waited to reap apples where they sowed stones. The truth is I... Read More

government, nigeria, Oluwatobi Odetola, olympics, sports

August 13, 2012

Opinion: A doctor, his dame, And their dog

by Sonala Olumhense IF you have yet to read the New York Times story of Nigeria’s remarkable basketball team to the London Olympics, it is available online. Before I comment on it, here is a question: to whom, exactly, is President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria accountable? His answer last week, as he vigorously tried to... Read More

government, nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, Sonala Olumhense

July 26, 2012

Senator Abe: Time to unbundle Nigeria

A lorry cannot fly, for the simple reason that it is not designed to fly. In the same vein the Nigeria federation cannot succeed as a productive nation because it is not designed to produce When an organisation becomes unwieldy, inefficient, corrupt, wasteful and incapable of delivering on its mandate or bringing value to its... Read More

government, nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, senator abe

July 10, 2012

Feyi Fawehinmi: RMD vs Linda Ikeji? RMD is a bully

by Feyi Fawehinmi On Saturday, on Twitter, I got involved in a long running debate about a post that appeared on Linda Ikeji’s blog relating to the one time actor and now Delta State Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Richard Mofe-Damijo. The post itself was all of three lines which began by wishing him a... Read More

actor, bully, Career, commissioner, gossip, government, graft, house, Linda Ikeji, millions, rmd

July 4, 2012

Opinion: The conversion of a Jonathan critic

by Ikeogu Oke Following the publication of my article titled “Jonathan as Nero: a Misplaced Analogy,” on page 66 of Saturday Sun of June 23, 2012, I received six reader’s responses by text message. Four of the responses commended the article while two condemned it. The article was my response to the barrage of attacks... Read More

boko haram, critic, criticism, government, heartless, jonathan, north, SMS, Travel

July 2, 2012

Postponed: Government still not set for Third Mainland Bridge repairs

by Stanley Azuakola If you planned to use the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge as an excuse for resuming late to work this week, sorry, it won’t work. this is because the proposed repair work earlier scheduled to begin on the Third Mainland Bridge on Sunday did not commence. Lagos Sector Commander of the... Read More

government, postponed, repairs, third mainland bridge

June 29, 2012

Opinion: Two sides of a coin, free sex and patriotism in Nigeria

by Japheth Omojuwa Patriotism is like free sex, it is indeed expensive, hence patriotism is neither in the real sense free and it is in fact not cheap The most expensive sex is free sex – Woody Allen Everyone remembers the words of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for... Read More

civil engagement, government, nigeria, patriotism

June 24, 2012

“Jonathan is indecisive, vindictive, petty, and I pity him” – Henry Okah

by Hauwa Gambo Henry Okah, Niger-Delta activist accused of the October 1 2010 bombings in Abuja has remained locked up in a South African jail – even as he continues to antagonise President Goodluck Jonathan. In the latest salvo, he speaks with Sabbide Abbide on SaharaReporters.com. Explaining the rare interview, Abbide says: “What follows is... Read More

Amnesty, Asari Dokubo, ewin clark, government, henry okah, jonathan, Militants, Obasanjo, oronto douglas, south africa, yaradua

June 24, 2012

#BBViral: What does it mean to have ‘Farouk-iosis’?

by Hauwa Gambo This has gone viral via BlackBerries – enjoy it! New dictionary words… Farouk (Verb): To collect bribe and deny it, attributing evidence to video doctoring. Past tense: farouked. Example: To farouk is human … Farouker (Noun): A person who farouks. Example: The National Assembly is populated with faroukers. Faroukee (Noun): A person... Read More

Blackberry, bribe, farouk, government, otedola

June 10, 2012

Move over, INEC! Boko Haram postpones elections in Borno

by Hauwa Gambo It’s a ‘hell no’ from the Borno State government on the prospects of conducting local government elections in the state anytime soon. The reason? Well, this is how a reporter for PM News put it: “Because of security challenges in the area, created by the unrelenting insurgency of Boko Haram militants and... Read More

boko haram, Borno, government, INEC, state

May 29, 2012

YNaija Editorial: Who says this is not a democracy?

In the seemingly endless battle for the soul of Nigeria (whatever and wherever that is), both sides – or all the different sides – seem to have settled upon an unwritten consensus; that untruths and exaggeration are legitimate tools for engagement. We’ll take you on an uncomfortable journey through a few of them. It is... Read More

democracy, freedom, government, governors, jonathan, opposition

May 26, 2012

Nigeria’s human rights report grade for 2011 is a big fat F

by Tolu Orekoya There is not much to be said about the human rights report that the cartoon above and the title doesn’t say. It is from the 2011 Human Rights Watch assessment of the Nigeria Police Force, and is truly the stuff of nightmares with rape, extrajudicial killings, and of course, the usual bribery and corruption. Things have not improved in... Read More

2012 report, bad, fail, government, human rights report, human rights watch, nigeria, security forces

May 15, 2012

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: Now that government is broke… (YNaija FrontPage)

It might actually be a good thing that we are broke. If we will not willingly shed our weight as country, a broke back (or bank) will surely force us to. Government cause it was meant to hold us back – Tupac (Panther Power) We have clearly reached a different level of financial emergency in... Read More

allowance, broke, budget, GEJ, Goodluck Jonathan, government, nigeria, nysc, Politics, salary

May 14, 2012

This logic matter: “Let’s do what they’re incapable of doing in Aso Rock; let’s think!”

by Rotimi Fawole I would rather logic prevailed over intuition. They say the mark of having had a fulfilling time in the university is that not only do you pass through the university but it also passes through you. I’ve never quite been sure if that expression is anything besides a fluffy Nigerianism but, if the university passing through... Read More

government, Kathleen Ndongmo, logic, nigeria, Rotimi Fawole

May 7, 2012

We want regional governments – Northern Christian Elders

by Lekan Olanrewaju A Christian group known as the Northern Elders Christian Forum, NORCEF, has called for a restructuring of Nigeria, advocating a return to the regional system of government. The group believes this will be the solution to the wave of insecurity currently being witnessed by the country, and has released a statement detailing... Read More

government, NORCEF

April 17, 2012

Scrap ’em, they’re costing us N862bn: Oronsaye Committee says EFCC & ICPC need to go

by Hauwa Gambo Stephen Oronsaye wants to save us some money. So he has recommended the scrapping of 38 government agencies, merger of 52 and reversion of 14 agencies to departments in the relevant ministries – in a move that will affect the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt... Read More

Committee, EFCC, frsc, government, icpc

April 2, 2012

Tolu Ogunlesi: “Angels need not apply” – Lessons I have learnt (YNaija Frontpage)

Government matters: Much of Nigeria’s private sector success has taken place in spite of the government. Her success stories, e.g. Nollywood and our music industry, have written themselves without government support. This has created a “Yes We Can!” mentality that believes that, with or without government support, we (young Nigerians) can achieve anything we want.... Read More

‘Heroes’, gbenga daniel, government, NEXT, tolu ogunlesi