COP18 reduced enthusiasm...

Today, delegates to the UN framework conference on climate change COP18 prepare to depart Doha as COP18 ends. The conference started with expectations but as it ends the key issues are yet to be resolved.
Several reports worry that no breakthrough was made regarding  the issues at stake.
Speaking to Non-Governmental Organizations the eve of the closure, head of the African Group of Negotiators, Dr Emmanuel Dlamini says, equity is important in all aspects of climate talks; he made a strong case that least developed nations should not be treated the same as developed countries.

The first challenge African nations are entertaining is that, they might leave Qatar without a clear commitment from developed nations. Another challenge would be maintaining unity among the African delegation. At COP 15 in Copenhagen and COP16 in Cancun, African countries were successful in starting the process for the establishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which was later approved at COP17 in Durban,  but now not all are willing to put pressure on developing nations.

Authorities in Qatar set out to achieve positive outcomes at COP18. The new conference President, Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah at the start of the conference called on Governments to focus on the task ahead and committing to the objectives of the Kyoto protocol.

"Climate change is a common challenge for humanity. We have a precious opportunity over the coming days, and we must make 

full use of it'' Al-Attiyah 

3years ago rich nations promised long term financial help to the poorer nations to help in the switch to clean energy and adaptation. The offer was $10 billion a year in 2010-2012. That amount was to increase to $100 billion by 2020.The pledge didn't say how these monies would come.

It is feared that if Doha fails to provide tangible commitment from developed countries adaptation,mitigation and the fight against climate change will suffer in coming years.

Child marriage

As the flutes played sonorous tunes, women clad in henna, crisp attires and smelling of freshly burned incense  clapped and hummed lyrics only the locals could understand; the guests had began to gather.



From behind the weather beaten blinds a frail hand clasped the cup of locally brewed liquor, with tear filled eyes she gulped down the smelly substance (her mother had said it would drive away the spirits that brought fear) she was even more scared now.

Her father raised his hands and in an instance, the music stopped; heart beating faster than the drums she had heard earlier, it was time.
In a whiff she could smell the fresh marigold flowers,she knew that smell all too well (she had sold them at the flea market) that signaled the arrival of the groom.
The wedding was officially in progress, this lavish ceremony was for a 13 year old; her groom old enough to be her father.
Neighbors were also at their front porch waiting to see the instant transformation from child to womanhood.
Another child bride was about to be given away....

This is the sad tale of girls across the world given to marriage, the UN says about 70million girls marry before their 18th birthday.

Oct 11th 2012 was celebrated as the first ever ''Day of the girl child''. This project is looking at peculiar challenges young girls face and it's calling for an end to child marriages using education as its key strategy.

After these girls are given away, they either die in child birth (barely a year after) or are left to battle VVF (vesicoviginal fistula) and other post-natal complications. Many are sent away by their husbands to return to the care of poor parents who had given them away in the hope for a better life.

 “The women of the future, the young girls of the world, should not be deprived of their fundamental human right to play and learn and enjoy being children,”...'' Fatou Bensouda ICC

“A girl should have the right to choose whom she marries and when,” Babatunde Osotimehin UNFPA E.D

''If present trends continue, 142 million girls will marry over the next decade. That’s 38,000 girls married every day for the next 10 years.'' icrw.org

When we continue to play ignorant, more young girls are deprived of the right to education, a proper childhood, opportunities of greatness and even choice.

(the preceding story is fiction and any resemblance to any true events or persons is merely coincidence. )

FOOD?...

2012 is a year that was marked with extreme weather conditions across the world and experts are saying this could lead to hike in food prices and possible shortage in 2013.

In poor countries of the world people are already experiencing food shortage.
I read a story on CNN.com and I was moved to tears...  A woman in Yemen and mother of six says, she ties a scarf around her stomach when she gets hungry because there isn't enough to go round her and the kids.

I quickly imagined the half eaten plates of food we haul to the trash not mindful of the people several doors away who would do anything for our left overs.

I attended a wedding (2 actually) at the weekend (you know how extravagant Nigerian weddings get) and we all were guilty of picking through our food; a woman beside where I was didn't even want the little boys scavenging the left overs to pick her half eaten plate of jollof rice and chicken wing that sat on the table abandoned for close to 15mins...''will you disappear from here?! haah this children no get mannas oh'' I saw the boys scramble away licking their hands from the sauce they had eaten from my leftovers.

This food shortage experts are saying is a result of climate change, corruption, rising energy costs and extreme weather among several other reasons.
The year has been a tough one for farmers across the world with rains pouring longer than necessary; intense heat, drought and flooding.Farmers are already fearing poor yields.
 "Putting a stop to food price crisis requires a radical new approach to the way we grow, share and manage food," Oxfam's Colin Roach
Adaptation methods like irrigation farming (In Africa) and planting genetically modified seeds are being used to salvage the situation.

With Nigeria's 170 million population, about 635million naira is spent on wheat import and another one billion naira on rice imports every year.(Debisi Araba S.A min of Agric) we can only guess what impact such amounts could have on our Agricultural sector.

 The question on my mind is, don't we or can't we grow rice and wheat? must we import?
I remember when Agriculture was the main stay of Nigeria (well i wasn't born then), then the oil boom happened and everyone forgot how to till the ground and Operation feed worked while it lasted.
This festive season for me will be with a little bit of caution and sharing...cos someone close needs a meal to sleep well tonight...

NCC vs service providers vs consumers...

So I was about to make a call then realized I was low on call credits, I purchased 2 cards, scratched and loaded...then the usual notification came; ''you have successfully loaded **** naira but based on NCC directives 5% rewards have been suspended till further notice''.
Imagine my shock, I hadn't fully read the news of the promotion ban by Nigeria's independent regulatory authority on Telecommunications the NCC so I was oblivious of the full details.

The document titled: Ban of all promotions and lotteries by telecommunications operators, says, the action was taken because of complaints received from consumers (hmmm like all our complaints have been heeded to): ''the Commission is also mindful of its statutory responsibilities such as; to protect and promote the interest of consumers against unfair practices, promote fair competition in the industry by protecting Operators from misuse of market power and anti-competitive/unfair practices by other Operators''. Tony Ojobo NCC Director of public affairs


Ok, no doubt NCC is looking out for our best interest..but, what happens when network is terrible or days when you are charged for an SMS that wasn't delivered or dropped calls? what happens to all that? will these get any attention?


 Trust me, I was one of the skeptics of recent promo's, I mean using a plane as a price was more disturbing than appealing (to me that is) or giving one person 100million naira (or was it dollars?)
 I feel it's only logical that if the service providers want to reward their over 80 million subscribers, it should be done in a way that at least a good percentage of that number enjoys such reward.

''This ban covers all proposed and approved promotions and lotteries on which the Commission has given approval further to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC). This ban is with immediate effect and shall continue to remain in force until such a time as may be determined by the Commission.''

So while we await this face off between NCC and Telecomm service providers to fade, we pay higher tariffs with no incentives..

Shutting Down

Shutting down! Were the words that flashed across my now dying computer screen, the computer-generated voice that usually warned me didn’t have the chance to as the computer powered off before the 20 seconds timer elapsed.

The train of sweat going down my spine was another cause for worry; PHCN had done their deed for the evening. In the sickening heat of Abuja one would think they’d be generous with power.

The excitement from the meeting I had attended that evening quickly faded in the heat; all the creative juices that flowed then could not cool my now heating head, I could not write not even to scribble down a line of the many thoughts we had shared.

The bottle of almost iced water had melted to a lukewarm nightmare the urge to spew it out was strong but I needed some liquid for my dry throat; even though it is said that cold water doesn't quench thirst, I craved what we call a sweating bottle (bottle of ice cold water or drink) just the satisfaction of holding it would suffice. 

 The continued hissing and the screaming baby from next door attest to the fact that I wasn't alone. 

like clock work, I snapped shut the laptop unplugged it and laid beneath the window looking for possible airy spots in the room, the card I had turned to a fan had gotten soft and wasn't blowing air, the door was ajar but nothing seemed to help, I discarded the paper and fidgeted with the pillow trying to get the most comfortable position I heard the AC roar to life... pheww what a relief. NEPA!!! the loud voices from the neighborhood almost overpowered my noisy AC. 

The urge to write had disappeared, now I was having a writers block...next I knew, it was wee hours of the morning, I had slept it through, so all the writing I finally did was a dream mchewww!!!

Outside the box?

It's more than cliche when someone yells at you continuously, ''think outside the box''.
What do you do when your creativity has been stretched thin? you've looked at things from every angle and nothing seems out of the ordinary?

In trying to think out of the box, people most often forget to exhaust all options within the box. In trying to get people creatively thinking, we most times succeed in getting to ignore salient opportunities hidden just under your nose.

I get tired of hearing; ''this is how we do it here'' or ''it's always been done this way'' (hey, that's why you've got the same results.)

The idea is not to get conformed to the norm but breakout to be a difference. A barrier breaker I learnt recently, is one who seeks to be different and do things differently, one who will spare head new things and break the bounds of every limitation. Let it be said that you did things another way not necessarily new maybe new to your environment or cycle.. How great a victory dance you'd have when you can gladly sing ''I told you so'' to the nay sayers (no mater how quietly lol..)But, within the limitation of our sight is great opportunity...we can find great ideas even from the seeming un-productive box....Have a box first before even thinking outside it. It's easy to say I'm thinking outside the box and not have a slight incline what the box ought to be. 

As you struggle to think beyond the box, just pause, look around, be sure you've exhausted every creative juice possible. 

Be your best critic, (that I've learnt the hard way after having to re-do a creative piece four times cos the gate keeper as I came to discover, didn't have the necessary prowess.) you'll do yourself and others a lot of good.
Set goals, achieve them and move on...mantra!

Seasons change..

Today the weather is harsh the nape of my neck is the driest I've had in years, the soles of my feet could bruise a baby's soft skin even de-thread a blanket. hmmmm harmattan!
With every effort at protective styling, moisturizing and staying hydrated, nothing seemed to be working, my hair was in disarray,my heels  and my skin, the topic of an epic novel.


 My hair dry as bristles of an old brush, I wrap a scarf securely around my head covering up the messy bunch; then she pulls the scarf without the slightest warning; ''when are you making your hair sef? abi you don't have money? can't you relax it? (as if I wasn't having a bad hair day already).

Reluctant to answer the questions and cause a scene I spoke from my RENEWED mind; ''My decision to go natural was totally mine, I don't harass you when you attach synthetics to your head'' (not so renewed but...) your guess as good as mine; total silence.

Then the taunting image of work floods my mind, where the fan blows overhead like the northern desert winds I mean it was bad enough that the air was coarse and dusty, I have to put up with a cranky ceiling fan blowing hot air like pursed lips blowing air.

Recovering from the scald on my tongue, (an ugly reminder never to drink a boiling cup of tea) The day went by at snail pace. As I sat at my desk staring at the bright computer screen, in my mind I was prancing the office space screaming my best rock tune all in a bid to get the tempo up.
It was in all this that I noticed the wrinkly fingers that moved around the keyboard, was I getting old?...hahahahahaha no of course not it was the harmattan my skin was drying out, what were you expecting? I had almost emptied a tube of hand cream in a bid to get it velvety smooth..all that one na for advert.

Just then at the corner of my eye I caught the image of my colleague recklessly picking his nose, you'd think he lost a pen in there...harmattan he'd say..yuk...to be fair to him, your nose gets dry and tingly from breathing in all that dusty air. O boy! ever heard of a handkerchief? maybe not.

happy thoughts, happy thoughts I sang to myself as the clock struck 5 you could almost hear my sigh of relief from the room across..it was then end of another day I continue to battle the weather, more protective styling, moisturizing and hydrating for my hair, and a lot of water and moisturizer for my skin as well.Maybe the weather will be kind enough...see you lovely skin and hair at the end of the season.(harmattan is no excuse to look scruffy!!! I don't intend to).

COP18 making strides

As talk on gender equality continue across the world, the role of women in the struggle to save the earth has been at the fore in the last couple of years. Several adaptation and mitigation measures in tackling climate change have involved women.

The  ongoing United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference UNFCCC COP18 celebrated it's maiden edition Gender day. The theme of the first ever gender day  ''moving beyond the rhetoric'' revealed women (and children) as most vulnerable in the effects of the changing Climate.

The panel saw women as major partners in the fight against Climate Change because of the roles they play in the home as care givers. 

This session featured several NGO's run by women that are causing a stir in their communities. 

Among notable projects involving women is the Solar mamas, a documentary filmed in India, this project saw illiterate grandmothers become solar engineers, with knowledge and resources gotten from the barefoot college and friends of the environment.

The gender day has been adopted as an annual event at the conference.

Also, the benefits of using traditional techniques to tackle climate change were discussed at the second 'Hikma' session. Hikma is the arabic word for wisdom.

The Hikam sessiona are a series of talks that showcase the work of Arab and middle eastern civil society organizations and bring to the fore the local knowledge accumulated by the middle Eastern communities.

Speaking up for the black continent, the African negotiators at the conference say, they will ensure the developed nations do not let the kyoto protocol die as it's commitment period comes to an end.

 

You would recall that in 1997, the Kyoto protocol was signed and later ratified in 2005, the first commitment will expire Dec 31st this year unless discussions at the ongoing COP18 can make provisions for a new life when the second commitment commences Jan 2013.  The Kyoto protocol is the only existing commitment binding industrialized nations to cut Green house gas GHG emission levels.

Meantime, discussions are underway as developing nations hope for a good outcome.

COP 18

It's already here?!
Today, over 7000 delegates from 194 countries converged for a two weeks at the magnificent Qatar National conference centre in Doha for the 2012 United Nations framework on Climate Change Conference UNFCCC or COP18.

The 18th session of these meetings began amidst warnings of calamity, experts warned that existing mitigation pledges are not nearly enough to limit warnings to a manageable 2 degrees celsius. UN climate chief Christiana Figueres speaking days ago says, ''a faster response to climate change is necessary and possible''.

In similar developments, the International Institute for Environment  and Development IIED reveals that, the rich nations have failed to fulfill 8 pledges made towards providing poorer ones with funds.

 The wealthier nations in 2009 promised to provide poorer nations with 30 billion US dollars by the end of 2012 , the finances were meant to  serve as new and additional finance balance between support for adaptation and mitigation activities

The report futher states that only 23.6 billion dolars of the said amount has been given and only 20% of the amount allocated to projects in these poor nations.

Less than half of the fast start fund is in grants while the other half is given as loans meaning the poor countries are expected to repay with interest.

Major concerns include the fact that wealthy nations have failed to prove that their contributions are new and not derived from existing grants.

Experts are saying when rich nations are not transparent about when and how they would meet their financial pledges developing countries are unable to plan adequate responses to climate change and make it difficult for developing nations to take serious what the richer ones will say at the UN climate change talks.

Further reports say, only two of the donors are remitting their fair share of the fund. Norway has been ajudged the best , providing five times their share of the fund; while the United States and Iceland have contributed less than half their share.

The conclusion of several expert opinions is that, COP18 will test how much pressure developing countries can exert on the richer nations.

Thanks giving vs Thanksliving

I woke up yesterday thinking, I have alot to be thankful for... it was Thanksgiving after all.

The 3rd Thursday every November is a federal holiday in the USA. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 but became official in 1863 by then President Abraham Lincoln. He said it was a national day of ''thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent father who dwelleth in the heavens''.

As the years after the civil war went by so did the traditions that came with Thanksgiving. The holiday became a time for family and friends to gather and enjoy each others company as well as good meals. Talking of meals, Turkey became a traditional course during Thanksgiving dinner. The wild turkey is a native American diet that was introduced to early pilgrims around 1620.

But, do we have to wait till a day in the year to give thanks?
As I pondered on then wrote down my ''thankful'' list, I was shocked to realize the several things, people and moments we take for granted daily. The very act of waking and going to sleep, walking and talking, even the fact that I can move my fingers unassisted is a miracle.
 

A wise man once said, Thanksgiving is a life style hence it should be ''thanks living''. Every day and every waking moment is worth giving thanks.  The word translated as ''thanksgiving'' or ''gratitude'' in Greek is ''eucharistos'' from the root word ''charis'' embeded in eucharist which means GRACE. This means ''thankgiving'' is a recognition of God's favor towards us and acknowledging it by a life of gratitude (thanksliving).


                                                                                   As the millions of family and friends gathered
for this special holiday and each share their reason for being thankful, the lesson to us all is to be appreciative of one another and thankful for the gift of each other.  

Nigeria we hail

Nigeria we hail thee..
These are first few words of Nigeria's old anthem. This was used between 1960 - 1978 I bet many Nigerians born in the early 80's and early 90's are not aware. It was shelved just like the second stanza of the present anthem, until recently. The three stanza song spoke of brotherhood, justice, peace and unity.

In recent times Nigeria's Federal Government has taken measures to 'find use' for the second stanza of the national anthem, this move was effected August this year.

'The Federal Executive Council has adopted the second stanza of the National Anthem as the official prayer at all public functions.'..Punch newspaper Aug 2, 2012

In another daily, the reporter in a frenzy of excitement on the said subject matter says; 

'ironically I have always thought that the lyrics of the second stanza are very rich'... dailytimesng May 12, 2012

many more people have said they prefer the second stanza to the first, is it because we have grown so accustomed to it?

Earlier in the week, the batch C' 2012 corps members resumed orientation activities at the designated camps across Nigeria. The NYSC anthem is one that reminds me of both the old anthem and stanza 2 of the current anthem.

I remember with nostalgia the day we had to sing ''under the sun or in the rain'' in an actual down pour, that day it became real that whoever wrote the NYSC anthem meant it.

With several debate on wether to save the scheme or not, the Nigerian youth still has something to look forward to on graduation. To think since inception in 1973 to date, the National Youth Service  Corps is the only program that has enjoyed continuity.

While the debate goes on, the call to serve our father land is on...

Water, water, every where...

''I heard floods are preventable'' ''really?''

Imagine my shock when I overheard this conversation between two well dressed young men at the lobby of a News organization...I didn't make conversation but was curious enough to continue to the end (eavesdropping you might say). At the end of it, no proper information was dispensed, just complaints of selfish politicians not doing what 'we' elected them to do. It was ironic though cos, as they talked, the sachets of water (pure water) and shells of the groundnuts they had eaten littered the once clean floor and as they left I only could wonder how many of us play such ignorance.

once a highway...

        ''Flooding means there's and excess of water on dry land.'' 

When we hear that floods are preventable, we quickly begin to think of that government project that isn't completed, that additional drainage that could have been built or how that the masses are suffering. We hardly stop to ponder the damage we do to the environment; the sachet of water, polytene bags in the gutter, heaps of industrial and household waste, constructing on water ways and so on...

In September, the city of Lokoja, in Kogi State Nigeria which is a major passage way from Nigeria's north to the south experienced what the local media termed ''the worst in the last 30 years''. Many see it as a rude awakening to every individual agency or government within sight.

overhead photo of community in Lokoja

 With homes and businesses submerged Lokoja became the 'town under water'. The relief agency in Nigeria NEMA (national emergency management agency) says the flood resulted from the absence of buffer dams. who is responsible for building or even pointing out the need for such dams?

Nigerians, making a way

It's sad this could only be pointed out after damage to lives and property had been done.

This isn't a blame-game but a call to responsibility and being proactive.

deserted homes

Research show that, unclogging drains and building away from water ways can reduce risks of flooding in flood prone communities and could also be prevented  by proper planning and preparation for the wet season.

when trucks weren't good enough

The flood occurred when the Niger River overflowed its banks  leaving residents wondering what happened and commuters in a deep end.

Such environmental hazards cause huge losses. loss if lives, property and even revenue.
In the period the Lokoja flood lasted, all economic activities from north to south grinded to a slow pace making trips that took several hours to span into days as well as several reported missing and dead.

What lessons did we learn from the floods across Nigeria? some say, travel light (cos of countless hours spent commuting incase u are caught in such situation) others say, proper town planning; I beg to add; care for our environment.

Waste management experts say, floods can also be stopped by adapting mitigation measures especially in flood prone areas.

so the next time you dispose of a tin,bottle,polytene bag/pure water sachet  and any other form of waste remember it adds up.
one quick tip that helps keep me in check is ''never dispose anything in the absence of a bin''. So locate a bin, then dispose.

Back again!!

It's amazing how long I've been away.
I have so much to say but that will come subsequently. Today, I hope to push those of you who like me have procrastinated or shifted things for later..

Having a blog wasn't the easiest thing in the world. I thought I could google how to run a blog and my troubles would all be over. Don't get me wrong, I did find some helpful tips, but I wasn't prepared for this long time away.(in writing parlance it would be a writers block!)

Ok! The first main tip was; decide what you want to blog about; hmmmm guess I had that covered?!?!! Find a domain name and a web host..I had those covered but......
Some even advised documenting your daily activities or interesting encounters. Well, being between Jobs at the time and constantly home editing videos, I thought I didn't have much to go with. Then I saw this;

''Writing a blog isn’t as time consuming as you may think and so long as you put in the ground work at the beginning and come up with regular content ideas,the website will do a lot of the work for you.'' 
Imagine how bad I must have felt...well my ordeal over, I decided to read the three pager. He went on to talk about content being king and how carving a niche for yourself was good.
If I have wood I sure would carve..
Anyway, I continued to miss blogging and soon I started hearing News of how blog owners were turning-in millions...(I'm yet to fully understand how, but will keep you updated!)
Then another site said, tell stories....as if that was easier. Then the other information I was gathering got blurry, I got really tired from all the reading on how to run a successful blog that I forgot to Blog.

Recently, infact just 3 days ago I finished reading an amazing book ''How stupidity changed my life'' by Okechukwu Ofili. I read lots of Nigerian authors, but none stuck to me like he did. The two words that got me thinking and back into this were: JUST WRITE!! This was Ofili's answer to the question, how do you write? After months of wondering how to run a blog and spending countless moments online reading up how to, all I needed were two words that sounded stupid to the first hearer, Just write.
For me, i'd paraphrase, I'm sure Mr Ofili wont mind my saying JUST BLOG!!!

MAY!!!

The month of May came and went with tales to be told....some pleasant, others not so pleasant.
This month was MUST for me not May as we know it. The reason I say so confidently is; I had the opportunity of a fresh start, God graciously gave me another chance..It was a month I re-discovered myself.

This is a month of "higher life", living the higher life didn't come easy as I realized it came with several tests...My pastor (Pst Biodun) usually says; "life tests are not pre-announced" so I prepared like a soldier going to battle. I had my share of falls and shameful moments but I refused to stay in that address, I got up, dusted myself and decided 'I was sick and tired of being sick and tired'...
This month I shared joys,laugther,and some pain with friends and family.
May is one month I'm appreciative to God for the gift of friends, I mean great friendz..those that look me in the eye and tell me when I've done wrong...

I end this month fresh as a baby, clean as a new slate, brand new leaving the old things behind...
See you in the month of June where things are sure gonna happen.
Trust God for all, take steps to enter your prepared place....

see you at the top!!!

you can't buys this..part 3

Last time we spoke about commitment. The next item on my list is ''TRUST''. we can't buy or sell trust no matter how much money we're offering.
Though closely related, commitment and Trust are distinct.


While commitment is a promise, trust is; reliance on another person or entity. 
Trust law refers to an arrangement in which property is managed by one person or entity for the benefit of another. 
 Trust is faith that has become absolute, approved and accomplished. 


When trust is perfect and there is no doubt, prayer is simply the outstretched hand ready to receive. Trust perfected is prayer perfected...Edward McKendree


Trust is like the feeling that a child has, when you throw him in air and catch again, and he enjoys it... 

You can't buy this....

OK......
We're on the second thing money can't buy...
COMMITMENT.

You can pay people to work for you but you can't buy their commitment. In relationships, people might stick because of money (mind u this happens) but over time such friendship fades because commitment can't be bought.
Commitment as some dictionary define it is; ''the act of committing or the state of being committed''
Commitment also refers to a promise, a brand or a contract.
Commitment is whole hearted..

Guidance means I can count on God.Commitment means God can count on me...

You can't buy that !!

As I sat in bed waiting for a video I was working on to finish exporting, the hum of the Air conditioning distant, the latest book I was reading in hand, half a cup of luke warm coffee from the two hours of editing beside me; the thought came to me, more like a question...what five things won't money buy me? so I got to work figuring out what is purchasable and what's not..

We often times place value of things we spend alot of money to purchase when the real things that matter in life are actually free but priceless..

In the next couple of days I will be itemizing things (and moments) money can't buy. Pls feel free to drop by and add your point for the day. make it one a day so we have time to digest it properly.

My first point in this series has to be...
1) Time in God's presence... It's priceless

food for thought...

Occupy Nigeria..

As Nigeria's federal Government vows to go ahead with the fuel subsidy removal,  Nigerians who weren't part of the fight have now come out to join in the protest..those joining in are both pro and anti subsidy removal...
I read in one foreign media how that pro-fuel subsidy protesters were queuing to receive the stipend promised them..funny you might say, but corruption has not allowed us to see or even know the true pros and cons of governments actions.

In the last few days I have continued to remain mostly indoors, the noise of loud protesters and power bikes that fill my area are always a cue that its that time of day...
This just in.....

 "now the federal government has decided to be callous minded, we hereby direct all production platforms to be on red alert in preparation for total production shutdown. We reiterate that before the removal of fuel subsidy, some conditions must be met". - Babatunde Ogun, President PENGASSAN
‎
just reading this sends shock waves through me, if this happens the amount Nigeria looses every day this strike stalls will run into trillions of naira. It's been confirmed that PENGASSAN joins in the strike Sunday, January 15, 2012.
I read also that protesters were injured by stray bullets and some died in other places....I mean why are we having stray bullets when people are having a peaceful protest??

Nigerians watched as protests went on across the world several months ago, now it's come close and some are still in denial. I spoke to someone and their attitude was just discouraging. Government even came out with a no work no pay scare that still didn't stop Nigerians from ditching their offices and coming out in their thousands. For me the number was more a shock than anything else, Nigerians will usually just say let those who will protest go, but the feeling this time was different. A friend said he saw a pregnant woman struggle through the crowd with a placard (that would have been a sight), my point here is, the days of being laid back are gone.
I hear those who said what happened in to Arab and North African leaders last year could not happen in Nigeria are having a re-think.

As I speak, more negotiations are ongoing as labour unions and the presidency meet later today..it is hope that deliberations will yield good results, as I hear some say the strike has lingered long enough..
Now the waiting game begins and may say it is hoped the union leaders will go into the meeting with their conscience intact and come out with the same way..

mean while, the fight goes on and in the spirit of Aluta, protesters go home to rest their sore feet waiting for another break of dawn!!

Welcome to my 2012..

I know this is the year I have been waiting for.

This is one year like none other...
This is not a statement of optimism but a statement of Grace through Mercy.
With high expectations and out stretched faith garnished with a generous amount of Mercy, I know 2012 is sure to be the best year ever.
The year started and the question kept coming, "what is your new year resolution?
I had not given it any thought seeing that most resolutions are what we try to do with our our strengths.
My answer is to remain within the mercy covering and be the difference maker...

The year has been anticipated with several predictions, by scientists, astrologers and anyone who could talk. I chose to set a precedence of how the year will be for me not minding predictions based on data and feelings. You are a speaking being, speak what you want to see and watch it come alive, don't let the predictions of others determine what you see in 2012. Take over your life!!
What you choose to hear goes a long way in determining how you act.  My question to you is, "what have you heard God say to you about 2012?? if you weren't attentive it's not too late to ask He's mercy is available..

We are told that how the next day will look you know from the day before, I say not always true...when you judge the future by what you see, your progress is limited.
2011 was filled with new starts and injuries, laughters and joys, some pain and pleasure and in all this I am not unmindful of the open heavens I've had...grace and mercy even when my faith failed , ultimately I'm grateful for another chance.

I enter 2012 with every conciousness that my strength will do nothing. Speaking in unknown tongues my best bet for communication, showing mercy the best way to obtain mercy, God's ultimate power is displayed in His show of mercy, everything is in place line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little...

Welcome to my 2012!!! 

2012 : the year of oil subsidy removal

The year 2012 goes down in history as the year Nigeria started with a bang... 1st January saw the announcement of the removal of subsidy on all petroleum products, this is news many Nigerians are not comfortable with.
With Labour on one hand and Government on the other, its hard to tell what really the issues are. while many Nigerians want the subsidy continued government insists the removal speaks better for the economy.
In one fora, the president is reported to have said if the subsidy is not removed, the nations economy might not survive the next few years....Like some school of thought, I am of the opinion that if the economy is diversified and only a portion of it depends on oil revenue, then there'll be no cause for panic, (that's just me thinking).

I was travelling from Jos to Abuja the other day and the discussion that sustained the journey was the oil subsidy removal, I heard several theories and versions of what the subsidy was meant to do, however, one that caught my attention was; the man sitting in front, he had been silent like me but I think he was provoked by the unintelligent argument that ensued. His school of thought was thus: if government is asking the masses to give up the subsidy which is the only thing they enjoy have they (the national assembly,minister,governors etc) thought of forfeiting their mouth watering allowances to help stabilize the economy??? food for thought !
If really sacrifices have to be made for the economy, then everyone has to be  on board...simple!

With that, the loud chattering simmered leaving everyone to their thoughts...

Another thing that seemed  funny is the corner shop owner, Mama Tina who was quick to start announcing to everyone that came to make purchases that by the next day the price of items would change (even though they were from her old stock) the sachet of milk that sold for 35 naira December 31st was going to be 50 naira, I asked why she smiled and responded"na d subsidy oh!"...Nigerians!! I'm not sure she even understood what the subsidy removal was... Transportation fares had 100% review, everyone attributing their issues to the subsidy removal.

Like a slang, subsidy has become very prominent in every discussion as people even greet you and ask "hows the subsidy?" I wonder what the response should be??
Nigerians have always been known to wade any difficulty, will the oil subsidy removal be no different??