You make a good point. It most times takes money to pay people to risk their lives in taking up the sword. However there are other more noble motivations for so doing. Love and honor come to mind...but that is another matter altogether.
The crux of the argument I made and which you quoted, is that the use of brute force is a political fact. Every police power in the world is based upon brute force. To ignore this fact in a political discussion demonstrates a lack of clear understanding of how nations derive their authority and maintain their security. I'm sure you've heard the term "national security." How does a nation maintain or protect its national security? It does this simply by protecting its "vital interests," which could be its land and borders, its gold or silver reserves, its natural resources, its access to international markets, the assets of its citizens, the general satisfaction and well-being of the populace, etc, any number of things can be or become a vital interest of a nation.
Now take Nigeria as an example. In the last 40 years, what has been the greatest threat to its national security in the minds of its semi-literate leaders? Answer, the Igbo nation. How does Nigeria protect its national security? Answer, by keeping the Igbo nation weak and divided. It is a fact that maintaining an oppression over, and undermining all progress of Igbo people is a "vital interest" of Nigeria for the forseeable future, for in this way Nigeria attempts to protect its national security and maintain its territorial integrity. A prosperous and rapidly developing Igboland would send chills up the spine of the Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba regime. It is simply not something they want to come about.
Now let us look at the Igbo people and their nation. At present they have no national security. The entity(Nigeria) that is supposed to provide them with national security and protect their vital interests does exactly the opposite. And what are the vital interests of Nd'Igbo that an Igbo nation would normally protect? The commerce of its traders and businessmen would certainly qualify, as well as their access to international markets, for this produces jobs and promotes the general welfare. The land on which their homes sit is certainly one, as well as any natural resources under it. The well-being of the people and the elimination of poverty and hardship such that men, women and children are not reduced to the level of animals in the pursuit of shelter and sustenance, is a vital interest to any true nation, as well as the promotion of virtue and decency(marriage and the family) amid insidious and corrupting outside influences. These are just a few things I think, which are, or would be, vital interests of Nd'Igbo. Of these, how many can we protect or are protecting? Not very many, if any at all. Why? Because the brute force we could bring to bear against an enemy in protection of these vital interests is non-existent, for the moment. The sooner we have such force protecting our interests, the sooner Nd'igbo will prosper(this ultimately means actualizing Biafra). And such force does not always have to be used for it to be an effective deterrent, but if we have none, our enemies will laugh as they steal the food off our plates and the jewelry from our women's necks. Of course there are those among us who are content to let Nigeria protect Nd'Igbo's vital interests and national security, which of course is sheer idiocy at best, for these things, because of the war, are historically at odds with Nigeria's own national security, and its post-war leaders have been too cowardly to take any chances...
So the choice for Igbos is either to be marginalized, de-humanized, and continually brutalized by Nigeria and its governmental Igbophobia, and forever kept under by tyranny and theft enshrined into legislation, or continue the struggle for their own freedom, security, and economic well-being, not counting the losses, but intent upon breaking the back of the enemy; and this means being able to protect Nd'Igbo's own vital interests with the credible threat of a certain measure of brute force. The Igbo nation has the God-given right to protect its people and their political and economic security from those who seek to undermine and destroy it, and if brute force is necessary to accomplish this, it should never be considered wrong or evil. Rather, it is right and just.
hello greg,WOW!!! that was some response.im in total agreement thatIgbos have a TOTAL right to security and protection,just not nessecarily with the gun.Once there is an up and running Biafra,national security will come as you describe,and im sure,it will be a fair and just security,that as you rightly point out is there for the GOOD of the people.But....if you check out my point of view,for Biafra,in the forum:a second Biafran war with no winner?you may find there is an alternative to the gun,giving every Igbo the very things you mention,PEACEFULLY.If we forget that Christian igbos are surrounded by muslims who have openly stated thier intentions to christians,WORLDWIDE,we are forgetting then that after we get Biafra,with or without the gun,we are surrounded by people who HATE our Christianity,and therefore the problem with them will remain,even after Biafra has a seat in the united nations.the protection,we can afford with our oil and other natural resources would be enhanced by the very fact that we are Christians,in tandem with the strongest power on earth.you dont have just to be Igbo to die in this world we live in today,being Christian attracts the same PUNISHMENT.As the leaders of nigeria are muslim,it cannot be a simple matter of tribal differences,if the entie nigeria were Christian,then i could agree.haveaniceday
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quote:Greg you all go on a tangent when you are asked a simple question. You cannot defend what you say "True power is not in economics, as you seem to indicate, but in who holds the gun" but just blab and blab about how Ndigbo have been brutalized and marginalized lol.
I see you have difficulty comprehending my explanation and defense of my statement, so I'll make it simple for you. There is the power of economics, and there is also the power of brute force. The power that economics affords belongs to him who has the money. He can buy the goods and services of others. But the power of the gun, or brute force, is such that it is able to transfer economic power to others, even if others do not have a legitimate right to it. Is this not exactly how the economic power(oil money) of the South has been given to others who have no right to it? Is not the brute force(the gun) of the Nigerian government the only argument it has for its stance on resource control. If not, why don't you tell the South to keep all its economic power(its oil) to itself, since true power, in your opinion, is soley in economics. It seems, however, that, unlike you, they understand the nature of true power, and until they are able to prevent the Nigerian government from descending on them with death and destruction, destroying whole towns like it did to Odi, to keep the oil flowing in the government's direction, the South's best option, for the moment, is to agitate for a more just proportion of revenues, but all of the revenues belong to the South, because it is on their land. Do you think they give up so much of it because they are just overly generous and altruistic. No. They give it up because of the threat of force(the gun) from the Nigerian government.
Tell me sir, why do banking instutions have guards and elaborate safes? Is it perhaps because economic power, or money, is not prejudiced, but it will serve whoever takes possession of it. Now if the government takes possession of your economic power(your money) by force, which power, economics or the gun, is the more powerful?
The conclusion of the matter is that economic power cannot exist without there being some basis of security provided for by the big gun of government, but if that gun is pointed at your head instead of at evil doers, you would have to seriously re-think your position and economic prospects.
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Now that I've made my point about the difficulties Nd'Igbo face in building their own infrastructure, I would be remiss if I didn't offer some further constructive opinion on the way to proceed with such , if it is at all possible in the present political climate.
In other countries, rather than private investors carrying all the risk of financing public infrastructure, municpal bonds are sold for this purpose. They are usually tax-exempt and always redeemable, so that investors never lose their initial investment, only the opportunity cost their money could have otherwise yeilded them, if such a yeild is greater. The problem with Nigeria is that, should such a municipality(say Onicha) issue bonds of this sort and with this intent, they(the bonds) would probably have to be guarranteed by an international authority rather than come ultimately under the power of the Nigerian government, which I think Igbo investors will not trust to guard the integrity of their investment. I would not find it incredible that the FG would place as much as a 50% tax on such bonds after the fact, and ruin many individual Igbo investors.
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I agree with you Greg on the issuing of Municipal Bonds as a means of funding public Infrastructure in Igboland. I also agree with you that the govt might place high tax on such bonds because a lot of African leaders or politians are clueless about such means of raising capaital.
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wacko: [QB] [QUOTE] I know Ndiocha are frustrating you guys (Greg, Ochiwar,Wacko) over there so stop taking it out on me thats right,dont take it out on wako,take it out on me,i can take it!!!haveaniceday
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quote:Originally posted by patrickonwudiwe: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Wacko: [QB] [QUOTE] I know Ndiocha are frustrating you guys (Greg, Ochiwar,Wacko) over there so stop taking it out on me thats right,dont take it out on wako,take it out on me,i can take it !!!haveaniceday
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by patrickonwudiwe: [QB] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Wacko: [QB] [QUOTE] I know Ndiocha are frustrating you guys (Greg, Ochiwar,Wacko) over there so stop taking it out on me owch!
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quote:Originally posted by Greg: Now that I've made my point about the difficulties Nd'Igbo face in building their own infrastructure, I would be remiss if I didn't offer some further constructive opinion on the way to proceed with such , if it is at all possible in the present political climate.
In other countries, rather than private investors carrying all the risk of financing public infrastructure, municpal bonds are sold for this purpose. They are usually tax-exempt and always redeemable, so that investors never lose their initial investment, only the opportunity cost their money could have otherwise yeilded them, if such a yeild is greater. The problem with Nigeria is that, should such a municipality(say Onicha) issue bonds of this sort and with this intent, they(the bonds) would probably have to be guarranteed by an international authority rather than come ultimately under the power of the Nigerian government, which I think Igbo investors will not trust to guard the integrity of their investment. I would not find it incredible that the FG would place as much as a 50% tax on such bonds after the fact, and ruin many individual Igbo investors.
Greg kedu,couple of points,"other countries" DONT DO what nigeria does,and quite frankly i dont know how they get away with it in this the 21st century(so far).But sometimes it takes 50 years to bring crimminals to justice,and it is truley crimminal what happens there.As you know my stance is a one of PEACE,it has to be said that not only ibos are mistreated in nigeria,it is a massive land with its own particuler problems,but it is sooooooo unjust and careless of human life.There are hundreds of thousands who suffer in poverty,lack of educational skills,dying from curable diseases and far worse as we read on this site,they are not all ibo,therefore they even f*ck there own kind,and not in the pleasurable way,so if they do it to there own,ibos arent so special in the abuse forum.Also,there is enough money under the ground to build the BEST nation in africa in Biafra,(thats there now),and the BILLIONS in accounts all over the world,BILLIONS in buildings owned by goverment elite,that should ALL be recovered for the people of nigeria and the people of Biafra.the money is already there,just the wrong people who care nothing for human life and watch in luxury as the people they SERVE die for GREED.why does a man who has 100 million dollars,need 10 or 20 times more?it cannot buy them anything they cannot already have,=GREED.stop greed in nigeria and the country would be as up to date as america in terms of a better life for its peoples.maybe 1000 people in nigeria have the power to rape the coffers of its people,but if as in may lands the people ALL,stand up to be counted at the same time the tyrany of the rulers will be a thing of the past.In china the goverment shot down the protesters,in front of the world,in nigeria they would run to the money ,and be gone.and only when a True leader who cares for his country and has the power of the people to sweep away corruption and the other ills of nigeria will it EVER get better.When "corpral" doe took over liberia many years ago,it was the same reasons,but he ended up being as greedy as those he took power from.from a low rank to president in a blink,can also turn a president into a low rank,napoleon,marcos,hussien are just a few that spring to mind.let any person on this site say " no be so o" this is a simple case of GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER ,people vanish,outspoken ones are beaten tortured and humiliated.say it like it is.in this forum ive seen again the abuse to each others points of view,noone is prepared to tolerate an opposite opinion,fresh ideas,which seems to me to be the same as those ive just been typing about.IF we really are on the same side all wanting the same thing ,it can not be had if one is telling the other to go to hell with there views.IF,GOD FORBID,it came to the gun,and ibos are standing side by side in the fight,when they win,will they start killing each other,because they dont like what each is spouting?WERE does it start and were does it stop?constructive critisizing ,ought to be the criteria here,so if an ibo makes a mistake,gets his/her facts wrong,says the wrong thing,doesnt agree with anothers point of view,that at the VERY LEAST a response is CONSTUCTIVE.if that cannot be mastered,what chance to constuct a nation..brothers who dont like each other=trouble/problems ahead.nobody HAS to agree with what i say here,but dont anyone call me an ar**hole for saying it,just put me right in a constructive way.how many would flood back to nigeria if what i mentioned were to happen,even without Biafra,even ibos would return,to a nigeria that TRULEY was fair and just to ALL.The part religion takes in goverment policies, is more than any thing else that shows the diffrences of the people.it is unjust to affix sharia law to any part of nigeria,but it is the doing of the religious leaders that cause this difference,and as mentioned in another forum by me,they dont just want sharia law in nigeria,they want it worlwide.my point being,the fight for a Biafra peaceful or violent,is only a battle,in one mother of a war that has aready started,so even winning Biafra,doesnt make it free,until the war,the REAL war has been won,by we the infadels,ibos included.anyway Greg,.haveaniceday that covers the two points.
quote:I agree with you Greg on the issuing of Municipal Bonds as a means of funding public Infrastructure in Igboland. I also agree with you that the govt might place high tax on such bonds because a lot of African leaders or politians are clueless about such means of raising capaital. --Obodo5000
Obodo5000, let's assume that BiafraNigerian leaders are informed about municipal bonds. Still, I think, such a bond sale, and the ensuing work on Igboland infrastructure, would be undermined and disrupted by the FG and/or its operatives at every opportunity, in order to contain Igbos, for(as I said in another post), "a prosperous and rapidly developing Igboland would send chills up the spine of the Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba regime. It is simply not something they want to come about."
Having said that, even if , say, the municipality of Onicha issues bonds for the building and development of its infrastructure, and even if the principal on those bonds were to be guarranteed by the World Bank, the yeild on them would be subject to financial rating, such that financial powerhouses all over the world would pass judgement on their value and likelihood of investors receiving the expected yeild.
Those who rate government bonds would take into account the ability of Onicha to redeem them on time and with the specific yeild.They would also assess any irregularities and/or difficulties experienced by the issuing authority(Onicha). When they look closely, they will find the same governmental interference and marginalisation of Igbo communities that so many do not accept as fact(you also recently trivialized it). They will find that unemployment is almost engineered by the policies and decrees of the FG. They will find that certain business and trade in Igbo areas are discouraged, especially the import business, and even prohibited by the same. They will find that the tax base of the municipality suffers continual erosion, because there can be no taxpayers without jobs and businesses. Therefore how can Onicha hope to redeem the bonds with interest.
In the end, such bonds, even if the principal is guarranteed, would be worthless in the eyes of investors if they(the bonds) were given a very low rating(junk bonds); and this is likely to be the case based on what information can be readily found in the news archives of publishing houses around the world that follow BiafraNigerian affairs, for they demonstrate to a certainty a concerted effort by the FG to control, de-stabilize, and pauperize Igbo communities. The voices of Igbos themselves will alert interested parties to the FG's interference with the economic progress and political landscape of Igboland, hence a very difficult bond sale, if any at all. I hate to sound so gloomy, but the over-arching power of the FG in evident undermining of Igbo progress will scare off most investors, especially Igbo ones. And even were they to invest they must do so in such a way that their funds are not recognized as belonging to Igbos, for that will only make Nigerian lawmakers salivate in anticipation of more legislative looting.
I'm afraid there are no easy answers as long as Igbos are dominated by Nigeria. Perhaps collective self-help with home-grown materials(as in sewage service and running water) is the only way to go until the people are free to conduct business properly. But is that the extent of the dreams of the average Igboman, to have running water and a public sewage system that works. I think we need to get to the root of the problem, which is the oppressive climate in Nigeria for Igbos in general. We can't just skip over that part and expect things to be just fine. Whether one likes it or not, there are artificial barriers in the Igbos' way, set there by the government after the war, and never removed. One or two refineries and/or heavy industries will not deliver the Igbo heart and soul from oppression. It may make them servants to new masters, but it will not free them from chains. We ought to pursue every avenue of economic progress, but never abandon the main goal of complete separation from the debris of the failed nation Nigeria, which has certainly failed Igbos.
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I have delibrately kept out of this thread since the instigator Obodo came here to tell us his ideas and not have it critically reviewed. He has a knack for calling people who do not agree with him names while dismissing their opinions. I an not wrong when I say he is naive.
The fact is that Igbo land will not develop until we have a sympathetic voice at the Federal level and that we ain't gonna get. There has been a delibrate policy by the BiafraNigerian government to under develop Igboland. Obodo himself cannot claim to be unaware of this. Let Obodo tell us what happened to the private university some people wanted to float in Onitsha/Asaba.
The government policy is simple: keep Igboland under developed, the Igbo man would be forced to go outside Igboland to site his industries/business. In so doing he has a large stake in seeing the status quo continue. When the time for Biafra finally come, they would have succeded in creating a sizable population of Igbo's who would be against Biafra simply because they have a lot of business interest outside Igbo land.
Who needs spies when you have lots of people who are willing to be conscripted into a fifth column when the time comes.
Onwuka Kalu several years ago told us of the difficulties he had in siting his industries in Ala-Igbo. One of the federal official even asked him why not in Oturkpo.
It is my belief that Bart Nnaji has a private business supplying power at Abuja,Let us see how easy it would be for him to set up similiar business in Aba. We have heard "noices" about how it is going to happen. Lets wait 1-2 years and see what happens.
Sometimes Igbo businessmen cannot be blamed as we tend to do, many of know the realities on the ground.
Finally, did you know that Aba shoe makers face more harrassment while sending their shoes to neighbouring countries from the Biafranigerian custums and exercise than from their foreign counterparts?
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Thanks for your re-entry into this thread, as your posts always resonate with the factual understanding of events on the ground in BiafraNigeria, both past and present, something(I might add) yours have in common with those of Chiboy. But I fear it will be neccessary from time to time for you and others to elaborate(as you have generously done now) for the benefit of those who lack an awareness of how things really are for Igbos in that country. Ukaobasi has described it as a thankless task and as usual, he is quite accurate.
I think it was neccessary for us to show that we are not advocating a "do nothing" policy in regard to bettering the lot of Nd'Igbo, and we have done that. Truth can sometimes be a bitter pill to swallow, and since we know the ills of Nd'Igbo are not just in our minds and our imaginations, the placebo of proposed economic and infrastuctural development will be of no lasting benefit until the infectious and diseased presence of the Nigerian government in Igbo affairs is neutralized. Only then can economic development(which is difficult enough in itself without artificial obstructions)proceed toward a rosy picture of health. Until that time, economic and/or infrastructural development will be like treating the symptoms rather than the cause of disease. And yet, for Nd'Igbo's sake, and in order to ease their suffering, we must attempt to do both.
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quote:The government policy is simple: keep Igboland under developed, the Igbo man would be forced to go outside Igboland to site his industries/business. In so doing he has a large stake in seeing the status quo continue. When the time for Biafra finally come, they would have succeded in creating a sizable population of Igbo's who would be against Biafra simply because they have a lot of business interest outside Igbo land. --Wacko
This policy of keeping Igboland under-developed also delays the time of Biafra, and gives the Hausa/Fulani a cheeky sense of security. What's more, locating Igbo industries/businesses outside Igboland sets the stage for another round of abandoned properties, because whether Igbo businessmen at that point are for or against Biafra, they will not be welcome in the rest of Nigeria, as was the case once before, hence all the wealth Igbos create in other lands, by this means, will fall into the hands of people who hate them. Tell me, what good is an Igbo-owned business or industrial complex if it cannot help Igbo people live better lives, but rather it helps traditional adversaries live better. There is something skewed about this sort of economic progress.
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quote:until the infectious and diseased presence of the Nigerian government in Igbo affairs is neutralized.
This sum up the problem. A lot of the things that were being proposed by Obodo had been attempted before. We must ask ourselves why did they fail and then device remedies from the lessons learnt. We are not going to move forward by believing that these things have not been attempted before or that the Biafranigerian Business environment is a typical capitalist one where the profits/gains drive policy.
The truth of the matter it is first the individual likely to make the profit that is the overiding issues. Some of the policies of Obasanjo which economist have termed as reckless and which we laymen have described as "mad" do really have a method to them.
On solution, I don't know what would work for certain. May be try to get some influential Yoruba/Hausa as a minority shareholder in a venture in Ala Igbo. That may get them fighting for the improvement of the business/infrastructural environment in Ala Igbo as that would increase the value of their shares.
Another thought I had was that may be we should be sending people with Igbo interest at heart to Abuja rather than the Charlatans that we have at present. People like Uche Chukwumerije. People that can be listened to.
We have had some near misses. Ike Nwachukwu committee worked to established seveal power stations in the country. One was ear marked for Mbano, another for Shagamu. OBJ moved the Mbano one to his village Ota. The committee recommended the revitalisation of the power stations at Afam and Oji River. These have since been Abandoned.
We should really be debating how we overcome the diseased presence of the Federal Government, once that is eliminated, you would be surprised at the changes that would happen in Igboland.
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It is very nice to find constructive arguments on the table again.
Are we sure the Oji power station can be revitalized I guess not because the primary fuel source that it needs coal is not longer mined in Enugu. Both the coal mines in Enugu Onyema and Okpara are no longer functioning since the Nigerian coal corporation seized to exist.
There have been attempts buy the Enugu State govt to woo international private investors to take over the mines but without any success. Maybe the foreign investors found them too capital intensive because of there proximity to peoples dwellings. It could also be as a result of the environmental impact assessment that was done because of the locations of the mines in Enugu.
The 2 other coal mines are at Okaba and Owukpa (surface and underground) that are not located in Igboland.
But there could be an alternative fuel power plant built in Onitsha that serves as a refuse (Power from Municipal waste) incinerator/power generation plant in that case no one can cut your supply of raw materials. India a third world country like Nigeria has 2 successful projects http://presidentofindia.nic.in/scripts/eventslatest1.jsp?id=956
I am not hear to argue and shoot holes to what people have said rather I am here to present viable alternatives to improving Igboland. If you think that such ventures have been tried before and they did not succeed we sould analyse why they did not succeed but what I will not agree to is that
“The government policy is simple: keep Igboland under developed, the Igbo man would be forced to go outside Igboland to site his industries/business. In so doing he has a large stake in seeing the status quo continue. When the time for Biafra finally come, they would have succeded in creating a sizable population of Igbo's who would be against Biafra simply because they have a lot of business interest outside Igbo land” ……Wacko
and
“This policy of keeping Igboland under-developed also delays the time of Biafra, and gives the Hausa/Fulani a cheeky sense of security. What's more, locating Igbo industries/businesses outside Igboland sets the stage for another round of abandoned properties, because whether Igbo businessmen at that point are for or against Biafra, they will not be welcome in the rest of Nigeria, as was the case once before, hence all the wealth Igbos create in other lands, by this means, will fall into the hands of people who hate them. Tell me, what good is an Igbo-owned business or industrial complex if it cannot help Igbo people live better lives, but rather it helps traditional adversaries live better. There is something skewed about this sort of economic progress.” …..Greg
I would like Greg and Wacko to please through more light on how Igbo’s are forced to invest more outside Igboland and not in Igboland.
It is simple,what infra structures exist in Igbo land to support industries? How many are controlled at the local level? What the Federal Government do when Ngige decided to rehabilitate Federal Roads in the East? Was it not a permanent secretary who warned him that tampering with federal roads was a criminal offense?
It is more viable to site an industry in the West or Kaduna areas simply because of better supply of water, electricity, telecommunications facilities and finally roads to transport your goods. This invariable forces businesses to relocate to these areas.
A condortium led by Ooni of Ife was awarded the contract to dualise the Onitsha -Owerri-Aba road. They had Ogbuefi Nwokeji as their token Igboman. Obasanjo launched this project at the launch of his second term campaign. They were paid fully upfront and the road is still as it was.
We know how SLOK airline which was to be based in Owerri, if the official carriers of several West African countries but the Biafranigeria government does not deem its planes safe to ply the Biafranigerian airspace.
Last year I went and collected application forms for a license to operate a radio station for some of my associates. My experience at that encounter was an eye openner. They had zoned the country into six. The fees for each zones varied. The highest fees were for the zones containing Lagos and Ogun states. Guess the states that were in that zone! Yep the Igbo speaking states.
From a business point of view why the same fees for Lagos where a station is likely to make a lot of money and say Imo where such a station is to all intents and purposes a charity? Someone described me as belonging to the clueless group and in this case I am guilty. Abeg, could you clue me in!
After one paid the application fee, one had to go through some processes which we were in a position to do our part.
I made the mistake of asking how long from application to approval, the deputy director at the department hesitated but when pressed said "between a minimum of six months and eternity". When I pressed him further on the meaning of eternity, he brought me some files which he claimed was from a 1979 application which was yet to be approved.
Seeing the look on my face, the man decided to offer some ideas. He advised me to get rid of the Igbo as part of the organisations name. He said that it would never pass his department with a name like that. Next he suggested we get any "powerful" member of this administration to front for us and in return we would have to give the individual some share in the project. Despite this he said, it still would not be certain as if the bloke falls out of favour, the deal will fall through.
Now this was a project that was aimed at providing information to the grassroot in Igboland. How can you reconcile the aim with getting a "powerful" person to front for you? Assuming we were to get Iwuanyanwu or even Chris Uba, what kind of information would this station provide the grass roots?
Obodo, it is not for want of trying.
BTW: Check the PM I sent before your post.
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Refinery: Orient Petroleum Sets New Date By Idowu Sowunmi, 08.21.2005
Orient Petroleum Resources Limited (OPRL) in conjunction with its foreign partners, Shaw Stone and Webster/AIM of United States of America (USA), has decided to fast-track its refinery project by merging the first phase construction work with the second phase, and complete the two phases by 2006. Addressing the government and people of Anambra State at the reception organised by the company in honour of the visiting foreign patrners in the state capital, Awka, OPRL Managing Director, Engineer Nnaemeka Nwawka, said "the company has decided to bring forward its second phase slated for 2007 and has now merged it with the first phase for which construction is set to commence this month, while completion date of both phases is now 2006." He said the purpose of the visit by the foreign partners was to begin preliminary works on the project site development as well as other technical details for construction of the refinery. Also, the leader of Shaw Stone and Webster/AIM team, Mr. Don Benard, who is also the company's vice president, confirmed the readiness of the company to begin work. He added that the team constituted a full complement of technical skills required to roll out the refinery. Earlier, OPRL Chairman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, told the government and people of the state that the Federal Government and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have been of immense support to the project. In February, the Federal Government approved Oil Prospecting Licences (OPL) 915 and 916 for OPRL in Anambra Basin to operate on 100 per cent basis. These concessions consist of oil and gas fields.
Both federal and Anambra State governments are also set to bring construction of new road networks that would link the refinery site to other parts of the South-eastern states and Middle Belt including Abuja.
This write-up seems to be good news and I won't try to disparage it, although I think the price of refined petroleum products Nigeria has been importing has been eating away at revenues from petroleum exports. It appears that in this case the FG has no choice but to deal with Igbo entrepreneurs who seem to have more skill at putting together joint economic ventures; and having Ngige wholeheartedly supporting the enterprise with promises of road construction only helps the matter. I hope, for the sake of the people of Anambra that everything goes well, but so far we are in the very early stages of this proposed progess. I still don't trust the FG and expect to see some political shenanigans at some time in the future. But if all goes well, and the refinery goes full steam, then I expect the production of asphalt to be a major boost toward improving all roadways in Anambra and surrounding areas, unless of course, the usual interference is experienced.
However, I take back none of my arguments about the FG seeking to keep Igboland under-developed. The last 34 years of neglect is proof enough for anyone. If that policy is changing(and I don't think it is), all the better for Igbos. But critical commentary is neccessary to put the FG on the defensive, so that it may be forced to try and disprove what many are saying about it, and its unwritten "Igbo policy," and that is also good for Igbos. Meanwhile, we have a long wait to see the results. Until then I remain pessimistic about the FG's role in the development of Igbo areas.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 666 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Looks like Obodo5000`s predictions are for real...
Anambra, partners to quicken work on Orient refinery
BOARD of Directors of Anambra State government-owned Orient Petroleum Resources Limited (OPRL) in conjunction with the foreign partners, Shaw Stone and Webster/AIM of United States of America (USA) have agreed to accelerate work in the former’s refinery project.
To this end, they have decided to bring forward the project’s second phase slated for 2007 and merged it with the first phase for which construction work is set to commence this month. Completion date of both phases is now 2006.
The disclosure was made in Awka, Anambra State Capital, last week by the Managing Director of OPRL, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwawka while briefing the government and people of Anambra State during the reception organised by the company in honour of the visiting foreign partners.
Nwawka stated that the purpose of the visit by the foreign partners was to begin preliminary work on the project site development as well as other technical details for construction of the refinery.
Leader of the Shaw Stone and Webster/AIM team, Mr. Don Benard, who is the company’s vice president, confirmed the readiness of the company to commence work, adding that the team constituted a full complement of technical skills required to actualise the refinery.
Earlier, chairman of OPRL, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, told the government and people of the state that the Federal Government and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have immensely supported the project.
Last February, Federal Government approved Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPL) 915 and 916 for OPRL in Anambra Basin to operate on 100 per cent basis. These concessions consist of oil and gas fields.
Both Federal and Anambra State Governments are also set to begin construction of new road networks that would link the refinery site to other parts of the South East, South South Middle Belt including Abuja.
The project site has been selected carefully considering the inland location of the refinery, the current supply and demand imbalance, opportunities for import substitution and a zero waste environmental concept. The products of the refinery will be petrol, diesel, kerosene, Jet fuel, LPG, lubricating oils, waxes and asphalt.
Technical partner for refinery, Shaw Group Inc. of USA which was the winner of the international tender for the project, is a leading global provider of comprehensive services to environmental and infrastructure, power and process industries.
In 2004, The Shaw Group was included in America’s Fortune Magazine’s annual list of top 500 companies. With its broad range of technologies and experience and revenue in excess of US$3.3 billion per annum, Shaw Group assists customers to modernize refineries and improve crude/product margins and refinery profitability in refinery planning, project management, cost control, bottom-of-the-barrel conversion, among others.
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