The state of Schools in Nigeria........In Pictures.

[RAYNOSA]

Can anyone see the teacher and students in this photo.


Were did the world bank money go?


Empty Laboratories.






These Images are from a Secondary School in Lagos State.

Governor Fashola dey try no be small................

[valteena]

Thank you Raynosa. Very pathetic indeed. Pics definitely do tell a better and true story. l really tire for naija no be small. What kind of quality learning can take place in these environment

[RAYNOSA]

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jan/9/406.html

Schools that governors' children attend

By Our Correspondent

If I am elected governor, I will bring back my children to Nigeria from England to attend public schools in this state as a proof of my strong belief in this country." With these words, uttered at an interactive session with journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists' Press Centre, Awka, during campaigns for the 2003 governorship elections, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, tried hard to sway voters in his direction in the election that brought him to power. That is just one of the numerous promises the governor made to his people during the then fierce and titanic scramble for votes.

--
Schools that governors' children attend

But just about a year to the expiration of his four-year tenure, Obi is yet to keep his promise. Ostensibly because he has been unable to fix the largely unequipped and dilapidated public schools in his state to his children's taste and motivate the state's terribly demoralised teachers, the governor has, despite his pledge, left his children to continue to benefit from the high quality education that the United Kingdom offers. "I knew from the start that it was an empty promise meant to lure voters. The education sector here is in total decay and I can't imagine the governor or any government official for that matter allowing their children to attend public schools," said an indigene of Anambra State, who preferred not to be named. Mike Udah, Obi's press secretary, confirmed that the governor's children were still in England where he said they lived and schooled before their father came home to run for the governorship of his state. Udah did not however explain why his boss failed to keep his promise to bring back his children to Nigeria to school with their contemporaries in the state.

But the Anambra State governor is just a straw in a haystack. From Niger to Ogun, Ekiti to Kaduna and Akwa Ibom to Kwara, state governors and top government officials have, more often than not, shunned public schools in the education of their children. Investigations in some states across the country indicate that most governors rode to power on the crest of promises that they were going to fix public schools in their states in a manner that would make it unnecessary for the rich and the powerful to continue to send their wards to expensive private schools either here in Nigeria or abroad. But in most cases, the states' chief executives have failed to deliver on these promises and have therefore kept their children away from a public education system which offers very little in terms of quality and standard. For instance, the governor of the 12-year-old Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni, who has repeatedly claimed to be transforming education in his state, has his two children schooling abroad. His first child Yemisi is in a school in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirate while the second, Folawe, attends an unnamed school in England.

As it is with Oni, so it is with Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State. Since he came to power in 2003, Daniel has established a university of education and four IT polytechnics in his state in addition to the existing state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago Iwoye, the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta and the Tai Solarin College of Education in Ijebu-Ode. But the governor did not consider any of these schools good enough for any of his children. Rotimi, the governor's first son, who is undergoing the mandatory one-year national service in Ogun State, studied Computer Engineering at Babcock University, Ilisan, owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The governor's other children are said to be attending expensive schools in the United Kingdom.

The Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, the self-acclaimed chief servant, has also snubbed all the schools in Nigeria as his six children are said to be studying abroad. The governor's media aide, Alhaji Bala Abdulkhadir, explained that his boss' children had been schooling abroad before their father was elected governor in April 2007. Abdulkadir stated further that Aliyu's decision to send his children to foreign schools was due to the decay in the nation's education system, a situation he said the governor was confronting headlong in his state. Aliyu's counterpart in Enugu State, Governor Sullivan Chime, however, has his four children schooling in Enugu. Investigations showed that two are in a private university, Caritas University, Emene, while one is said to be at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. Reports indicate that the last child is currently processing his university admission.

Five of the children of Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, are pupils in one of the most expensive secondary schools in the state while his sixth child is currently studying in one of the tertiary institutions in the United Kingdom.

At the highbrow Zamani College, Malali Government Reservation Area, Kaduna, where Governor Sambo's five other children are schooling, our correspondent gathered that each student pays between N70,000 and N100,000 per term as tuition fee. Asked why this is so, the governor's Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Umar Sani, explained that the governor decided to enroll his children in Zamani because the school was close to his official residence. "I think he (Governor Sambo) decided to put them there because of the proximity to his residence," Sani said.

In addition to the University of Ibadan, there is also the Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology in Oyo State. But these two public universities appear unimpressive to the Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, who has enrolled three of his children at the nearby Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, owned by the Baptist Mission. The only child of his second wife, Kemi, is barely two-years-old and yet to start school. Akala's counterpart in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godswill Akpabio, also has his two children at the high-profile Corona International School in Lagos. Before becoming governor, Akpabio was for several years a commissioner in his state but could not take the risk of sending his kids to public schools in the state, which are substandard in all ramifications. The governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Usoro Usoro, however said it was not wrong for public officials who could afford it to send their children to private schools once they could afford it.

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos also have their children in various private schools in their states. While Yuguda's children are in schools in London, Kaduna and Abuja, Fashola has three of his sons in a private school in Lagos while his fourth son attends a government-owned school in Kwara State.

The children of the River State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, were said to be studying at the Bells International School, owned by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Ogun State. But shortly before the expiration of his tenure as the speaker of the state assembly in 2007, Amaechi fell out with the then Governor, Dr. Peter Odili.

In the power play that resulted in his being withdrawn from contesting the governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Amaechi was hounded out of the state. His properties were thrown out of his official residence even before he was due to vacate the property, leading to his immediate relocation of his family from the state. He was said to have stayed outside the country throughout the period his case lasted in the courts and only came in when the Supreme Court declared him governor. His children, who were relocated in the heat of the crisis, have remained in schools outside the country due to what a source described as grave security concern. The exact location of his children has, however, remained unknown.

The schools being attended by the children of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva is also a closely guarded secret in the state. For fear that militants might be planning to kidnap his children, the governor is said to have kept almost everybody in the state in the dark regarding his kids' schools. "Given the security implications of your investigation, I regret to inform you that my office cannot be of any help," the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Doifie Ola, said, in response to our correspondent's enquiry on the matter. But there are indications that the governor's children are in expensive private schools outside the state.

In saner climes, there is always uproar when government officials prefer to put their children in private schools. There was a huge debate in the United States over whether President-elect Barack Obama should send his children to either public or private school. A poll conducted on the matter in The Guardian of London on November 11, 2008, said 52 per cent of respondents were of the view that the Obama girls should be enrolled in public school in Washington while 47.4 per cent urged the Obamas to put their children in private school.

But such issues do not elicit debates in Nigeria and public office holders here have continued to avoid public schools like a plague. The private schools are kings here while the public schools have been in ground zero.

[charles4u]

Nigeria....Some says the country is getting better, some said Fashola is atleast better (creating tram), some says things are improving But the poverty level remains the same and we all see things to be even worst than we imagine.

2.7 trillion for policing and see our schs ...Ribadu ran away after buying a house of $4 million in Dubai and see our people confusing corruption with other reasons.

No doubt...Nigeria seems to be a country that will not change if this same set of people continues to rule and control the system.

[Ewuro]

Ribadu ran away after buying a house of $4 million in Dubai and see our people confusing curroption with other reasons.

You contribute to the problem when you help in spreading a totally unsubtantiated allegation like the above. This is about schools. Too many threads on Ribadu have dealt with those issues.

[charles4u]

You contribute to the problem when you help in spreading a totally unsubtantiated allegation like the above. This is about schools. Too many threads on Ribadu have dealt with those issues.

My guy..no vex for me abeg, I just no happy say dis people (giving a sample of Ribadu) dey use our money abroad for their private needs while things gets worst for our naija people (a sample of our schs above).

[RAYNOSA]

Check out this ironies.

Legal Practitioner, Administrator and Management Consultant, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, was born in Lagos at the Island Maternity Hospital on June 28th, 1963............Government/Public Hospital


He was educated at Sunny Fields Primary School, Adelabu, Surulere, in Lagos, Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos and at Igbobi College, Yaba, also in Lagos. Public Schools.

He studied law at the University of Benin from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, LL.B. (Hons), degree in 1987.......Government/Public University

[Tsohon Soja]

No doubt the issue on Nigerian schools like every other sector is a crying shame. What you actually see in those photos are basically what effort Lateef Jakande did to facilitate 'his political mass and free education for Lagosians' - ala UPN-better-than-NPN-Rubbish (Awoism). Unfortunately, like anything, Jakande established a benchmark of 'excellence'. This is now the standard for educational infrastructure for modern Nigeria.

Those of us who complained then were told to shut-up and mind our Northern backwardness. But then our arguement was that North or South, we are Nigerians and you never will know who the throw-back will make your Nigerian next generation of political, military, industrial or academic executives. Whether it is Jakande's 'chicken/cattle pens' or Northern 'under-the-tree-places' our arguement is that Nigerians deserve better than what our political elites are reducing them to.

For those who want further studies on current research into Nigerian educational situation, you could read the attached UNESCO sponsored report at:

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/001...55/155589e.pdf

Mohammadu Buhari's PTF made an attempt to redeem the situation through a focussed and articulated National Edcation Infrastructure Rehabilitation programme, but typical of the Nigerian transition problem, Obasanjo closed PTF and swept whatever good that was with it off. However, Obi Ezekwelesi revived the matter 'more' comprehensively, but her tenure was short-lived. That itself was another long and grinding debate. While some of us were worried about the quality of teachers and infrastructure, Obi was focussed on making Bachelors degree as minimum for primary school teachers. Good we said, but what will you get from a BA holder whose interview had to be conducted in Pigeon English or his/her local vernacular? Obi also brought her team of US bred consultants who argue that every Nigerian child as a basic priority must be issued a laptop. Ha-ha-ha and more Ha-ha-ha!

See http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76023

This arguement including the privatization of Unity schools ook most of the time and energy of her administration.



Well, I submit that the matter of schools and policy requires walking-the-walk more than talking-the-talk. I wonder how many of my generation will send their children to the stream of schools we attended from the 60s through the 70s to the early 80s. Fashola's circumstance says it all.

Cry my beloved country?

[Dapxin]

No doubt the issue on Nigerian schools like every other sector is a crying shame. What you actually see in those photos are basically what effort Lateef Jakande did to facilitate 'his political mass and free education for Lagosians' - ala UPN-better-than-NPN-Rubbish (Awoism). Unfortunately, like anything, Jakande established a benchmark of 'excellence'. This is now the standard for educational infrastructure for modern Nigeria.

Those of us who complained then were told to shut-up and mind our Northern backwardness. But then our arguement was that North or South, we are Nigerians and you never will know who the throw-back will make your Nigerian next generation of political, military, industrial or academic executives. Whether it is Jakande's 'chicken/cattle pens' or Northern 'under-the-tree-places' our arguement is that Nigerians deserve better than what our political elites are reducing them to.

For those who want further studies on current research into Nigerian educational situation, you could read the attached UNESCO sponsored report at:

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/001...55/155589e.pdf

Mohammadu Buhari's PTF made an attempt to redeem the situation through a focussed and articulated National Edcation Infrastructure Rehabilitation programme, but typical of the Nigerian transition problem, Obasanjo closed PTF and swept whatever good that was with it off. However, Obi Ezekwelesi revived the matter 'more' comprehensively, but her tenure was short-lived. That itself was another long and grinding debate. While some of us were worried about the quality of teachers and infrastructure, Obi was focussed on making Bachelors degree as minimum for primary school teachers. Good we said, but what will you get from a BA holder whose interview had to be conducted in Pigeon English or his/her local vernacular? Obi also brought her team of US bred consultants who argue that every Nigerian child as a basic priority must be issued a laptop. Ha-ha-ha and more Ha-ha-ha!

See http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76023

This arguement including the privatization of Unity schools ook most of the time and energy of her administration.



Well, I submit that the matter of schools and policy requires walking-the-walk more than talking-the-talk. I wonder how many of my generation will send their children to the stream of schools we attended from the 60s through the 70s to the early 80s. Fashola's circumstance says it all.

Cry my beloved country?

Your arguement starts off and fell apart on itself. I sense a shoddy attempt to be tribalistic here.

come off it!

I am yet to recover from the sexy sweetness of seeing a Chelsea Massacre at Old Trafford so I go return to take your take point by point.

[valteena]

Even in the UK school not every child has a lap top or computor to them selves. Talk about misplacement of priority. Is it in those eyesore environment called class rooms or under the tree that is classroom for some of these kid that they will stay and use the laptops?

They will be lucky if armed robbers don't strike and steal the laptops from them the very first day.
.

[Ewuro]

No doubt the issue on Nigerian schools like every other sector is a crying shame. What you actually see in those photos are basically what effort Lateef Jakande did to facilitate 'his political mass and free education for Lagosians' - ala UPN-better-than-NPN-Rubbish (Awoism). Unfortunately, like anything, Jakande established a benchmark of 'excellence'. This is now the standard for educational infrastructure for modern Nigeria.

Those of us who complained then were told to shut-up and mind our Northern backwardness. But then our arguement was that North or South, we are Nigerians and you never will know who the throw-back will make your Nigerian next generation of political, military, industrial or academic executives. Whether it is Jakande's 'chicken/cattle pens' or Northern 'under-the-tree-places' our arguement is that Nigerians deserve better than what our political elites are reducing them to.

For those who want further studies on current research into Nigerian educational situation, you could read the attached UNESCO sponsored report at:

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/001...55/155589e.pdf

Mohammadu Buhari's PTF made an attempt to redeem the situation through a focussed and articulated National Edcation Infrastructure Rehabilitation programme, but typical of the Nigerian transition problem, Obasanjo closed PTF and swept whatever good that was with it off. However, Obi Ezekwelesi revived the matter 'more' comprehensively, but her tenure was short-lived. That itself was another long and grinding debate. While some of us were worried about the quality of teachers and infrastructure, Obi was focussed on making Bachelors degree as minimum for primary school teachers. Good we said, but what will you get from a BA holder whose interview had to be conducted in Pigeon English or his/her local vernacular? Obi also brought her team of US bred consultants who argue that every Nigerian child as a basic priority must be issued a laptop. Ha-ha-ha and more Ha-ha-ha!

See http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76023

This arguement including the privatization of Unity schools ook most of the time and energy of her administration.



Well, I submit that the matter of schools and policy requires walking-the-walk more than talking-the-talk. I wonder how many of my generation will send their children to the stream of schools we attended from the 60s through the 70s to the early 80s. Fashola's circumstance says it all.

Cry my beloved country?

Jakande's 'cow sheds' were suppose to be temporary buildings used to address the horrible three-shift school system bequathed to the state by the military. Except governor Mudahiru who made some attempts to replace those with model schools building, already designed during Jakande's administartion, no other governor has really addressed the issue.

Suffice to say those jakande schools has produced 6-8 times better qualified people than any of the NPN 'qualitative education' that addressed nothing.

The most important thing is for Govenor Fashola to embark on massive permanaent buildings to replace those cow sheds that has become a disgrace to education in the state.

It is also disheartening that lessons are still being delivered under the trees at a lot of schools in the north. The Federal government and the states should work together to build modern schools for the kids.

The country cannot address the issues in education if school teachers cannot pass examinations set for primary 4 kids as was revealed in Kwara.

[Tsohon Soja]

Jakande's 'cow sheds' were suppose to be temporary buildings used to address the horrible three-shift school system bequathed to the state by the military. Except governor Mudahiru who made some attempts to replace those with model schools building, already designed during Jakande's administartion, no other governor has really addressed the issue.

Suffice to say those jakande schools has produced 6-8 times better qualified people than any of the NPN 'qualitative education' that addressed nothing.

The most important thing is for Govenor Fashola to embark on massive permanaent buildings to replace those cow sheds that has become a disgrace to education in the state.

It is also disheartening that lessons are still being delivered under the trees at a lot of schools in the north. The Federal government and the states should work together to build modern schools for the kids.

The country cannot address the issues in education if school teachers cannot pass examinations set for primary 4 kids as was revealed in Kwara.

Dear Ewuro and Daxpin,

We have a Hausa saying - Da mugun rawa, gara ki tashi (Better to remain seated than embark on a wicked dance). Our arguement during the Second Republic was about establishing enduring and sustainable system and infrastructure. Some of us never believed in mass but quality. We however respected the conviction of those who saw things the other way round. When pioneering any venture, do it in small measures so that whatever precedence you are laying, will stand the rest of time.

I worry to detract this serious discussion on Nigeria's educationa and infrastructure to a personal level, however, one needed to illustrate his point. So my inferences to Jakande, Buhari and Sister Obi.

If Nigerians these days send their children primary and secondary schoolsin Ghana and even Republics of Benin and Togo, then we should worry. And indeed worry alot.

I appreciate what Jakande did, but he would have gone better in history if he had focussed on health and education instead of the energy and time he wasted in the forstalled Lagos Metroline project. He should have focussed on developing a bank of future intellectual human capital that may even invent our own unique mass urban transportation systems.

To Daxpin particularly, I am non-tribalistic. I can't afford to because, if I am shot in the battle-field, the most likely persons to picked me, would be between my soldier from Ishare or the other one from Warri. Funny(?), their children all call me Uncle or Daddy, as it suits then!

However, while you and I had the luxury of watching the ManU-Chelsea anti-climax, I switched over just early enough to NTA to watch the story of a Police man impregnanting a 14 year-old, after raping her countlessly, than forcing an abortion. The next news was on a family of 11 or 15, generator-fumed to death on New Year's day. Much earlier another 15 year-old was picked at a motor park in Lagos after her Oga Madam brought her from the 'East' to serve as her maid. Right now the item showing is of the silly Crash-Helmet imbroglio. Why should Nigerians be transported by those motorcycles at all? The stories go on...

[charles4u]

Dear Ewuro and Daxpin,
I appreciate what Jakande did, but he would have gone better in history if he had focussed on health and education instead of the energy and time he wasted in the forstalled Lagos Metroline project. He should have focussed on developing a bank of future intellectual human capital that may even invent our own unique mass urban transportation systems.

Good point, The worrisome issue here is.. are there improvement in Nigeria as a whole ?..Education ooo or transport...I say NO.

So why after all this budget and money...just like Tsohon Soja said about education and human intellectual, This things should be the main focus including suitable living for Nigerians ..then people can start to think straight then focus on things ahead.

Now some said Fashola wants to make a tram in Lagos..abeg for what ?...it doesnt make sense at all when it doesnt help the situations at hand.

[peterosa]

OOOOOOOOO God come and help nigeria we no get pawer of our own oooooooooooooooo.

[charles4u]

Make una see Yar'dua pikin for this link below :

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-130453

[agbonizuanghwe]

Where did the world bank money go?

Fiirst of all it is an IDA loan, we pay back over a longer period, at 6%. Second of all it went into paying exhorbitant WB consultant's fees.

Why are we even talking we may as well be braying at the moon. If we focus on Lagos State, the rash of Mosques that have sprung up in public offices, built by public money are many more, better looking and likely more expensive than the school blocks built with public money while Nigerian look on.

Beyond infrastructure is the issue of human resource. There are teachers on roll but no teaching skills to speak of.

Peace!

[RAYNOSA]

Lagos to spend $10bn on rail projects in 25 years
By Tunde Abatan, Deputy Sunday Editor and Oladunjoye Phillips, Correspondent

The Lagos State government is to spend $10bilion in the next twenty five years to execute its seven rail development projects in the state.

Construction of the first two lines are expected to commence by the middle of this year while bids for the selection of investors are billed to be opened next week.

Indications to this emerged just as the state governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), prepares to address a stakeholder's forum in the next two months on the implications of the new rail projects, which is estimated to cost $1.2billlion.

The forum, which is also coming on the heels of the flag-off of construction of the new ten lane Lagos - Badagry Expressway, is intended to address the complaints of those likely to be affected by the demolition exercise on the right of way of the expressway. The demolition is to provide space for the multiple purpose nature of the road, which will include the BRT track, Light rail line and lanes for other vehicles plying the ever busy route.

Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Sunday Independent during the week, explained that response from investors to the financing and execution of the project, which would be on a build and operate basis for twenty five years, has been overwhelming. The construction period is estimated for three years.

He disclosed that the state government has moved away from the initial population projection of 25 million in 2015 to 40 million persons considering the impact of the two new rail projects, which is expected to move at least 30,000 passengers per hour and 1.3 million passengers per day.

On the benefits of the rail project, Mobereola said it is meant to address the issue of poverty, as people would spend less on transportation thereby conserving money for other basic needs instead of spending a huge chunk of their income on road transportation with its multiplier effect on standard of living.

Besides, he noted that successive governments have not been able to come to terms with the imperatives of the project because of the lack of political will, adding that the present government in Lagos has demonstrated enough will to tackle once and for all the problems of transportation in the state with the adoption of the strategic plan by the LAMATA.

The rail project tagged Blue and Red Lines would run between Okokomaiko and Iddo, and Ijoko - Iddo respectively. It is expected to kick start the rail development project which forms the major plank of the government's plan for the anticipated mega city status of Lagos.

Speaking further, the LAMATA boss said the rail development project will also form the plank of the government's effort to reduce poverty and create employment while also making life more comfortable to the citizenry as they would spend less time commuting from any part of the state.

To complement the new rail lines he said the state government is planning to extend the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) to nine new routes including the Iyana-Ipaja, Ikotun, Igando roads and the Oshodi, Apapa, Mile 2 to Wharf roads, while existing roads in these areas would be expanded to accommodate the BRT buses which has recorded a huge success in the state since introduction over a year ago.

Mobereola also disclosed that henceforth reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads now going on in various parts of the state have been standardized such that each of the roads would have four main facilities: walkway, street lights, drainage and driveway measuring at least seven and half meters, which is the standard practice for road construction all over the world.

On water transportation, he also disclosed that the state government has involved the private sector in the development of ferry services by providing infrastructure like jetties and approach-roads, as part of the integrated transportation system being evolved for the state in anticipation of its mega-city status.

[charles4u]

Na so dem go dey make project but abandon am, some go ask for re-election so dem fit finish am but same tori.

$1.2 billion...thats about 120 billion Naira plus, omo Nigeria 4 real get money o, Police 2trillion, north 5 billion plus and others still dey oo...were all this money dey go ?

Se all this money...dem no fit even put am together just give us stable light ?..atleast for this their first 4 years

[Namio]

Pity.

So there are people still willing to fault Jakande. Those he provided schools for on water, in the remote, at night where were they before that?

He gave you schools, those who built on it by parent participation turned them into more like private schools in Surulere. Others were crying that they could not find house boys and girls anymore.

He gave shelters to those who would never own a house. Those who contributed and painted theirs turn it into a home.

Sorry, he did not send some of you to hospitals in England. Sorry o.

It is better to starve to death than survive on kenki. That Hausa proverb is misplaced. They are still using it all over Nigeria. People who can crawl who want to jump. Si o!

[Wind]

Now some said Fashola wants to make a tram in Lagos..abeg for what ?...it doesnt make sense at all when it doesnt help the situations at hand.

why does building Tram (That is 40 years past due by the way) and providing quality education be mutually exclusive?
Would this project not provide thousands of direct badly needed jobs?

The metro project was the greatest plan the visionary Jakande ever came up with, but as usually with a country where 1 part wants to progress and the other wants to live in the stone ages, the North killed the project.

[Ewuro]

Dear Ewuro and Daxpin,

We have a Hausa saying - Da mugun rawa, gara ki tashi (Better to remain seated than embark on a wicked dance). Our arguement during the Second Republic was about establishing enduring and sustainable system and infrastructure. Some of us never believed in mass but quality. We however respected the conviction of those who saw things the other way round. When pioneering any venture, do it in small measures so that whatever precedence you are laying, will stand the rest of time.

I worry to detract this serious discussion on Nigeria's educationa and infrastructure to a personal level, however, one needed to illustrate his point. So my inferences to Jakande, Buhari and Sister Obi.

If Nigerians these days send their children primary and secondary schoolsin Ghana and even Republics of Benin and Togo, then we should worry. And indeed worry alot.

I appreciate what Jakande did, but he would have gone better in history if he had focussed on health and education instead of the energy and time he wasted in the forstalled Lagos Metroline project. He should have focussed on developing a bank of future intellectual human capital that may even invent our own unique mass urban transportation systems.
To Daxpin particularly, I am non-tribalistic. I can't afford to because, if I am shot in the battle-field, the most likely persons to picked me, would be between my soldier from Ishare or the other one from Warri. Funny(?), their children all call me Uncle or Daddy, as it suits then!

However, while you and I had the luxury of watching the ManU-Chelsea anti-climax, I switched over just early enough to NTA to watch the story of a Police man impregnanting a 14 year-old, after raping her countlessly, than forcing an abortion. The next news was on a family of 11 or 15, generator-fumed to death on New Year's day. Much earlier another 15 year-old was picked at a motor park in Lagos after her Oga Madam brought her from the 'East' to serve as her maid. Right now the item showing is of the silly Crash-Helmet imbroglio. Why should Nigerians be transported by those motorcycles at all? The stories go on...

CHANGE is the only permanent thing in nature. A system that does not allow for change would die eventually. Jakande embarked on a change at the time. He was not unmindful that those changes need futher refinement hence the design of model schools. We know the hooligan military coupists led by Buhari and IBB terminated the well thought-out programmes that was suppose bring educational and socio-economic development to the state.

I am more perturbed by your insinuation that a good education programme is only viable at the exclusion of a viable and enduring transpoert system. This is ridiculous. You undervalue the prospects that a metroline project would bring to transportation, economy, trade and industry.
What would be the point in having thousands of jobless professionals? The metroline would not only provide jobs it would help in creating jobs.

An economy is as slow as his transport systems. An efficient economy requires the most efficient transport.

If that metroline project was implemented without the coupists intervention, thousands of people would be gainfully employed in Lagos today.

[charles4u]

Ewuro...in other words you think in all the problems facing Nigeria and lets say lagos, You think Metroline is what we need first now abi ?

[Ewuro]

Ewuro...in other words you think in all the problems facing Nigeria and lets say lagos, You think Metroline is what we need first now abi ?

Certainly a good transport system of which metroline is an option must be at the top of the priority. This morning, I travelled about over 120 km to a meeting from where I live. I travelled by train. I have been back to base doing other things after work. Without a good rail system this would not be possible. Lagos or indeed the whole of Nigeria cannot really develop without a good transport system and a good rail network must be part of it.

[charles4u]

Certainly a good transport system of which metroline is an option must be at the top of the priority. This morning, I travelled about over 120 km to a meeting from where I live. I travelled by train. I have been back to base doing other things after work. Without a good rail system this would not be possible. Lagos or indeed the whole of Nigeria cannot really develop without a good transport system and a good rail network must be part of it.

OK I don hear you...you have made your own point.

[Wind]

Even though the writer works for the AC, it is gratifying to see that Lagos State may indeed have found another Jakande in the form of the present governor.

Ednut may be interested in the signature of the article.

http://www.independentngonline.com/oped/article02

Silent revolution in Lagos
By Joe Igbokwe

Few years back, former President Obasanjo called Lagos a slum. Today the former President cannot use the mouth he uses to eat yam and cocoyam (onu o ji eri ji eri ede) to repeat that Lagos is a slum. Today, the gradual metamorphosis, transmogrification, transformation, regeneration and renewal that kicked off in 1999 have started yielding great results. Those who left the city 10 years ago will find it difficult to recognize the new look of Lagos. The solid foundation for the new Lagos we are seeing today was laid by the former Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed from 1999 - 2007.




advertisement


Through careful management of human and material resources, through playing politics of development and being a dynamic person with a developmental orientation, the road to the new Lagos was paved by the man we call the Jagaban Borgu. Good students of politics will tell you that a good leader is also judged by his succession plan.

Asiwaju's succession was furiously and seriously challenged but the rest is now history. Governor Babatunde emerged from the lot. In less than two years in office, the man has taken leadership of Lagos to a new level, formulating fantastic policies and programmes following them up with monitoring and evaluation, taking hard decisions and sticking to it no matter whose ox is gored and being responsive and responsible to the great demands of the exalted office.

And what words will I use to describe the new look of Lagos than what Justice Emma Ayoola, ICPC Chairman said recently: Listen to him: "it is my intention to make a slight modification to his slogan which I understand is Eko o ni Baje (may Lagos always excel). But for the fact that I am retired I would have ordered him to change it to Eko ti dara (Lagos is now good)"

A concerned Nigerian, from the South East, Fr Cajetan Obodozie recounts his observation of the new face of Lagos recently when he said: "Last September I traveled to Switzerland, France, Holland, Italy and Spain via Murtala Mohammed International Airport and almost lost my bearing in Lagos because of the enormous changes which had taken place within a short period. When I returned home after one month I noticed more changes. Every Lagosian I spoke to was enthusiastic to say flattering things about the relatively new BRF administration. Even the very critical press and the civil society in general were impressed. When I called my fellow priests who had about the same time traveled to the United States through Lagos namely Fr Luke Ibe, my worthy predecessor at Christ the King parish in Ihiala Anambra State, and Fr Nonso Anaedo, the secretary to the Bishop of Nnewi, they expressed delight at what they saw in Nigeria's commercial capital. Roads are being developed to international standards, the environment is being cleaned up and beautified, mass transportation in Lagos is being taken to a much higher level with the building of a number of modern and bid jetties, in fact I am informed that as many as 75 water taxis have already been bought. All this is the first step by Governor Fashola to turn Lagos into a sophisticated mega city"

Another wonderful Nigerian from the Niger Delta John Asuquo with eyes for good things says: "Every political office holder in Nigeria, including those at federal and local government levels should come to Lagos for a two-week crash program on leadership and change under the guidance of Governor Fashola"

But how did Governor Fashola do all these? He built from the Asiwaju's unprecedented revenue drive. By the time Governor Asiwaju was leaving office, the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of Lagos was about 7 billion monthly. Governor Fashola has since moved up the IGR to13 billion Naira monthly. What other magic did Fashola do?

Before the coming of Fashola, the ratio of Recurrent to Capital expenditure was 70% to 30%. Through raw courage, political sagacity, political will, and deep concern for the ordinary Lagosians he had to take the hard decision to do what needs to be done: going completely opposite, 30% Recurrent and 70% Capital Expenditure. Results!

Every where you go in Lagos construction is going on. There is no good contractor in Lagos that is not engaged right now. Infact, contractors are being invited from outside Lagos to join in the massive drive. And because Lagosians see the monumental work going on, they now pay their taxes voluntarily without being hounded or forced to do so. This writer was in my town's end years party last year and was excited when some of my kinsmen walked up to me to say that they are willing to pay their taxes having seen what the government is doing with tax payer's money.

Under bridges, roundabouts and setbacks are being recovered for good every where in Lagos. All kinds of junks ranging from abandoned vehicles to scraps refuse, disused kiosks, etc were evacuated and in their places are different shades of flowers and ornamental plants. Area boys and undesirable elements that terrorize Lagos under these bridges are those planting the flowers and maintaining them on a daily basis.

They now earn a living, and have forgotten their former criminal ways of life. Many of these elements have been engaged as roads and streets sweepers, waste collectors and builders. It could not just be better. Drains and canals are being put in place in critical areas in the Lagos metropolis in anticipation to flood problems that may arise due to coastal nature of Lagos. Landlords are smiling because the values of their properties are appreciating on a daily basis. Values of properties appreciate in any location when new roads, with proper drains are put in place.

*Igbokwe is Lagos State Action Congress (AC) Publicity Secretary

[Ochi Dabari]

It is such a shame. I do not know where to start. On my recent trip to Nigeria, I sent my youngest brother to video the primary school and their activities for my children, as this would be of more interest to them than adult (funeral) ceremonies. That was one of the segments I watched on TV before leaving home and it was a shocker. While I had aimed for happy children playing games, it was a video full of anguish from the headmaster and their teachers. Basically, the headmaster had no table or chair. Needless to say, none of the teachers had any chairs to sit on and the children had no desks to write on or chairs to sit on. Many of the classrooms had half or some fractional roofs. Haba. I went to this same school in the 60s when it was just a single class (1) before we moved to the school in the next village for classes 2 to 7. It became a full primary school around 1973, and had all facilities befitting of a normal primary school. I do know that they had seats up to when Abacha was there. What happened under Obasanjo and his PDP thieves? Abacha sold oil some times for $9 a barrel; Obasanjo did not sell oil for less than $60/barrel at any point in time. How can a people be so short-changed. Another major difference is that every govt official now sends his/her children to private schools or overseas. Even the primary school teachers do not send their own schools to public school - definitely not in Benue State. It is only the poor farmers' children that are in public schools and they provide facilities that are not even suitable for pigs or none at all.

Anyway, I have kept the video from my children, in order not to kill their little spirits about visiting Nigeria soon. I could not sit there at home and tell the villagers what the govt was doing to them, although I felt like instigating them to revolt. But how do I stir up enough trouble on a one-month trip for my Dad's funeral. It would need someone on the ground - someone willing to be in and out of court like Gani and Falana do. The only thing I could say was to ask the Headmaster to draw up a comprehensive plan of what is needed and send me the costs. I intend to contact the other youth from the village, particularly those that are doing well outside the State and country, for us to furnish the school, hopefully by May this year. It is sad. I know we should contribute to the development of our communities but it should not be a complete alternative, with no effort from the government. Currently, all councils in Nigeria simply receive allocations and share among themselves. In Benue it has become so bad that sharing has extended to PDP supporters in the villagers, who are so greedy that they do to see their children sitting on the floor in leaking classrooms to "learn" nothing! Nigeria has a long way.

ochi