Re:Russia's visit to Africa.

I am a British Nigeria and proud to be an African.

With regards to this visit to Nigeria by the Russian president I feel strongly that African countries are so gullible and ignorant about Russian politics.

This is a country that does not respect black people and the rule of law, to sign big contracts with such country is insulting. Europe and the US will be a good bet, the Niger Delta region will suffer more as a result.

The Russian regime is not about ethics and moral, the first super power to recognise and fail to condemn the oppressive Iran state.

I am not surprise that the African states chosen have something to offer, my advise to these non democratic African states is to aware of what is happening in Iran especially when you try to suppress people.

Africa will continue to be backward unless we learn from other developed countries, Brazil is a good example.

With all the intellectuals in Africa,we need to wake up and put an end to all non democratic,less ehical and corrupt African countries especially Nigeria.

Thanks Dola

It is obvious that you have a very strong personal agenda that is extremely circumscribed. Nations operate mainly on their personal interest, in other words what is best for themselves. Non of the countries you mentioned in the west are operating on the bases of pure philanthropy; all ecpect something in return. We in Africa must make sure we get the maximum in return. PERIOD. It makes no difference who we deal with. We must separate economic interest from the type of government we prefer. We must get away from stereotypes. Democracy is not a panacea in itself; any system with integrity, selflessness, common sense and the principle of "love thy neighbor as much as your love yourself " is better. We have not found that system .Let me remind you that there are many so called DEMOCRACIES including the great USA which lack these essential characteristics.So we need to stop proselytizing for the western hypocrites who tell us to, "do as I say not [necessarily] as I do".

Re:Previous Article by russ:

I do not have an agenda,currently live abroad and my politics is about fairness.When we talk about economic issues, morals and ethics come into play. The Europeans and the US are far from being perfect but a better alternative to the Chinese and Russians who fail to allow opposition within their political system.

We only need to look at Darfur,the Sudanese largest investor are the Chinese and they refuse to put pressure on the Sudanese government regarding the plight of the refuges.

With regards to Business partners, you are right that Nigeria should be able to trade with any country. My point is that as we do have alternatives to the Russian and Chinese with regards to our business aspirations.

These are the two major powers who find it difficult to criticize Iran because of the partnership they have with them..I must remind you that the EU has economic and diplomatic ties with Iran but they still came out to condemn the situation there.

African dictators will always have options and the issue democracy will be suppressed. All Africans should be able to have a voice with regards to their politics affliations.

Thank you

Mr British Nigerian

I think you have forgotten about the 2007 Africa-EU Smmit that took place in Portugal, allow me to refresh your memory:

The existing preferential trade agreements between the EU and the ACP countries was not compatible with WTO rules (it was was one sided guess who benefited from it hint it was not Africa). The Europeans sought to replace it with WTO-compatible Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) when they learnt about China's interest in Africa, however, in this instance the Africans were smart enought to reject the offer.

It is great that Africa has a choice of trading partners, China, Russia (the rouge EU country). We have traded with Britain, Portugal etc and what changes have we seen? You talk about Human Rights issues but have you forgotten about the killing during the Abacha regime of Saro Wiwa guess what company and country was involved, hint, name starts with "S" owned by the Dutch.

During Apartheid US and European countries freely traded with the Afrikans..

So yes the Europeans and US are not perfect but now we have options we need to let them know that we have the freedom to trade with who ever we want. They preach Human Rights but they themselves are guilty of breaching other people's Human Rights, look at the Iraq war and Guantanamo need I say more!!!

re:curious

You talk about Iraq war and guantanamo bay, without a doubt a serious breach of human right. I agree that Nigeria should be able to trade with any nation,my concern is with Shell atrocities in Nigeria, the Chinese and Russian will be worse for Nigeria.

http://www.zambian-economist.com/2008/05/chinas-impact-in-zambia-bbc-report .html.

I know this is a BBC report , we need to look at the companies we deal with before we enter into contracts.I still believe that there are companies around the world with ethics and morals that will benefit Africa and treat us like equal partners.

What we need to understand is that these countries need Africa with regards to our abundant natural resources.

That's my 2 cent.

The hausa/fulani have come up with a new and dangerous political game in the name of nuclear power. To make matter worse, they are teaming up with russia- a country with an appalling dictatoship to build a nuclear reactor. Why do we allow the russians to tap our resouces? The russians sold weapons of mass destruction technology to the communist north korea, they did the same to china, iran, These are countries ruled by dictators. The russian government suppresses freedom of press and arrest it's citizens with dissenting opinion. The russians have been actively involve in the east west division. We have nothing to gain from this communist country. Yar and his folks from the north are only trying to maintain the leadership of the country. We will never allow the north to dominate us. They should go and dominate their cattle. Nigeria is too big to be one. The hausa/fulani should be part of niger or have their own country and be ruled by dictators. It's high time we throw them out. We dont need these jihadist. Russia will never make nigeria another iran. They should keep their nuclear technology. They are not needed in our country. Putin and his stooge should know that we dont like them and dont want to do business with them. To hell.

Whoever is Karl Imom,one would suggest that you go back and learn more about Nigerian political History which unfortunately you may be lacking at this time.The Housa/Fulani collectively, are to be blamed squarely on the on the economic problems facing Nigeria today in the sense that the so called Northerners are not good economic managers and have not been. The record is there to show this fact.It is myopic for someone to claim otherwise.In a civilised society,a CEO of any company takes responsibility if his company fails to make the cut.I hope you're not telling the Nigerian people that they're not civilised enough to see what the so called Northern political gangs have done to our economy todate?However, one may not be fair to blame all our economic doom and gloom enirely on the Northerners but they should be really naive not to be responsible for 95% of the problems as they're the only being able region in Nation that have been shooting themselves into power by force and always suspend the constitution.Please Mr.Imom you may be part of our problem by not been honest and defending wrongs.

Another Ajaokuta in the making. 40 years from now, we will be wondering where the crude oil money went with nothing to show from the Nuclear deal. A nation that could not tap hydro-energy from the abundant Niger River now wants to build nuclear energy in a deal with the cunning Russians in particular. Give me a break. Yar and his Northern kin are merely playing real-politick to play up the East-West rivalry similar to the game Iran and North Korea play to boost their security position and hold on to power while the divided Ibo & Yoruba keep looking at each other with suspicion rather than unite with the Deltans to counter-balance the threat from the Hausa/Fulani's grip on the nation.

for those who criticize this move on the Russian and Nigerian to building a nuclear energy are crazy.we as Nigerian should open our eyes and see the big picture.i think we the citizen of Nigeria have to stop for once and actually help our FG to carry out the vision of our nation. that meant good road,school,electricity.and many other great things the nation needs.u criticize and never speaks out what dose that do for the nation of Nigeria.for Ur information a batter home makes a better neighbour,a better neighbour makes a better community, a better community makes a better nation so. it all start from heme.manner do not fall from heaven at list not any more.we should not sit back and watch. why this guys make the decisions alone, after all is our nation.a voice of a millions speaks louder its almost the sounds of a might rush of water which can not be quite so easily so my fellow Nigerians coming together as one nation to fight for freedom,liberty and justices. is called history that we all can be apart of.thank u and have a bless day

Russia , like any nation is out to grab opportunities for the betterment of the national economy first and foremost. If Nigerian leaders decide to play the fool and flounder the national wealth, Russia will normally welcome them . Ajaokuta was not Russia's failure.The massive corruption and power play between the North and Southern leaders was the reason for the huge cost and ultimate failure of the project. The vision was good for economic take off, the execution was hopeless and fraudlent. Princical actors ought to be in jail for future refrence.

It is mind bogging that this country has array of economists and academia from within, yet developement policies seem exceedingly dum. Ajaokuta and Capital territory of Abuja both revealed how brutal Nigerains can rob their own nation. What about the Nigerian Railway coporation which was contracted to India , the Nigerian Airways which was looted by managers who were trusted with the operation ? Or who in Nigera can claim ignorance to the arrogant and immense wealth of mambers of the Board of Customs and Excise. The country is simply lucky to have such imense amount of wealth such as oil that it can still stand as an economic entity today after such economic babarism by ruthless ledership.

The victim to all of these is the villagers and peasants, the school leavers as the gap between the rich and poor continue to escalate disproptionately.By all standards a government is worth nothing if it can not provide citizens with basic amenities such as clean water and and education within cost

I agree with the suggestion that we're in for another round of Ajaokuta this time in a new name of Nuclear project.

Inequality in western capitalist nations is often attributed to historical reasons , in Nigeria it is only attributed to unbriddled corruption and military indiscipline. We now have hopeless socio- economic devide that will eventually precipitate future calamity as currenly witnessed in the Riverine areas of the nation.

O Nwagwu is a Nigerian Scholar based in Toronto

Where was Kaparah when Aninih signed contracts for Federal Roads worth N40 Billion and no single road was constructed under 8 years of Obasanjo Administration? Where was Kaparah when Obasanjo signed contracts worth $16.6 Billion (Dollars) for Electrical Power, yet there is no electricity in Nigeria. Kaparah must be a stinking tribalist to think Nigerian corruption resides in the North; therefore, the likes of Obasanjo, Chuck Odili, Aninih, iboli, Oji Kalu, etc. are Northerners.

I would strongly urge all commentators to this article to stay focused on the tenets, or perhaps the real reason behind the intended Nigeria/Russian Deal!! Firstly, Nigeria has enough natural gas to generate electricity for the entire ECOWAS countries for the next 200-years, if we can figure out how to properly use our God-given resources.

Secondly, I need for Nigerians to understand that Nigeria's place in the World in real energy production, and the strategic interests of Russia runs counter to Gazprom's overall interests.

Thirdly, Russia is intimidated by the in-roads the Ukrain has made in Nigeria. Don't forget that the object of the Trans-Saharan Gas pipeline which would run from the Niger Delta through the various countries of the Sahara Desert, and joining up with Algeria, and through the Atlantic seabed into Europe would basically minimize and call the bluff of the Russian Federation using gas energy as a way to blackmail the rest of Europe during winter. The confrontation which Russia posed to the Ukrainian government over having to ration gas supply, and the rights of passage (eminent dormain) which the Ukrainian Government sought to exercise over Gazprom using Ukrainian territory almost resulted in a major confrontation with the Russian military, which could have resulted in the Georgian-type invasion by the Russian Military.

What Russia actually wants is to cozy up to Nigeria under the guise of supplying her Nuclear Technology, and then, perhaps, cause our gullible leaders to drop the idea of the Trans-Saharan Project which would've assured the NATO countries and other East European countries wishing to join the European Union an uninterupted supply of gas in the winter months. If the Nigerian Intelligence Services have not figured this out by now, I would sincerely feel sorry for them for failing to understand that Mr. Vladimir Putin's tumbprint is written all over this so-called visit.

If Nigeria is in need of Nuclear Technology for the development of power supply for peaceful purposes, she needs not wander too far off course. The United States, France, Britain and other progressive thinking countries shall be more than willing to assist Nigeria develop this technology. Are we suffering from amnesia as a nation if we cannot realize that every vote at the Security Council by the Five Permanent Members in the interest of Darfur, the Congo, and not too long ago, Angola, both Russia and China always vetoed anything that has Africa's interest at heart?

The current problems in Iran and North Korea could have been resolved if these two renegade countries had not voted against anything that would have brought calm to these regions. Amidst all the turmoil in the Sudan, China continues to sell weapons, and at the same time, mortgaging the future of the Sudanese through bartering away their oil in exchange for weapons. Russia's interests in the Middle and Near-East is to control the activities in and around the Caspian Sea which borders other countries within the concept of a strategic military consideration. Are Nigerian leaders so gullible that they cannot see the hand-writing on the wall?

On one hand, and in a limited way, I tend to agree with Mr. Kaparah. Are we so brain dead that we wish to forget the mammoth Ajeokuta project which drained Nigeria of its badly needed foreign reserve? This was a project which Russia (then Soviet Union) took, and promised the people of Nigeria that in no time, they would begin to produce world-class steel products and by-products. Almost 40-years later, we are still importing ordinary nails and lead-infested spoons from China and elsewhere, and any other foreign business crook that can promise a Nigerian Government Official access to hiding money for them in foreign and untraceable accounts?

When you travel aboard flights leaving Nigeria or coming into the country, you will see many of these convoluted idiots in first class sections of each airplane, either half asleep, or frequenting the toilets at a rate that almost tells any on-looker that these fools have problems with their prostrates, and perhaps, don't even know it. Or, perhaps, their frequent urination is indicative that they are either diabetic or have an over-active bladder. Or perhaps, their sugar consumption and their in-take of sweets may be responsible for their slow death, or that perhaps they do not exercise enough in order to lose weight and be able to live longer, perhaps. Yet, after every flare-up in their health conditions, rather than use some of the money they looted to build ultra-modern hospitals in the country, they would fly to foreign countries to be treated. Sometimes, they may be treated by doctors arranged by their bankers, and sometimes, they are too ashamed to disclose to the rest of Nigerians how much it cost them to be treated for some very simple ailments. We tend to believe everything foreign, and pay very little attention to the quality and care of our fellow citizens. I want our readers to note that no foreigner could care for a Nigerian more than a Nigerian could. The only difference is that we pay very heavily in our attempts to want to identify with others.

I want our readers to note that the visit by the Russian leader to Nigeria is NOT to demonstrate how much Russia loves us. This is not a James Bond movie. The visit is purely business and also strategic to find ways to assuage Nigerians and their gullible leaders into believing that they are your friends. This is pure hogwash. If there is no profit to be derived, no one would want to see us, especially for the very corrupt and shakky democracy we are trying to weave together.

The issue facing us is not the North-South dichotomy which many of the commentaries have seemed to hop on. Although, for a country where academic intelligence is not in short supply, nor are competent leaders who could reason through problems in short supply either, we seem to wallow too much in search of some sugar daddy who is clad with some hollowgrammed desire to lead. Many of these people have no idea about what it means to lead, nor are they prepared to deal with the consequences of any bad decisions they may make. The Nigerian group of Governors have now resolved to attending Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This is a good thing, if they would be willing to apply the knowledge they gained in a selfless manner to help those they may aspire to lead.

I have had difficulty digesting the regional proportioning of Presidential aspirants. Whatever happened to qualification for the job? Whatever happened to Nigerians choosing a likeable candidate who would lead them out of the doldrums of stupidity? Are we this shortsighted that we would relegate the fate of our future to tribal or ethnic sponging of what some half-baked ideologues define as a leader? The problems with us is that we have difficulty debating national issues of importance without having to beat each other over the head. The questions of what happened to the funds appropriated to the Ajeokuta plant should be something of a major concern to all Nigerians, not just a few who may raise their voices, only to be bought over-night by political looters. Nigerians, you had better wake up. Your fate lies in your hands, and believe me, the visit by the Russian leader is not because he loves you. It's all about your strategic position in the arena of the global economy. Do not give in so easily. Learn from your past mistakes, and consider the interest of your children and the future of other Nigerians in your decision-making process. Use you head wisely, and avoid being gullible, because it makes all of us look stupid in the eyes of the world.

Aluminium smelting company was built by US but collapsed, now revived by Russian company, when it comes to corruption it does not know boundries, lets support our leader now to make Nigeria great!

One does not think that Nigeria needs to sign a nuclear energy cooperation with any country because Nigeria is yet to have leaders who are intelligent enough to make accord.Besides, such accords had been made in the past with little or nothing to show for it.The so called Northern politicians who are, unfortunately at the helm of political power are doing all these pacts,only to protect themselves[Hausa/Fulani races so that they can continue to hold power for the disadvantage of the rest of us.This accord should wait until Nigeria elects smart leadership who will be healthy enough to sign accords that will not go against the Nigerian people thereafter and this is only fair game.The Northerners should also realise the need to take responsibility for the economic chaos they have caused to this Nation since our Independence.Time is coming fast, when those who have been stealing from the Nigerian people will come to terms with their mistakes.

I think this is a very good opportunity for Nigeria again to develop, Pres Obama visited africa but did not come to Nigeria, this was a blessing in disguise, this shows that God has position Nigeria in africa and we can not be slighted, Nigerians are widely travelled people, no nation can sustain heavy industry without energy, Russia has done it for many countries, this is a bilateral cooperation, the countries who for years depend on our cheap raw materials from us will not transfers heavy industry technologies too easily, most countries of europe and asia who do not belong to G20 countries have industries powered by Nuclear energy, how much more NIGERIA THAT WANTS TO BELONG TO G20 COME 2020, please Nigerians lets drop shortsightedness, tribal and ethnic jingoism and join hands with this man of vision and break the jinx, 'that nothing good can come out of africa'. For us to break from tribal nepotism and recalcitrant corruption Nigeria needs a strong africanised social security system for Nigeriansn, our leaders steal because they do not believe things work in Nigeria but soon with heavy industry social security, they will take confidence, that govt cares for the wellbeing of all Nigerians irrespective of tribal or religious affiliation, and let our new constitution reflects welfare state or social security as done in the developed world that is attracting Nigerians.

It is totally idiotic to suggest that Northerners are at the Helms of Government in Nigeria. Obasanjo, the first ever President-cum-Oil Minister was not a northerner. He single-handedly hand-picked Yar Adua as President of Nigeria. Are you blaming the North for the decision southerners made in selecting someone who should rule Nigeria? More Ghost contracts were signed in Nigeria during the Obasanjo regime than all other regimes in Nigeria put-together. Mr. Guy may need to check his head before making further comments regarding People of Northern Nigeria

Hello Mr. Karl Imom, can you take a second look at my comments, I am not in the business of insulting people, neither am I tribalistic!

My answers to Karl Imon’s ranting are simple – 1) For 40 years of Nigeria’s 49 years of independence, the Hausa/Fulani “ruled” Nigeria and ran it to the ground to the extent that Nigeria no longer have a national airways nor railway systems; operation green revolution has long been dead as far back as Shagari’s administration began in 1979; the national educational system has fallen to the poor standard it was in the north; Ajaokuta has become an investment cash cow from which the northern corrupt cabal milked the crude oil revenue that came from the Niger Delta that Emperor has now turned the guns to kill women and children of the local resident. 2)“Obasanjo signed contracts worth $16.6 Billion for Electrical Power” as if Karl Imon did not read the national assembly’s final (Elumelu Committee) report, 2 months ago, that only $1.5 Billion was negotiated as Letters of intent from which some Electrical Grids were purchased and transported to the Lagos port where they still sit, rotting away while Emperor Yar twiddle his thumbs thinking what to do with them. As for other contracts, shouldn’t YarA continue to build from where his dynamic predecessor stopped? You build a nation brick by brick on top of each other unlike the Hausa/Fulani’s approach that would rather destroy the foundation already laid to start from the scratch again and in the process provide avenue to milk the project in to private bank accounts of corrupt northern cabals – Ajaokuta being a prime example. 3) You said Obasanjo personally selected Yar as his successor, of course, with the help of EFCC’s Ribadu who found that of the sitting 36 state governors; only two were deemed clean enough to fit the role of the head of state. With the support of US/UK who prefers our corrupt leaders of the past thus found in their crystal ball that Nigeria would break up by 2015 if power does not go back to the North. The gullible Nigerians believed the fraud and got rid of the greatest leader they ever had. Who would have thought that the best from the North (a college graduate, with a Master’s degree, for that matter) would be this dumb, visionless, and hopeless?

Sweet season of love.

Delicate star of a beautiful and inner emotion, listen to me when the sun fades away: there's a candle tonight in the light of a silence, and a season of love....

Francesco Sinibaldi

This would not be a problem at all as long as all the nuclear reactors are installed in Yaradua quarters in Katsina State. Then when operators get careless and there are environmental incidents like in the Niger delta and people complain the government in power can launch air strikes to silence anyone who interrupts the generation of electricity. And of course those people will all be in Katsina. I'm loving this plan already!

We should be careful about the people we deal with, two things about this article we need to think about:

1. Russia and the US are not in particularly good terms, look at what happened to CUBA. Do we really want to get involved in their problems. Remember they spy on each other.

2. Russia cut off the gas supply to West and East European countries last year in the dead of winter. If these countries decide not to do business with Russia anymore and deal with an African country, is it possible this is a strategic way of Russia getting the competition on their side to ensure other European countries do not have any other option but them. If this is the case then Nigeria is a pawn in a very dangerous game.

yeah fine its a good thing to introduce and expose our selves to international relation. But we don't tend to understand that nigeria still need to look at the problems at home (nigeria) instead of going into dealing with nuclear weapon. Problems like NIGER DELTA CRISIS, SECURITY & most xpecially ELECTRICITY. Nigeria need to focus on this things fist before dabbling into dealings with weapon. I know we also need to invite investors but not at this time of crisis where things need to be taking care of. I am only speaking from my own understanding. i know that even if advice are given or not , the govt dont bother to listen to peoples advice. They belive in there's alone. PEACE BE WITH US ALL.