Tuesday, 16 March 2021
Pete Edochie’s marital advice to women sets social media on fire
Sunday, 14 March 2021
Nigerians are known internationally, but what is the dark side of them we never hear about?
I had to rack my brain before coming up with this.
If there's any dark side about Nigerians, it is that:
They are scared.
They are scared of standing up for what they believe in. That's why we don't carry out mass physical protests when our interests are being stomped in the dust. Instead, we go to social media and make noise never backed up with actions.
They are scared of accepting their cultural identity. That's why our cultural beliefs and dressings conforms to that of the west. When you go for an interview or a ‘big’ event, you are measured by the smartness of your suit and perfectness of your English dress.
For proof:
Check this out
And this
Notice one thing in common? They are all big wigs...
They are scared of saying the truth about their country. That's why when foreigners ask some questions about our country, we sometimes fall to the temptation of padding its real situation in the name of ‘I love my country’ instead of saying it as it is.
This is one of our greatest problems and is common to not only Nigerians but to many Africans
Why is it difficult for Nigerians to get anything done in unison?
When you ask the average Nigerian what he thinks his country is lacking, they might say good governance, infrastructure, jobs, etc.
These are things that are sufficient in many other countries, even in countries poorer than Nigeria, but they are able to get these things right.
Why is it difficult for Nigerians to get anything done in unison?
Just yesterday, a man died of coronavirus at Ajah, Lagos. He was reported of being sick, before NCDC arrived to take him to the hospital, it was already too late and they asked to take the body to be buried appropriately, but the family and area boys refused that they want to bury their own dead.
While the NCDC guys were on PPE the family members and neighbours were not protected, dragging a man who had died of COVID.
A few days back, a patient ran away from a COVID-19 treatment centre in Abuja, he's still not found.
Just last week, the chief of staff to the president died of COVID and politicians went to bury him, a large crowd stood by as they dug a shallow grave to lay him to rest according to his religion.
Some persons had their nose masks on with hand gloves, some didn't, and even those with the hand gloves and masks used it wrongly--touching themselves after touching the body.
Which country gathers to bury a person killed by COVID?
Just yesterday, a bus supposedly said to be carrying goods to Delta state had human beings from Lagos on the inside, trying to outsmart the lockdown.
A few weeks back, despite the lockdown, birthday parties were celebrated, one actress and her husband were indicted and many Nigerians painted the court bad for that.
There are cars still moving about at Lagos Island, despite the lockdown. Suddenly, every high ranking government official is on official duty.
The streets of Lagos are filled with people still.
And the last time I checked our cases now grow by an average of 100 a day.
It's not just about COVID, this is exactly how we do everything in this country.
What do we really lack?
Saturday, 13 March 2021
What is the effect of brain drain in Nigeria economy?
Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor went to study what was happening to schools in Uganda, a few years back.
He wanted to go via Kenya Airways but found them too pricey, that man is known for frugality, he then opted for Rwandan air, But, his greatest shock was that when the captain of the aircraft came to introduce himself, he was a Nigerian.
The captain said two of them in the cockpit are Nigerians.
They said they could not have a job in Nigeria. But, in Rwanda, they value them.
Some of the doctors attending to our politicians in London, and elsewhere are Nigerians, but those same doctors won't be given a chance to touch this politician here in Nigeria, when they meet them abroad, they obviously respect and do whatever they say.
Majority of Nigerian doctors and even engineers are already abroad, in countries where their services are well paid and respected.
I don't believe in brain drain.
Your asset is your knowledge.
And if somebody somewhere needs it, would you not make it available to them?
If they don’t want your services in Nigeria, why waste away here?
What we call brain drain is a cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years. Our leaders have failed.
That is why the youths are leaving in droves:
To places where every equipment needed to do the job is available, not in Nigeria where an outdated x-ray machine is used in dozens of public hospitals.
If the government doesn't sit their assess down, if travel constraints become easier, most Nigerian professionals won't be in Nigeria, it would be a great loss to the country
Senegal: Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko released under judicial supervision
Senegal: Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko released under judicial supervision
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was arrested on 3 March while on his way to answer a summons at the courthouse in Dakar, as part of an investigation opened against him following an allegation of rape.
On 8 March, lawyers told us that he would now be “going home.” Taken to court early in the morning, Sonko appeared before senior judge Samba Sall, who charged him but decided to release him and place him under judicial supervision “with certain conditions.”
Freedom under conditions
Sonko must surrender his passport to the authorities and will have to ask for the judge’s permission if he wishes to travel. According to his lawyer Joseph Etienne Ndione, the leader of Patriotes du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité (Pastef) will also have to appear before the judge every last Friday of the month. In addition, he will have to make himself available to investigators, should the judge decide to refer his case to the police or gendarmerie.
Furthermore, “since he is free to continue to express himself as a political opponent”, Sonko is forbidden to speak about the rape case against him with the press or in public.
A “gesture of appeasement”?
While Dakar and several cities in the country have been the scenes of violent clashes since the opposition leader’s arrest, the Mouvement de défense de la démocratie (M2D), which brings together opposition political parties and civil society movements, called for three days of mass protests throughout the country starting on 8 March. At least eight people were killed since the riots began.
“We already feel a sense of appeasement with regards to the court, where people are gloating. Had Ousmane Sonko been further detained, there is no doubt that the clashes would have resumed,” says Ndione. “The judicial authorities, perhaps even state authorities, examined the situation and opted for peace.” Several figures of the protest, arrested before or on the sidelines of the demonstrations, are still imprisoned
Friday, 12 March 2021
What is the wealthiest city in Nigeria?
Imagine being so rich that you're the first to own a Rolls-Royce in the whole country.
In fact, when the queen visited in 1956, it was your Rolls-Royce she was chauffeured around with.
This man was ‘Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu', the first black billionaire, founding president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The royal honor came after he helped the British during World War II with his fleet of trucks.
Profiled in September 1965 by TIME magazine, Ojukwu made his money by importing dried fish for resale, and diversifying into textiles, cement and transport. When he died a year later, his wealth was an estimated $4 billion in today’s economic value.
His son, Chukwuemeka, who also ended up a billionaire, returned from Oxford University at 22 with a master’s degree in history and led his fellow Igbos into the Nigerian civil war as head of the secessionist state of Biafra in 1967.
Their hometown Nnewi, in the southeastern state of Anambra, either by good fortune or hard work, has bred more naira billionaires than any other town in Nigeria, and possibly Africa.
Source: (Forbes, The Small Town Of The Super Rich)
Do you know that after a controversial policy left all Igbo's with 20 pounds each, regardless of their bank balance, at the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970?
They are amongst the richest people in africa presently.
Their high regard for money and the extend they go to grab it disgusts me sometimes but their tenacity in business is admirable.
Nicknamed the Japan of Africa, Nnewi is famous as a hub for automobile spare part dealers, and most recently, Innoson, Nigeria’s first indigenous car assembly plant. The town is also known for its factories that manufacture household goods and is home to the biggest road transport companies in the country.
Edit: My answer is based on the total number of billionaires from a single town in Nigeria
Why are there so many devoted Christians today in Nigeria?
I have read some interesting answers here. Let me just add mine.
Many Nigerians seem to be devoted Christians because we are suffering. Yes, we are suffering!
In Nigeria, you need a miracle for the basic necessities of life, and people run to any where that promises miracles.
- You need a miracle to gain admission into higher institution.
- You need a miracle to graduate.
- You need a miracle to get a job.
- You need a miracle to remain in the job.
- You need a miracle to get promoted on the job.
- In short, you need a miracle for everything.
Some other reasons why people seem devoted are:
- It is fashionable. People attach their sense of worth to the name of their Church.
- You get connections in church. It’s easier for you to get the contact of say the vice president in church than going to Aso Rock.
- It’s an immediate market for your goods and services.
It’s you who call these people ‘devoted’. Most people are not. They are only doing a transaction with Christianity. They are in it for some form of gain. Do you really think those people who flood churches will attend Church Service under a tree, with no musical instrument and just clap hands?
Looking at the trend of things, I do believe that if Nigerian becomes very comfortable for Nigerians, they will shun God. If you don’t think so, look at the story of the Israelites in the Bible.
That’s not to say there are no genuine Christians in Nigeria. I have a working relationship with many of them. They are awesome!
Tuesday, 9 March 2021
Brussels wants to exclude from agricultural aid those who exploit seasonal workers
"I, as a representative of the European Commission, have declared our support for the idea," he explains.
There has been "a lot of reports of abuse across the EU, in many Member States", so it is "very important to be able to exclude those beneficiaries of CAP funds who do not respect social rights", he adds.
I am in favor of this solution. Now the question is how to do or achieve it, where should it be included, "he says.
Another politically sensitive issue is the percentage of direct payments that will go to the "eco-schemes", an instrument to encourage sustainable agricultural and livestock practices.
While the Council asks that it be 20%, Parliament is in favor of 30%.
The differences between the institutions on this and other pending issues "are not very great", so "compromise is possible."
SPANISH STRATEGIC PLAN
The Commissioner recalls that Brussels has sent recommendations to all countries with a view to preparing their strategic plans to implement the CAP
Spain should work especially on an indicator that "is not positive": the use of antibiotics in livestock, especially in intensive production, says the European owner.
It also has to move towards convergence in the basic payment to farmers.
"Spain must improve the effectiveness of the distribution of direct aid and advance in the process of internal convergence and distribution of aid, eliminating the link with historical references", says the commissioner.
In this context, he values the decision of the national authorities to advance in this area during the transitional period, without waiting for the entry into force of the future CAP.
There are other areas in which the country is in a good situation, such as greenhouse emissions from livestock, "which are at less than 2 tonnes per hectare, one of the lowest in the EU," says the commissioner.
The use of pesticides and fertilizers in Spain is not "high" either, he indicates.
FROM FARM TO TABLE
Despite the distrust of some producers towards the objectives of the European strategy "From Farm to Table" (which includes that by 2030 25% of the agricultural area of the EU is organic, that the use of fertilizers is reduced "at least 20%" and that of phytosanitary products in 50%) the commissioner defends that "it is an opportunity for farmers, especially for small and medium-sized ones."
He points out that the EU lost between 2005 and 2015 almost 4 million farms, going from 14 to 10 million.
"We need to stop this process and protect farmers and ranchers, give medium and small the possibility of participating in the competition not through the quantity but the quality of the food," he says.
It also wants to reduce the impact of the transport of agri-food products, since each year more than 3 billion foods move from one point to another in Europe and the average distance traveled exceeds 170 kilometers.
This is to be corrected "by supporting short distribution chains and local productions", although "it is not suitable for everyone (...) in Spain, some sectors, such as fruit, need to transport their products for consumers throughout Europe ", Add.
MERCOSUR
The commissioner understands the concern generated in the sector by the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) signed in 2019 and still pending ratification.
"If it is ratified (...) the situation will have to be monitored, because there are sensitive sectors, such as beef production, poultry meat or sugar, which could suffer negative consequences," he points out.
In that case, Brussels would study "the necessary support tools".
US TARIFFS
Spanish producers are "perhaps the most affected" by US tariffs, which tax imports of European products such as olive oil, table olives or wine, says the European head.
"The Commission is talking to the new Biden administration. We will focus on de-escalating tensions and eliminating all fees. A moratorium could be a possibility if both parties agree," he adds.
We will have to wait for the confirmation of the new US trade representatives to know their position, says the commissioner, who underlines that the "political climate is better" and that he hopes "a solution".
A particular case is that of the wine sector, which not only suffers from the problem of tariffs, but also the impact of the Covid pandemic.
"We are using every possible tool to improve their situation," says Wojciechowski.
BREXIT
The commissioner explains that after the agreement with the United Kingdom, this country has become "the largest market" for European exporters of agri-food products.
"There are some problems linked to border controls, but overall there are no signs that our exports will be significantly reduced. We think we will maintain our position in this market," says Wojciechowski.
Marta Borras
LABELS
Economy
Sunday, 7 March 2021
The Yorubas in Nigeria has the most spicy food/delicacies in the world, do you agree?
When it comes to spicy food I give it to the Yoruba’s.
They are the spice masters . Leaders of the pepper them gang. Haha, you are not Yoruba if you cannot eat pepper. I still wonder the kind of special tongue God gave them.
I even heard a rumor, they add pepper to their cake. Lool. (please I have headache,please Yoruba's don't come for me. Am still your friend)
The first time I tried eating my friend’s so called jollof rice turned pepper rice in school, I drank more water than the food. The next day, when I visited the toilet, I saw some of the pepper in my poop.
Yoruba's have gone international with these pepper thing. That's why a Yoruba man won the spicy food challenge in China recently.
Yoruba's and spicy food are like this
Thursday, 4 March 2021
Why is it that Africa has had a 200,000 year advantage and it’s still a poor
For 5 reasons:
Reason # 1: Presentism, the hallmark of parvenu individuals and groups.
- Ancient Egypt was so rich that the First World Wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza is located in Egypt. How much did it cost to build the pyramid? Not only the pyramid, but the Sphinx and the megatemples of the Valley of the Kings in Upper Egypt.
- The Empire of Mali was richer than medieval Britain.
- The richest man who has ever lived in a Malian ruler, Mansa Musa.
- Until the mid-19th, Africa had military power and wealth that could rival and surpass the great empires of Europe. Africans had their own currencies and indigenous financial management practices based on ethno-finance concepts.
- The empire of Ghana provides a window for us on how rich Africa was. (dogs with pure gold collars and every peasant had a piece of gold). the King of Ghana was described as tethering his horse to a “brick of gold”..
- In Munhumutapa (present day Zimbabwe) the gold miners dug 43 million tons of ore. One scholar has estimated that this would produce pure gold to the value of $7.5 billion in 1998 money.
- The incredible wealth of the Golden Kingdoms of Medieval Africa (Ghana, Mali, Songhay and Monomotapa) was such that they controlled large segments of the Gold Trade. As someone said : On his stop in Cairo, Mansa Musa, the Malian king, spent so much gold to the poor that he caused mass inflation. In the cities of Cairo, Medina, and Mecca, the sudden influx of gold devalued the metal significantly.
- Queen Sheba of Ethiopia, the iconic ruler of Axum, gave King Solomon circa 5 tons of gold (321 million dollars).
- The Swahili coast was littered with advanced city-states who grew wealthy through maritime trade as far as China. Kilwa, the most famous trading city was described as oneof the most beautiful and well-constructed citieis in the medieval world.”
Wednesday, 3 March 2021
The PP plans to eliminate the regulation of immigrants due to social or labor roots
The PP plans to eliminate the regulation of immigrants due to social or labor roots
Tuesday, 2 March 2021
Does Nigeria have the capacity to be the largest economy in Africa without oil
The next biggest industry in Nigeria after oil was banking until the government messed with that one as well. So that is already in place, we just need someone with brains in government.
The country has the brains and resources to be not just the largest economy in Africa, but a leading one in the world. What we do not have are patriotic honest people. Do not put the corruption on the government only. From the policeman extorting money on the road, to the minister taking kickbacks. All affect the advancement.
Nigeria was once a major exporter of groundnuts, cocoa, Rubber. Coffee grows in Nigeria as well as other cash crops we have not even tried growing yet some countries run their economies on them.
We were once the assembly hub for several car companies. Instead of making cars we stopped altogether.
We have a rich territorial waters but how many fishing trawlers? That is right. All the ice fish sold are caught by foreign trawlers.
We do produce stuff that are better than even European or Japanese stuff. If you are building a house you will know how many products you use that the builders insist you get Nigerian made. Wires (for decades now) PVC ceiling, plumbing pipes. Tiles it's either Italian if you are loaded or Nigerian. However the foreign market does not know of them.
In this modern age you can make a living from home over the telecom and internet. India and Russia are well known for its computer services with international companies out sourcing jobs to them from all over the world. Why can we not join in? After all we keep producing thousands of computer graduates.
Even poor countries have a national airline to promote them and make money. Where is the Nigerian airways? That brings me to a point that annoys me most.
Tourism. A flight I was on from Lagos to Benin was diverted and went along the coast. Hundreds and hundreds of kilometres of white sand beaches and calm blue seas. Looked as if it was some Caribbean country. Where are the hotel resorts? Do you know that it is hard to find anyone making Benin masks or castes? They are all gone and no one else in this world does them. Any foreign who comes to Benin wants one. Kogi State all the way to Abuja have unclimbed mountains that extreme sports tourists will die for. So many things a tourist would love.
To cut it short. Yes look at what we have. Remove corruption and bad government, add security and some foreign investment and we will not even need the oil.