agitator:

@shotgun,
Well its good to hear the enlightenment part. PEACE

@bluetooth

Do you know how many oil spillages that occurred onshore and offshore in Nigeria without the Nigerian media reporting about it?

I have witnessed where oil spilled into a river used for fishing, bathing, washing, drinking, etc and people living the affected communities and host community had to make do with bush water for drinking and cooking as the river water could not be used. Note this was before pure (sachet) water became common, but in order to preserve the precious bush water for drinking, they still had to use it for bathing, washing, etc.

compare it to what happened recently in the gulf of Mexico, didn't the American press air the issue?

but same thing occurs more often in Nigeria (although of recent all spillages is are now attributed to vandalism, bunkering, militancy, etc) and it's not reported by the local press. So don't blame Nigerians who see this as an opportunity to do their own journalism.

agitator:

Well if you think we will post pictures to clear your image and boost your ego before your friends abroad, then you are mistaken. Thank God it's internet based not by surface mail all these governors, their kids and praise singers would have blocked it.

shotuns:

@kobokunje,
which part of the world are you? Do you know the current population of the Chinese today? statistically 1.3 billion but in actual fact it is close to 2 billion. I narrated a true story based on my personal experience here, for the past 5 years of my experience i still encouter this same question everyday of my life but you hardly see all these in there media all you see is the best part of the Chinese.

shotuns:

Yes Chinese people can be found in every continent, had families, learn local languages, same here in China there are many Nigerians who had families here too, settled down and learned the local languages, does that mean flooding Africa with their goods and their presence means all Chinese know everything about Africa? I have seen on several occasions where foreign invites were invited to tv programs and they had to correct the chinese host that African is not a country. what do you know ? 

☻ajali☺:


Years ago, before I got to know my husband, his family and Nigeria generally, Nigeria and her citizens for me was a country from one better leaves the fingers. And why? Because everything what one found out about Nigeria only dealt with frault, corruption etc. That one finds also a lot of beauty and positive in Nigeria, one did not get to know. This has not changed much up to now even if a more positive picture of Nigeria is sometimes tried to point. The prevailing majority of the people abroad has no other possibility to inform about Nigeria, as about reports and documentations in the media. This negative picture brings so many disadvantages for Nigerians no matter whether they live at home or abroad. You know this only too well and experience it every single day.
Why not using the possibility to show Nigeria to the people like you see it and experience?
Show, what friendly, happy, honest and full of ideas people you are. The varied beauties of your country, the hospitillity, your humor. I mean not to deny the mismanagement or to talk nicely about this would be wrong. But Nigeria is more, much more and this you should also point. Make the people curiously on you and your country, so that they want to get to know more. Certainly something will change not from today on tomorrow, however if the people scratch not only in the surface, but start to dig deeper who knows what can originate from it, for both sides. To talk with each other is the beginning to understood each other. Many mistakes and prejudices could be cleared so.

shotuns:

@Kobokunje, I really wonder if you are truly a Nigerian. you making no sense.

~Bluetooth:

If there won't be any help from such,then why do we need it ? See,i'm one of those that believe that ''Nigerians are the cause of their problems and should also be the ones to find solutions to such problems.

~Bluetooth:

we don't need to go to the era of world war two to prove anything,chile and haiti had disasters of recent,yet the world came to their rescue.Thailand and Greek also had economy problems and they got the necessary international assistance they needed.If the whole idea is just to inform the world without any positive outcome,then of what use is the idea ? This is what i still can't figure out.''OBJECTIVITY''.

~Bluetooth:

my bad. . .i'm one of those that still see that shiothole called nigeria as a country and i've come to realized that until we address the problems of bad leadership and low quality governance,then we can't move along.it's has nothing to do with the poor nigerians on the street anyways ,don't mind me if i get entangled in my emotional opinion.I just can't stand it.this is what i want us to tell the world ''The whims and caprices of our leaders'' .why everything has been wrong with us since indepedence despite the huge wealth . .Why our government has no shame.

Kobojunkie:

I am a Nigerian living abroad, and do not experience whatever DISADVANTAGES you claim there that Nigerians do abroad.

So you can count yourself happy that you have not experienced any disadvantage. I know some contrary cases.

Now, to the case of problems with Nigerians living abroad, it is also HONEST to admit that it is not the case that we are all angels here. There have been so many 419 rings rounded up both in the UK and the United States that it makes no sense to still believe all the stigma comes from being a Nigerian. I have friends who have been questioned, some implicated in one fraud issue or another, all carried out here by some dubious individuals. So, I think again, HONESTY is the BEST POLICY in these things.

In no country you will find only angels no matter where the people are from. Every nation has its black sheeps. But this is not the problem. The problem is that the view of Nigeria shown by the media is mostly onesided ( I do not say that they are wrong with their reports) and this is one of several reasons for many disadvantages the avarage Nigerian in Nigeria have to live with. Things which are very normal in your and my life can be very difficult, not to say impossible for Nigeria's citizen. I just remember of a family friend who recently could not pay online the Travel Health Insurance he needed for his visa application or booking a cheaper flight ticket online instead of using an expensiv agent.Yes, there is frault and corruption in Nigeria and maybe on a higher level as somewhere else but there are millions of people who are honest, trustfull. People and families who are living a happy life even if it is maybe harder than yours or mine. People who refuse to be a criminal even if it is difficult for them to hold themself over water every day. This should be count and told too and not only the thousands of fraultster.

Secondly, that you see some beauty or choose to see ALL BEAUTY in Nigeria does not mean all people will see only that. See there are different kinds of people out there --- some only choose to see the beautiful shiny, while some others see the Shiny but cannot ignore the poverty and misery that surrounds them still.

It is not about to see only the beauty. It is about not to see only the bad. Both, beauty and bad paints the true picture.

Blaming the Media or people abroad is just a copout, and I know you claim to be married to a Nigerian, but I would suggest you go out to Nigeria to live for a couple of  months(make sure you go out and meet the people in their elements) to get a better picture of the reality of the country that people down there speak of.

Thanks for your advise but I have lived in Nigeria and yes I went out and meet the people in their elements, or what do you think where I have formed my opinion? I hope you have done the same.

☻ajali☺:

So you can count yourself happy that you have not experienced any disadvantage. I know some contrary cases.

☻ajali☺:

In no country you will find only angels no matter where the people are from. Every nation has its black sheeps. But this is not the problem.

☻ajali☺:

The problem is that the view of Nigeria shown by the media is mostly onesided ( I do not say that they are wrong with their reports) and this is one of several reasons for many disadvantages the avarage Nigerian in Nigeria have to live with.

☻ajali☺:

Things which are very normal in your and my life can be very difficult, not to say impossible for Nigeria's citizen. I just remember of a family friend who recently could not pay online the Travel Health Insurance he needed for his visa application or booking a cheaper flight ticket online instead of using an expensiv agent. Yes, there is frault and corruption in Nigeria and maybe on a higher level as somewhere else but there are millions of people who are honest, trustfull.
People and families who are living a happy life even if it is maybe harder than yours or mine. People who refuse to be a criminal even if it is difficult for them to hold themself over water every day. This should be count and told too and not only the thousands of fraultster.

☻ajali☺:

It is not about to see only the beauty. It is about not to see only the bad. Both, beauty and bad paints the true picture.

Thanks for your advise but I have lived in Nigeria and yes I went out and meet the people in their elements, or what do you think where I have formed my opinion? I hope you have done the same.

tensor777:

There is a canard that says Americans are notorious for believing whatsoever their TV networks tell them, so it shouldn't be surprising that a lot of these US-based posters here hold such misguided views about Africa. This applies especially to the long-term residents there.

bidemi12:

Are you normal at all? you are talking as if we do not visit Nigeria from time to time and do not have relatives or read newspapers from Nigeria. your juvenile posts are begining to annoy me.

tensor777:

Well the truth should be very bitter. But I have to say that your posts here about Nigeria reek of someone that has gone through serious brainwashing.
It certainly does not in any way represent the Nigeria we know which is an ecclectic mixture of the good and the bad

tensor777:

^^I'm not in the mood for exchanging words with you today. The only thing I need to remind you guys is that Nigeria is still a developing country, a young developing country at that. Of course there are infrastructural and governance issues. Nobody is denying that. If these issues didn't exist then Nigeria would no more be a developing country.
Nevertheless no true patriot should tolerate a scenario whereby Americans only get to be broadcast the negative stories and pictures, notswithstanding the fact that there are plenty of good things happening in Nigeria as well.

bidemi12:

and you have not named any good thing so far. That is my problem with your analysis. the bad have completed over shadowed the good so much so that citizens are shackeled from realising their true potential. when you live through a week without thinking you have to bribe your way into what is basically your right, or do not have to jump through hoops to get a job, or sleep with one eye open for fear of armed robbers, or fear of showing your wealth because you might be kidnapped, or cast your vote and be confident that you vote will count, then you can preach to me about good things in nigeria. Please dont list food, or tourism (which we have none to boast of).

ziga:

Alright. . . Point taken. Lol. No good thing about Nigeria from your point of view. I know that is because somehow, you have escaped the harshness and difficulties of Nigeria, and you will try to deliver all of your family from Nigeria, and get them integrated into the greatest nation of the world.

tensor777:

Honestly do I really need to spell out the positive things in Nigeria to a Nigerian??

People.Warm, hospitable, humourous, respectful, and dignified
Architecture. Very creatively designed homes and office blocks.
Vegetation. Amazing variety of flora and fauna
Busuness opportunities. Great place for merchandising all kinds of products.
Weather. All year round sunshine
Armed forces. Increasingly professional military with a great reputation for international peace-keeping
Entertainment. Great movie and music industry.

There are loads of other examples I could mention.

tensor777:

People.Warm, hospitable, humourous, respectful, and dignified

tensor777:

Architecture. Very creatively designed homes and office blocks.

Few. Ancient buildings, like the palace of Oyo, all demolished, but all the Portuguese architecture is intact.

tensor777:

Vegetation. Amazing variety of flora and fauna

tensor777:


Busuness opportunities. Great place for merchandising all kinds of products.

No need to answer this one. Straight Abuja, Lekki, VI pics of over the top architecture. Marble will full CNN.

tensor777:

Weather. All year round sunshine

tensor777:

Armed forces. Increasingly professional military with a great reputation for international peace-keeping

Armed forces is nice, although in 2010 alone over 600 people have died from things the army could have easily prevented, and probably helped not to prevent. . . . Their pensions are often delayed. They do a good job defending other countries. Picture of tarted Nigerian uniforms, bashed vehicles and outdated ammunition aren't nice.

tensor777:

Entertainment. Great movie and music industry.

tensor777:

There are loads of other examples I could mention.

Kobojunkie:

[size=15pt]roflmao!!![/size]