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Politics › Re: Pat Utomi: Fulanis Made Me Rich, They Did More For Me Than My Own People by abnot: 10:43pm On Jul 15, 2019

Well I'm from the Niger Delta and I've also gained more from the hausas/igbos than any of niger deltan or even any member of my extended family. Some may call it slave thinking but if things were done purely based on tribe in nigeria many of us in the niger delta would be languishing at the bottom of the sphere. No matter how hardworking you are, it is easier to climb to the top by riding on the back of giants than climbing through alone. Starting from my service year when I was seeking a PPA that will enable me practice my area of specialization, I approached a number of people telling them of how a year of experience in my field will strengthen my profile and make me more competitive for a fulltime position after service year. One highly placed Niger Deltan told me I had to teach as that was the new policy. Another told me it was a good idea but I needed to ensure NYSc posted me to Lagos and after which he will do the needful. After posting came through and I got posted to Lagos I sent him a message notifying him. No response lol. And he never answered my call again after that day lmao till I called him with another number. I got the message and moved on. Nevertheless, I kept sending emails and networking with strangers till I got a job on the recommendation of a man from kastina (never met him before). Job was in my field and after service year I was offered a fulltime position but had to quit some months later as I got a better offer. This eexperience made it easy for me to get other jobs afterwards and I remain grateful to the fulani man who helped facilitate a valuable service year.

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Travel › Re: Air Peace Launches International Operations (Photos) by abnot: 11:08am On Jul 12, 2019

Jaqenhghar:
Thos is not about black or white. Its all about business. The route is not lucrative so they should ply it to make you happy and lose money. We have the African airlines they dont ply the Nigeria route as much as the Europeans what have you to say about that?

Abuja or Lagos to U.K. has always been a lucrative route there’s no favour in it. Service has never been free . Kindly come off this slave mentality . The British never grants favour to anyone . During the currency crunch in 2017 same British airways threatened to suspend the Nigerian route. Emirates stopped the Abuja route and reduced their daily frequency to Lagos. Now the economic indices has slightly improved they are all back to continue with the capital flight. Emirates is even considering a third daily flight to Lagos .

Travel › Re: Air Peace Launches International Operations (Photos) by abnot: 4:09am On Jul 12, 2019

Jaqenhghar:
Before you claim they are ripping you off ask yourself how lucrative is that route? They are even doing you a favour coming that way

Travel › Re: Air Peace Launches International Operations (Photos) by abnot: 5:58pm On Jul 11, 2019

The day I paid $400 for a British airways flight from London Heathrow to New York return trip I knew there was something wrong and these European airlines have been reaping off Nigerians. Nigerians pay over $1000 for a 6 hour flight from Abuja to London.

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Travel › Re: Air Peace Begins Dubai Flight Today by abnot: 10:58pm On Jul 05, 2019

Even their inaugural flight was delayed by 5 hours . I really don’t know what’s going on with them and poor timing .

Career › Re: NNPC Or A First Generation Bank? by abnot: 12:09pm On Jun 28, 2019

mapet:
Bros,

1. "Salaries isn't much.....allowance makes it attractive?" What does that even mean? You mean allowances are not part of emmoluments?
2. Then the "not every staff makes it to the top" narrative sounds even ridiculous to me. In which organisation do every staff make it to the top?
3. Your GGM & GM comparative is vague. So the basis of comparison becomes people you know?
4. The underlined part is even more ridiculous. Except you want to live in denial, the monies found in Andrew Yakubu's hideout was hidden. If it was legit money, it would be in his bank account.
5. You can lay the argument of fat Profit-Sharing for bank executives.... but that is even relative. In Zenith bank for example, not even all staff are entitled to PS. The middle level Senior staff are excluded while the top level staff shares the "fats"

Meanwhile, you need to know that Private Sector is not all that "Cakes and Cream". You probably would have spoken to some bankers and they tell you the lag time in their career progression, people not getting promoted in 5-6yrs; or hear promotion criteria is 48+ months.

Have you considered when you are separated from banks, what do you get afterwards? Apart from your monies in pension account what else? Do banks even do share options any more? The maxim in the banking world is that "you eat both your today and tomorrow while working in a bank....afterwards OYO"

I can't even go into some other written & "unwritten-yet-legit" entitlements of NNPC, NAPIMs, DPR, PPMC etc workers......

It is his choice to make like you said....but some misconceptions needs to be clarified
Cheers.

All the points you’ve raised are valid and I never made mention of his current employer being a better option. What I meant is that he should make a decision based on his personal circumstances and prospects. No need comparing both organisations as I don’t even know what bank the OP works for.

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Career › Re: NNPC Or A First Generation Bank? by abnot: 11:46pm On Jun 27, 2019

Joekaynews:
Never you compare NNPC prospects to that of Bank that is privately owned no matter highly paid such bank is. Are you aware you can be sacked in that bank anytime any day even without just cause but that can't happen at NNPC?

Do not use govt job to compare private no matter small the pay may be.

You can be taken out of any job. My neighbour was retired from NNPC at age of 48 shortly after kachiku was appointed GMD

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Career › Re: NNPC Or A First Generation Bank? by abnot: 11:40pm On Jun 27, 2019

mapet:
If things don't change, as an NNPC staff, on retirement your last salary is your monthly pension till death...

The salary isn’t much in these organisations . The allowances is what makes it attractive . These allowances tend to stop when you retire. Read a lot of comments here and I think NNPC is an overhyped organisation. It is huge and not every staff makes it to the top (GM, GGM, GED/COO) which is where the perks really are. I’ve come to realise that where you work does not directly correlate with your outcome / success. I knew a GGM in NNPC whom I thought was very well off but I later got to know a bank GM and later realised how much benefits these bank executives enjoy. A few years ago an ex-NNPC GMD was found with $9 million and was harassed by security agents and the media. Meanwhile likes of SEgun agbaje , Herbert wiggwe , Peter amangbo get about that annually as performance bonus from the respective banks they work in.

Kindly strategise and plan your career. I know lots of bank workers who are normal middle class citizens and also know lots of NNPC/ex-NNPC workers who are also normal middle class citizens.

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Jobs/Vacancies › Re: Is It Wise To Pay 200k/a Rent From 80k Job? by abnot: 10:05am On Jun 23, 2019

deltateam:
Comfort is what you acquire for your room like Television, fridge, assorted food items, sound system, DVD, generator etc

There are self con of #80000 depending on location.

For me comfort is beyond that. An enclosure with noise/fumes from multiple generators is not comfortable. A building in a flooded neighbourhood necessitating walking some distance barefooted to get in and out is also not comfortable. Waking up at 4am and commuting to the office at 4:30am is also not comfortable. A neighbourhood far from hospitals, grocery stores, schools and reading areas is also a no no for me. I consider these factors more than the whole one or two month income rule. In cities like Luanda , nyc , London, Dubai .. some people spend up to 4 months of income on accommodation as that is the most expensive bill . Most lagosians live in conditions far worse than a stable building.

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Jobs/Vacancies › Re: Is It Wise To Pay 200k/a Rent From 80k Job? by abnot: 8:44am On Jun 23, 2019

There are other factors to consider aside from monthly income. You need to consider the cost of transportation to your place of work/assignment, your income, location (renting in lagos is different from renting in akure) and lastly comfort level. I don't believe in living in inhumane conditions. At least one should retire to some comfort after the day's work.

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Travel › Re: Visa Denials For Nigerians Increased In 2018 - US Data Reveal by abnot: 11:24pm On Jun 19, 2019

kennygee:
I heard of a man who got denied for the weirdest reason.

The guy is married and wanted visa to the US for 15 days to attend some conferences.

They asked oga who will take cars of his family if he's away, oga said "my wife is a banker, she can take care of things while I'm away".

Na why them deny the guy be that.

Conference attendance is a scam that has casted. When growing up my dad was very active in research and participated at several conferences presenting papers here and all in different countries . While in high school we once had an interview together (as family) and VO asked him how many times he had been to USA. His response was “I don’t think I can remember. I returned to Nigeria after completing my PH.D in Philadelphia in 1982 and have been visiting since then. They chatted a bit about Philadelphia and interview ended” Now a Vo is not likely to deny such an individual even in 2019. But all these one time conference attendees are usually targets of denials by VOs.

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Politics › Re: Bukola Saraki Meets Masai Ujiri, President Of Toronto Raptors In Canada by abnot: 8:42pm On Jun 13, 2019

babyfaceafrica:
this is what saraki has been reduced to?

Reduced to what? Everything with a beginning always comes to an end someday (including life itself). Saraki is one of the most successful politicians and I doubt if you’ve achieved 1/10th of what Bukola Saraki has achieved in the politics of Nigeria in your own field. I may not be his fan but I don’t see any reduction in this picture .

Politics › Re: Governor El-Rufa Opens Mudassir & Brothers Department Store In Kaduna (photos by abnot: 5:44pm On Jun 09, 2019

rexel99:
What's largest here? Upload a full pic let people see the "largest" you are referring to. A two story building with size less than a basketball court just opposite kasuwa naim be large?

Person open shop de sell wrappers, OP de link am to growth abi kaduna state govt supporting business. If na industry at least we for agree say e de add value.

Next time just inform us that he went to commission his paddys shop.

Nigerians have love for celebrating mediocrity. At almost all levels. We settle for crumbs from our leaders at all level. May be its just me though but I can't understand

Politics › Re: Cody Murray Bruce: Ben Bruce Son, Graduates From High School by abnot: 7:49pm On Jun 02, 2019

PrinzCarter:
So common sense sent his child abroad I never knew dis is wat he has been trying to tell us , wat ever u do make sure u leave dis country..

Mr. Common sense already had a chain of media outlets and cinemas before delving into public service. There is no law that restricts a child’s place of study to a particular country . Stop hating

Business › Re: Fewa: Femi Otedola Celebrates His Only Son On His Birthday (Photo) by abnot: 6:56pm On Jun 02, 2019

tunjijones:
I heard the boy is a slow poke...

He’s autistic .

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 12:34am On Jun 02, 2019

123JohnF:
Usually B1/B2 visa is given as one. If you go, check airbnb to stay cheap and rent a car from your country, I know for foreigners renting a car for a week or 2 it was cheap, about $100 a week (I didn't check the price for a long time, ask when buying the ticket). You arrive and the car is waiting for you at the airport, easy to move around and even see motels and cheap place to stay, also move around and go shopping. Don't forget your Drivers License. Renting the car in the states is more expensive and maybe they don't like your Drivers License or Credit Card.

Thanks for your contribution. I lived in East coast USA on a F1 visa for four years and have held multiple B visas so I don’t get what you’re driving at . East coast USA ain’t cheap. If his conference is taking place in Boston (for instance) he won’t find any $100 a week car rental . I don’t know where OP is planning to travel to. I’m only writing to notify OP of the cost implications of travelling to a city in the east coast on a small budget .

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 11:08pm On Jun 01, 2019

ultimatebas:
I paid about $60 per night for Extended Stay America in Houston through the hotel's website because it is cheaper than using booking.com. That's how i got $60 per night.

Amenities ( gas, housing and healthcare ) are cheaper in Texas compared to east coast cities ( Boston , New York City, jersey City...). Hotels in New York City are in the region of $200 upwards per night

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Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 9:40pm On Jun 01, 2019

ultimatebas:
He can get Emirates or Qatar Airline tickets "TO and FRO" for $1000(N360k) and he could lodge in an hotel for about $60(21,600) per night after tax. So about 7 nights would be about 150k. Feeding lets say 100k for the 7 nights. In all he would spend about 600k not even close to one million.

lol in what city ? The USA isn't cheap and the use of conference invitation to visit the US has casted. If you haven't attended conferences in other countries the VO may question your motive.

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 5:12pm On May 22, 2019

flourishing247:
500-700k monthly!!!!!! Please what are they doing over there now?
8.4mil per annum and they can still add plenty side hustle and earn more sef. People need to think outside the box.

The struggle is real. Where I use to work starting salaries for recent grads is in the region of 6m per annum but people on 9m pa, 11.5m pa .... are all relocating to Canada and a few to USA via non immigrant route. While I frown at their actions I won’t shied from the fact that for many Nigeria is a difficult place to live . When I moved back I was amazed to find people on 18M per annum looking for loans here and there. Taking a closer look at a lot of my colleagues back then, I noticed that most of them tend to have partners at home doing nothing to generate income sufficient enough to support their husbands/kids/homes. In addition church activities tend to take about 10% - 20% of their incomes ( tithes, seeds sowing, contribution to different church events that spring up ...) and lastly multiple external dependents ( family members, lowly paid unskilled workers , others). The implication of these factors was that they were always broke before pay day. They were living pay-check to pay-check. For me I was coming from an environment where budgeting and planning was key to meeting up financial obligations and I found Lagos to be cheaper than most other cities including Accra . I had no dependent got to save more than I spent . However colleagues with much better income were always agitated and complaining about the country and continuously hinting their desire to relocate.

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Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 5:11pm On May 22, 2019

[quote author=flourishing247 post=78490534]500-700k monthly!!!!!! Please what are they doing over there now?
8.4mil per annum an[quote author=flourishing247 post=78490534]The struggle is real. Where I use to work starting salaries for recent grads is in the region of 6m per annum but people on 9m pa, 11.5m pa .... are all relocating to Canada and a few to USA via non immigrant route. While I frown at their actions I won’t shied from the fact that for many Nigeria is a difficult place to live . When I moved back I was amazed to find people on 18M per annum looking for loans here and there. Taking a closer look at a lot of my colleagues back then, I noticed that most of them tend to have partners at home doing nothing to generate income sufficient enough to support their husbands/kids/homes. In addition church activities tend to take about 10% - 20% of their incomes ( tithes, seeds sowing, contribution to different church events that spring up ...) and lastly multiple external dependents ( family members, lowly paid unskilled workers , others). The implication of these factors was that they were always broke before pay day. They were living pay-check to pay-check. For me I was coming from an environment where budgeting and planning was key to meeting up financial obligations and I found Lagos to be cheaper than most other cities including Accra . I had no dependent got to save more than I spent . However colleagues with much better income were always agitated and complaining about the country and continuously hinting their desire to relocate. d they can still add plenty side hustle and earn more sef. People need to think outside the box.

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 5:08pm On May 22, 2019

flourishing247:
500-700k monthly!!!!!! Please what are they doing over there now?
8.4mil per annum and they can still add plenty side hustle and earn more sef. People need to think outside the box.

1 Like

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 4:41pm On May 22, 2019

TWoods:
Chances are slim. I did the math, you make max $2500/month between the two of you. How do you convince a VO that you intend to spend the equivalent of two months salary (include costs of flight tickets) for a few weeks vacation and return to Nigeria?

Chairman leave that to the VO . In 2017 I quoted as salary of 260k monthly on my DS160 as I didn’t want to bother the officials with information about housing upfront, education allow, 13tj month, productivity bonus and leave allowance. Visa was approved .

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 3:18pm On May 22, 2019

123JohnF:
Sounds more like going to work in prostitution or trafficking drugs, girls

lol you never can tell what these visa officers are thinking. During my last interview at the US deputy consulate in Lagos the VO scanned through my passport and first questioned my expired F1 visa and expired tier 4 visa. Then he found about 8 stamps in and out Amsterdam schiphol airport and kept grilling me about my missions to amsterdam when I was a student . He eventually approved my visa though but I could see he was suspicious about my frequent trips there from Scotland but then this was years ago .

Travel › Re: USA Visit Visa Part 4 by abnot: 3:13pm On May 22, 2019

BOmum:
I think people question what they dont know..2 months after i joined my company, I was sent to Netherlands for a 3 weeks workshop..5 months into our employment, one of the ladies that joined with me got a short term assignment in Netherlands for 18 months which she went for...Lets stop doubting things we don't know just because we have not seen it happen and it not happening around us does not make it a lie..Companies get level please..She might be working with one big IOC and not Adekoya and brothers

Some things I read here makes me wonder if I’m as Nigerian as some people on Nairaland or if we are in the same country. A friend of mine interned at one of the agencies of the UN (without pay) and in week 4 the team was sent to do some work in New York (including her ) . After two months the team also participated at a conference in Argentina. It was because of mentalities like this I left my first job. People think you have to work for multiple years to qualify for things that you can easily afford on your resources .

Travel › Re: Things You Should Know As An Aspiring Immigrant by abnot: 2:51pm On May 21, 2019

Mishydoo:
Keep decieving yourself

Speak for yourself. Migration or 1st world work experience may be valuable to you but not to everyone. It has never been a requirement for top African jobs. Some of us looked forward to making a good living out of opportunities in Africa and I never submitted a job application in any of the two countries I studied in with no regret.

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Travel › Re: Things You Should Know As An Aspiring Immigrant by abnot: 11:03am On May 21, 2019

Devilcalibour:
i agree with you on quota you will find military expert, ex soldier who fought the war in Vietnam immigration expert and they are all nice and are not rude I love quora

Yea that’s why I advise people to throw out their questions there irrespective of the knowledge I have gained from Nairaland in the past. Quora will provide more realist answers on issues related to immigration and education as you have two categories of contributors on Nairaland regarding immigration 1. First category have never left the shores of Nigeria or have only travelled a few times on short visits. They see nothing other than the neat streets / shopping malls/restaurants. They have little or no experience Living and working in these societies and will always be pro- move to the west irrespective of individual circumstances. 2. Second category are our contributors who reside in the west and try so hard to make readers feel they are having the best careers in the west and how nigeria is a shithole and all. Both category of contributors tend to be bias and easily insult anyone who analyses issues from a different perspective.
Regarding education, most contributors seem to value education based on the ability to migrate to a country through the study option and for them the country that offers the best education is whatever country that offers a joint permanent residence after studying package. While the Indians , chinese and others use education as a tool/ asset to get ahead in life , the average Nairaland contributor sees education from the perspective of pay the fees , study , secure residence and migrate . In the late 80s the likes of segun agbaje, banigo , Jim ovia, Ben Bruce, onubogu and many others used knowledge gained from the west as a tool to get ahead and also influence many positively. Today for many it has become an achievement to be a citizen of a colonial power.

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Politics › Re: Nigeria Army Reacts To Gov. Wike's Oil Bunkering Allegation Against Gen. Sarham by abnot: 10:24am On May 21, 2019

superlanny:
Does this wike think all Nigerians are dummies, he is acting like he is innocent in all this, all hail saint wike, he has forgotten we all heard the leaked tape where he was trying to buy the military, all the killings happening in rivers is under his watch and yet he will be wailing like a lil mofo. All this politicians act this way because a good number of Nigerians are just out right stupid and dumb.

Wike did not need the army or any security agency to win the election in rivers state . The army worked against him and PDP but he still won by a wide margin

Travel › Re: Things You Should Know As An Aspiring Immigrant by abnot: 12:42am On May 21, 2019

Devilcalibour:
quora was cool before intact I do spend hours reading quora but I think people lie on that app to much

May be a couple of over/under emphasis here and there but in terms of quality you can’t compare the content found on quora with that on Nairaland. However quora contributors have an option of displaying a title/summary and from what I’ve noticed most of the contributors are way above 30s, from a mix of geographical backgrounds and professionals . On The other hand most contributors you find on Nairaland sound like youths who are unemployed or underemployed with so much hate and at times an open display of ignorance . A mix of both ( quora and Nairaland) can be helpful though .

Travel › Re: Things You Should Know As An Aspiring Immigrant by abnot: 3:23pm On May 20, 2019

Sonnobax15:
Stories....buhari must hv paid these one 2 come and brainwash us...*tueh*....it ain't qonna work..

Lol safe trip. Quora has more experienced and well off contributors compared to Nairaland . On quota you have ex-african expatriates , people with experience living & working in 1st , 2nd , 3rd world countries , retired consultants/experts. A good percentage of contributors on Nairaland are disgruntled youths who hardly analyse things from a rational point of view which makes Quora a preferred forum (my opinion)

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Travel › Re: Things You Should Know As An Aspiring Immigrant by abnot: 2:41pm On May 20, 2019

Mishydoo:
UK is "Closed to immigration' yet our youths are streaming there to spend millions.Who will give them orientation

Some of our youths want the education and not emigration. Get that right .

Travel › Re: Nigerians - Leave The UK (United Kingdom) ALONE!!! by abnot: 11:54pm On May 13, 2019

Entitlement mentality here and there. Britain was built for the British and not for africans. Many used study visas as a route to migration and as a responsible country with the interest of it's people at heart they tightened the loopholes. Those lamenting and regretting most likely had immigrant intents otherwise I don't get why a prospective student will not read about the immigration rules before embarking on such mirage.

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Travel › Re: Should I Move To The UK Or Return To Nigeria? by abnot: 11:40pm On May 13, 2019

justwise:
Honestly i don't think you have the right mindset regarding this, there are Nigerians doing well in many professional jobs.

I must appreciate the poster's sincerity as opposed to how majority of Nigerians resident in first world nations present the west. I don't think the poster has the wrong mindset. He is at a stage in life where tough decisions need to be made and he is trying to be careful. It is only on nairaland that I consistently hear/read of Nigerians doing well in the west. Majority of Africans are struggling in the west. I also struggled during my college days in east coast USA despite getting a generous allowance from home. Nigerians are also struggling back home in Nigeria. In UK where I lived for 2 years + the story is the same. I don't know much about the poster's academic and social background but I'll suggest he reflects on his strengths and weaknesses in both spheres and make a decision based on that. The west can be attractive when young and at your prime but as you age your priorities and interests get to change and some begin to miss the African life.

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