₦airaland Forum

just saw this site. i'm wondering if it's real.

http://www.yankarigamereserve.com/home.htm


have you been to yankari game reserve recently? how is the place now? i was their in 1999 and it wasn't in good shape. any planes to re-structure the place?

Pelican:
Fellow Nigerians,
(I hope I'm not sounding like those cowboys of yesteryears. God forbid such distractions in my fatherland again!),
much as we have freedom of opinion and expression, it's important that we also note the effect of our contribtutions on the nation as a whole through this forum.

When we make negative comments like some we have read under this topic, we indirectly empower and encourage the evil politicians in our land. Why and how? Because they console themselves by saying,"eat what ever you want to eat, afterall Mr Yaradua wey won do goodman, Nigerians still callam thief" We make the likes of Abacha(if the accusations were true) and most of our politicians saints.

The truth we must understand is that in spite of whatever shortcomings our president may have as a human being, he has shown by his words and actions so far, that he is a noble man and a man of integrity. He is a rare gem to have come out to declare his asset. This singular action, as far as I'm concerned already outweighs the 8yrs noise of Chief Obasanjo against corruption.

If Nigerians still do not see anything good in our presidents action, then even if an angel comes down to rule us, we will never be satisfied. What Yaradua needs now is for all men and women of goodwill, who love this country, to Begin to pray earnestly for him because his action must have already pitched him on the enemy camp against most of the other politicians. I fear for his life, but I pray that God will hearken to the prayers of the many suffering people in Nigeria and see him through.

My dear president, may God help you, grant you the strenght of David and the wisdom of Solomon to lead us aright. Amen.

My sentiments. A little wariness does not hurt though.

Very few individuals can do Ribadu's job with same enthusiasm- the zeal to rid the country of corruption.

He is a fine gentleman who puts the interest of the nation above individual gain.

Yar' adua may have the power to replace him, but I doubt it is the best action at this time. If anything, he should be encouraged to carry on with the good work.

Darealaby:
mystyd1@yahoo.com

mermaid run. run for your dear life.


i advice you to contact the nigerian high commission directly. it sounds strange that the embassy has stopped issuing visas. why are then still in india?

is it only chips? no piece of chicken? i don't like chips without chiken

nigerian calls are annoying. they ring and hang up, then expect you to call back. When you call back, they tell you they want to find out how you are doing. And when you ask them wetin dey happen, they say "you no as 9ja dey before you commot now". Shortly, the will ask for pounds; anything for the pocket.

frankly brother, it's annoying. i have tried to explain to friends, but none of them would understand. when i let them know i pay a huge amount as tuition in the uni, they say "na school we go chop?"

pounds is difficult to earn, and easy to spend. the bills are astronomical. house rent are calculated per week. i pay 70 pounds per week for a very small room. i pay for internet, telephone (mobile and house), television, travel etc. part of my tuition (9,000 pounds) was paid by my civil servant parents, yet every day friends call and hang up, expecting me to ring back. who told you that calls are cheap here? TALK-DIRECT (a phone card) costs 5 pounds and when you use it to call nigerian mobile number, it lasts you less than 200 minutes. most people don't even want you to drop the phone once you call them, they want you to talk to their fathers, mothers, uncles, girl friends, maids and even bingo.

i used to pick up all those calls and ring back, but when i started receiving "flash calls" from more than 20 different people on a daily basis, i stopped picking up nigerian calls. they don't ring for more than 2 seconds, and they expect you to ring back immediately, notwithstanding that you might be in school, at work or in church.

you can afford to make a call to the uk from nigerian with your mobile. nobody can try it in the uk, else the week's pay will go to your network provider.

people also find it difficult here. here is not heaven. Elgaxton, i promise you you will do the same when you come over here.

any way, i intend to return to 9ja after mit studera.

na big grammar brother. the appeal is granted, and the appeal is rejected. i think you need an immigration lawyer to explain the implication.

nice ones. looks like the london underground except that the names were changed.

what a joke though. lagos will solve the problem of roads, then overground.

nice one

My advice to those calling on OBJ to subject himself to a DNA analysis is to first confirm their own paternity through the same means.

Mind you, it is only your mothers that know the identity of your real fathers.

Some people writing here are unknowingly children of their landlords.

It is time these criminal elements are flushed out completely.

What is their latest demands? More ransom I suppose.

And what did they get? Death. Cold death!


http://africa.reuters.com/country/NG/news/usnL21767268.html

Nigerian troops say 12 killed at oil facility
Thu 21 Jun 2007, 10:56 GMT

[-] Text [+] LAGOS, June 21 (Reuters) - Nigerian troops killed 12 militants and rescued some hostages in a dawn raid on an Italian-operated oil facility in the Niger Delta on Thursday, the army said.

Italian oil giant Eni <ENI.MI> had said that 16 Nigerian oil workers and 11 soldiers were being held hostage at the Ogbainbiri flow station since Sunday, but the army said they found only 11 oil workers there.

You guys here saying Obj is an Igbo man are talking hogwash.
Does the paternity of a 76 year old matter?
Nigerian journalists have run out of news. They now publish worthless articles.

Assuming OBJ's father is Igbo, so what?
Then he must have been adopted and brought up by a Yoruba father which makes him Yoruba.
Or is adoption not allowed in nigeria?

ishmael:
Yes most people who develop high BP in Nigeria are holders of HND certificates.

To be serious, I understand you guys position. I was angered when my elder brother was refused admission for MSc in a london university here because he holds an HND. I was angry because I know what he is worth in the academic scene. He was denied just because of nomenclature. Once HND is re-named, they would then qualify for immediate masters degree without going through the PGD route. Nomenclature, that's the word.

Give us a first hand information about how you are being treated in Germany?
Is it true that people carry their passports around for fear of the police and immigration officials?
Have you ever been harrassed by the Dutch police?
How do you compare the German police to NPF?

link: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=125743
watch: http://media.at5.nl/items/070616_actie.wmv

Dutch police raid W/A migrants' club


, arrest popular Nigerian actor - Nkem Owoh and others ?.
Dutch police last Saturday raided a popular club in Amsterdam frequented mostly by West African migrants and arrested over 100 suspected illegal immigrants.

According to the Amsterdam police spokesperson Bert Huijzendveld, most of the arrested persons were picked on suspicion of their involvement in internet. crimes popularly referred to as '419'.

'After ripping off their victims, they come to here to spend most of their booty, this exercise is being done in collaboration with our counterparts in the United States, the idea is to flush out these criminals and it has had a very positive effect?

At around 1 am, the police sealed off completely the surroundings of the 'Vervolg Grand cafe' located within the precincts of the Amsterdam Ajax Arena in the Bijlmer, - home to most migrants in The Netherlands and asked every visitor to the caf? to provide a proof of identity and residence permit.

Visitors to the cafe, mostly Nigerians were enjoying performances of popular Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh (Osofia) when the estimated sixty policemen arrived with horses, dogs, vans and buses to transport the 111 arrested illegal immigrants.

Nkem Owoh was briefly detained and released after his identity was confirmed.

Most of the arrested illegal immigrants (both sexes) have been sent to the deportation center at Schiphol airport and are expected to be deported shortly without trial.

It is believed that most of the fraudsters operate from Amsterdam sending millions of scam mails to all over the world and have defrauded many victims of large sums running into several million dollars.

Some unfortunate natives of West Africa were also affected by the raid.

Last year similar raids took place at popular Nigerian hangouts where many of such fraudsters were arrested.

See video of police raid:

Dutch police raid W/A migrants' club
NEW. Watch live television from Ghana plus the latest Ghanaian movies.

, arrest popular Nigerian actor - Nkem Owoh and others ?.
Dutch police last Saturday raided a popular club in Amsterdam frequented mostly by West African migrants and arrested over 100 suspected illegal immigrants.

According to the Amsterdam police spokesperson Bert Huijzendveld, most of the arrested persons were picked on suspicion of their involvement in internet. crimes popularly referred to as '419'.

'After ripping off their victims, they come to here to spend most of their booty, this exercise is being done in collaboration with our counterparts in the United States, the idea is to flush out these criminals and it has had a very positive effect?

At around 1 am, the police sealed off completely the surroundings of the 'Vervolg Grand cafe' located within the precincts of the Amsterdam Ajax Arena in the Bijlmer, - home to most migrants in The Netherlands and asked every visitor to the caf? to provide a proof of identity and residence permit.

Visitors to the cafe, mostly Nigerians were enjoying performances of popular Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh (Osofia) when the estimated sixty policemen arrived with horses, dogs, vans and buses to transport the 111 arrested illegal immigrants.

Nkem Owoh was briefly detained and released after his identity was confirmed.

Most of the arrested illegal immigrants (both sexes) have been sent to the deportation center at Schiphol airport and are expected to be deported shortly without trial.

It is believed that most of the fraudsters operate from Amsterdam sending millions of scam mails to all over the world and have defrauded many victims of large sums running into several million dollars.

Some unfortunate natives of West Africa were also affected by the raid.

Last year similar raids took place at popular Nigerian hangouts where many of such fraudsters were arrested.

See video of police raid:

http://media.at5.nl/items/070616_actie.wmv

How will he be described?

Former governor, illegitimate former governor, usuper, or what



http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=80910

Presidency Accepts Supreme Court Verdict Reinstating Peter Obi as Anambra Governor

Strange. Innit?

Joke apart, are you real?

I'm bit confused here. So governorship election will hold in anambra in 2010, 2014, 2018, x+4?

Anambra is quite customized.

Well, the supreme court ruling stands. More strength to our democracy.

I don't know if we should believe in the rape and robbery crap.
They always device an escape route to hide their atrocities.

Remember in 2005 when Mr Meneze wa shot at a tube station in london?
Didn't the metropolitan police say he was wearing a heavy jacket they taught concealed a bomb?
Didn't they say he jumped the ticket barrier?
Didn't Mr. Ian Blair say the shooting was directly linked to terrorism?

But when what actually happened was revealed, Meneze was not wearing a jacket.
He never jumped a ticket barrier. We was murdered by over-zealous policemen.

Forget about all the allegation levelled against the poor boy.
He was murdered by the spanish immigration.
This is cold blood murder.
It is only in nigeria that this could happen and people don't care a dime.
I weep for nigeria.

Does it matter any more? He's been released already.

MILITIA:
@Azorjiu
They are asking you for pictures of "Abuja" you are showing us Scottish pride? Please my naija brodas and sistas make una show us picture of "Abuja" Metropolis oh! Do not forget to include those "Bwari" kwashiorkor pot bellied people oh! LOL

Do you think i have the time to shows pictures of abuja on this site?
Go check that out yourself. Abuja is qualified to host the game.
Do you doubt abuja has the facilities to host the game or what?

What we lack is the power to package and sell ourselves.
Our second-hand mentality doesn't allow us to see anything good in ourselves.
We look  ourselves through a pair of paleolithic-fashioned spectacles.
We are a people without pride.

Ok, but abuja deserves to host the game. We've got the facilities for the event ready.

Take a look at
http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/Glasgow-Lose-Games-Bid-t8209.html

By the way, I don't see the reason why Abuja should not host the game. We mustn't wait until per capita income gets to $40,000 to host the game.

Abuja is modern, Glasgow is rusty.

Hosting the game will not only improve on the infrastructure we have at the moment, but also contribute positively to the economy of the country. These guys are coming to spend dollars, pounds, naira, etc. can't you see.

On a sad note, corruption is a major factors as the benefits of the game may end up in the pockets of the privileged few.

But come to think of it, do we earnestly believe we can't win the war on corruption before 2014?- I don't mean zero corruption, but corruption at an acceptable level (Like the type you witness in UK, USA and other developed countries)

Make sure you don't go illegally. Read what's in the news today

http://www.pr-inside.com/nigerian-immigrant-dies-on-deportation-flight-r149929.htm

Nigerian immigrant dies on deportation flight from Spain
Print article
Refer to a friend
© AP

2007-06-11 13:44:57 -


MADRID, Spain (AP) - Spanish police are investigating the death of a Nigerian immigrant during a deportation flight to his country, authorities said Monday.
Osamyia Aikpitanhi, 23, died on an Iberia flight on Saturday when he was taken to Lagos with three countrymen.
The flight was carrying 97 passengers and had to turn back and land in
the city of Alicante after the crew discovered Aikpitanhi had died.
New reports said on Monday Aikpitanhi may have died after swallowing a gag taped over his mouth to prevent him from biting officers. He had wrestled with police when getting on the plane and also inside the aircraft, the daily El Pais said.
A National Police spokesman declined to give a cause for the man's death and said that an investigation was under way. An autopsy is planned.
Aikpaitanhi, who had been living in Spain illegally for four years, was reported to have a police record for assault in Spain and another one for murder and rape in Nigeria.
His family has accused Spanish police of mistreatment, El Pais said.

Spain has long been a lure for Africans seeking a better life in Europe.
In the last year, and specially after facing a flood of illegal entries in 2006, Spain has increased the number of countries with which it has fast-track repatriation accords, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

When will the giant of africa rise?
When will this vertically challenged country grow up?

Thousands of nigerians deported from Libya!
Millions deported from Cameroon!
Many more deported from Europe!
Others on their way from america!
When will this stop?

Is there no human right in Spain?

Our leaders please fix this nation.
Nigerians have lost their pride.




http://africa.reuters.com/country/NG/news/usnL11606882.html

Nigerian dies on deportation flight from Spain
Mon 11 Jun 2007, 8:07 GMT

[-] Text [+] MADRID, June 11 (Reuters) - A Nigerian illegal immigrant died while being deported from Spain with a restraining gag over his mouth, Spanish media reported on Monday.

The Iberia jet flying 97 passengers to Nigeria had to turn back to Spain and land in Alicante on Saturday after crew discovered that Osamuyia Aikpitanhi, 23, had died, newspaper El Pais said.

Police union sources told El Pais Aikpitanhi may have died after swallowing a gag taped over his mouth to prevent him biting extradition officers.

Spain, which received more immigrants than any other European country in 2006, has stepped up deportations and entry refusals to 23,000 so far this year.

The 23-year-old Aikpitanhi, who was being deported with three other Nigerians, was wanted in his home country for rape and murder and had a string of violence charges in Spain.

His family believe police punched and kicked him, the paper reported.

This should have been posted on the sports section, but i decided to have it here because of its political undertone.

Scots are at it again. Does the articule below represent the state of affairs in my country?

link
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_headline=tell-the-world--&method=full&objectid=19274210&siteid=64736-name_page.html

10 June 2007
TELL THE WORLD
Sunday Mail investigates: The hidden truth behind Nigeria's £250M fight for Commonwealth Games
Charles Lavery
THE race to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games enters the last lap this week as the five-man judging panel arrives in Scotland.

Their verdicts will be key when the 71 members vote between Glasgow and Nigeria's Abuja. Almost twomillion Scots back our bid on the internet but most Nigerians living on a dollar a day do not share that same enthusiasm.

Sunday Mail writer CHARLES LAVERY and photographer HENRY McINNES spent a week in the shanty towns of Abuju and saw first-hand the grim price many Nigerians are paying for their leaders' grand dreams.

IT is heralded as Africa's fastest growing city, the digital capital of Nigeria, and city leaders boast confidently it will be the next host of the Commonwealth Games.

Last week Abuja showcased its impressive £70million stadium, velodrome and pool to the men who help decide whether it or Glasgow will win the 2014 Games bid.

Nigeria's sports minister Bala Kaole reckons their bid is "in the bag".


He even believes he has convinced the judging team Abuja is safer and more prosperous than Glasgow.


But airbrushed out of their glossy and colourful campaign is the plight of thousands of ordinary Africansmade homeless and left poverty-stricken by the Nigerian government's obession with making Abuja the jewel in the crown.

Less than a mile from these pristine facilities, we saw locals struggle to carve their day's food from the carcass of a goat as a man stood nearby wielding an AK-47 machine gun - for his own safety.

And in the Ushafa settlement, a few miles outside the city gates, families live in makeshift mud huts 20 years after they were forced from the city centre to make way for exclusive new developments.


Some went from the very land on which the 60,000-seat national stadium - centrepiece of this shiny new metropolis - now stands.


The displaced masses of the Bwari tribe were promised new homes and compensation - which never came.


They live in mud huts and have to steal water from a nearby reservoir which supplies the city they once called home.


The Abuja Games bid is costing more than £250million but the government will not stretch to the £10,000 cost of a borehole which would give the tribe the water they need.


Girls as young as four carry buckets of scorching sand on their heads to the village so their parents can make the bricks that will give shelter from the sun.


The searing hot grains smear their faces and leave tiny little scars and rivulets on their foreheads.


His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammabu Baba, chief of the Bwari people, wants the world to know what has happened.


And he is desperate that the authorities who moved his people will not benefit from the lucrative kudos the Games would bring.


In a baking hot room in the centre of a "village" with no roads, sanitation or running water, he sat in a room decorated only with peeling photos of a meeting he held with Bill Clinton in 2000.


The then US President was on a whistlestop tour of Africa and had personally requested a meeting.


Chief Baba wants the committee judging the Commonwealth Games bids to see the plight of his people - not just the shiny new wealth of Abuja.


He said: "They are spending millions of pounds on the bid for these games while the people here go without water.


"The only good thing about the Games is that the world might see how we are forced to live "Tell the world what has happened to my people.


"Please tell everyone. Theywant to bring the games to Abuja. It is our land and we were moved with no compensation - nothing. We have lived like this ever since.


"President Clinton came here and promised to help. We are told he sent money but it never got here.


"Clinton demanded to speak to the chief of Abuja and they had to bring him to me.


"I am the chief of Abuja and the people who lived there. We have no water - nothing. We are forgotten.


"Our people have no food, water, money.


"Tell everyone, tell the committee to come and see how we live."


At least 300,000 Bwari tribespeople were forcibly removed in the early 1980s as Nigeria sought to build a modern capital to house the nation's divided sects and tribes.


They now have nothing and no means to improve their circumstances. They ask for money but also for pens and notebooks.


Locals regularly queue for two days, sleeping in their cars, just to fill up their tanks in this sixth-biggest oil producer in the world.


Just one kilometre away, a British company, Biwater, are extending a massive dam which will hold water for the oil rich residents 10 kilometres away.


Ushafa villagers know they could be shot on sight by police for going there to take water.


In another tiny settlement in the shadow of the stadium, hundreds of Bwari tribespeople have evaded the bulldozers and live less than a mile fromthe stadium that is the showpiece of the Games bid.


All around lies the devastation of the clearances, rubble lying where once there were fields of corn.


The people in this last outpost against the state, in all less than 1000, are all starving.


The children have distended tummies and their only toilet is a rubbish heap yards from their hovels.


They are determined to stay in their own land and have their native Bwari rights affirmed by the Nigerian state.


Aman with an AK-47 stood guard at the entrance to the hamlet as other men sold goat meat under the shade of a tree.


When I asked him why he had the weapon, he replied: "Security."


When I asked if he was employed by the government he shook his head, adding: "My security." He stood less than 500 yards from the main entrance to Nigeria's National Stadium.


The contrast with the display by the Abuja organisers could not be more marked.


The city centre boasts the same multimillion-pound shopping malls seen in US and European cities.


On offer are the latest Spider-Man DVD and the new Beyonce album.


But these are confined to the superrich and shoppers browse under the gaze of gun-wielding security guards.


The people of the village have never heard of Beyonce and are not allowed near these malls.


Their daily lives are about the struggle to get enough water and food.


John Tierney, head of the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation Commission, and other delegates arrive in Glasgow this week.


The organisers of the Glasgow bid will be out to impress, and tens of thousands of sports fans will be willing them to give the Games to Glasgow.


Thousands of miles away, few of the displaced tribespeople in Abuja will be aware of this latest step towards deciding the destination of the Games. They can only hope the delegates, taken on a carefully stage-managed tour of their home city, will finally hear their voices and consider their plight.


The Abuja bid team shrug off the scandal of the problems faced by Nigeria's poor but admit they kept delegates away from Ashafa.


A spokesman said: "The situation with the Bwari people has been adequately addressed by the administration.


These things take time.


"These people are expecting to get money but it has to go through a process. They made way for the city and there has now been a change in administration. So maybe now they will get their money.


"This is not something for the bid team to address. The government is going to do something about this. The process to get them resettled and compensated is ongoing but yes, it is taking some time.


"It was a different government which asked them to leave their land but we hope that as the deadline for the bid gets closer these things can be resolved.


"The evaluation committee were impressed with what we have on the ground and told us about improvements we have to make to be ready, in terms of infrastructure and transport.


"The government has plans to build a new rail system for the city. The committee were very satisfied but, of course, they advised we would need to do some work between now and 2014.


"We did not take them to Ushafa - why would we?"


Glasgow v Abuja


Population - 600,000


Economy - The retail, commerce and manufacturing bases in the city account for almost one third of Scotland's £86.3billion gross domestic product.


Climate - The summer Games would be in weather best described as "changeable".


Stadia - There are two internationalclass athletics venues in Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena and Scotstoun Stadium, plus football grounds Celtic Park, Ibrox Stadium and Hampden Park. The SECC and Kelvingrove Park would also be used.


Transport Links - Two international airports welcome three million visitors every year. Established subway, rail and bus network.


Hotels - Luxury hotels include the Hilton, the Marriot and the Radisson.


Previous experience - won acclaim for the way it hosted this year's UEFA Cup Final and the Champions League Final in 2003. Also hosted the Special Olympics in 2005.


Population - 1,800,000


Economy - A significant portion of Nigeria's Û83.6billion economy is generated in Abuja, which is in the middle of extensive privatisation. One in three people earn less than one dollar a day.


Climate - Temperatures in Abuja are as high as 36C.


Stadia - Abuja National Stadium is the venue for international football matches and also played an integral part in the country's hosting of the All-Africa Games.


Transport links - Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport serves two million customers every year. It is undergoing a Û60million development and a tram system is planned for the games


Hotels - Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Protea Hotel. Apo Apartments are among the hospitality facilities on offer for accommodating delegates and press from the Commonwealth


Previous experience - Hosted the All-Africa Games in 2003, when it catered for more than 7000 athletes.

The problem of nepa is pathological and could only be fixed in a test tube. I have the solution to the problem of nepa, honestly. Remember Yahya Jammeh of Gambia.

If the election had been free and fair, Atiku Utomi would have just arrived from the G-8 summit in Germany.

Bankole01:
so what are you? a referee? are you learning to type or just like to see your name in print?

Shut up friend.

Bankole01 writes from USA, davidylan from NY comments. Bankole01 remarks again and davidylan comments.

Asari went about it in a wrong way.
Calling for a separate state is treason.
Threatning the family of a presiding judge with kidnap and death did not get him anywhere.

The problem of the niger delta will always be a scare on our conscience.
The government should holistically tackle the problem of poverty, environmental pollution and lack of infranstructure in the niger delta.

Having said that, Asari should not be released just to appease the niger delta. He should face the charges against him. He should be granted fair a hearing.

Releasing him to appease the militants will be setting a bad precedence. Yielding to the threats of the militants will only signify cowardice of conscience. Other groups will capitalize on such weakness to perpetrate evil.

The 'tory' sounds real.
I wish Ehi-ndero several years in jail if found culpable.
May God bring them all to justice.

I don't see why judges can't tie wrapper (or kampala) and wear isi-agu like our forebears did during arbitrations proceedings. Caftan would also be a great attire for judges.

I hold no brief for Ehindero, but I don't rely on The Sun for genuine information.