₦airaland Forum

VERDA:
U just dey para ,I get ur point and all plus kiss Daniel should not have opted out of his contract just like that,that been said,we must understand that eventually an artist might want to become his own man,this is not a bad thing,there is no law that says an artist must remain with his label forever,its called growth,labels should learn to operate with building talents and letting them go when they want to in mind,after they must have recouped their investment of course,there are many potential stars out there.

See out your contract and then become your own man. If he wants to be a man he would have done it on his own.

kroger:
timesup234 is coming very soon for his head

I think he knows the truth but probably he didn’t like the way he was attacked and so had to save his ego. There is no bases for comparison.

timesup234:
So show me any single house in Nigeria that is not worth overa million naira and 100% owned without gbese? Even houses in the village are worth more than that. When you calculate the assets and liabilities of Americans you find out most of them have a net worth of zero and negative

Chief - when you want to argue a situation, you MUST have sufficient knowledge and in most cases support your statements with evidences.

The real estate industry in Nigeria is largely driven by debt and prior to 2015 election, illicit funds. That is why the industry is depressed now because people cannot make purchases as before. There is absolutely nothing wrong with debt. Infact debt finance is very sweet and cheap if you know how to utilize funds because you are using other people’s funds to increase your income.

If our government is sensible or competent, they will encourage mortgages.

wonlasewonimi:
He predominantly lives in yaba left. He will be here soon to tell you most Nigerians are multimillionaires and they are better than US citizens.

Hmm - funny but not fair to refer to someone with such attribute. He/she has freedom of speech and opinion.

To the multimillionaire statement. It is easily thrown around in this country. If economists or financial analyst stick to such term, there will be many multimillionaires in this world, including myself and all it takes is to have a couple of millions in your Bank account to earn such status. The reason we think this way is because we operate a cash based economy.

However, saving money in Bank accounts is not ideal because you are actually losing money. Inflation is eating into your funds and the interest income you earn is not sufficient to erode the effect of inflation. Your returns should be higher than inflation rate to actually make real returns. This is not the case in Nigeria.

We should stop deceiving ourselves. We are a poor country and likewise poor people.

timesup234:
What you wrote was exactly how the American dream was meant to look like but in reality it is far from it and will never be attained. Instead what we have is people who were fooled to buy into it losing their homes, cars and cant keep up with bills. The average American complain more about infrastructural decay than we do here in Nigeria. Even Trump said the US. will need over a trillion dollars to upgrade her infrastructure. Inflation, Devaluation and interest rates are all elements of neocolonialism the affect on the Nigerian economy is external. The US. global grip and manipulation of free market economies is solely responsible for it. Nigeria and Africa at large are still under neocolonialism and imperialism. We depend on a system and laws not written and controlled by us. The system has been built to favor western europen capitalism. In regards to health care the United States has the poorest service of all so called developed countries. Most Americans dont have health insurance because they cant afford it.

Laughs

America is not the only developed country running a credit based system. Infact it is in the African continent that you still observe countries running a cash dependent system. A system that has been abandoned for centuries. If you want me to explain what caused the Great Recession, I would be more happy to.

With respect to your comment on US infrastructure, note I clearly said it isn’t the best and that’s because America is comparing itself with other developed countries and not a country like Nigeria that has none.

I can clearly see that your argument has moved from standard of living comparison between Nigerian residents and US resident. However, I will obliged you. Africa is actually suffering from its own issues and not neocolonialism. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are countries who have shown the colonialism is not a reason to be poor. These countries are spearheading the new frontal growth that African leaders and Africans should copy.

Certainly American healthcare system is expensive because in comparison with other countries of the West, Americans should not be paying huge sums for healthcare insurance. However, when you say most Americans can not afford healthcare, you have to be objective. There are over 360million Americans and I am unclear what “most” mean by you. Don’t state things vaguely, back them up with empirical facts.

If you have concerns about America, you can state them. I also have my concerns and reservations for America and it is not a country I would readily want to move to if all the developed countries present an opportunity to me to relocate. However, facts are facts and they are because facts are observable. Also, it would be delusional to say that Nigeria is moving forward either politically or economically. Your standard of living comparison would be a good debate if it is between Ghana residents and Nigeria residents and not The United State of America - the country with the highest GDP in the world. A country with an unemployment rate of 4% - C’mon!

What that means is that it is much easier for a dog/cat to get a job in America than a human to get a job in Nigeria.

wonlasewonimi:
Are you ready for timesup234

Who is he?

What I stated are empirical evidences summarized for easy read. I didn’t want to extrapolate or begin to show that in 10 years, Nigerian residents will be poorer in comparison to their US counterpart. The economic environment in Nigeria is not getting better. The government is borrowing at a sporadic rate and debt-to-GDP ratio is 26% with plans to increase in the future. Moreover, this funds raised via debt are used for consumption and that is what Greece and Portugal are currently suffering (Borrowing to fund consumption activities). So comparing yourself to a resident in an economic viable environment is a laughable situation.

timesup234:
Anyone leaving a job that pays over 150k and above in Nigeria to go and start a life in the United States is suffering from mental issues!

Okay at this point I think I have to step in. I have been enjoying the crude banter. Immigration is a personal choice. Regardless of this, let me present to you economic facts that an average resident in the United State is better off than an average resident in Nigeria. I will try to break it down in layman’s terms for good understanding.

Inflation - inflation is the general rise of price of goods and services. It can also be referred to as purchasing power ability. How much can you spend with the money you have. Nigeria’s inflation rate is 16% as at October 2017. In the United state it is 2.2% as at October 2017. As you can see that is 14 percentage point difference (approximately). What this means is that an average Nigeria with N100 in his/her pocket has spending power of N84 because inflation has eaten N16 out of his money. Contrary, a United State resident with $100 has spending capacity of $98 (approximately). Inflation has eaten just $2 out of his pocket.

Devaluation - Devaluation is the reduction in the value of your currency in comparison with other currencies in the world (layman’s term). Devaluation is mostly carried out in countries struggling with growing inflation and high interest rates. Inflation largely determines the interest rate environment of a country. That is why the interest rate in Nigeria is very high (MPR 14%) and in the US (Federal Reserve rate 1.25%). Please note the relationship. Devaluation is also carried out by countries with huge balance of payment deficits (when money leaving your country is more than money coming into your country, largely due to increasing importation). We are all aware that Nigeria officially devalued it’s currency by 30%. This means in relative to other currencies, the value of the naira fell by 30%. Because Nigeria is a huge import driven economy, the average Nigeria purchasing power has lost value by 46% (the effect of inflation and devaluation). So that N100 in your pocket can relatively buy goods and services worth N54 in real terms. To properly translate, the average Nigerian is poorer by 46% (whether you agree or not).

Cash Dependent Economy - Nigeria is a cash driven economy and over 90% of all transactions are cash related. This means delaying purchases in order to save and this also have an effect on aggregate demand. The US economy is credit driven, purchases can be made quickly rather than being delayed because the funds need to be saved. So for the person saying that his US hosts were surprised that he can afford purchases during his visit probably didn’t inform them how hard he saved to afford the trip. Many US residents don’t save much, because just like in Nigeria, cash deposits don’t earn much interest. They largely depend on credit and pay off their credit as time goes. Also because interest rates are not so high. Imagine a US resident screaming over an interest rate of 5% and a Nigeria paying an interest rate of 18% (a huge difference). Another reason, Nigeria is a tough place to do business because the cost of debt is very high.

Infrastructure & Healthcare - We can all agree that this is subzero in Nigeria. I am not saying it’s the best in the States, but in comparison to Nigeria, infrastructure and healthcare is subliminal. Health is wealth, an ideology Nigerian leaders don’t get to appreciate. If your healthcare system is bad, your N73m in the Bank cannot save you. Now you can understand why famous Nigerians (celebs), during ally health, run to the general public to raise funds. A completely abnormal situation in the US.

Now you cannot compare an average resident in the US with proper legal status to an average Nigerian resident. Using your illustration of a Bank Manager, which I will prefer to call a General Manager working in a Bank, because using a Bank manager is vague. There are some managers in Nigerian Bank Grade system. The guy you see assuming the role of a Bank manager in a branch may not even be a Manager in grade status. So I will use a General manager which is the highest ranking managerial level and this grade level is equivalent to a President who heads a division in a US financial institution. You can never compare both as the President of a division earns very well and if we factor purchasing power parity, they are not on the same level.

A non-legal US resident without proper legal status on immigration terms is the same as a non-legal Nigerian Resident e.g the Beniniose, Niger, Chad or Ghanaian that carry out menial jobs in Nigeria because they do not have proper legal status or work permit. As you can observably see that you cannot compare them. Now a non-legal US resident who earns $12,000 annual in naira terms now earns N4.3m an average of N360k per month. This is the same amount an average middle-income Nigerian resident earns.

In conclusion, being in the US (legally or illegally) is much better than being in Nigeria, legally or illegally. If you compare a legal resident Nigerian to a legal resident US, a legal resident living in the US is much better to his/her Nigerian counterpart due to Devaluation of currency, high inflation and interest rate, poor infrastructure and healthcare.

Also, if you compare an illegal US resident to an illegal Nigerian resident, an illegal US resident is better than his/her counterpart. Even an illegal US resident seems to be able to afford the same lifestyle of an average Nigerian resident in real economic terms.

Thank you

PS - Please note that I used resident and not citizen. A resident is someone who is legally allowed to reside in a country.

The maths don’t add up. N532.7bn was raised as revenue for the month ended October 2017. Based on the information provided, only 73% was distributed amongst FG, States and LGAs (N390.4bn). Estimating the 13% derivative revenue of N40.8bn based on the information here is quite difficult as the base amount was not stated. Even information on how the 13% derivative revenue is formulated is vague.

Our government must provide clear and consistent information for proper comparison. The voodism perpetrated at the helm of affairs isn’t not good.

chloedogie:
Truth be told unless we are deceiving each other. Buhari vs Atiku election will be a clearer landslide victory for Buhari. Even Jonathan tried small, Atiku's own will be worse. The popularity and fame of Buhari is not debatable unless we are deceiving ourselves.

You have a point especially in the North where he has unfettered support regardless of performance. However, in the south it will be a different ball game. The south-east already are less interested in anything APC, except Imo which is as a result of the governor. In south-west, I think the economic hardship is sufficient enough to make a decision.

If the race comes down to Atiku and Buhari, which is a shame for we Nigerians since we cannot produce a reputable leader, then the battle line will be the North.

FortifiedCity:


Joke of the century.

If Rochas becomes the President, I'll renounce my Nigerian citizenship.

You should be considering doing that because ridiculous things happen in Nigeria. For example, Tinubu repackage Buhari and sold him to Nigerians. Despite the warnings of leadership failure and poor foresight, he became president and now we can see the results

Whilst I have some reservations for PDP, my overwhelming concerns for APC are the lack of transparency, poor communication and poor governance direction displayed by the party. The party convinced the electorates that it will implement its mandate. However, 10% of its mandate are yet to be implemented. APC has spent a huge time blaming previous administrations rather than fixing the problem. It is because Nigerians saw loopholes in PDP that APC was considered.

APC may not be entirely responsible for the recession, there were external market factors and also internal irresponsible of PDP not to save for hard times, but APC did make the recession very hard for Nigerians. Now they are claiming the recession is over which I doubt because there is still economic hardship in the country. Youths are risking their lives in the sahara desert to get to Europe. Skilled workers are migrating to other countries. If all these are not real indication of failure for APC, I wonder what would be. APC has failed Nigeria, APC has failed the electorate that voted for it. APC has failed me and as a result it does not deserve a second chance in any election categories because it a party filled with liars, incompetent and ethnic biased leaders

What is this? Do we have a government at all? Why are all these killings unanswered?

Kai - Ghana is on the right path. Slowly but surely it will achieve its objective. I would love to trade their President with ours

Charles Soludo Vice President, where he can be ineffective. Please we need him as Minister of Finance to save us from the rising debt of Kemi Adeosun

This needs to be updated because the FG just borrowed again in November 2017

We should not forget that at one time in this country, Rochas contested for Presidential election

With the way lawsuit fly around in the music business, it seems it’s difficult being in the music business. People just don’t honour contract even when there is one

What is social protection programme? Our journalist need to learn how to ask basic question

Infamous:
Toyin should've known she was dealing with a freak of nature.
But for all these 'he say', 'them say', i don tire.

Both of them are “birds of a feather”. Read the media publication. A lot of things don’t sum up. The media publication kept switching from a first person singular to a third person plural, skewed so much to false accomplishments rather than the main issue. If business has gone bad for both of them, they should go their separate ways than getting the public involved in their pettiness of body odor, skin irritation, inability to pay for food, employing over 100 people and starting businesses for them (which I don’t believe), sending employees’ kids to school (which I also don’t believe).

Both should get their lives together.

comshots:
Living in Nigeria is a hell.

Did you watch the video - I think you would think otherwise if you watched it. Libya is a is suffering from the aftermath of war and migrant smuggling is an income for them. African migrants barely reach the coast of Italy either you are kidnapped, extorted, forced into slavery to pay off debt or you drown from overloading the dinger.

We have a government that is less interested in the plights of its citizens, don’t consider making that trip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7lCbzHGnBQ

Above is a investigative documentary about the African migrants trying to enter Europe via Libya. I did not know how terrible this was till the slave trade attention was shown on cable tv. Please anybody considering making this journey should desist. It is a death trap.

Watch and share to save a life.

fratermathy:
At the end, all the perpetrators are Nigerians but when it's something good, it becomes "Oodua", "Biaflat" or some other divisional terminology.

Why don't the perpetrators identify with their sectional nations, instead of the ubiquitous "Nigeria", whose name they drag to the mud.

Do you intend to tribalize a crime to feel better with yourself. Do you think foreigners can or care to distinguish Nigerians or are you saying some Nigerians are more better than others? I don’t believe that

omaojo1:
You are the liar here.

He said paying tithe and first fruit offering are not compulsory. He however proceeded to say that if you have faith in God, your faith would naturally hold you to a higher standard in your walk with God that paying tithe would not be your problem.

Please get today's message if you're in doubt.

What do you believe as a Christian? Pay or not pay? Your GO should not determine your stand but the Bible.

Now this is what pastors should be preaching about UNSHAKABLE FAITH. If you have unshakable faith in God, whatever you seek shall come to past. They have replaced this faith with tithe and that tithe renews this faith with God - not true. God doesn’t need your tithe

micflo28:
Please, if you figured your tithe is not being used well to help the poor, sick, jobless church members, or complete church projects. Rather they are used to acquire frivolities like private jets, land cruisers, armor personnel tanks and retinue of security guards. STOP PAYING. Jesus taught us to take care of our indigent brothers and sisters we see in the flesh and by way we do so to him. As you pay tithe and by already devine intervention something good happens for you yet even some church members can't pay fees or feed, don't ascribe it to that tithe, be wise enough to know that your tithe is being diverted for wrong reasons. I will gladly pay tithe in a church I see true and practical Christianity which harps on love for humanity.

This is the advice I would suggest to anyone who pays tithe. They are poor people and widows in your church. If your church is not taking care of them like paying schools fees, providing shelter, food and clothes, please stop paying because it maybe you one day or your family and the church would neglect you after all the tithes you have contributed

Atiku would make a better president than Buhari. However, will he solve all of Nigeria’s pertinent problems, I doubt that. So far, this is the worse administration, Nigeria have seen - a do nothing administration.

These pastors are not worried about Freeze’s comment. Their members will still pay tithes. They are worried because of guilty conscience. What they, themselves do with the tithe and not the collection of tithe

Whilst you guys are debating whether it is apple or fruit, how you guys even considered if Adam and Eve truly existed. Science have since estimated that Man may have existed very long and in Africa and not Middle East. Human fossils of have been found in Africa which are very old than the stories in the Bible

kristen12:
You can worship and pray to God in the comfort of your house. This rubbish about pastors and church is getting boring and irritating already.

If you aren't convinced with what they are doing there stay in your house and stop complaining. It is not as if they use rope to tie your neck and drag you to church.

Good advise but what do you do when there are like 3 churches in your estates with loud speakers

streamsofjoy:
Are u a christian? Do u knw what the Bible says about not letting ur left hand know wen ur right hand is giving? Some of this churches operate like that. U think it is all the time they go with camera to show the world what they are doing? As a matter of fact, those who gave so that the world will see that they are giving have received their reward from men- which of course is the encomiums the likes of u are showering on them (na so bible talk) so don't say what u're not sure of. It will shock u to knw what some of these churches do with their money in terms of outreach.

I refuse to agree with you on this. It is public information that Synagogue is assisting Nigeria migrants in Libya. I think they even started before the slave issue received international attention. The Church was not doing it for public show, but a lot of people got wind of it and even their prophet TB Joshua visited Libya to meet with the migrants.

Please let’s be honest, we all witnessed what happened in the last election and how these GOs where lopsided with politicians inflicting pains in the society and how they were enjoying the relationship.

Hiccups:


No church is under attack, some pastors have been criticized though. Why do OP see Freeze as an unbeliever? Do all of Christ Embassy Teachings agree with RCCG? Does this in any way makes them unbelievers?

The problem with people like OP is their inability to realized Pentecostal churches is a product of disagreement with some teachings in protestant churches. Until OP clarify how pentecostal churches sprang up, you lack every reasons to demonize Freeze

I liked this comment because the poster made a subtle distinction between Pentecostal and Protestant churches. I have come to realize a lot of Christians do not research the history of Christianity. Many hold the Bible but do not know how the Bible came about to be. The Pentecostal churches that has radicalize and spread out in numbers were not in existence in the 60’s and 70’s in Nigeria.

A lot of people criticize the Roman Catholic Church but have they forgotten that the Christianity being practiced today is a product of the Roman Catholic Church, regardless of how you practice or the doctrine you choose to discard or embrace.

Now to address the OP, who has made valid points. Some I agree with and others I don’t. It appears the OP is more interested in the structural expansion of Christianity than in the spiritual expansion. You cannot preach to a poor hungry fellow to accept Jesus. That fellow would not listen to you in his/her present state. However, when you show love, clothe, feed and provide shelter, such a man/woman would open his/her heart in acceptance.

According to the Bible, Jesus went about doing good and not building temples. He healed the sick, fed the poor and that was why people flocked around him to listen to him. Churches should explemify their leader, Jesus and not concentrate on projects that would amass wealthy.

I think this topic is becoming very toxic as the arguments linger on.

In my opinion - giving tithe is not wrong; not giving tithe is equally not wrong. It’s a personal decision to make, but u do not commit a sin if you give tithe or choose not to give (I am not quoting a bible here, there is no use because the same bible can be manipulated to serve your own interests).

Now you may choose to give your tithe to a church, that’s a personal decision. You may also choose to give to the less privileged too, which ever satisfies your heart.

However, the emphasis should not be on tithe, but what are churches doing with the tithe funds generated from members. Members have donated their tithe to assist with God’s work, but are churches actually carrying out God’s work or are they satisfying the personal interest of the Trustees of the Church?

Evidence abound shows that churches are growing in other business segments other than propagating the ministry. They are building schools with exorbitant fees, they are buying jets and luxury cars, some are even have microfinance banks and hotels. All these are not the core objectives of churches. These funds raised should be used positively. There are many issues in the society that requires attention, but we don’t see the Nigerian church spearheading solutions.

Presently, only TB Joshua is currently assisting with relocating Nigerian migrants in Libya back home and also providing them with funds. Why are the rest pretending like they are unaware of the situation. This is why a lot of people are frowning towards gifting your money to a church. I don’t think tithing is wrong, whether you support your claim biblically or not, but what are these funds used for after they are being contributed. I think churches deserve to explain this to their members.

May God help us