₦airaland Forum

IroIkenna:
I sight u AB08. Dat wz a complete fact.
SAY MUGABE!

blackpanda:
We are tired of all the blaming abeg. What is d solution, na wetin we wan hear biko!

basilo101:
I still find it funny that most people don't know why Nigeria economy went into recession, they love the incompetent lies of Lai Mohammed about the past government ruining everything. It's also myopic to think that if Jonathan were to still be in power, we would be worse off.

The truth about Nigeria's recession is this; it was caused by the president's unguided rhetoric and uncultured body language.

Firstly, there is nothing we are buying today that we weren't buying 5 years ago, therefore it's not our purchase that put pressure on Naira but withdrawal of funds by foreign investors.

After the election, the president created instability with his unguided statements about how everyone is corrupt and how everyone is going to jail. The instability made foreign investors to liquidate their investment and change their money to dollars. In the process of trying to flee, they were willing to buy dollars at any price, which lead to high exchange dollar rate.

Even though some of them were not ready to run away, but want their money in dollars to save their investments from devaluation, the president gave a bad signal by banning deposit of foreign currency into dormiciliary accounts. That was enough for free market believers to see the draconian handwriting on the wall, that was the beginning of dollar rush.

To make matters worse, the president came up with another outrageous policy of rationing dollar to certain sectors and blocking many sectors out. That was the nail in the coffin which facilitated the emergence of free FALL.

In the end, foreign investors took over $80B out of the economy within a short period and everything went down to free fall.

To those who believe it will be worse if Jonathan is still there, you are all wrong. Policy continuity and political stability will not let billions of dollars leave our shores within such tiny time frame. Even though the government might have income shortage, the private sector will weather the storm by their confidence in the market.

The fear of the unknown created by PMB is responsible for the economic downturn not low oil price. Interest rate in America is currently at 0.5% while it is 12% in Nigeria. JP Morgan Chase will not mind borrowing $50 billion from Feds at 0.5 and put in Nigeria for return of %2000 profit. Citi bank will do the same, likewise US Bank Corp. Chase gave Buhari warning about the repercussions of his fixing policy before they pulled out, but his illiterate cyber warriors and misseducated e-soldiers said JPMORGAN can go to hell, they no longer believe in economic metrics since their messiah is in charge. Funny enough they are all suffering today because of the stupid policy, but they find relief by blaming it on past administration and Gucci appetite of average Nigerians.

For your information, if your president "kontunu" with his unguided rhetoric, Naira will go down to N1000/1 $. But we thank God, he is no longer talking.


Source: Facebook post

odimbannamdi:
It had always been my dream to join the Nigerian Army since my NYSC days in 2013/14 at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo. It seemed the perfect career path where I could deploy my intelligence, wit, strength and patriotism to my country. So, it was with so much eagerness that I applied for the Army SSC recruitment the very day applications were declared open. Thereafter, I started praying to make the first shortlistment, at least

My joy knew no bounds on the 29th of July when I saw my name in The Punch newspaper among the 30 shortlisted candidates from each state expected to report to the NDA old site, Kaduna on the 5th of August. I could hardly sleep at night due to excitement. So my dream was finally coming through. I was finally going to become an officer with the Nigerian Army.

I reported at Kaduna for the screening by exactly 3:30pm on the 5th of August. Only 17 people showed up for the screening from my state (Abia State): 15 on the first day, and another 2 a few days later.

A semi-apron-like blue tag containing a 2 lettered abbreviation of your state of origin and number was issued to every candidate, to be won all through the screening period (mine was AB08). Officially, we were to be known and regarded by this tag number. You would hear stuffs like “AB08, how far na? GB14, old boy I dey o” At some point, we all forgot our names. Lol. Also, it is this number you would send to your sponsors for influential purposes

An adhoc screening board made up of a Major General (the president of the board), 3 Colonels, 3 Lieutenant Colonels (the board secretary was one of them), 3 Captains (the board Admin Officer was one of them) and 3 Lieutenants was set up.

The first screening stage was vetting of candidates’ credentials to ascertain their authenticity and whether we would still be below the required maximum age of 29 by October. A Lt. Col. (the C.O. of 1div Hospital at NDA new site) screened for my state and he was very thorough. I noticed that the Army even prefers you to be younger than the minimum required age.

The next screening stage was writing an aptitude test. Candidates were divided into 3 groups. 1st group wrote at the hall just adjacent the parade ground. 2nd group wrote at the Cadet mess while the 3rd group (which included my state) wrote at the staff school, (one Professor Yahaya or so hall)

The test comprised of 4 sections:

- An essay (WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN THE NIGERIAN ARMY) of 500 – 1000words
- 10 English questions
- Around 7 Maths questions (can’t remember exactly now)
- Around 15 – 20 current affairs questions (cant remember exactly too)

The test was over in 2hours time. I gathered that the test was aimed at gauging our communicative ability, so more attention was paid to the essay and english objective questions. Some candidates were evicted based on the result of this test.

The next screening stage was the “almighty” medical and physical examination. As a result of the mammoth crowd and many tests we were supposed to undergo, we were shared into various groups. My state and some other states first went to the Medical Reception Station (MRS) for Xray. The next day, some of us went to 1div hospital, new NDA site, for blood tests, physical, dental and optical examination, checking of Blood pressure and BMI.

Considering the significance of this stage to a candidate’s final selection, I will try to explain each test further

Physical examination: Here, we were stripped Unclad, asked to stand straight with our hands placed at varying positions (this is to check if we have a bad posture such as kyphosis [hunched back] or lordosis) and our feet making a V-shape (to check for flat feet). The number of our testes was checked. We were then asked to grab our buttocks, bend down with our anus very visible and cough (this is to check if we have had pile before)

Blood and urine tests: Over 5mls of our blood was drawn and our urine taken in a sterile bottle. We were tested for diseases such Hepatitis B, HIV, Syphilis etc. I think our blood group and genotype were also checked

Blood Pressure reading: Being in a cool environment (such as an air-conditioned room), prior to checking your blood pressure, helps calm you down, consequently normalizing it. One Corporal Mike hinted us that the optimal reading is 120/90 or 110/80, while anything more than 140/90 is regarded as being high.

Body Mass Index (BMI): Our height and weight were measured, after taking off our shoes. The readings were used to determine our BMI. The full diameter of our chest during deep inhaling was also measured

Eye examination: We were asked to read letters from an eye chart placed about 10meters and 0.5meter away from us with one of our eyes closed at each time. Next, we were asked to decipher letters printed in colour patterns. Both tests were used to detect if we have long or short-sightedness and Astigmatism

Dental Examination: The alignment, number and grip of our teeth were also checked

The medical and physical examinations took almost 5days to conclude. Any state that finishes its medicals proceeded to do the psychology tests.

During the Psychology tests, 2 Lieutenants shared a booklet containing questions that tried to figure out our history of stimulants/drugs usage. The questions were structured in a way that when you lie in the first question, you would have to keep lying to the end. LOL.

Alcohol usage kind of raised a controversy among candidates because almost every young man has, at one point or the other, taken a sip of the contents of the green bottle. But I observed that as long as your alcohol usage wasnt a source of worry to your loved ones or you haven’t suffered a challenge arising from it (of course, the questions asked us that), then it wasn’t enough to disqualify you.

However, other classes of stimulants used via smoking, inhaling, sniffing or injecting, I observed too, disqualified some candidates. I think they tested their urine for the presence of such stimulants, cant say exactly. We were further interviewed based on our answers
The results of the medical and psychology tests were announced together and candidates were consequently evicted.

I WAS EVICTED AT THIS STAGE TOO. I will talk about it soon

HOW RESULTS OF EACH SCREENING STAGE WAS ANNOUNCED[/b]

To a very great extent, the screening process was transparent.

Upon completion of each screening stage, the board members met and compiled the list of candidates who are “suspects of eviction”. All members of the board then arrive the parade ground to meet orderly but very anxious candidates.

Starting from Abia state, the board secretary calls out names of candidates who are made to immediately shout “Yes Sir!” with a leap and, along with their credentials, jogs to a part of the parade ground and sits on the ground.

Candidates who were flagged for eviction resulting from credentials screening were subjected to a review where their credentials were looked at again before final eviction.

The aptitude test stage did not need a review, of course. You don fail you don fail. No argument.

After the first set of medical and physical examinations, candidates were taken back to 1div hospital for review. Here, if you fell short of the accepted standard in any of the tests, apart from the blood and urine tests, you would be called in to be reviewed by the medical team.

Evictions resulting from the medical and psychological tests was, perhaps, the most touching and monumental. Lol. When the soldiers and officers were telling us that “medicals must drop over half of all of you. That one na dole”, we thought they were only envious of our would-be officer status.

The evening the results ought to have been announced, we waited for the board members till 10pm in the night. The secretary later came and told us that the results would be announced the next day. He instructed us to come to the parade ground with our bags the next morning.

The next morning, around 7am or later, all members of the board arrived the parade ground along with a public address system. There was a different kind of aura in the air. The atmosphere was so tensed.

Mounting the PAS, the board secretary started, “Candidates! Today, my problems will be reduced. Most of you will go back to your villages. The Nigerian Army does not compromise on health issues. If you hear your number, carry your kaya and run out. Is that clear!” Then he started

MY EVICTION
I was far from surprised when I heard my name. I saw it coming.

I was born with a flat feet, umbilical hernia (i.e. a painless prominent navel) and poor right eye vision. For as long as I can remember, distanced objects appear very blurry when viewed using only my right eye (with my left eye closed). I never thought it was something to worry about because I have perfect sight with my both eyes working.

All these were flagged during the medical tests and I was reviewed based on them again.

It was with a broken heart that I picked up my kaya and jogged to the drill shed to await further instructions.


Indeed, over half of the candidates were evicted based on medical and psychological grounds. In fact, Ogun state saw over 20 of its candidates sent packing, leaving behind just 4!

After calling out the names, the board members came to address us. A lucky few who were evicted for being overweight were called out and asked to go back and join up. Then the rest of us were individually called out and told the reasons for our eviction afterwhich our beloved tags were taken away from us.

As I left NDA gate, hot tears flowed down my cheeks. I was evicted for features my God created me with and not what I acquired. It was really painful.

But in everything, I give Him the glory because He knows the end from the beginning.

I will be dropping the fun part of life in NDA, the psyching from the officers and soldiers that made some candidates run away, the jobs we served and the pertinent lectures about the Army we got from Captain Abdullahi.

Stay tuned

GOD BLESS THE NIGERIAN ARMY! GOD BLESS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

Gydion:
Sent u, just seeing it. Hope its not late?

kingarbewajil:
I av created a whatsapp group "Army to be" if u ar interested drop ur number to this contact 08066927837

proddey:
I wrote the PMP paper based test in Lagos on May 7th 2016 as CBT has been cancelled in Nigeria for some years now, and I passed at first attempt! I'm here to assist those who are also seeking to obtain this global certification.

How I prepared
I spent exactly 5 weeks of study. Developed a study guide/ daily time table and was reading for about 5-6 hrs per day since I wasn't working so I studied full time.

Study Materials I used
I used Rita Mulcahy's book "PMP Exam Prep" which I read over once and revised it once. I watched all the PM prepcast videos by Cornelius Fitchner and listened to all the audio CD's in Andy Crowe's "Conversations on the PMP exam" these three materials were all very very good and I strongly recommend them to anyone preparing to take the exam. I never read the PMBOK guide as it was too boring and difficult to understand so I only used it as a reference guide. The PMBOK guide in itself is inadequate as it only covers about 70% of the curriculum of the PMP exam. You'll need to use additional materials as well.

I took all the tests in Rita's book and scored on average 77.5%. I also took all the assessment tests in the end of all the prepcast videos and scored an average of 79%. There are lots of tips, tricks and secrets for preparing and getting the answers right in the exam which I learnt from the study materials I used.

Before the exam
A week to the exam I felt I hadn't studied enough so I was scared that I might not pass so I tried to postpone / cancel the exam but I found out that it wasn't possible on the PBT . To cancel or postpone a PBT you'd have to do it 35 days prior to the exam. I eventually just decided to take the exam anyway based on what I had studied so far.

The exam day
The invigilators didn't allow us to use the dumpsheet before the exam started unlike on the CBT that you are given 15 mins before the exam to use the dumpsheet. There weren't more than 4 calculation questions and they were quite easy. Overall I felt the exam was very difficult as I only answered about 185 questions out of 200. I had to just guess the remaining 15 questions. I felt my chances of passing were 50:50. I had made up my mind that if I didn't pass, I would just resit the exam 3 months later in August. So I hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.

The results came out after 10 days by email as it was a PBT. I passed and I'm PMP certified now!!


Are you preparing to take PMP exam in Lagos? Would you like to have the study materials I used? then send me an email a2space2015@gmail.com and request for the materials.

I will also share with you some tips and tricks for passing the exam on the first try.

Nafizzey:
when will that of ASP Specialist going to be shortlisted?

Built2last:
Why are people expecting miracles when square pegs were put in round holes.

Ngige is a medical doctor- in charge of Labour
Fashola a season lawyer who has never held spanner heads power.

Amaechi, a historian abi na English he read, heads transport.

Fayemi, a political scientist was made in charge of solid minerals. ..
Dakuku's whobis totally clueless about maritime has been put in charge of NIMASA.

Some mofos will tell you he is a technocrat. .how about we put a technocratic expert there.

The consequence of all the above misplacements is that they learn on the job and steal for the next 4 years.
when I saw the placements where expertise was sacrificed for political compensations. I knew Nigeria has entered auto reverse again.



Haven said that I think It's not good for a man to talk too much.

IMO, APC talked too much during their campaigns.
They got Nigerians to believe that the last administration was grossly incompetent.

Nigerians were so engrossed in their promises that they thought that once APC takes over interlocking blocks will start coming out from the ground to cover the ground for smooth walk.

Alas, they had no plan but talk and talk is cheap.

Fashola so nicely rubbished the power sector in the last regime that he said you don't need the brain of an astronaut to make power work in months.

Buhari was seated in the town hall meeting in Lagos when he made his analysis of the power sector.

PMB was so convinced that he handed over the sector to him.

Today we hear it's vandals behind power drops

Were these vandals there when Fashola was ranting? Yes. One will think he had solutions to vandalism.

If anybody I repeat, anybody still has hope with this government. ...examine your head and wake me up in 2019.
PDP killed Nigeria in 16years but APC is here to bury it.

koded3:
I got same message but I think it's for a different position... Am thinking of attending

coveredchic:
I did. Did you attend the last one on the 8th of march in Abuja?

Ijaya123:
Is it still Buhari's fault that these women cannot afford medical expenses? because I know some people's brain has been wired to blame Buhari for everything.