₦airaland Forum

Mryacks:
The main lady whose picture was photoshoped is a married woman and a business executive. She is a friend of mine not an Olosho pls

Don't expect anything useful from the miscreants who brandish every lady out there as a sex worker.

The question I have always wondered is why anyone would need an agent to apply for a visa? I am yet to understand the rationale behind it.

Mordecai:
Maybe we need to ignore them, and focus on the end users.

For instance, why export cocoa and import chocolate at a much higher cost?
If we insist that the cocoa be processed, we can focus then on exporting to buyers of chocolate. We could at least save up on the forex used in importing chocolate and in addition to the farmers create additional employment. These "buyers" have always exploited us anyway with unfair trade agreements anyway.
Sure, but then the present situation isn't helping too.

The major consumers of chocolate are oyibo countries. They determine the demand and the companies behind the industry are theirs. If you restrict export of cocoa, they move to Indonesia and Ghana. Also Brazil. You don't dictate the price of a commodity as the seller when there are other sellers. Your buyers determine the price. OPEC is an exception not the norm. Also, crude oil has more uses, buyers and deriatives than cocoa.

Regarding trade agreements, Nigeria has not signed any trade agreement as an individual country with any rich country. In fact, the lack of any signed agreement do us more harm than good.

IbeOkehie:
I gave your comment a "like" because you touched on some important themes...but not on the major reason for lack of value addition in Nigeria.

The reason why Nigeria and most other Black African countries continue to import finished products made from their own raw exports is this - their governments have STRONG CURRENCY POLICIES that over-value their currencies compared to their fundamentals. That is all, every other issue is minor or even peripheral.

Not only that, STRONG CURRENCY POLICIES which are a subset of generalized socialist policies have ALWAYS been the most important underlying cause of Nigerian economic stagnation. It's not lack of electricity or corruption or anything else. It's SOCIALIST policies, the most important of which is STRONG CURRENCY policies.

Thanks for your reply.

I have always advocated for a weak currency, however, it should be floated not controlled. My argument has been consistent: Nigeria is not Switzerland or Singapore to warrant having a strong currency. However, successive governments have not done their part by ensuring there is an adequate supply of electricity, liberalising the exports of certain goods (yam is restricted from being exported) and providing security. Those are where the problem lies.

As for interest rates, my belief about it has to do with the lack of trust in the Nigerian society. So banks need to ensure the rates are so high to prevent any Tom, Dick and Harry from borrowing anyhow and refusing to pay. Ordinary PalmPay, Nigerians are complaining. To be honest, most Nigerians are terrible debtors. Lending a Nigerian money can be worrisome because paying back becomes a problem.

Regarding countries controlling their currency, Japan controls the Yen and had to do so last year by spending $9BN when interest rates in the US shot up and the Yen devalued to ¥150/170 to $1. Nevertheless, I agree with you, the naira, cedis and the rest of the currencies should float freely. No need to have a strong currency especially if it is a fairly to highly populated country. Allow the naira to float and invest returns from exports (hopefully from the non-oil sectors) into infrastructure and primary-secondary school education. Nigeria is too populated to afford a feeding bottle government.

tensazangetsu20:
A green card under what scheme. Studying in the US doesn't entitle you to a green card. A thailandese girl I read about started her secondary school there and finished university there and couldn't get H1B and she got kicked out immediately. I probably don't know everything but I will like to know about that scheme that will give one a green card after stem studies.

No such scheme exists. It will make the news and require a change from Congress. Certainly not at a time when many Americans lost their jobs.

cc: beautyuche

tensazangetsu20:
H1b is one in ten not one in 3. If it was one in 3, I would have gone to school in the US

Tumbo-tumbo dey learn work. Yet people dey rush to enter the US And it is not how brilliant they are o. After all, we have seen folks from MIT gnashing their teeth and this Chat guy having to return to Trinidad and Tobago even after begging for job sponsorship on Twitter: https://www.nairaland.com/7535720/nigerian-students-now-americans-how

For those who might not know, the Chat guy studied at Caltech, Yale and Harvard. An International Olympiad. If he was a Mexican, getting sponsorship wouldn't be hard.

hammed71:
surprisingly the Mexican passport is a strong one visa free to 160 countries

From my research so far, visa-free travel is not really a major benefit compared to working rights. A German passport allows one access to the Swiss labour market. A Mexcian, Singaporean, Australian and Chilean passport affords one access to the US labour market without the hassle. International students in the US have a 1 in 3 chance of getting the H1B visa. A major reason firms don't like employing foreigners as the process of employing them takes so much time. The same applies to Canada, where there is LMIA rule for candidates outside the country. However, Chileans and Peruvians can access the job market without being subjected to the same requirement. An American can access the job market too, but largely useless as the US economy produces too many jobs.

So, in that case, Peruvian and Chilean passports are stronger than British. Visa free is highly beneficial if one has many business interests across the major economic hubs. But for a skilled worker, getting a Peruvian passport over a British one is better. You can easily naturalise in Spain and access the EU job market with the Peruvian passport. In fact, Venezuela as economically terrible as it is, an intelligent citizen can move to Spain, spend two years and become a citizen. Then move to Switzerland to find work, which is way easier than a non-EU/EEA citizen who needs to hope that there are companies willing to transfer him/her amidst 4,500 work visas per year or international students who have only six months to look for work after graduating from Swiss universities.

IbeOkehie:
So could you explain WHY Nigeria still doesn't add value to it's cocoa locally and still imports lots of manufactured cocoa products? I don't think it's about controlled trade...that's my opinion. I think there's something else at work.

Thanks.

The same could be said of Ghana and Ivory Coast. These chocolate firms generate money because they spend a lot on marketing. It is like Nike or Adidas - make the shoes somewhere in China, and sell them in the West at high prices due to marketing. Two, the major consumers are Westerners, and the companies selling chocolates are theirs. So it won't be easy to disrupt the system. This is unlike electric vehicles, where China is a major consumer, so she can engineer homegrown EV companies.

Since Africans don't consume chocolates like Westerners and the major companies are in the West, the best alternative is to sell to rich Asians - Japanese, Chinese and South Koreans. Also, target Emiratis and Indians. Another alternative is to encourage private investors to establish companies semi-processing cocoa. The final production takes place in the West. Ednut mentioned having constant electricity to preserve it in good condition. That is another issue.

But then, compared to cassava where the West does not participate, Thailand is the major exporter of value-added products, not Nigeria, which is by far the biggest producer globally. That is where successive governments have to support the private sector to add value to it because the Thai folks did the same thing. The major advantage the Thai enjoy is proximity to China - the major consumer of products derived from cassava. Companies are doing the same in Nigeria, but there is so much work to be done. But it is way easier than upsetting the West in chocolate manufacturing. Palm oil is also a case study - we don't have homegrown companies like Wilmar and Sime Darby, which dominate the industry, even though it is said that Malaysia built their industry with oil palm seeds from Nigeria. The major companies behind palm oil production in Nigeria are dominated by foreigners - Europeans, especially Belgians and South East Asians (Malaysians, Thais and Indonesians).

In conclusion, Nigerians are not really as good at long-term entrepreneurship as we claim to be.

Raalsalghul:
Or they can apply for U.S.A visit visa direct, go there and have the child?

It takes longer for the parents to become citizens. Mexico is faster, and TN visa side-steps the problem of being sponsored. The second or third child can be birthed in the US. The parents need to access the US labour market to earn good money and bequeath the child with a strong passport. Mexico does it beautifully. Honestly, that was a brilliant idea from our resident Minister for Immigration Affairs, Tensazangetsu20:

ednut1:
just looks like the black man is bleeped. Can’t dictate or control trade

We can't control/dictate because we no get money, but with China being wealthy, we now have a different market to sell our products. The problem, however, is that East and Southern African countries stand to benefit the most.

Reference:
A rising dollar or falling local currency in normal productive economies brings relief to a certain degree because it makes exports more competitive and imports more expensive and thus less competitive. So a moderately rising dollar is something we should not abhor. Rather we should ride the tempestuous waves or headwinds of more expensive imported goods and services and start looking inwards.

Nigerian universities should be doing some thanksgiving for the share of the billion dollar offshore education industry because it costs a lot more to get a foreign education these days and a lot of folks are likely to cut short their studies abroad in the coming years for this reason.

Nigerian hospitals and medical professionals should be doing a jig and licking their lips in expectation of a share of the medical tourism pie.

And even our local religious camps and grounds should find solace when it costs a lot more to go on pilgrimage to the Middle east and Europe.

I cannot see any downsides here.
We either reform or go bust.
And this is where government should step up and act responsibly.
It should look at critical commodities, products and services we patronize out of an abundance of need and ACTIVELY promote their development and production here by either dragging foreigners kicking and screaming to invest here or by cultivating a new series of Dangotes, men and women of enterprise to do the business.

Honestly, the devaluation of the naira is great for exporters of products from Nigeria as it makes ours competitively priced in the international market. Electricity should be solved, ease of exporting made possible etc. As it is, anyone doing business in Nigeria should focus on an export-driven sector.

The way I see it, Nigerians want to be importing when they don't have the money to pay for imports.

PUSSYHOE:


Nigeria economy no dey inside ECONOMICS

This is the summary. It defies rational thinking.

MetroLane:
Is there any marriage that's all rosy?

Happy moments- they bring to social media.

Sad moments - they still bring it to social media.

Madam and Husband leave social media, go and work on your relationship, and if it can't work, then sign the papers and everybody discharge.

End of Discussion. People forget marriage is all about tolerance, compromise and forgiveness. When they say na love, e dey burst my head.

Ihenzy:
How can I export my sesame seed

Export sesame seeds?

ednut1:
the white man wont buy it. And we dont have local markets for those things. how do you store chocolate when there is not light plus its seen as luxury snack here so no much market. Ghana tried to control the trade the white man bleeped them up, they are still batting economic wahala since

The problem is that he was doing initial gra-gra without ensuring his country was open for investment. For instance, American companies are setting up factories in Ecuador because the government liberalised the sector. Two, the Ghanaian president went on a borrowing spree, employing lots of government workers and aides and building a big church using loans. He depended on high oil prices, as interest rates shot up and oil did not produce enough revenues as expected, everything collapsed.

The Chinese don't consume chocolates like that, if not he should have paired with them. Even if the Chinese consumed it, Indonesia is closer than Ghana.

lastkingsman:
Make sense now. The naira equivalent rate was it official mkt/black mkt? Is they any site one can use to officially calculate rate?

To be on the safe side, use black market rate. I never dealt with naira. Everything was in dollars as that is the currency most institutions work with. They convert whatever currency it is to dollars and then to yen. If you hold dollars for a long time, it benefits you as the yen is weak against the dollar. I don't know of any site, but use ￥100K - 110K per month as the base for Tokyo and the Kanto region. Any region outside Tokyo and surrounding areas will have a lower cost of living.

Note: You present ￥110K X 24 months as a source of living expenses to the school. The school then presents that information to the region's immigration bureau to process your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Without the COE, you can't apply for a visa.

lastkingsman:
@the bolded. You mean the money will be deposited cash in a domiciliary account in Japan?
(Modify) (

No. The money should be in the sponsor's account, most likely in Nigeria. If you're the sponsor, the money should be in your account.

pansophist:
https://www.quora.com/profile/PC-Yu

ht

https://qr.ae/pyM4Gs (Read this answer by Ismail, it will melt your heart about China).

The words by Ismail are emotional. Honestly, I had tears in my eyes. As a Middle Easterner, I understand what he has experienced. Even now, the effects of inflation as a result of the skirmishes in Ukraine affect them. And you know the thing? He never lied. EVERYTHING he stated is the gospel truth. Japan which was literally America's baby, got dealt with. There are times I sit back and think America was behind Abe Shinzo's murder because, in his memoir, he advised that Japanese politicians should be cautious when dealing with the Chinese. Don't make her angry because our economy depends on their growth. Since America protects us, China won't attack us. Just do business and make money. In other words, avoid anything that harms Japan's economic interests. Today, America has arm-twisted Japan to bar the sale of chip-equipment materials to China even when Japanese companies generate close to 50% of their revenues from that market alone. One chipmaking materials CEO even said it would harm Japan because now the Chinese will build it on their own and produce it at mass market prices. The stuff got me wondering, how can you refuse to sell products to your major customer because one big bros mandated you to do so? You are literally killing your economy. Chip-related products are the second major export of Japan after cars. In cars sef, the Chinese are roaring pass the Japanese. But that is on merit via electric vehicles.

Regarding electric vehicles, it makes me laugh. The West were the ones who preached it and advocated for its usage. Today, China has cornered the major resources and her automakers are now producing EVs like pure water. Damn! Would'nt you just love the pragmatism and sheer determination? I won't be surprised the West reverses the EVs idea and stick to crude oil. China must prosper because when she does, everyone does, and there are no invasions.

LordAdam16:
Look up the population projections for 2100.

Global population at ~10B. Africa will be home to ~4B. Our share of the population will double from 17% (as of 2020) to 38%. Every other region will see a decline.

This will be the next (last?) big population explosion in history and we're on the West's doorstep. If you squint from Morocco you'll see Spain. From Libya and Tunisia, you'll see Italy. Open Google Earth. You can draw a straight line from the Morocco-Senegal Northwestern Coastline to the entire East Coast (NY to FL).

They call themselves Capitalists. African nations maintain strong, borderline subservient, geopolitical relationships with them even after the horror meted on the population. Angola to Portugal. Francophone Western and Central Africa to France. Nigeria and other Anglophone countries to the UK.

A neutral observer would think we have all of the requisite ingredients to create a prosperous broth that would have no issues whatsoever delivering everything their future puny population would need. A textbook win-win cornucopia. Packaged and delivered by the Ennead and Mount Olympus.

Mild compared to what Belgium and Germany did to both DRC and Namibia. The Germans honed their Holocaust murdering skills in Namibia. Belgium plundered DRC till they got tired.

And yet, their policy trifecta for Africa is resource extraction, imposing alien values we don't want nor need, and an aid program they F*CKING KNOW is ineffective and a yoke. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/international-aid-africa-needs-overhaul-tips-what-needs-change

You want cheap labor? We've got it. You want a growing market to deliver your unlimited quarterly growth? We're your plug. And yet, crickets.
What we've got is the age-old divide and conquer. Funding strife. Providing a safe haven for members of the elite who adopt their finely-tuned stratagems re economic terrorism and wielding a big stick every now and then to keep them honest. And then act oblivious when all of that leads to rickety, overloaded boats of economic migrants landing on their shores.

We literally have everything they need. Apart from Indonesia, Malaysia and China, most countries in Asia don't come close in the vast amounts of minerals that are in the continent. As much as the Chinese don't like black people judging from how they treated Africans in China during Covid-19, the Chinese (government nor people) enslaved Africans, plundered our resources, butchered our people and wrecked an entire race. It is why Chinese online swerve away from accusations of racism as they say, "we never enslaved black people". Their concept lies in wealth. If black countries are wealthy, blacks get respected. Otherwise, respect won't be accorded. Fair enough compared to Arabs (whose slavery continues to date) or the West.

I have always known that no one likes the black person. Even in the world's most populous black country, the inhabitants don't like themselves. It was not Chinese that flogged people who went to vote simply because they "dressed well". However, the Chinese come to the table for deals on equal terms. Suppose the other party does not negotiate as hard as they (Chinese) do, na them fvck up. I chat with them on a regular basis, and their concern is how to make money. I scratch your back, and you scratch mine. However, make sure you scratch theirs very well because they will scratch yours so hard.

China sauntered right into the heart of the continent. When the supernova that is our partnership begins to burn brightest and it blossoms into a full-fledged special alliance, they'd be right there itching to lecture and reprimand us. Like they're doing currently when we're only returning the favor received from the Soviets.

The sermons are humdrum at this stage. No one is bothered. It is easier to enter China than the US. Many small-scale entrepreneurs in Africa depend on the Chinese market for supplies and consumption. Anyone who wants to set-up a factory in any African country will rely on Chinese equipment makers, not German. The Chinese will send staff to train and upskill the workers even if the factory is in Sambisa. Germans will say no. This is assuming they even respond to emails sef. Meanwhile WeChat is there to ask the Chinese questions as e dey hot.

China opened her market to African farmers, whereas Europe blocked imports, subsidised their farmers and pushed cheap agricultural produce into Africa, thereby stifling our farmers. One would expect that you make it easier for African farmers to supply you with cheap food, mbanu! China reduced 99% tariffs on agricultural products across many sub-Saharan countries. It is left for Africans to cultivate, pass the test and ship to China. It is so easy. Na today the EU remember to sign deal with Kenya to access the EU market for 25 years. China's deal is for eternity. The question is: why now? The relationship Kenya has with the EU, or at least the UK, goes back donkey of years, but Kenya benefits more from China than the West.

If African countries and nationals miss out this access to the Chinese market or snub the Chinese, na eternal fvck up. As for demography, Europe will begin to shoot boats in broad daylight. As it is, they just observe the boats till they sink as they fight dangerous winds.

What I love about the Chinese are pragmatism, discipline, focus and sheer determination. Also, they are not hypocrites. They don't preach human rights or practice do as I say, not as I do. What you see is what you get.

ednut1:
Nigerians are easily deceived my social media. People were tapping from this marriage lol

See what vasectomy could have prevented?

GistLover has missed just few times, so I am inclined to believe.

Ge0grapher:
You have no clue what you are saying.. you can stay back if you find a job related to your field after your studies in the US. There is a process and it's quite reasonable. It even favours people who are in STEM the most sef. Pls, don't give advise on things you have limited knowledge on.

The issue is not seeing the jobs but actually being sponsored. I don't think you fully understand the process of being sponsored by an American company as a foreigner. When I asked what route Nigerians used to become citizens eventually, very few replied and those who did point out that marriage is the route most Nigerians take.

https://www.nairaland.com/7535720/nigerian-students-now-americans-how

Skyview01:
Will respond later. This is an interesting topic for me and i plan to open a thread in the future to help fellow Nigerians.

Hopefully, your topic addresses the aspect where over 70 to 80% of visas are denied by the Canadian embassy. That is an actual stat from the country's immigration website.

pansophist:
Getting a residence permit in those places is an issue

He should start a business in Namibia since he has the money. Since he is a naturalised Austrian, his knowledge of Dutch or German will come in handy in some places. Ghana is still OK, but the elites have to nip in the bud regarding the silent growing cases of Fulani attacks in the country's northern parts. My fear for Namibia is that South Africa might descend into chaos in the long term. Between her and Nigeria, I don't know which might descend first. But wahlai, if Nigeria becomes like Sudan, West, Central and even Northern Africa would be terribly affected.

pansophist:
Have you been to kwara state?

I swear you won't believe you're in Nigeria. The suffering there eh, you'll think slavery exist in real time. Begging is actually a source of income for a whole village.

Don't even want to mention northern Nigeria. You'll begin to ask if we have a country at all

Most K states in Nigeria are terrible. Kano might be different due to the level of commerce there. I can imagine how Kogi is. The name alone screams multidimensional poverty.

pansophist:
No citizenship? No house? Husband and pikin nko?

Unless Japan and maybe South Korea, if a black African woman is interested in superior citizenships, the rest of Asia should not pursued as places to eke a good living, or get a suitor or house. Singapore is also fine for good and stable jobs but should never hope to be a permanent resident, let alone a citizen. A man can go to Malaysia, kpata kpata he hustles or marry a local most likely a Chinese Malay. Use am collect citizenship or at least permanent residency.

pansophist:
Your question is like a salt asking how to attract flies when the salt can transform into sugar.

I don't get the idea of wooing. Relationships for men may be logical (eg she is virtuous, she has a good heart, etc), but for women, it is emotional. Toasting is appealing to her logic while attracting is appealing to her emotion.

You don't woo, you attract. As you are searching for a wife, lots of ladies are searching for a husband. Understand what women want in a man (can be slightly different depending on the society), and be that man.

Here comes the twist. There may be some natural constraints that may prevent you from being an attractive man (e.g., if you aren't tall, not handsome, etc), but you may compensate for it with other qualities.

Universally, a timeless quality a man can have, that will attract the best of women is to have the ability to give her absolute security. So it would be your ability to provide financially, emotionally, and sexually. Yep, sexual security is a thing lol.

SO throw off that idea of toasting, it doesn't work. All you will do is entertain and make her marvel at your wordplay, but in the end, she will go with a man she is attracted to and who offers security.

So you should have been spending your previous years preparing for when you want to get married, to be able to exchange your quality as a desirable man for the kind of woman you want.

I mean, if toasting works, women won't be having one-night stands with men they met the same day, still chasing after men that clearly do not want them, or cheating after getting married.

I don't think I have ever toast in my life. It's too lame lol. I will just be the best I can be (more like sharpening my sword), then choose from the pool of women that already finds me attractive. Then it's a perfect match in heaven.

If you are doing it wrong, you will think there is something wrong with you, because it's like driving to Abuja and expecting to land in Cotonou. But if you do it rightly, it's a matter of months, and you will be so confused about which women to pick.

Just as your problem is how to woo/get a woman, some men's problem is that they are indecisive, due to so many options from home and away. They just decided to be single and settle with concubines lol.

See as I dey nod head like Agama Lizard and smiling like mumu

When it comes to man-to-woman relationships, you are just too good

Well done!

pansophist:
The unipolar world has ended for good, and will not come back. The world is formatting back to how it was pre-1500s, when Eurasia was the wealthiest, and center of the globe.

The West played a high stake gamble when they recognized China in the 70s as a country, ushered them to the UN and UNSC, then WTO, then every country started recognizing PRC as a country, and boom, the seed for China taking off was laid.

Then they moved all their industries and manufacturing to China, due to its dirt-cheap labor, market size, and mouth-watering deals to attract foreign investments.

They recognized China with the hope that China would become a photocopy of India, form a formidable force, defeat the Soviets, and be a permanent global factory, just as Africa is the resource factory.

You know this too well. If not, I ask why "de-risking" to South East Asia when Africa has cheap labour? You cannot decouple from the Chinese market because it is so big that no one can replace it, whereas Africa being closer would have been a bigger and more secure market.

I can bet my blood in the deepest of their hearts, in the darkest corner where no one can see, the West regretted that action. Now China cannot be tamed, or defeated, and is going for the head, to usurp the West role as the undisputed hegemon.

You need to read the posts by them across their major news platforms - envy, disappointment, disgust and agony are the words to describe them. They just thought China would be different. One even stated that Russia should have sided with the West as fellow Whites to defeat China. Na there I know say these people are deeply angry. The market is too juicy. The Chinese are so disciplined, unlike the Indians and intelligent. They cant just kick against them. China really bided their time well, because if the West had known, they would have cut the wings in 2010. But the financial crises removed their focus, plus fighting wars in Iraq, Libya etc.

[quote]I have a tecno phone that I use. Honestly, that phone made me not miss my iPhone, and only take it out for outings because of its camera quality. I bought the Tecno for less than 100 USD two years ago, and it's damn good. China made such cheap phones possible./quote]

As I have stated, without China, many poor/average people across the world would not have known what prosperity or good items are. China made it possible. I had an HTC One M8 (I made a review which graced FP then), which was later stolen, and I replaced it with a Tecno in the meantime. It gave me what I needed at that time. Before then, I despised Tecno phones, but later realised they were important and useful for average folks who had to access the Internet (which is very important). In fact, I dare say China made many Africans access the web. I watched a video where a senior Chinese official stated that one of the reasons the West despises China is because the Chinese engaged Africa on equal terms—providing infrastructure, cheap products and trade in general. That the West wanted Africans not to be part of the global consumption market.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm-61Pw9iCw&feature=youtu.be

pansophist:
When it comes to China, I am perfectly confident in how they conduct their affairs. I fear for Russia more than China. Do you think it's easy to rule over 1.4B people and achieve such a level of development? China as far as I am concerned is already living in the 22nd century. The kind of things that happens there, it's like, WOW.

The Plaza Accord would be what the Chinese would tag as unequal treaties (不平等條約), and even though the CCP might not state it, their long-term goal would be to reclaim all their stolen lands and overturn any treaties that were signed during the period they were at their lowest.

So far, they have collected Hong Kong from the British, and Macao from the Portuguese, and now Taiwan is the last one, but even at that, they have sovereignty over Taiwan de jure, not de facto. All these without firing a single bullet, show how strong the Chinese are.

Ok back to the Plaza Accord thing. No, China will not sign or agree to any of such terms. They sanction omicron recently remember, that's a position of strength. The Chinese have this thing called the ´century of humiliation´, and it's a stated political aim that it must not repeat itself again.

The century of humiliation was the period when China was at its lowest, its people were killed and used for experiments by foreign powers millions, their lands were stolen, their population was fed with opium, and different parts of the countries were controlled by warlords.

China knows what it means to be weak and to be at the mercy of others. Listen. THEY WILL NEVER EVER ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. NEVER.

I am not sure how you get your news about China and what the Chinese think about geopolitics and the state of the world. But I will advise that you register on Quora, then follow lots of Chinese independent writers, I can recommend some for you if you want.

If you want to go hardcore, then register on Chinese forums like Zhihu, then see what the Chinese are saying and showing. Western news will never let you know what is happening out there.

Please the names. Already on Quora, but I don't spend too much time there. I read the SCMP and GlobalTimes for issues about China. What I read are not the developments as I know she has gone far. What I have been reading are the wailings and articles of lamentations by Westerners and seeing in broad daylight the envy and sudden hatred they have for the Chinese. I am seeing their hypocrisy in 3D as it is unfolding.

Thanks for the reply.

Reference:
So how will the naira cope with all these 'licenses to import devalue' as no one is talking about the Dangote Refinery commissioned with all the fanfare and back slapping a couple of months ago, a jamboree that is increasingly looking like Emefiele's infamous Abuja rice pyramids...

I recall one optimistic Nairalander saying the naira would rise once Dangote's refinery begins production. Apparently, the axiom that says, "You never lose betting against Nigeria" is true once again.

pansophist:
Lol, I don't agree. A few months ago, Prigozhin was having beef with Shoigu, but he still liberated Bakhmut. This is just one of his theatrics. Also, do not forget that Russia is the blood, air, and veins that give the Wagner group any legitimacy.

From weapons, political umbrella, immunity, contracts, hell, Prigozhin was a chef for Putin, before his loyalty upgraded him to a warlord. He dare not turn against Putin.

At best, Prigozhin is like a houseboy that has been made so comfortable by the boss, he now thinks he can topple the boss. Putin release a speech yesterday vowing to punish those involved and the FSB has opened a case against him.

Also, the Wagner groups are just mercenaries and a lot of their soldiers are prisoners sentenced to life and are in the war as payment for their freedom. Wagner soldiers in Ukraine are merely bodybags.

The real trained die-hard soldiers are in reserves, waiting for the main war with Nato. If Putin wants Prigozhin's head today, it would be delivered to him immediately.

With what you have wrote, one wonders why he has opened his mouth to spew the nonsense I have been reading.

And you forgot an important angle in this war.

CHINA.

China will never let Russia fall. NEVER. To counter Western imperialism, you need a strong ally, and Russia is one for China. With Russia, China got energy security, UN backing, support from the stans countries (central Asia), and to counter western blockade in an event of a war.

China is directly supporting this war, but there is no way the world will know because they trade in local currencies, not USD. So trade cant be monitored. China and Russia share one of the longest borders on earth. You don't know what goes through between those countries inside their cargo for trade.

And How can western win exactly? It is the Russian army protecting the territories ceded from Ukraine, not Wagner. So tell me, how exactly do you mean that they have defeated Russia?

Yeah. This was one of the aspects I wanted to discuss, but fear of being banned. China needs Russia more than Russia needs China. Before China got wealthy, Russia was still classified as an arch-rival, so she is used to the tag. However, a rich China has gotten Western elites, especially Americans and for-God-knows-why-they-are-proud Britain, because the Germans and French are dragging their feet, to be envious. China needs peace to achieve full wealth status, and with the constant poking in the eyes by the Americans, she has been firm while being diplomatic.

What pisses me off is the braggadocio. You sent your SoS to visit Xi only to describe him as a dictator the following day. You bully neighbouring countries to plant bases there just to "deter" China, whereas China has never invaded any neighbouring country. The plan seems to be "weaken Russia to the very low, then focus on China". Only God knows what was discussed between Blinken and Xi. They should not make the mistake the Japanese did during the 1980s by adopting the Plaza Accord. Prior to that, the Japanese economy was blazing hot, just like China. In Japan's defence, I think they accepted it because they got nuked, and military bases are inside Japan. It brings to the fact that if one is a formidable country, being an ally of the US does more harm to the country than good, as you lose every form of independence and cannot be assertive on certain issues. France seems to be different.

About the war itself, I am very indifferent. None of the parties involved likes the regular black man on the streets. None has been interested in conflicts affecting ordinary Africans. Wanger Group dey try sha provided they are well paid. But all-in-all, it is none of my business. They can fight till thy kingdom come. But I want a multi-polar world as the current system has not favoured Africa and countries should've the right to choose their partners or remain neutral without being bullied. If not for China, many Africans for no sabi wetin prosperity, new infrastructure, products at affordable prices and development dey like.

What do you think about India's bromance with the US? In the 2000s, the same Modi was banned from visiting the US, but today, he got a presidential welcome. In this life, have money and power. Because without the latter, one still appears vulnerable. The US is now pairing with India all in a bid to "counter/contain China". Should India aspire to be scientifically and all-round independent like China, we will begin to hear another story of India going against the "International Rules-based order and International Community". International Community wey Africa no follow o.

arena07:
The bolded part buttress my previous argument regarding the limited opportunities for black individuals from African countries, in comparison to black individuals from Europe or African America. Attaining significant career advancements, particularly in the healthcare sector, proves to be exceedingly challenging for black individuals. Nevertheless, these circumstances are comparatively more favorable than those found in African and economically disadvantaged European countries. I think countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are stepping stones towards achieving stability in countries like Australia, Canada, and the USA. However, I do not consider Singapore an ideal location for pursuing opportunities via the student route.

You are right. Not all fields are accessible for black folks, regardless of nationality, in many Asian countries. Health is one of them. You can be a professor in academia, but a doctor attending to patients? E go hard. E fit dey, but that will be a rarity.

As for the bold, it is almost mission impossible. Whites even get denied PR, and those who get it are very intelligent or major investors like James Dyson, who got his within a few days after announcing to invest more than $1BN in Singapore and moving his firm's headquarters to Singapore from the UK.

https://www.reddit.com/r/askSingapore/comments/13edwo0/13_years_in_singapore12_times_pr_application_got/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=3&utm_content=share_button

See a Reddit thread about the travails associated with becoming a permanent resident in Singapore.

pansophist:
Funny picture.

On a personal level, humans are notorious to cut off leeches disguise as friends. We attach ourselves to people that even if they won't contribute to our life, at least don't worsen it.

So why should a country spend multi million dollar search for people who ain't citizens, have not contributed anything to the country, and are migrating illegally?

Bros, Putin has lost it. I should have posted since but the fear of ban deterred me.

At this stage, either he surrenders or uses nukes. The Russian empire seems to be ending. The West will divide Russia up for spoils. The West aka America has won, again.