₦airaland Forum

VDM is being mischievous, and it is a pity many Igbos, including the prominent ones, aren't seeing this.

VDM is not someone you bring close to yourself.

overall90:
It is obvious those miscreants were sponsored by the Lagos APC to use as part of their propaganda and the usual campaign strategy that Igbos want to take over Lagos.

Very smart!

The same APC arranged FAKE BISHOPS to lend support to the Muslim-Muslim presidency. Why do people think framing an ethnic group isn't possible?

APC has always been anti-Igbo since its formation, so nothing new.

pansophist:
It is also this thing called ''exceptionalism'' that plagues most people. The idea that there is a perfect job in a huge coporation, that will connect them with other high class folks and they all roll together.

Same mindset of exceptionalism that makes a gambler believe he will be in luck and win, and it is others that will loose, or a poor girl thinking a rich man is waiting for her.

To be able to pursue your passion is a privilege, and most of us dont have it. If a person comes from a poor background, what he/she can do is to work hard, sacrifice himself, and pass the privilege of a cozy job to their offspring. Your kids might chase their passion if you put the foundation for that today.

Life is a ladder, and if you born in the lowest level, you dont have the resources to reach the extreme top, but you can reach half, then your kids reach the top. This is a sad thing to accept for most people, but a life of ignorance is worse, as it makes a person worsen their situation.

Parents have tried. They have reached half, oya take it higher, instead of dump it and go look for a job under another mans's structure that he has built, by probably inheriting it from his/own parents.

Too much wisdom!

Rictech:
Thank you very much once again, bla.ckbriar and Gerr.ard59.
I collected my visa yesterday. I really appreciate you both for keeping this thread alive with vital information and guidance.
Japan, here I come! The Land of the Rising Sun will favour me.

Congratulations!

Yet another success story. No agent, no mago-mago way, and boom! The visa is issued.

Best wishes!

No way he was going to survive that.

FoolishBoy419:
I always laugh at Nigerians that cry over lopsided appointmentments and whatnot. There is nothing like "our brother" or "our son" in Nigerian politics. I don't know what goes down south but insecurity in northern Nigeria is supported by highly placed northern politicians and security officials. A DSP (or SP. Can't recall) from Badarawa was arrested some months back for letting bandits pass a checkpoint in exchange for 150 million naira. This was a man that built mosques and was known for his charity. Till date, we've still not heard about the people that paid the bribe on behalf of those dirty and illiterate gunmen.

That is very bad! Our people should be more focused on developing their societies rather than destroying them. As the world gets more nationalistic, there are few places to run to as a Nigerian.

Those saying the West should compete with China over Africa don't get what is happening and they have chosen not to ever get it. Someone once said on this thread that even if USA assisted Boko Haram, it must have been by mistake. He's not even willing to consider the possibility of it happening.

Lol

America that created Al-Qaeda and its numerous offshoots. Pampered Osama Bin Laden. Created another one in Syria. When I was very young, I thought these terrorists were just terrorists for regional or religious reasons, but events within the past decade have shown otherwise. Foreign powers, the US majorly, created them. Thank God for growth, else na so I for continue to be pro-West blindly. Sincere apologies to Cap28 who has been preaching this for a very long time.

Under normal circumstances, Kwara shouldn't have anything to do with extremism. They are so moderate that some core northern Muslims don't even consider them faithful enough. We're being invaded.

Kwara supporting Sharia, I can understand. But having terrorist attacks destroying communities and no one saying anything is worrisome. I mean the state and Osun were praised as very safe more than a decade ago. To even list out safe states in Nigeria online dey fear me because who knows where is next.

codemaniacs:
A country's economy has different participants or players but the major ones are:
Public sector ( also known as Federal government, state government, local government and other government agencies ).

Private Sector ( the sector where private individuals, private companies and other private agencies are )

Non-governmental organizations ( NGO ) which are organisations not part of the government but can get funding from either public sector or private sector..

A country's economy is also the same thing as a Tribe's economy.

Lagos elites also includes Yoruba elites from other Yoruba states and outside both the Yoruba region and Nigeria.

It is Yoruba elites and Yoruba people that will diversify the economy of the Yoruba region and not the federal government so it is the duty of Tribes to diversify their own Tribes economy either through partnership within themselves or other Tribes or state government or FG or foreigners..

You said it yourself "Two of Nigeria's major non-oil exports cocoa and cashews are mostly grown in the south west" which means Yoruba people have already created an economy that sustains them.
That said, the two major reasons Lagos and the Yoruba region is progressive and gets patronage are:

1. the huge Yoruba population have the finances that other tribes don't have due to Cashew and Cocoa exportation from Yoruba region..
2. the huge Yoruba population outside Nigeria that sends finances back to the Yorubas in Nigeria also helps boosts purchasing power of Yorubas in Lagos state.
e.t.c.It is not Lagos fault that the rest of Nigeria is not developing and Lagos is not holding any state back.... it is those states that don't have the skillset and mindset to boost the finances and wellbeing of their Tribes.

You have explained it very well. Other ethnic groups have to invest their earnings in their regions' economies for them to grow.

She is beautiful. The issue with this group of ladies/women is that they are beautiful, quite alright, but they tend to be too assertive one wonders if the she has become a he. They are interesting to converse with, and I find them irresistible.

Catch-22.

Congratulations on her graduation!

aylipple:
Your response provides further insight into the status of the Eastern Ports. However, a check on the official website of the IDSP indicates FG approval has been granted with the project currently at Full Business Case & procurement stage, albeit it's taking time; hopefully, it doesn't drag on or remain at that stage for too long. See here >> https://www.idsp.ak.gov.ng/ibom-deep-sea-port-project-status.php
As for Calabar Ports, I think there's a court case (or even multiple cases) due to contract issues that has stalled progress on its dredging or functionality.

Thank you for the correction.

VDM has a sinister motive with his video, but it is widely known that it is expensive to clear goods from Onne port compared to Lagos ports. Onne to me only makes sense if it is for export, rather than for imports. That said, the two major reasons Lagos ports get patronage are:
- Population.
- Two of Nigeria's major non-oil exports cocoa and cashews are mostly grown in the south west. So both imports and exports will have to go through Lagos ports. Non-oil products from the north west will as well go through Lagos ports. If ports in the Eastern region (including a proposed Gelelege Port in Edo) are to thrive, political elites from the region, north central and north east have to ensure success.

Nigeria needs functioning ports to thrive across the country for the nation's economy to be diversified.

2mch:
You mentioned tribalism. What was the association between tribalism and Onne officials sabotaging the ports? You are trying to imply somehow Lagos is responsible for the Onne port not working. Even if the claim by Udom is true, if Onne port is free clear and attractive, Akwa Ibom will not have an issue or even need a port. They will only need barges. By the way, we all know that why Lagos is attractive is because the market is there. You don’t need to pay transport to move Goods to a place where half will rot because not enough people can buy it. But let’s keep deceiving ourselves and blaming a particular tribe. When people start to look inward and hold themselves accountable, Nigeria will move forward.

I agree with the population angle. Nonetheless, the port activities attract companies and more people. So, it is a cycle > more people attract more companies which further attracts more people.

Anyway, I don't blame Lagos' elites, but those in Rivers and surrounding states. If they were smart enough, they would collaborate much better. To date, Rivers State does not have a sitting governor. So, it is not Lagos' fault. However, the country needs a diversified economy for growth to happen and for the unemployment rate to drop. The reality is that not every ambitious Nigerian can live in Lagos. Nigeria's economy ought to be more like the US, where at least three geographically diverse states are major economic drivers.

aylipple:
Tbh, I tried my best to listen/watch this video with a balanced perspective and after enduring the ignorant & even sinister takes about Lagos by VDM for 5 minutes, I just had to stop there for my sanity.

Secondly, blaming Lagos for the perceived privileges the state enjoys is probably the most flimsiest excuse for daft, incompetent and visionless governors that have governed other states in the country at least, since 1999. Lagos has in the last decade provided a conducive atmosphere and the resources for private investors to invest in the state via the Lekki Deep Sea Port. The Badagry Deep Sea Port is already being set in motion (also to be financed majorly by private sector). What have the Governors of Akwa Ibom (the Ibom Deep Sea Port is still a mirage), Delta, Rivers, Ondo & Cross River done to attract investors to develop Sea Ports in their states? Just recently, we heard Alh. Aliko Dangote announce that he’ll soon break ground for the largest Sea Port in Nigeria in Ogun State; that’s what visionary leadership does.

Thirdly, the last time I checked, the Calabar (Cross River) & Onne (Rivers State) Ports are functional especially the latter which has consistently berthed some of the largest vessels ever in Nigerian ports https://www.thecable.ng/onne-port-berths-largest-cargo-vessel-second-time-in-3-months/ (this was 2024. There are more of such vessels berthing there as far back 2020) and this next report is as recent as April 2025 https://businessday.ng/maritime/article/onne-port-receives-largest-container-ship/ if importers choose to receive their imports through Lagos (when the Eastern Sea Ports esp Onne is active and receiving cargoes), how’s this Lagos’ fault especially as the same people keep complaining about how chaotic Lagos Ports (Apapa and Tin Can especially) can be? What has stopped successive governors of Akwa Ibom State especially from going ahead with making the Ibom Deep Sea Port a reality considering its very huge economic potentials?

Thank you for your post.

Onne port is geared towards exports, especially from the north east and oil products. Ibom Port in Akwa Ibom is yet to be approved by the federal government even after Udom Emmanuel persisted to ensure it happened. Meanwhile, the Ibom Port area has a natural deep-sea bed. It does not need dredging. On the other hand, Calabar Port cannot work unless it is completely dredged.

Fourthly, saying Nigeria needs at least 18 international airports is the height of ignorance and yet, Lagos is to be blame. Pray tell, aside from Lagos and Abuja (and probably Kano and Port Harcourt international airports), which other airports are economically viable? Do they’ve the commerce, population, conducive environment or even economy to support international flights? For someone who has traveled within and outside the country by air, I’m actually surprised VDM could make such an ignorantly bold assertion. Even the states that have airports for domestic flights, how viable have they been? Remember how the only airline at the time (Air Peace) was flying to Kaduna consistently but had to stop after Bandits almost succeeded in hijacking or attacking one of their aircrafts? If states don’t tackle the issues of insecurity head on and citizens of such states actively and tacitly support those threatening security, how’s that Lagos’ fault? Or you think international airlines don’t receive security briefings about active flash points of violence? The decision to fly from any particular airport anywhere in the world is solely the responsibility of the airline and I don’t see how or why Lagos has to be the scape goat as if they put a gun to the heads of the owners of the international carriers to fly into and out of Lagos or risk getting shot dead!

This video by VDM smells like an agenda (like something sinister is brewing underneath) and Lagos is the target. Aside listening to what he said in the video, I also listened for what he wasn’t saying - if he had made this video when PMB (God Rest his soul) was President, it would’ve been somewhat “ok” but doing this at a time when some northern political elite especially are crying over the perceived imbalance of project sites in favour of Lagos is bad timing. He also had to use the same video (where he blamed Lagos as holding back Nigeria) to encourage the call for Biafra? Lagos and Biafra in the same sentence? Nah, I can smell an agenda from a mile away and VDM is being used (knowingly or unknowingly) to push that agenda.

I do agree he has a sinister agenda, but we have divergent reasons for thinking so. Surprisingly, he never mentioned that Port Harcourt and Kano airports received international flights. He is being dishonest. The Nigerian economy cannot even support more than the current international airports.

2mch:
So, how is this a Yoruba problem? Is it not your same people making life difficult? Same way they frustrated oil companies till they all ran away. Your Governors have stolen enough that will make cars start flying in your state but you people are focused on Lagos. Leaving the degenerates in your State to steal freely but try to hold other’s accountable. Leave Lagosians alone. We are focused on building wealth for us and our children.

You are the one mentioning an ethnic group name; I did not. What I stated was narrated by a successful entrepreneur who thought (logically) that it is cheaper to import via Onne port, but his equipment got delayed. In fact, during his narration, I noticed he became inaudible when he started narrating how the equipment got delayed. His audibility dropped after stating that port officials said he should have used Lagos ports.

To date, Ibom Port has yet to be approved, despite Udom's tireless efforts.

patrickmuf:
VDM should consult people with knowledge about particular subjects before delving into things he does not understand.

In the South-South/South East, Akwa Ibom is pushing to have a seaport, Rivers, Cross River and Anambra (Onitsha)...All these states can easily put resources together to have a world-class international seaport in the region, but they're working independently...If the FG chooses a state to focus on, the rest will cry of marginalisation...Of the lot, Akwa Ibom and Rivers can fund the dredging of their ports but the Governors are not serious.

That project has stalled as there has been no approval from the federal government. Udom worked tirelessly for it to be approved, but it has not been approved. I wait to see what Akpabio would do.

The money borrowed to build Tinapa in Calabar would have completely funded the dredging of Calabar ports.

The contract for this was awarded to the current governor of Imo. He squandered everything.

Misterone:
VDM is just being childish and ignorant! Take for instance, the Dangote refinery. This refinery was initially planned for Ogun State but due to greed and communal issues, it was sited in Lagos with so much support from the state government. Another is the Lekki deep seaport, this was influenced by the state governor. Therefore, if your state governor thinks governance is all about going to Abuja to collect kulikuli, don't blame other that are thinking outside the box.

Ondo state*

Ogun state was about Dangote building a port, not his refinery.

Bovis:
The gap between Lagos state in terms of development and most of the oil rich states will continue to widen due to the deep rooted insecurity in those areas

For example, Chinese expatriates working at BUA cement in Delta State were kidnapped and their armed escorts killed a few days ago. Hopefully president Tinubu will fast track the process of state police

Edo state*

Let's be accurate with our utterances on a public forum.

Nteogwuija:
He might not be entirely wrong. Using the ports for example. Someone once said he tried clearing his goods at the Onne port, something that'd take less than a week to clear at the Lagos port, it took over three weeks with intense begging for it to be cleared at the Onne port. The person said it was just an unnecessary series of bottle necks with nonchalant people.

Now, with such experience people would tend to want to clear their goods at Lagos over Port Harcourt.

Whether this is delibrate (to make Lagos' port more attractive) or not is what I can't say.

I don't know if it is the same person I watched, but the one I watched mentioned how he prayed and even paid bribes to have his equipment cleared. He is from the north central. He was even told by port officials that he ought to have brought his equipment via Lagos ports rather than Onne port.

Nigeria has a big tribal problem.

Appleyard:
Now I know you're very enlightened and thinks logically.

The United States and France are the ones sponsoring terrorism in the sahel region. If you study closely what the US did to Jonathan during his reign, you would understand better the plan to continue subjugating this region to ensure the greater good of the Yankees and their western allies.

If someone had told me this five years ago, I would have objected, but not anymore after looking at the events in the Sahel countries. You say you are there for peacekeeping, but those countries have never known peace, but continuous strife. So, what are you peacekeeping? Where it gets worrisome is how come they thrive in mineral and now agro-rich areas. Most importantly, they are active where Chinese investors are buying goods and setting up factories. All of a sudden, one reads a terror attack in those areas. The terrorist surge in Kwara really got me thinking because it was Baruten LGA, at a time when Chinese companies ceased buying American soybeans (yes, they have actually ceased buying it as of today. One of the American soybeans representatives lamented on TikTok).

I am keeping a close eye on Kastina and Angola, where Chinese investors/companies are investing >$250m in rice and soybeans farms. Next thing, we fit see terrorist attacks in those areas. Even the Benue attacks are worrisome because Chinese investors poured $10m into a cassava-to-ethanol facility there.

In all these, I blame the elites and politicians of the affected areas. They must know who is behind these attacks. I cannot comprehend an elite who watches his land gets destroyed and keeps mum.

cc: FoolishBoy419

emmaodet:
You have to look at the houses built in Ogun compared to Osun/Ondo/Ekiti, the companies, the purchasing power e.t.c
Comparing that, Ogun is obviously better than them.

Well, the youths in those states have fled/ran to Lagos.

Everybody wan live for Lagos and experience city life. While this is good, especially in one's youth, many persons would be better off in their state of origins/villages. For instance, if not for insecurity, many people have no business in Abuja. People are inconveniencing themselves by living in places where they don't have the skills/capital to thrive and live comfortably. I saw a recent post about rents on Lagos mainland, and they were alarming. Skills to get a highly paid job or solid capital to run a business, else many people are living in squalid conditions, all in the name of "I must live in Lagos".

The companies in Ogun are as a result of its proximity with Lagos.

musicwriter:
For those interested in African culture, let me be as honest as I can with you.

Be informed that African culture includes easy care-free sex life. Our ancestors didn't take things like sex seriously, so we have always been that way but it wasn't commercial as is today. The commercial aspect is what could be said to be caused by foreign influence.

While the bold is true. There are equally ethnic groups in Nigeria that penalise casual sex, especially by married women. An example is the Urhobo group, where previously the husband of a wife who cheats with another man dies, provided he does not know. Just today, I read that the law has been changed to affect the woman rather than the man.

I don't see any big deal in having easy sex with someone as long as it's consensual, in fact, I prefer that to lying to a girl I don't know that I love her. That's why in ancient Egypt, sex was considered just as a staple. But they invented condom for protection. They also invented contraceptives.

Agreed. "Free sex" is actually more expensive than paid sex.

So, things like easy sex can easily take hold on us. We have always been a people interested in such, though in this instance, we'll never know how white influence would have added to it.

Another one is clothing. Our weather does not encourage full and thick clothing.

Hamachi:
How are they safe? Have you seen the crime statics in those countries?

Lol

Singapore is literally one of the safest places on the planet. But go to Geyland, sex workers are plentiful.

Ekakamba:

---

It’s easy to spot when a post is AI-generated. You dey generalize about Naija youths, but na only Lagos you use as your yardstick out of 36 states plus FCT.

This is my issue with Eyesoflagos posts and most netizens. They believe Nigeria begins in Lagos and ends up at Abuja.

Only Ednut replied logically. One up there even went tribal. It's hard to have a logical debate and conversation with most Nigerians.

---

The Herbert Wigwe's example is a good one. The same as Ednut's experience.

jayce232:
Equating hookup to kidnapping is exaggerated. I don't see how hookup equate to kidnapping. If we should replace all the kidnappers on our highway with hookup girls, I don't think we will be talking about insecurity & people can move freely.

You dey mind our people?

Hookup exist in the Netherlands and Singapore, but these are very safe countries.

Love800:
I don't think its poverty. Hookup life style is not a long-term job, so no one would like to invest all his/her lively hood to it.
Na just side hustle to take get up-keep. And there are other legit and good hustles apart from hooking-up. We can indulge in those ones, but the main thing is that peeps like taking the short-cut!

It is poverty. Poorer societies have more women engaging in sex for money.

Hookup is simply biology and economics. The poorer a society is, the greater the number its women go into sex for money. Biologically, men desire to have sex with as many women as possible. It is that simple.

The term "hook up" even got popular after the 2015 elections. Before then, it was known as "runs girls". The Nigerian economy has not experienced a GDP growth rate of 5% per annum for almost fifteen years. Do we know the effects of that?

BTW, the work sef no easy. Abi una think say hookup na easy work?

The "tax" Nigerians in Nigeria use to yab Ndi diasporans would now be implemented in Nigeria. No hiding place.

Other Nigerians need to ask Lagosians for lessons on how to cope with Emi Lokan's tax policies.

SmartPolician:
This class disparity is not discrimination. They want to limit the number of applications they will eventually receive. Just visit LinkedIn. You will see that HR personnel receive more than 100 applications for one useless opening in less than 24 hours. The unemployment situation in Nigeria is scary.

Now, imagine these NLNG openings! They may end up receiving over 100k applications if 2.2 graduates apply. Bros, na human beings like you and me go sort am out one by one! Sometimes, we just need to pity HR people. That's why most companies don't even

They should. PwC received over 76K sometime in 2015/17. Seplat received over 40K in 2018. I don't know how many NNPC received in its last two recruitment programs.

franchasng:
I understand your point but that is not enough excuse to continue to use this result grade discrimination in modern recruitment.


It's outdated for Christ's sake.


t won't cost me much to use them as example for others but unfortunately our compromised Judiciary will most likely not give it a fair hearing

NLNG is an elite firm. Elite companies have high entry requirements. This happens everywhere. Yes, it's unfair, but life itself is unfair.

This is the company whose salaries will enable you purchase a new car. The tweet by a popular Uncle Ayo that there is no 9-5 job in Nigeria, blue or white collar, that can enable the worker purchase a brand new car was a lie.

NLNG is that company. Staff rarely resign. They work until retirement.

franchasng:
Despite the huge IGR, humongous foreign loans Lagos state government borrows, most street roads in Lagos state are nothing but an eyesore. Most Lagos roads and streets have no proper drainage system so when it rains the whole state goes on flood lockdown.


For those that know Lagos, I will list some areas for you to go and check their road network. The areas below have zero street roads. Their street roads are eyesore, some were last paved during military regime yet Lagos state government collect revenue from every street in Lagos and still dont do the roads.


Surulere
Festac
Mushin
Oshodi
Mafoluku towards the local airport road
Ikeja GRA
Ikotun
Alaba area
Ojo
Inner Satelite town
Ajah
Abraham Adesanya area
This is a state with the highest IGR and biggest foreign man want to replicate the same tax master taxation in Nigeria in the name of increasing

I'm just surprised the bold have terrible roads. As for the non-bold, well, I'm not surprised that they don't have motorable inner roads. E get why.