3. Shippyme website gives you ideas of the weight of what you want to ship. However, if you have the exact dimensions and weight, you can specify it precisely. Nonetheless, such information is subject to review and confirmation when Shippyme receives the actual packages. You can also specify how you want the package delivered.

2. You can click on "book a shipment" tab to tell Shippyme what you want to ship, what the value is and and how you want Shippyme to handle it.

This is how Shippyme works when you want to book a shipment

1. If you are registered, you can log into your account and view your personal user account.

maryjames9:
I am calling all NIGERIANS to write to popular blogs LINDAIKEJI, LAILAIKEJi, PUNCH, VANGUARD, SAHARAREPORTERS, FACEBOOOK, and others to come to the aid of these NIGERIANS.
What is their offense? Despite the challenging economic condition of this country, the rate of joblessness and unempoyment, these yooung NIGERIANS have decided to go into business in order to make profits. They are most likkely just starting up their business and all for them to loose a whooping hundreds of thousand of naira in the hands of SHYPIMEE COURIER SERVICE. Which small business can survive this loss?
I APPEAL TOO SEUN, THE OWNER OF THIS FORUM TO DO THE NEEDFUL AND ENSURE THESE YOUNG ENTERPRENEURS get something better than just a useless CREDITS offered by SHIPPYME
I APPEAL TO SHYPIMEE TO ENSURE ALL CLIENTS PAY UP THEIR INSURANCE BEFORE ANY SHIPPING IS DONE. THAT WAY, THEY CAN COMFORTABLY SAY THEY WONT SHIP UNLESS INSURANCE IS PAID FOR ANY GOODS THEY SHIP
ALL SUSPECTING CLIENTS SHOULLD DOO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TAKE WISE DECISIONS

Thanks for your comments. When users make a booking on our site, the insurance is selected by default. It would take a deliberate effort to decline it. We can't make it mandatory because some people would rather save the money and take the risk. Prior to this episode, we had close to zero claims for theft. The small number of claims were for items damaged in transit. The specific complainant here has 20 (twenty) transactions with Shippyme with one requiring a claim. That is a 5% accident rate for him. Our insurance charge mirrors that at 6% and we have now reduced it to 4% because Shippyme has a lower accident rate in general. We can't force people to buy insurance. When I go to the post office in the US, they always ask, not only if I need insurance, but what extent of coverage. The more expensive ones offer more cover. If I decline it, I am on my own. Each time I make the decision based on the value of what I am sending. If it is just some paper, I decline. But for a couple of hundred dollars worth of things? It is a must. Shippyme exists because US vendors are reluctant to ship directly to Nigeria and those who do use DHL, Fedex and UPS which are very expensive. The reason they are reluctant to ship here is because of a fear of security and costly claims. Shippyme steps in and makes it very easy and affordable. The rules we have set are contingent on the nature of the operating environment. It is the most viable way we can offer this kind of service and value. Thousands of Nigerians have used Shippyme - dozens of people everyday. If Shippyme does not deliver, it would not remain in business and support all its infrastructure.

Below is the list of transactions for twinskenny. If shippyme is as bad as he claims, there is no way he would use it as often. The text "INS" in blue denotes insurance. You will see he has selected it before on two occasions. In the rest, insurance was not selected. I have attached another page demonstrating how users select insurance. It is selected by default. A user must un-check it to DE-SELECT insurance.

Fashola4thSon:
Any news on the items with "custom clearning"

The batch should be delivered Monday or Tuesday for dispatch. Clearing is on time.

stagger:
Imagine. So this useless company as breeding thieves in their warehousing department. Please pay the aggrieved person back his 300k. What nonsense!

The insured and the un-insured can never be treated the same way anywhere in the world. That "useless company" is still the best local freight forwarding company in Nigeria by every measure. Rules are rules and if you have no respect for rules, it shows just how you will function when given responsibility. Insurance provides cover for risk. Do some research to understand what it means. If you have a valuable and decline to insure it against potential harm, you have effectively resigned to carrying that risk yourself. What is the point paying for insurance if you will get covered without buying it? Can you without bias say Nigeria is a place you can function without risk? The wharf rats steal all the time. The baggage handlers steal all the time ( I lost a $2000 camera lens on a Delta flight). The Customs officials are known for their corruption. Many individual citizens working in various fields of endeavour, are all looking for ways to cheat the system. Your politicians hold the tiltle. So don't get me started. The company creates jobs and the people who turn to stealing from it betray public trust. Thinking that you can bend the rules to serve your interest is a form of corruption. There is no point coming here to troll. The blackmail will get you nowhere. The company is sticking by its rules and has gone as far as is possible to address the issue. The insured and the un-insured can never be treated the same way anywhere in the world.

Dear Valued Customers,

Important Official Disclaimer Notice

Please take notice that effective immediately, Uchenna Uzoigwe (also known as Divine Uchenna) is no longer a staff of Circuitatlantic.com and Shippyme.com. He is not authorised to represent the company in any capacity. It is important that you take this notice seriously. Do not conduct official business with him. Circuitatlantic.com and shippyme.com will not be held responsible for any issues arising from a disregard of this notice.

We have been distraught by the recent development of missing items that affected some of you. This is not how we aspire to serve you. We apologise to anyone who has been affected. We have effectively addressed the problem. We have removed the suspected staff and law enforcement have taken over the investigation.

If you purchased insurance, you are automatically covered 100%. If not we will offer shipping credit to you as a gesture of our concern.

@shrekandfiona, by default we refund those with insurance in cash and in full. For customers who have not purchased insurance, we are refunding them in full but with shipping credit. This way they can ship for free until they exhaust the value. This is also a tangible and real way to offer them 100% return on the value they lost. Before we started Shippyme, we used companies who lost our cargo and didn't even admit it was their fault, not to talk of saying sorry.

Dear valued Shippyme customers,

Some of you may be aware of the recent developments that have done much to damage our company and the image and service we worked so hard to build. Doing business in Nigeria is hard I must admit, but to say I am resolute, together with the best people on my team is a matter of fact. I want to convey my thoughts to you as the pillars of the growth of our organisation.

Over the past few months, some of you have fallen victim to the theft and loss of your items. I have been much troubled by the events as much as you are. It perplexed all of us. Unfortunately, the suspected cause is the most unlikely individual in our warehousing department in Lagos. This person has been removed from our employment and currently facing trial for the pains he has caused all of us. We have also significantly improved mechanisms for oversight in our logistics department to make sure nothing like this happens again.

You have complained about the inability to reach our customer service unit in Lagos, I agree with you that the development is unreasonable and apologise for the inconvenience. In addressing this issue we have completely replaced our customer service staff and added more phone lines to accommodate our growth. Be rest assured that none of your emails would go unanswered again.

In addition, we have reduced the price of our service to the lowest in the industry and we would match a valid lower price from any competition. The purpose of technology is to create efficiency. We have invested a lot in this area and it is time that we share the benefits with you. Our service charge can now be as low as 5% and shipping cost as low as $3.80. Going forward you can enjoy a much improved service delivery, the best web enabled service in the industry and the lowest costs. This is a promise.

Yours sincerely,

Shippyme Management

Dear valued Shippyme customers,

Some of you may be aware of the recent developments that have done much to damage our company and the image and service we worked so hard to build. Doing business in Nigeria is hard I must admit, but to say I am resolute, together with the best people on my team is a matter of fact. I want to convey my thoughts to you as the pillars of the growth of our organisation.

Over the past few months, some of you have fallen victim to the theft and loss of your items. I have been much troubled by the events as much as you are. It perplexed all of us. Unfortunately, the suspected cause is the most unlikely individual in our warehousing department in Lagos. This person has been removed from our employment and currently facing trial for the pains he has caused all of us. We have also significantly improved mechanisms for oversight in our logistics department to make sure nothing like this happens again.

You have complained about the inability to reach our customer service unit in Lagos, I agree with you that the development is unreasonable and apologise for the inconvenience. In addressing this issue we have completely replaced our customer service staff and added more phone lines to accommodate our growth. Be rest assured that none of your emails would go unanswered again.

In addition, we have reduced the price of our service to the lowest in the industry and we would match a valid lower price from any competition. The purpose of technology is to create efficiency. We have invested a lot in this area and it is time that we share the benefits with you. Our service charge can now be as low as 5% and shipping cost as low as $3.80. Going forward you can enjoy a much improved service delivery, the best web enabled service in the industry and the lowest costs. This is a promise.

Yours sincerely,

Shippyme Management

Dear valued Shippyme customers,

Some of you may be aware of the recent developments that have done much to damage our company and the image and service we worked so hard to build. Doing business in Nigeria is hard I must admit, but to say I am resolute, together with the best people on my team is a matter of fact. I want to convey my thoughts to you as the pillars of the growth of our organisation.

Over the past few months, some of you have fallen victim to the theft and loss of your items. I have been much troubled by the events as much as you are. It perplexed all of us. Unfortunately, the suspected cause is the most unlikely individual in our warehousing department in Lagos. This person has been removed from our employment and currently facing trial for the pains he has caused all of us. We have also significantly improved mechanisms for oversight in our logistics department to make sure nothing like this happens again.

You have complained about the inability to reach our customer service unit in Lagos, I agree with you that the development is unreasonable and apologise for the inconvenience. In addressing this issue we have completely replaced our customer service staff and added more phone lines to accommodate our growth. Be rest assured that none of your emails would go unanswered again.

In addition, we have reduced the price of our service to the lowest in the industry and we would match a valid lower price from any competition. The purpose of technology is to create efficiency. We have invested a lot in this area and it is time that we share the benefits with you. Our service charge can now be as low as 5% and shipping cost as low as $3.80. Going forward you can enjoy a much improved service delivery, the best web enabled service in the industry and the lowest costs. This is a promise.

Yours sincerely,

Shippyme Management

As an employer, my opinion is that many graduates think their certificate is a license to getting paid well. Very very few graduates come to me with any tangible skill that can add value to a company. For example, I have never interviewed any graduate of computer science who can write a functional line of code from the training in school. Those who can learnt on their own. Most graduates understand they need to be trained but the majority want to get paid well to get that training. I interviewed a recent graduate from a part-time degree program. I thought there was some potential that could be developed. I offered a 3 months internship that pays 25K a month, after which a starting position of 64K could be had. Candidate wanted at least 100K because of certificate in customer service. This is a common mentality. I don't see that person exploring the prospects of starting small and exploring humble prospects of self employment - until reality sets in. This is the point the OP is making.

Without a skill, your certificate is worth NGN 0.00. Not knowing this fact is more reason your certificate is worth NGN 0.00. Starting a business and turning moi-moi into a profit making enterprise requires a lot of creativity, critical thinking and determination. This is much too complex a task for the average graduate. The majority are not qualified and will not succeed at it. It is easier to humble yourselves, beg for an internship without pay in your area of interest and learn a skill. Your certificates are just papers.

CTI (Centre for Technology Innovation) has had a successful second year of our experiment. Four of the five students we took in last year completed the program. All four got job offers prior to completing the program. CTI retained one as the 2014/2015 CTI Fellow.

For 2014-2015, we are taking in 10 students for the CTI Software Engineering Scholarships. You can find the call for applications here: http://www.cti.ng/admissions/

CTI welcomes your applications.

Leorichy:

hey bro,dont be afraid to tell us what they do,so other wont fall victim

I think these are paid hacks from lesser competitors. If you have issues, state it and the company will respond with facts. Teextoo, it is also good to update your comments after taking delivery. Circuit Atlantic has been serving customers since 2011 and is a market leader. Under normal circumstances, it is very efficient. But, it is not immune to the dysfunctionality of Nigerian State services and politics. Systems are back to normal now after the strike and delivery is consistently above industry average.

The only business requiring "little or no supervision" in Nigeria is your bank. Put your money there in a fixed deposit account. You can also buy bonds. I suppose you also want very low risk and high profit. If you start any business, be prepared to work far more than you did before you retired. Else that money will be beer for others.

Teextoo: It's quite unfortunate that you are trying to place the blame of an issue that could have been easily avoided, if not for the incompetence of your customer relations team on me.
From the day one that I placed my order, there has been serious rift in communication with you guys. Imagine placing order on a business without getting an email notification for days. I have to reach out to your people before they found out that there has been issue with the payment portal.
When a customer places an order through your online portal, he needs constant update about the progress of his/her order but with you guys, I have to send an email before the status of my order will be corresponded back to me. Wђɑ̤̥̈̊† do you want me to think about your firm when you are not communicating effectively?
I am not modifying my earlier post till I receive my order and I will be only modifying the part about your firm being fraudulent but the incompetence part stays.

CA email updates are automated. It only updates when there is progress. For example, you would have received an update that the package has shipped. When it gets stuck at customs, effectively the system will not update you until it passes through that process. Hence the lack of communication. The issue with your payment has to do with Interswitch, the dominant e-payment provider in Nigeria. We do not have any alternative to them. It is as good as it gets. Again we are operating in Nigeria. You are welcome to building a technology startup in Nigeria and let us see how smoothly everything works together. CA has one of your watches ready for collection. The last one will be received by tomorrow evening from the port. You can call the company incompetent, again I welcome you to try working as we do in Nigeria to see just how much externalities shape your fortune.

Teextoo: These guys are either highly incompetent or just plain fraudulent. I ordered two wrist watches through them on amazon and chose air freight for fast delivery on 2nd sept. Since then till now being a month, my goods that am supposed to receive in nothing more than two weeks is yet to be delivered as of this moment. After paying all their exorbitant charges, I haven't received my goods and their correspondence is so messed up. I am going to the authorities both here and over there in states to report their fraudulent practice but first, am going to spam negatively about them anywhere online that their name and that of their owner Anaele Iroh comes up. Their actions are detrimental to Nigerian businesses, as if Nigeria's reputation has not been bastardized enough. My 2 cents

I understand your anger. For 2 weeks in September, CA could not clear anything because of a strike at NAHCO and SAHCOL. See it in the news: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/customs-shuts-down-sahcol-nahco-warehouses/158190/. When the strike was finally called off, it took several days before the staff of the affected warehouses started working. Now imagine the congestion resulting from those weeks of inactivity. Mails were sent to affected customers explaining the situation. Though the problem is over, CA had to start addressing the consignments that arrived first, delaying the clearing of subsequent arrivals. It will normally take 3 weeks to recover from 2 weeks of inactivity at the ports. This is a Nigerian problem and not a CA problem. Your anger is akin to blaming the landlord for erratic power supply at your home. Meanwhile you are dragging the name of the owner of the company in the mud for something he did not cause. That is a bit unfair and you should consider editing your post. All pending packages from the period in question will be resolved this week.

dl_jbd:
I'm sorry if my statement is offensive but I don't think its wrong of me researching the company where I hope to be a part of. Since I knew how to browse I've always known that whenever one googles a company name or anything for that matter it displays it. Now I know there are ways to block google's access to one's details but I don't think a company as yours would want to do such cause of-course you're a company looking to advertise yourself. I just expected to get more info about you guys on google than to just rely on your website alone.

Ok you don't need to be sorry. You just need to probe and be sure of any opinion.
Problem solving 101: Looking for evidence of legitimacy where google returns little or no historically relevant results for "institution name"

1. Is it possible for an institution to be legitimate and yet less visible (yes) (No)
2. Yes with reasons (new institution, new web presence, etc.)
3. Ask different set of questions
a. Names of people listed on primary archive
b. Names of institutions or projects listed on primary archive
4. Conduct secondary search on "3"
5. Observe for legitimating relationships and consistency across the data.
6. Now make conclusion.

dl_jbd: I just got a call from them some hours ago. Still doing reach on the firm but I discovered after googling the company name no result showed. Whats up with that? Google doesn't have an info about them

Are you sure with this level of problem solving ability you can compete favourably for this opportunity?

5 Positions: CTI Software Development Scholarship

www.cti.ng

The Centre for Technology Innovation (CTI) is calling for applications for its software development trainee positions. The program is full time, free and for 12 months.

The CTI, currently located in Lagos, Nigeria, deploys open online learning resources in a curated community of learners, around centralised infrastructure, to train software engineers. The Centre prefers an interdisciplinary approach that combines learning in the liberal arts with core computer programing modules, rooted deeply in practice based learning. CTI aims to train engineers who can write good code, in addition to developing valuable critical thinking skills and an appreciation of the consequences of technological innovation in a developing world context.

The program is for 12 months starting in October 2013. Accepted candidates receive a monthly stipend starting at N15,000 for the first three months and going up to N60,000 in later months of the program. Also included are free lunch, computing facilities, free high speed internet, access to books, learning resources and hands-on direction and support from practicing software engineers and academics with broad international experience. Students who successfully finish the program come out with valuable software development and critical thinking skills that guarantees a job at Circuit Atlantic Ltd or other technology companies. The best performer will be awarded a CTI Fellowship for one year.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated individual who possess the discipline to conduct independent scholarship, a natural ability to think creatively and strong disposition toward building things.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. No software development experience required.
2. Evidence of prior independent initiatives.
3. First class or very high 2.1 in Maths, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science and Fine and Applied Arts. Applications from other disciplines may be considered where the applicant presents a very compelling case for consideration.
4. Must live in or be willing to relocate to Lagos for the duration of the program.
5. Completed NYSC.

For more information please visit our website at www.cti.ng.

To apply, please send the following to apply@cti.ng:
1. A single page application letter stating in the most compelling way you can, why CTI should accept you into the program.
2. Your CV

If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be required to present:

3. Letters of recommendation from 2 of your lecturers or professors.
4. Transcripts for at least 3 years of your university education.

Deleted by poster. Admin relocated post to unsuitable forum.

Do not visit states in the USA:

1. Connecticut (rampaging gunman killed 25 children and adults. You could be next)
2. Boston (two terrorists running amuck with bombs, many dead and hundreds wounded)
3. New York (25 dead from gun crime previous weekend - Chief of police says that is a reduction from previous records during hot seasons. You are on your own here)
4. California (Gunman kills 5 before being shot. There are more of them)
5. Texas. (A whole refinery exploded and no one knows why. Hundreds dead.)
6. Colorado (Crazy man will shoot you at the movies. Many dead and injured)
7. Virginia (Do not visit universities. Crazy man with guns killed dozens)
8. The whole US (you are going to get pulled over more often than if your skin is white. You are 4 times more likely to go to jail than if your skin is white)

atunbi1: Would you pls be kind enough to tell nairaland why you stopped replying my emails after I paid you over 600k. You took ny money then stole the inks worth over a thousand dollars. The cheek of it wad I also paid for insurance.

Dont think you got away with it! You will learn how to treat customers I will open a new thread and share all our correspondence with everyone so they know how much of a scam artist you really are.

Atunbi,

It is dishonest to accuse a company of fraud without stating clearly what constitutes fraud. You placed an order for a printer. Based on the value of the printer the seller threw in an additional unit. Both printer and extra were shipped to you. Due to the size of both units, you had additional charges of over $300. The units were delivered to you at your facility. You received the packages and wrote the next day to say that 9 out of 11 inks from the printer were missing. The issue was taken seriously and an investigation opened. You were communicated of the investigation.

Based on our investigation, there is no clear way to determine that the inks went missing before we delivered to your facility, hence your claim was denied. Your additional shipping charges were waived.

To grant your insurance claim, we need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the claim is valid. In this case we have not reached this conclusion. As much as we are sympathetic to your case, our decision does not constitute fraud.

Expect more of these in high profile neighbourhoods. All those jobless Okada people will find some work somehow. Up Fashola!

I could not believe the number of people who were in support of the ban before now. I reasoned then that these are people who have cars and drivers, the elite. But I also knew from the nature of the infrastructure in Lagos, that the hurt will be universal. Even Fashola will not find the way to clear the cars off the road so he can pass. I am flying in a bicycle for my Magodo to Ikeja commute.

X is No okada
Variables =
a = more cars on the road
b = more fuel demand
c = more pollution

ab is HELL ('true', 'false')
Variables =
a = No road expansion
b = No new road construction
c = Population expansion
d = No Jobs
e = abundant crime

bc is government ('true', 'false')
Variables =
a = inefficient
b = corrupt

cd is Government agencies ('true', 'false')
Variables =
a = inefficient
b = corrupt

if (ab, bc, cd) is 'true'
abort. X
Else, pray to your god for the worst is yet to come.

below was my opinion immediately after the ban:

Fashola and his advisers, by pursuing this policy have really shown the height of their ineptitude. Forget the issue of being humane. Economics 101 should have taught them how crazy and idiotic this policy is.

Job loses:
It is conservative to say that there are 100,000 Okadas in Lagos State. 100,000 Okadas = 100,000 jobs. Plus, another 200,000 jobs for people who lease, sell and repair Okadas, as well as people who sell engine oil and spare parts to Okada people. Then there are the street kitchens who feed them with food and snacks. Let us say that conservatively, the total jobs lost = 300,000. Let us assume that each Okada job makes an average of =N=2000 a day. =N=2000 x 300,000 Okadas = =N=600,000,000 (six hundred million) a day in lost business to the Lagos economy.

Killing the future:
Then there are the kids that may drop out of school because of loss of income for their parents, others that would die of simple illnesses for lack of free medical care. These children's health and education define the future of Lagos to a significant extent. Let me leave out the extended family and networks that these incomes support. I can't quantify the cost to Lagos in this respect.

Undermining efficiency:
It is the height of ignorance to fail to recognise the efficiency that Okadas bring to business operations and activities in Lagos. Where are they roads? As bad as the riders are, Okada's are the most efficient means of getting around the gridlock that is Lagos during the day. No government invited them to start operations. Okadas began in Lagos organically in response to a need for a faster way to get around and a way to reach the nooks and corners ill serviced by public transport vehicles. That need has not gone away and the weak infrastructure has not changed. The immediate cost to businesses small and large that depend on Okadas may also run into the hundreds of millions a day.

Unfair devaluation of private asset value:
The estimated 200,000 Okada vehicles in Lagos, who is going to buy them? What happens to their value? Let us say they are each worth at least =N=50,000 on average. That is 10 billion Naira worth of private assets devalued with a single policy. Is there an Okada buy back policy to at least give these now jobless people some capital to find another means of livelihood??

The idiotic case for the ban:
Yes robbers use Okadas to terrorise the city. Yes Okada riders can be rough on the road. Yes many have been maimed by Okadas. These are good reasons to see Okada as a problem, but hardly a justification. Why? If you think robbers are using Okadas to gain an advantage, imagine if 1% of 300,000 turn to robbery for a lack of employment. That is three thousand robbers injected into the society in one go. Imagine if 5% turn to other forms of crime or negative social behaviour. That makes 18,000. Do we not have enough of those in Lagos. Do we have the jails to hold them?

Okada riders are rough on the road. So is every one. Unless it is a different Lagos, the Lagos I know is one where you deserve a special license for being able to drive in it. Almost every one is in a hurry. It is easy to pick out the small guys. But how can a government that has not built the good roads banish road users for being rough. The terrain shapes the nature of navigation. Many have died and been maimed by Okada accidents. But more have died from the bad and neglected government roads. If you need to sack any one in this regard, it is the guys in power, who have misused our collective wealth instead of building our infrastructure.

The bigger nuisance in Nigerian and in Lagos is the governance and not Okada. Those in power are stealing much more than robbers have stolen with Okadas. They have left the infrastructure to decay in a city with so much wealth. They are building up elite neigbourhoods while the masses wade the floods to their homes. They have killed more through their negligence. The Okada man is an easy target to help clean up their mess. If you need to decongest the roads, build more and expand existing roads, create new public transportation modes (trains, buses,boats), build bicycle lanes, etc. If you need to improve security, equip the security forces and install more security infrastructure. Think for solutions first before taking the easy and ill informed way.

Fashola has really really disappointed me and ACN can not win a free election in Lagos if this policy stands. The masses are the majority and not the elite.

Fashola and his advisers, by pursuing this policy have really shown the height of their ineptitude. Forget the issue of being humane. Economics 101 should have taught them how crazy and idiotic this policy is.

Job loses:
It is conservative to say that there are 100,000 Okadas in Lagos State. 100,000 Okadas = 100,000 jobs. Plus, another 200,000 jobs for people who lease, sell and repair Okadas, as well as people who sell engine oil and spare parts to Okada people. Then there are the street kitchens who feed them with food and snacks. Let us say that conservatively, the total jobs lost = 300,000. Let us assume that each Okada job makes an average of =N=2000 a day. =N=2000 x 300,000 Okadas = =N=600,000,000 (six hundred million) a day in lost business to the Lagos economy.

Killing the future:
Then there are the kids that may drop out of school because of loss of income for their parents, others that would die of simple illnesses for lack of free medical care. These children's health and education define the future of Lagos to a significant extent. Let me leave out the extended family and networks that these incomes support. I can't quantify the cost to Lagos in this respect.

Undermining efficiency:
It is the height of ignorance to fail to recognise the efficiency that Okadas bring to business operations and activities in Lagos. Where are they roads? As bad as the riders are, Okada's are the most efficient means of getting around the gridlock that is Lagos during the day. No government invited them to start operations. Okadas began in Lagos organically in response to a need for a faster way to get around and a way to reach the nooks and corners ill serviced by public transport vehicles. That need has not gone away and the weak infrastructure has not changed. The immediate cost to businesses small and large that depend on Okadas may also run into the hundreds of millions a day.

Unfair devaluation of private asset value:
The estimated 200,000 Okada vehicles in Lagos, who is going to buy them? What happens to their value? Let us say they are each worth at least =N=50,000 on average. That is 10 billion Naira worth of private assets devalued with a single policy. Is there an Okada buy back policy to at least give these now jobless people some capital to find another means of livelihood??

The idiotic case for the ban:
Yes robbers use Okadas to terrorise the city. Yes Okada riders can be rough on the road. Yes many have been maimed by Okadas. These are good reasons to see Okada as a problem, but hardly a justification. Why? If you think robbers are using Okadas to gain an advantage, imagine if 1% of 300,000 turn to robbery for a lack of employment. That is three thousand robbers injected into the society in one go. Imagine if 5% turn to other forms of crime or negative social behaviour. That makes 18,000. Do we not have enough of those in Lagos. Do we have the jails to hold them?

Okada riders are rough on the road. So is every one. Unless it is a different Lagos, the Lagos I know is one where you deserve a special license for being able to drive in it. Almost every one is in a hurry. It is easy to pick out the small guys. But how can a government that has not built the good roads banish road users for being rough. The terrain shapes the nature of navigation. Many have died and been maimed by Okada accidents. But more have died from the bad and neglected government roads. If you need to sack any one in this regard, it is the guys in power, who have misused our collective wealth instead of building our infrastructure.

The bigger nuisance in Nigerian and in Lagos is the governance and not Okada. Those in power are stealing much more than robbers have stolen with Okadas. They have left the infrastructure to decay in a city with so much wealth. They are building up elite neigbourhoods while the masses wade the floods to their homes. They have killed more through their negligence. The Okada man is an easy target to help clean up their mess. If you need to decongest the roads, build more and expand existing roads, create new public transportation modes (trains, buses,boats), build bicycle lanes, etc. If you need to improve security, equip the security forces and install more security infrastructure. Think for solutions first before taking the easy and ill informed way.

Fashola has really really disappointed me and ACN can not win a free election in Lagos if this policy stands. The masses are the majority and not the elite.

Hi, Your order seems good to go to me. You can proceed with payment.

As an entrepreneur who has worked previously, lost money and built a company with real revenue, I have the following to say to you.

1. Keep the money safe in a fixed deposit account for 6 months. Your mental state post dismissal/retrenchment is not good for spending money.

2. Cut your living expenses. Cut any non-essential financial commitments. If it means moving to a cheaper house, sending your kids to a public school, do so. You are going into survival hibernation.

3. Decide if you want to apply for another job or start your own business. Which ever you decide to do, focus on it full time. If you want to work for another company, get tutorials on job application and spend everyday looking for and applying to positions. Focus is key. You can email me if you need help with job applications preparation.

4. If you want to start a business on your own, the safest thing is to latch on to what is working. Your wife is into baking and I suppose making some change. This business has history and a measurable track record. I strongly suggest you work with or for your wife for the next 6 months. Deploy your experience in marketing and accounting here. Study the process and trends carefully. Establish the prospects for its improvement and expansion. Document these.

5. If your participation and analysis of the baking business suggests that it has traction, map out a business strategy for its improvement and expansion. The initial funding required for this should not exceed 50% of your reserved funds. Run this project for 6 months. The balance in the bank is what you need to feel a sense of security. Don't touch it.

6. Start talking to friends and demonstrate how your business is working and how much funding it would require to push it to the next level. You need to be willing to formalise and issue real equity or ROI to investors. Learn how to do this. You will be surprised how some will give you 20K when you are looking for 2 million just so you will go away. That is 20k you did not have and that can go into your business. You can also approach community banks for small loans. But make sure your business has enough revenue to meet the repayments and still make progress.

7. You can save every month and put everything back into the business. But don't touch the money in the bank. The only condition you should is to add more to it.

Let us not reproduce the same thing that we criticise. To make such general assumption on Nigerians and black people is less than critical. So it is, also, to suggest that it is a "black thing."

It is true that the universities as spaces of learning and thinking are failing our youths. But there is a lot of innovation and creative (critical) thinking operating at the popular level in Nigerian society. It is absolutely not possible to survive in Nigeria without the ability to think creatively. It is creative to figure out that the traffic snarls on third mainland bridge and Maryland can be converted into market places. It is also creative to figure out what can sell under such conditions. Even the yahoo boys can be viewed as most creative in the strategies they deploy. Nigerians do not borrow completely from the west, we transform western cultures and infuse them with strong vernacular accents. Our vibrant contemporary music is a case in point. Political discuss is vibrant and operates in bars, homes and communal gatherings. If you are present in any of these, you will realise that contributors advance their arguments critically.

Religion is a belief system and incompatible with logic. This is the case anywhere in the world. If not, tell me why states in the south of the US advance creationism in schools even when there is scientific evidence against it? With religion, the "dumbness" is universal.

It is patronising, myopic and uncritical to project such condescending notions about Nigerian thinking. The problem lies in spaces of formal education where knowledge is imparted rather than interrogated. At the level of everyday life, Nigerians are naturally creative. This is why some cultures answer questions with questions - probing.

It is a waste of time replying. Next

You don't need to go very far. You only need to search for circuitatlantic on nairaland and you will find many threads with testimonials from people who have used us. You can also go to our site :http://circuitatlantic.com/testimonials/testimonials-happy-customer-here to see what a lot of people have to say. You can also just visit our office. Don't use strong words like fraud if you are not sure. You cause too much damage that you can't retract even after you have proof to the contrary.

Nonsense!!

First of all Dealfish and Tradestable are not Nigerian companies. Nairalist is soooo uninspiring it actually deserves to die. For other Nigerian internet companies worried about google, I can only say to you: put on your thinking hat.

Imagine why the Americans had such a hard time against the Talibans in the mountains of Tora Bora. The Talibans know the mountains better than the Americans. So with AK47s they held up against the Americans and their high tech amour for 10 years.

So google can't just fly in as a behemoth and win in Nigeria. Unless, they are competing with you in a conventional space where the competitors have brought nothing new. Dealfish and Tradestable are regular models of the listing service replicated in Nigeria. They rubbished Nairalist because they were more organised and better resourced for advertising. Now a bigger boy is in the game. They can only survive by out-innovating google. Nigerian internet users will be the winners for it.