₦airaland Forum

Trouble started when the government conceived the idea that it wants the country to become a cashless society. Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people, nearly half of which cannot read or write, 140 million Nigerians work and the informal sector and almost exclusively rely on cash transactions only.

The average Nigerian sees less than 6 hours of electricity daily, and hundreds of Nigerians leave the country daily in search of better living conditions abroad. Those leaving are engineers, cyber security professionals – the very people you need if you are serious about transforming your society.

Back in October, the president announced that Nigerians would have three months to take their old currency to the bank and exchange it for new notes, which will be released on December 15. All old banknotes of 1000, 500 and 200 Naira denominations will cease to be legal tender by the end of January.

According to the president, the move was supposed to prevent vote buying in the general elections coming up later this month, reduce inflation, and help combat kidnap for ransom.

The plan was for Nigerians to have 90 days to return their old notes to the bank, out of which 45 days would be used to circulate the newly redesigned notes alongside the old banknotes. But the CBN had other motives, it had deliberately refused to print and circulate enough cash, apparently in an attempt to force Nigerians to use digital forms of payments.

This is where the problem lies, Nigeria is a very large country with over 200 million people and it does not have the infrastructure for digital payments. More than 60% of all transactions in the country are done using the 3 largest denomination banknotes. The consequence of starving such a large population of cash in such a short period is massive queues at the banks and ATMs, also, the digital payment channels begin to buckle under pressure. Most Nigerian banks barely have the infrastructure to keep up with the high volume of transactions they now have to process.


READ ALSO List of CBN approved  loan apps in Nigeria 2023
What the president got wrong

The main objective of the Naira redesign policy was to prevent vote buying by unscrupulous politicians and to limit the amount of cash involved in the electoral process. While that is a noble objective, the same result can be achieved by using less drastic measures. Measures like arresting and prosecuting anyone caught trying to influence the election by giving money to voters. Sensitizing the voters on the dangers of accepting money for their votes might also help limit vote buying.


Nigeria needs at least a decade in which the government would put in place the necessary infrastructure and educate the citizens before it can achieve its cashless policy objectives. A country without adequate electricity supply and technical expertise simply cannot be a cashless society.

The politicians the policy was intended to stop already have stockpiles of the new notes. For nearly the first 30 days after the new notes were released, most banks were only circulating the old notes and telling customers that the new notes were not available. The banknotes would later show up at parties and campaign rallies.

The naira redesign policy has already failed. At least 4 state governors are now in open rebellion asking their citizens to disregard the Federal Government and continue circulating the old notes. The whole policy might even be reversed by the Supreme Court in the lawsuit filed by some state governors before it.

This whole problem started because the government wants Nigeria to be a cashless society, the country needs at least a decade of building infrastructure and commitment to achieve that. The president was also wrong in thinking he could starve the politicians of cash in other to limit vote buying, the only thing he has managed to do is starve the economy of millions of poor Nigerians that exclusively rely on cash.

https://streetsofkante.com/nigerias-muhammadu-buhari-got-everything-wrong-about-the-naira-redesign-policy/

Africa still imports a lot of used and new cars. But there are now indigenous companies hoping to change that. indigenous.

Most cars manufactured in Africa are handmade compared to Asian and European cars that are factory fitted by robots. Some African car brands have proven to be even more durable and definitely cheaper compared to imported cars.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpPhf2QCFjI

lol, true

phrancys001:
Experience is expensive

One Nigerian Student who can demonstrate excellent academic achievement will win a scholarship worth £10,000 as tuition fee waiver in the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign scholarships.

This scholarship scheme is part of the GREAT Scholarships annual campaign, launched by the British Council together with 49 institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support postgraduate students from selected countries to access world-class UK higher education opportunities.

The Sheffield Hallam University scholarships are exclusively for students domiciled in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria starting a full-time postgraduate taught course in September 2023. One applicant from each country will win £10,000 tuition fee waiver for the first year of study on postgraduate taught courses in 2023-24 academic year.

Scholarship details
The GREAT Scholarships for justice and law is a new time-limited programme from the Study UK campaign and the Ministry of Justice.

One Nigerian based student will win the scholarship to go to the UK and study one of the following courses:

MA Applied Human Rights
LLM Applied Human Rights
MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice
LLM Legal Professional Practice

Requirements and Eligibility
To be eligible for one of these scholarships you must:
be an international fee-paying student who is fully self-financing your studies. This means that you are not receiving any funding for your studies from an external source such as a government, a scholarship provider, a company or an employer
be domiciled in India, Indonesia, Malaysia or Nigeria. There is 1 scholarship available for each country: India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria.
have achieved a minimum 2.1 or equivalent in your undergraduate honours degree and must meet the English and academic entry requirements for your course
have applied for a full-time taught postgraduate course at Sheffield Hallam University starting in September 2023
be able to pay the remainder of your tuition fee and any additional fees your course may require, for example field trips.
be domiciled in Nigeria. There is 1 scholarship available for Nigeria.
have achieved a minimum 2.1 or equivalent in your undergraduate honours degree and must meet the English and academic entry requirements for your course
have applied for one of the following full-time taught postgraduate courses at Sheffield Hallam University starting in September 2023: MA Applied Human Rights, LLM Applied Human Rights, MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice, LLM Legal Professional Practice.
be able to pay the remainder of your tuition fee and any additional fees your course may require, for example field trips.

You cannot apply for or receive this scholarship if you:
are already enrolled upon the Sheffield Hallam University course for which you are applying for a scholarship
have previously received a GREAT or GREAT Justice & Law scholarship
are applying to study a Sheffield Hallam course at a partner institution outside the UK
They reserve the right to only consider applicants for a scholarship if they have accepted an offer for their course of study. We strongly advise applicants to accept their offer of a place on the course by the scholarship closing date.
Scholarships are competitive and selection is based on the information provided in the online scholarship application form only.
You must be able to evidence the level of academic achievement stated on your scholarship application by submitting a transcript or certificate stating your final result (including percentage/GPA/CGPA) by the scholarship closing date
You must provide your eight-digit Student Identifier (SI) number on the online scholarship application form. This is given to you by the University when your course application has been processed. We reserve the right to only consider applicants for a scholarship if they provide this number on their scholarship application.
Scholarships are awarded as a tuition fee reduction and apply to fees payable in the first year of study only. No cash alternative is available.
Scholarships are not transferable and cannot be deferred to a later start date.
Only one financial incentive (scholarship, award, bursary or discount) is permitted for each course of study. If you are eligible for more than one type of fee waiver or discount, the highest value offer will apply.
The University reviews and updates our scholarship offer annually, therefore the offer is subject to change each academic year.
All decisions on eligibility for scholarships and award of scholarships are at the University’s discretion and are final.
We do not provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.
You must meet the entry requirements in your offer letter before you can enrol.
If you are awarded a scholarship, you are still required to pay any relevant deposits and 50% of your reduced tuition fee before enrolment.

Method of application
Before students will be considered for the scholarship, they must have applied to and receive admission letter from Sheffield Hallam University. Successful students who have received their student identifier (SI) number can proceed to the application portal HERE.


The course starts in September 2023. Closing date for this scholarship is Closing date 31 May 2023.

There are multiple other GREAT scholarships in other fields Nigerian students are eligible for. check them out here

https://streetsofkante.com/tag/great-scholarships-2023/

The English Premier League is no doubt one of the most lucrative soccer leagues in the world with top players rewarded handsomely for plying their trade in such an elite league.

Soccerstars are generally overpaid, and the top one percent of stars in the English Premier League, the likes of Kevin De Bruyn and Mohammed Salah are some of the best paid sportsmen in the world, earning well over £300,000 per week.

On the other end of the spectrum however, there are players who start regularly for their clubs, and barely make the minimum wage.

According to Spotrac, Bournemouth star Zemura is on a weekly wage of just £385. Whereas Kevin De Bruyne, who is currently the highest paid player in the league, takes home a reported £400,000 per week.

Here are the top 5 lowest paid players starting in the Premier League in 2023;

5. Moisés Caicedo – Brighton and Hove Albion, £3,500 per week
Caicedo is a 21 year old Euadorian midfielder who is a regular in the Brighton squad. He has so far started 15 Premier League games out of the first 17 games and scored one goal for his club.


4. Brennan Johnson – Nottingham Forest, £2,308 per week
The 21 year old Forrest attacker has played in every one of his club’s 16 Premier League games in 2022, starting 14 and coming on as a substitute on two occasions. He has so far managed to score two goals.


Brennan Johnson
3. Sam Greenwood – Leeds United, £1,342 per week
20 year old Sam Greenwood plays for Leeds United as a forward. He registered an appearance for Leeds in the Premier League 6 times in 2022 coming off the bench on five occasions and scored just one goal.


READ ALSO I Am Nazzy: Nollywood movie review and film summary
2. Jaidon Anthony – Bournemouth, £769 per week
The 23 year old attacker registered 11 appearance for Bournemouth, coming off the bench on 10 occasions in 2022 and managed to score two goals.

1. Jordan Zemura – Bournemouth, £385 per week
Jordan Zemura is the lowest paid player in the English Premier League in 2022 despite being a regular starter for his club. The Zimbabwean defender has registered 12 appearances for his club in 2022.



Factors that determine a player’s wages
Footballers’ take home pay is on a spectrum, and several factors can determine where a player lands on that spectrum. Some of the factors that affects a player’s salary include;

Age: younger players without experience tend to get paid less. As they grow and rack up experience from playing time, their salaries also tend to increase.

Club: players in less successful clubs tend to play less games compared to the big clubs that go far in competitions and even play in continental championships. The more games a club can play, the more money it earns which in turn affects how much it can pay its players.

https://streetsofkante.com/lowest-paid-players-in-the-english-premier-league/

I want to sell my website with the adsense account attached.
it is a Nigerian adsense account, payment received more than 15 times and has been verified since 2017.

the domain is Africaexplained.com.ng and interested buyers can reachout to me with offers via my email coolibsonbay@gmail.com

the only reason i'm selling is because i have a new account and i lost interest in the niche of the current website.

2rez:
I think the reason is because they done cashing out. Yeah, done cashing out. The inhumane administration is @ it's twilight ergo they trynna be acting nice. However, they might decide to cash in some more. When that happens, they back to continue...

local man, what are you talking about?

FreeStuffsNG:
The major reason is EFCC! They know that they will lose all including their liberty!

The criminals speculating illegally on the USD and some hoping to quickly convert their illicit funds into USD to avoid losing the money before 15 December are the culprits.
They have errands boys online peddling fake rates to cause panic and fear.
All of them will eventually be prosecuted.

EFCC seized their phones and now seriously monitoring their accounts on a daily basis till probably 31 January 2023.
PMB means serious business.

You think the EFCC is that efficient?

The black market naira to dollar exchange rate has made a surprising U-turn trading at almost #700/$ in recent days after trading at a high of #900/$ just last week.

But analysts say these gains may not hold up for long, and we might even begin to see a reverse any time from now.

To understand why it is important to understand how the parallel market works and how the exchange rate is determined in the black market.

The black market rate in Nigeria is determined by market sentiment of supply and demand, if plenty of people are demanding the dollar, the price goes up and vice versa. The market in recent days has seen a surge in dollar supply is the reason why the exchange rate is falling now, here’s how.

Contents [show]

Reasons for the crash
EFCC raid on BDCs
Throughout last week, EFCC officials raided the offices of bureau de change merchants in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and other major cities over allegations of currency hoarding and helping politically exposed persons to exchange their naira for dollars before the January 31, 2023 deadline when the CBN said old naira banknotes will cease to become legal tender in the country.

See also Aboki BlackMarket Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today
These raids forced most of the BDC operators to go underground, this move forced politically exposed persons to hold back their demands for the greenback. The huge demand that pushed up the exchange rate disappeared almost instantly.

Expiring dollar bill rumour
Following the announcement that the CBN has concluded plans to phase out the country’s 200, 500 and 1000 naira banknotes by January 31, 2023. Some people began peddling the rumour that the US Federal Reserve is planning a similar move with the dollar.

These unfounded rumours caused panic in the market with people who have the greenback selling before any possible expiration date. Though the rumour was false, it caused the market to be flooded with dollars in a very short period

Crash in the crypto market
Earlier this week, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, backed out of its decision to purchase faltering cryptocurrency exchange FTX.COM.

Binance said the decision to pull out of the deal was as a result of corporate due diligence and information that regulators were investigating issues of mishandling of investor funds.

This news led to a bloodbath in the crypto market. Bitcoin prices fell 15% to $15.7k on Wednesday as investors liquidated millions of tokens in investments. A total of $200 billion was reportedly wiped off crypto markets within the week.

See also Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 23 November 2021
Nigerians are among the largest crypto holders in the world, and the rush to liquidate tokens meant millions of dollars came into the country as holders try to cut their losses.

BRICS attempt to replace the dollar
The US dollar is the world’s reserve currency, and about 65% of global trade is performed in dollars. But countries in the BRICS organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa announced that they plan to develop a new currency that will replace the dollar in global trade.

This news is also affecting the confidence that people have in the US dollar remaining the world’s reserve currency in the long term.

Bottomline
A combination of factors both local and international have helped the naira make some gains against the dollar in the black market. But these gains might not hold for long as the underlying factors that weakens the naira are still there.

The fact that Nigeria imports almost everything and doesn’t export anything valuable. Nigerians still spend over $ 1 billion on medical tourism every year. Thousands of Nigerians still leave the country every year due to rampant insecurity and to seek greener pastures abroad. Unless these factors are addressed, the naira to dollar exchange rate might sink to #1000/$ soon.

https://africaexplained.com.ng/why-naira-to-dollar-exchange-rate-is-crashing-at-the-black-market/

okeysoninv:
yeye reporter. economy terrorism is the sole reason of down fall of naira. Everyone in CBN knows it. when you buy up Dollar in other to sell it here that's what is killing naira. they arbitrary set the nation currency to fall for their selfish gain.

CBN can bring sanity to the system but I guess , Emefiele won't try it because it benefits most of the northern top men. true value of naira is #437.

The next president must make show he killed or regulate bdc. make sure parallel and official are virtually no difference.

armchair economist.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC yesterday raided the offices of black market bureau de change merchants in a bid to halt the naira exchange rate that has been on the rise in recent times.

The naira has fallen by over N290/$1 year to date from an average of N565/$1 recorded as of 31st December 2021, currently trading as high as N860/$1 and still rising. This recent crash is being blamed on the announcement by the CBN that it planned to redesign the country’s larger denomination banknotes.

The CBN claims that this move was aimed to fight counterfeiting, inflation and insecurity. But it had the immediate unintended consequence of crashing the naira by almost N100/$ within a short period of the announcement. But this is only at the black market, the official rate remains relatively stable at around N443/$, and the CBN claims that the parallel market accounts for a tiny percentage of the country’s FX market anyways.

What determines the value of the naira?

To understand why the Nigerian naira is volatile, it is important to understand how fiat currencies around the world are valued. The value of modern fiat currencies is determined by two major factors – the supply and demand of the currency and the trust people and businesses have in the government issuing such a fiat currency.

Countries that produce and export high-value products and can attract wealthier tourists and investors will have a stable currency because there will be high demand for their local currency as in exchange for the goods they are exporting. Tourists will equally drive the demand for local currencies to shop and visit places. These factors stabilize the local currency, which is not available in Nigeria, the country imports almost everything it needs and only exports crude oil which makes up over 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The fact that the country imports more than it exports create excess demand for dollar for importation and not enough supply from exports.

The other factor that keeps a currency stable is the trust in the government that issues it. The US dollar is strong because people trust the American government to always protect their economy, they trust the government’s economic and monetary policies. In Nigeria, people blame the CBN governor and the federal government for all the country’s economic woes. And for good reasons, policies like stopping the sale of forex to bureau de change operators, and closing the border without proper alternatives have hurt the economy in recent years. Most investors and high-net-worth individuals look at such poor policies and move their capital outside the country which further hurts the value of the naira. As long as currencies are not pegged to anything real like gold, silver or any other rear earth metals, their values will always be intrinsic and determined by what people are willing and able to pay for it at the moment.

What is the true value of the naira?

Nigerians don’t produce and export much of anything valuable to earn forex, and the trust in the government’s monetary policies is very low, this translates to, the true value of the naira is simply the amount each individual is willing and able to pay for it at any moment.

The CBN’s claim that only a small percentage of the country’s forex transactions go through the black market is flawed, because of the over N300/$ difference between the black market and the official market, this means that most individuals and companies who bring dollar inflow into the country use the black market to process their money. Furthermore, the CBN’s interventions in Form A and Form Q, which aim to sell dollars directly to Nigerian travellers and importers have not been very successful. Due to congestion and technical problems, most people who attempt to use these schemes often end up sourcing their dollars on the black market.

The official exchange rate of N443/$ is a subsidy on forex that the government is paying in an attempt to keep the naira stable. The government uses dollars it earns from oil exports to fund this subsidy, which is why it has run into all sorts of trouble in the last few years. First, the CBN stopped the sale of forex to bureau de change merchants, then it limit spending on naira cards to $100 and now to $20 per citizen per month. The CBN also introduced Form A and Form Q to sell dollars directly to citizens who can prove that they have a legitimate need for it.

The true value of the naira is the black market rate that is determined by supply and demand, the official rate is a subsidized rate that is not sustainable which is why accessing it to process schemes like Form A and Form Q is always problematic.

Bottomline

Modern fiat currencies are not backed by real things like gold, silver or other rare earth metals, their values are mostly determined by the demand and supply of how much people are willing and able to pay for them at the moment, and the trust individuals and businesses have in the government issuing the currency.

In Nigeria, the value of the naira is crashing because the country is not exporting valuable items and attracting tourists. This creates excess demand for dollars from importing almost everything and not enough supply to keep up due to a lack of valuable export goods. The CBN is trying to mitigate this crisis by selling dollars directly to citizens, but it does not have enough supply to keep up with the demand.

https://africaexplained.com.ng/what-is-the-true-value-of-the-naira/

tctrills:
You guys always come up with some nonsense facts. 80% of our currency is outside the vaults does not mean that almost 80% of all naira notes in circulation are in the hands of criminal elements like kidnappers, armed robbers and drug dealers.
It means 80% of our notes are used outside the banking sector. For example, the farmers, local traders and others who do not use the banks in their transactions.

can you read? the article literally said the 80% is also in the hands of politicians that want to buy votes and under your grandma's mattress.

The Central Bank of Nigeria recently announced that it has redesigned the country’s 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes. The new notes will be released to the public on December 15, and Nigerians will have up till January 31, 2023 when the old notes will cease to be legal tender.

This announcement has divided opinions among many Nigerians online. And for good reasons, this move is likely to have a positive effect on the country’s general elections scheduled for next year, at the same time, the price tag for this redesign will be staggering for a country like Nigeria that needs to make sure every penny it is spending is well optimized.

About 6 trillion naira notes are currently in circulation at the moment, of which almost 80% is estimated to be outside the banking vaults. This means that almost 80% of all naira notes in circulation are in the hands of criminal elements like kidnappers, armed robbers and drug dealers. Others are in the hands of corrupt government officials who might be hoping to influence elections with their stolen wealth, and the rest is under the grandma’s mattress and under the mattresses of other people who are uneducated or who simply don’t trust the banking system enough to keep their life’s savings with other people.

Announcing that everyone will have to make a change in such a short period will surely cause some ripple effects, and have some unintended consequences.


The Pros
Positive effect on the coming general election

The biggest pro of redesigning the naira notes this close to the general elections is perhaps the fact that it might disrupt vote buying. In Nigerian elections, votes usually go to the highest bidder, politicians who have been hoarding money to buy votes will find it more difficult now as they will not be able to have access to large amounts of cash without declaring what they intend to use it for. Furthermore, those who already hoard cash at home will not be able to deposit the money at the bank without answering where they got the money from.


Might have a positive effect on inflation

One thing that will be visible in bank branches over the next couple of weeks, will be the fact that lots of individuals and businesses will be depositing high volumes of cash. This will give the banks more money to give out as loans. If individuals and businesses can access loans a little easier, it will boost economic activities that will create wealth and reduce inflation.

Effect on crime

One thing criminals like kidnappers, armed robbers and drug dealers cannot do is open a bank account or have any sort of transaction that can be traced. These criminals rely on cash only, and with the old naira notes becoming obsolete by January 31, this means they have a very short time window to launder all the cash in their possession. Some might, out of desperation decide to walk into a legitimate financial institution to exchange their cash, the authorities should be waiting for them when they do.

Better adoption of digital payment

If the naira will soon become obsolete, some businesses will begin to demand that customers pay them through POS, bank transfer or other digital means. This will be good for the economy because it will lead to more efficient bookkeeping and better tax collection by the government.


The Cons
High cost

Nigeria is broke, the cost of redesigning and printing trillions of naira that will go into circulation will be staggering. But it might be worth it in the long run if the government does it efficiently.

might further crash the naira against the dollar

Naira has fallen by over N190/$1 year to date from an average of N565/$1 recorded as of 31st December 2021, currently trading as high as N760/$1 and still rising. This fall might be exacerbated over the next few weeks if those who have hoard the naira decided to buy dollars with their money. Too much naira chasing a few supplies of dollars will crash the exchange rate at the black market.

Overcrowding at the bank

Visiting any bank branch over the next few weeks is sure to be an unpleasant experience. Lots of people will be out to make deposits before January 31 deadline, which will lead to massive crowds at the banks. When India tried a similar scheme last year, it went horribly wrong when millions couldn’t access the bank to a deposit before the deadline date.

If you have your money in the bank, do not panic. It is unlikely that you will even notice any changes as the transition occurs. Currency as a percentage of money supply is less than seven percent, the vast amount of the Nigerian naira is digital. For now, avoid going to the bank as much as possible and do not make deposits for strangers to avoid being caught in a money laundering scheme.

https://africaexplained.com.ng/pros-and-cons-of-cbns-naira-redesign/

lhordspy:
The truth is even if Tinubu went for a POPE as running mate, people like you will never vote for him.

The more reasons why you guys were clamouring for a weaker Yemi osinbajo, so it can be an easy walkover for your candidate. An osinbajo that is political un-influential, a political nobody before Tinubu picked him up, dust him, and threw him into the national political framework. Without, structure of a political party, Osinbajo can not win a local government election on his own. Even better still, with a very solid poliitical structure.

I dont get the wailing and crying, APC primary election was conducted, broadcasted on national TVs, streamed on different platform, witness by Nigerians, UN,AU,ECOWAS observers, EFCC, ICPC, CUPP, SERAP and many more. Delegations across all states voted, the majority votes won, Asiwaju won not Osinbajo, not Amaechi, not Ahmed lawal.

He was faced with a daunting task to pick a running mate, he went for competence, structure, strategy, above all political influence and popularity(which is a key factor in voters influence and vote driving) in the person of Shetimma. It is all about strategy bro, elections are not won by cheap emotional card you are playing here nor pity-party, majority votes dictate alot in winning. And he went for it.

Can you please list any Northern Christian he could have gone for?


Babachir lawal and yakubu dogara: This two are the most selfish, backstabbing, green-snake politician. They are not to be trusted. Just look at them going around instigating religious divison all around. Imagine having any of this two as vice-president of a country, it would be a disaster. The country would be divided along religious line if they had any issue with the president. They are both cry cry babies.

Lalong: He is relatively unknown in the deep Northern part. Infact outside his state. He doesnt have or hold any significant political influence.

Boss mustapha: same with osinbajo, he is just lucky babachir lawal was sacked as SGf on account of corruption. If not, we wont have known him. He might definitely just rot as the MD of waterBoard he is before he was appointed SGF.

This guys are not regular politicians,they are not hardcore like shetimma... It is nobody's fault Northern christians dont get themselves involve much in politics outside their states like their muslim counterpart.

It is nobody's fault brother.



Big lesson here: Dont try pleasing people who will never support you, while discarding a winning strategy.

It doesn't have to be any of these guys, I'm sure there are qualified northern Christians who might not be politically active but competent all the same.

The appeal that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket had in 2015 was that most Nigerians recognized that Buhari might not be eloquent or savvy for the modern economy and that is where Osinbajo will come in to help.

Tinubu is old, sick and everything Buhari is and worse, one would assume he would pick a vice that is at least eloquent and will make him look appear acceptable to the youths. What is Shettima bringing to the table? He has no notable achievement, only pity about how BH made his state ungovernable. Tinubu could definitely do better than Shettima.

lhordspy:
The truth is even if Tinubu went for a POPE as running mate, people like you will never vote for him.

Big lesson here: Dont try pleasing people who will never support you, while discarding a winning strategy.

winning strategy? he alienated half the country. Only tribal and religious bigots, and corrupt individuals hoping to benefit from the corruption that will be rampant in Tinubu's government are left supporting him at the moment.

Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress APC held its national convention earlier in March this year where it elected who would be the party flagbearer in next year’s general elections.

The majority of party delegates voted for Bola Tinubu, a Muslim former governor of Lagos state. That decision plunged the party into several weeks of debates and controversy on who will be the party’s vice presidential candidate. Many wondered if Tinubu from southern Nigeria, would decide to pick a vice from the plurality Muslim north thereby creating a Muslim Muslim ticket.

Nigeria has an unwritten rule where power alternates between the north and south, and between Muslims and Christians, the two dominant religions in the country. Between 1999 and 2007, Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian from the south served as president with Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim northerner serving as his vice president. Then Umaru Musa Yar’adua served as president with his Christian vice, Goodluck Jonathan until he died in 2010. Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim northerner has been serving as president since 2015 with his Christian vice, Yemi Osibanjo. This religious harmony is what Tinubu and his planners might bring to a halt if his Muslim Muslim ticket gets elected to office next year.

The problem with a Muslim Muslim ticket in today’s Nigeria

Tinubu’s calculations are simple, he is very popular in southwest Nigeria because he is from that region, and if he can join forces with the Muslim north, his electoral victory is assured. But this syllogism falls apart for a couple of reasons.

Nigeria is a very diverse country, with over 250 tribes and ethnic groups, most people are most familiar with the oversimplified map that divides the country into the three major ethnic groups of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Even in this oversimplified map, the Hausa Muslim north does not have the majority, they have a plurality. This means that the Hausa Muslim north does not outnumber the other regions if they combine their numbers.

This was why Muhammadu Buhari lost in all his three previous attempts to be president. In all those attempts, he did get the votes from the northern Muslims, he only succeeded when he was able to get votes from the southwest and northcentral.

Tinubu’s decision to pick Kashim Shettima to appease the northern Muslims had the unintended but expected consequence of alienating northern Christians and Christians in general who do not want to accept a Muslim Muslim ticket in a country where they make up almost half the population. The Christian population in northern Nigeria is not insignificant.

If you divide Nigeria into northern and southern states, of the 19 northern states, at least 3 states Plateau, Benue and Taraba have an outright Christian majority population. Kwara, Kogi, Nassarawa, and Niger all have a Christian population between 35-45%, and these states are all liberal states unlikely to vote along religious lines. Kaduna, Bauchi and Adamawa each have a Christian population of at least 30% of the residents. The total population of Christians in the 19 states that make up northern Nigeria should be at least 30% and APC stands a real chance of loosing that entire block of votes.

Tinubu has plenty of problems, the least of which is the fact that he is old and sick. Then there is the fact that Muhammadu Buhari has been unable to improve the country’s security, economy, infrastructure or improve the country’s corruption perception and Tinubu is campaigning to continue this legacy. Tinubu is already a hard sell, further alienating half the country will only make his candidacy even harder to sell.

The better alternative

The APC has a better and more marketable candidate in Yemi Osibanjo. The fact that he was a Christian from the south, and would have paired perfectly with any Muslim northerner. He is relatively healthy and more eloquent compared to Tinubu.

Yemi Osinbajo was a missed opportunity for the APC, but still when they decided on Tinubu, a Muslim from the south, his vice presidential pick should have been a Christian from the north. A northern Christian candidate would have secured almost 30% Christian vote for the APC in the north and avoided these Muslim Muslim ticket crises in the country in general. The northern Christians have the numbers, if they decide to combine forces with other regions most especially along religious lines, they can cost the APC this election.

source: https://africaexplained.com.ng/why-a-muslim-muslim-ticket-is-a-wrong-calculation-for-the-apc/

With the economic situation in Nigeria, most people are turning to loan apps to meet their immediate financial needs. And most of these loan apps do provide quick cash that can be repaid when you get your next paycheck - even though they operate unregulated.

But with the proliferation of these loan apps, it has created an avenue for fraudsters to prey on unsuspecting borrowers. One of such apps they use is called Cashloan app on Google play store.

Cashloan app describes itself as a quick online loan app, and so far has over 10k downloads.

It says if you you downloan the APP and register an account, you can get a loan between NGN 5,000~~NGN 500,000.

The app further gives details of it’s loan as follows:

Loan Amount: ₦20,000 ~ ₦300,000
Loan Term: the shortest is 91 days, the longest is 365 days
Loan interest: It depends on the customer’s risk profile and loan period. The interest rate is from 12% to 25% per annum.
Service charge: 0%.

For example:
If you apply for a loan of ₦30,000, the term is 180 days and the annual interest rate is 15%.
So the daily interest rate=15%/365=0.041%, the interest for 180 days =₦30,000×15%/365×180= ₦2,214, the totally repayment=₦30,000+₦2,214= ₦32,214.f you choose a 12-month loan and borrow NGN 20,000, cashloan charges an interest rate of 2.08% per month. And the interest rate is 25%, we would charge you N5,000 as interest of 12-month repayment period. Total amount of repayment is NGN 25,000.

These claims are untrue. The app collects your details like other apps but makes you a loan offer that is too good to be true and then ask you to make a deposit of small amount like N3,000 to get N100,000 loan. ones you get tempted and make the payment, you have been scammed!

Here is how the scam works; when you download the app you will be prompted to provide your KYC details like every other loan app, then you will be asked to bind your ATM card to your account as a means of repayment. The app will then make you a loan offer that is too good to be true but asked to make an upfront part payment of your loan.

This is the scam Cashloan does, ones you make your upfront payment the app will start to malfunction and will not take you any further instead it will redirect you to the advert of other loan apps.

Is Cashloan legit?


No, Cashloan is a scam app that doesn’t give loans to customers, the app has all the known features of a scam app. The app asks you to make upfront and refer you to other money lenders.

Read what other users are saying about this app, it is mostly complains from people who have lost money to the scam app and other potential victims whose app malfunctioned before they make their payments. The address on the app is also fake, and no functional developer contact on the app. 

How to detect a fake loan app

Note that loan apps in Nigeria operate unregulated, they are mostly unlicensed by the CBN and Google play store is merely a library for apps, it does not carry out verification before allowing them on it’s platform. So you are responsible for your own security when you download and use them. You can stay safe by looking out for the following red flags:

Loan apps asking for KYC information including your BVN and asking you to bind your ATM card to your account is normal, but when an app is asking you to make upfront payments or pay for processing fee, such an app is most likely a scam.

Always read other customer’s review on play store or read reviews on websites like this before downloading any loan app.
If an app does not have a contact phone number, or the phone number is not functional, that is a red-flag.

Pay attention to fake reviews on Google playstore, most of this apps pay spammers to write reviews for them. Most of the reviews will be from foreign accounts and will mostly give the app a five star without any reasonable comment.

Dont part with money for what ever reason before getting your loan.

The online loan industry in Nigeria is highly dysfunctional, read this investigative report before you take any online loan.

https://africaexplained.com.ng/cashloan-app-review-this-app-is-a-scam/

By default, your personal profile on Facebook does not come with a Follow button, it comes with the Add Friend button. The Follow button has to be manually activated, and there are good reasons why you should. You've probably been on Facebook for at least a decade now, and in that time you must have had lots of Facebook friends who are more like potential customers or clients.
Facebook will limit you to just 5000 friends if you haven’t taken the time to create a business page, and you probably don't need to, because if you do, you will have to manually send a request to each of your friends to follow your new page!

Here’s how to turn on the Follow button on your personal profile:

On the mobile app, click on the menu option in the upper-right corner.
Go to Settings and expand.
Click on Privacy Settings tab.
Click and expand "Who can send you friend request".
There will be two options here. "Everyone" and "Friends of Friends". Select "Friends of Friends".
Click on the back icon to return to Settings.
Under the Privacy header, click on Public Posts.
Select the Public option under who can follow me, this will allow others to follow your public posts similar to the follow button on Instagram.

Enabling the Follow button makes your profile to look more professional and also offers these benefits:

After someone follows you, that person sees your Public updates in their News Feed. People may also discover your profile through the People to Follow box on the right side of their News Feed or through their friends’ News Feed stories.
Followers can share your Public posts, which broadcasts your post and profile to a larger audience.
You can have an unlimited number of followers (no more 5,000-friend limit).
You’re still able to block potential followers by adjusting your Privacy Settings Block List.
And you can connect with people on Facebook who prefer subscribing to a business page to liking it.
When your Follow button is open, anyone who requests to be your friend automatically becomes a follower unless you block them. You know they’re getting your public updates; you don’t have to friend them unless you want to also get their updates.
When you unfriend someone, they remain a follower unless you block them.
You can unfollow a friend. You are still friends, but you do not receive their updates in your News Feed.
Personal profiles get more exposure in the News Feed due to Facebook’s News Feed algorithm. You have a better chance of being seen if you’re also using your personal profile to post about your business.

See pics demo

https://africaexplained.com.ng/how-to-enable-the-follow-button-on-a-personal-facebook-profile/

Weirdgee:
Na only them go use am

Hahaha

The Nigerian government has concluded plans to issue its own digital currency. And understandably, this has left many Nigerians asking questions such as is Nigeria launching its own Bitcoin? Is the Naira going to be as valuable as the dollar? Are we now going to save our Naira on crypto exchanges?”

In this explainer, we'll brake down what crypto currencies are and how they work, what eNaira is and how it's supposed to work. To be honest, eNaira seems like another bad idea and just a pure waste of resources from the Nigerian government!


What are crypto currencies and how do they work?

Crypto currencies have grown in popularity over the years. One of the most notable being Bitcoin, the first successful version, created in 2009 by the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto.
Its popularity stems largely from the stories of people who made huge sums of money investing it and ironically those who lost money through it.

The technology behind every crypto currency is called the Blockchain, here is how it works - when a transaction is made, several computers compete to solve complex mathematical equations in a process called mining, the winner wins the right to record the transaction (deduct the value of the transaction from the seller's wallet and add it to the buyer's wallet) in a ledger, the ledger is then validated and stored in the Blockchain. The winning computer usually gets some reward, in the case of Bitcoins, one twelfth of a Bitcoin for each ledger added to the Blockchain.
The whole idea of crypto currency is to eliminate government's control over money. Anyone can buy and sell them, and anyone can become a miner. And unlike your wallets with government regulated banks that can identify with your BVN and other KYC documents attached to it, cryptos are completely anonymous, the only identifier on your wallet is your unique alphanumeric code which cannot be traced.

What is the eNaira?

At a Senate hearing in February, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, famously described crypto currencies as ‘money out of thin air.’

In an interesting turn of events, the CBN is using the technology behind this “money out of thin air” to create the eNaira. It revealed on July 22, 2021, that the pilot scheme for the project will begin.

eNaira is a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that will be issued and controlled by the Nigerian government. It works differently from a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Cryptocurrencies are not controlled by a singular entity. The creation and distribution of Bitcoin is decentralised meaning anyone can participate.

Is the eNaira a crypto currency?

No eNaira is not a cryptocurren. While it might share similarities with cryptocurrencies — running on a Blockchain for example — eNaira not necessarily a crypto currency.

What the CBN is trying to do basically is to turn our Naira fiat currency into a currency that is designed for the internet.

Simply, eNaira is a currency created digitally to facilitate digital transactions. While we can already perform digital transactions with the Naira, the eNaira does not need to be backed by physical cash.

Why is Nigeria launching the eNaira?

following the boom of cryptos like Bitcoin, CBDCs are trending and countries want in on the action. Over 80 countries are testing and researching the possibility of a central bank digital currency.

As at February this year when the CBN put a ban on crypto currency trading in Nigeria, the country ranked second globally in crypto currency use. This made the CBN to be fearful of the traction cryptocurrencies were getting. The apex bank feared that Nigerians might dump the country's Fiat currency, which has been loosing value for some time now for cryptos.

According to the CBN, the apex bank says the objective of the eNaira is to aid financial inclusion, improve payment efficiency, improve revenue and tax collection, targeted social interventions, amongst other objectives.

How will the eNaira work?

Unlike bitcoins where anyone can become a miner and record transactions in the Hyperledger Blockchain, the miners of eNaira will be tightly controlled and regulated by the CBN.

The CBN will grant licenses to banks and fintech companies to mine the digital currency and create wallets for customers, while the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) will most likely be used to settle any disputes that arises.

Financial institutions will play roles in identity verification, payment processing amongst other things.

Can the government monitor transactions with the eNaira?

Yes, the government can monitor all eNaira transactions on the Hyperledger Blockchain. Unlike bitcoins and other cryptos, the government can track who is buying and selling the eNaira.

Conclusion

The eNaira is not a crypto currency, it is just another digital means of payment. Cryptos where created as a way to evade government surveillance and protect people's money from the volatility arising from government's inefficiency and corruption.

The eNaira will still give government the ability to track its users and also the ability to control and influence it. This is what makes the eNaira everything cryptos where created to stand against.

https://africaexplained.com.ng/enaira-review-what-is-enaira-and-how-will-the-nigerian-digital-currency-work/

echibuogwu:
Na wa for the way we Dey reason for this country, this people are fighting for a better education system for the people and you guys are making them look like the bad guys, what’s wrong with the govt meeting their demands, they are not asking for much and this request have been since 2009, have you seen the state of some universities? Do you think these politicians care about how bad the universities are, after all their children are studying abroad, if they don’t fight for a good education system, who will? Do you think the govt will pay any attention to the education sector if these people keep quiet? Why are you guys all foolish especially in this Nairaland
Thread seen...

guy this people have been fighting for years with no positive result, its time they find other means to fight.

Public universities have been closed down for the past eight months across Nigeria – not due to the current covid-19 pandemic, but because university lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are on strike again.



https://africaexplained.com.ng/ASUU-strike-why-nigerian-universities-are-always-on-strike-explained/

I also found this article interesting

www.thedaily-ng.com/dangote-refinerys-heat-recovery-steam-generator-arrives-lagos/

no ndidi

CIES Football Observatory, part of the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) in Switzerland, released its first list of player valuations for 2019.

They concluded that Paris-Saint German’s Kylian Mbappe is the world’s most valuable player. His price tag stands at 218.5 million euros!

However, if you are interested in one of the top African hot shots on the list and are wondering how much their services will cost your team, here is a list of the top 7 most valuable African players in the world.

1. Mohammed Salah – 184.3m euros


Mo Salah
Salah is the most valuable African footballer! no surprises there. The Egyptian king has earn his place, and any team that wants his services should have a budget of at least $200m.

2. Sadio Mane – 137.4m euros.

The Senegal international became the most expensive African football player in history when he swapped St Mary’s for Anfield in June 2016, moving for a cool £35 million transfer fee.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 95.4m euros.

Aubameyang is a sharp striker and a goal scorer that can be relied on to rise to the occasion. The Gabonese professional footballer who plays for Arsenal FC in the EPL would fancy his chances as one of the top strikers in the game.

4. Riyad Mahrez – 76m euros.

In 2016, Mahrez and his Leicester city teammates pulled off a shocking premier league upset. since then the player has been a sought after item in Europe. today he plays for Manchester city and he seem comfortable with his current situation.

5. Naby Keita – 68.4m euros.


Liverpool feature prominently in this list, with Guinea international Keita being their third entry.Kaita is an all-round box-to-box midfielder, he’s exceptional, representing the perfect marriage of tenacity and technical prowess.

6. Bertrand Traoré – 66.3m euros

Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Burkina Faso national team has earned his place on this list for being a first team regular.

7. Kalidou Koulibaly – 65.2m euros.


He plays Napoli and Senegal and if the rumors are true Manchester United are willing to pay as much as 102m euros for his services when the next transfer window opens.

source; https://www.theafricanteen.com/top-7-most-valuable-african-football-players/

Africa's rise in the 21st century has been astronomical. And there is no better indication of this than its aviation sector, an industry that supports about 6.8 million jobs and contributes $72.5bn in GDP, according to figures published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Over the next two decades, routes to, from and within the continent will increase by an extra 274 million passengers per year by 2036, for an overall market size of 400 million. Its annual average growth rate will be about 5.9 percent - the highest of any region in the world.

As Africa's economic rise continues lets looks at the top ten largest African airlines based on passenger numbers in 2018.


1. Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines carried more than 11 million passengers last year, according to figures from Sabre, a jump of 17.6 percent on the previous 12 months.

The Star Alliance carrier is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that aims to position it as the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units.

In June 2018, the airline took delivery of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787-900, becoming the first African airline to reach the milestone. It has five more Boeing 787-900s on order along with 16 Airbus A350s among others.

2. EgyptAir

EgyptAir carried in excess of 8.1 million passengers in 2018, placing it second on the list of biggest African carriers. The airline, which operates from Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport, operated more than 120 routes last year across 53 countries in the world.

3. Royal Air Maroc

Morocco's flag-carrier increased passenger numbers by 8.7 percent to about 7.5 million during a year when it celebrated its 60th anniversary. The airline, owned by the Moroccan government, is based at Casablanca Airport and has a fleet of 54 aircraft.

4. Air Algerie

Air Algerie, the national carrier of Algeria, operates from its main hub in Algiers operating a mix of African, European and selected Asian routes. The North African airline carried about 7.2 million passengers in the last calendar year, a rise of 6.9 percent on 2017.

5. South African Airways

The flag carrier of South Africa has endured a difficult few years and is currently attempting to revive its fortunes under the leadership of chief executive Vuyani Jarana. In 2017 passenger numbers fell 1.1 percent to 6.8 million, the fourth year in a row it has experienced a decline.

6. Comair

Aviation company Comair has been operating local and regional services in southern Africa under the British Airways livery since 1996 and launched low-cost airline Kulula.com in 2001. It carried 5.59 million passengers in 2017, up from 5.36 million in 2016, putting it as the sixth largest carrier.

7. Kenya Airways

National airline Kenya Airways is a SkyTeam alliance member and operates scheduled services throughout Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Last year it operated 78 routes to 41 countries, carrying 4.59 million passengers.

8. Tunisair

Tunisia’s national flag carrier Tunisair increased passenger numbers by almost 6 percent in 2017 to 3.26 million, figures provided by Sabre show. The airline currently has a fleet of 28 aircraft, including four which are grounded.

9. Mango

State-owned South African low-cost carrier Mango flew 2.88 million passengers last year, a drop of 3 percent compared with 2017. In May this year, the country’s government announced that Mango, South African Airways and SA Express are to merge as part of efforts to drive “synergy and savings”.

10. Arik Air

The Nigerian airline operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport near Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. It carried 2.6 million passengers in 2018, making it the tenth largest African airline.


More lists on Africa's development http://www.afriforum.net/3407/the-ten-biggest-african-airlines-2019

2019 is here and if you are planning a nice holiday vacation across Africa here are the 10 safest countries to visit according to IEP’s Global Peace Index. Africa is home to some 1.1billion people and the second most populous continent in the world behind Asia.Most foreign media gives the impression that African countries are not safe and prone to frequent crisis. The truth is though there are some war-zones in the continent it is not as many as the press makes us believe. There happens to be more peaceful countries and safe places in Africa than the violent areas.

Top 11 Safest Countries in Africa 2019

1. Mauritius
Port Louis, the wealthiest city on this continent is located in this country, perhaps this is one good reason to visit Mauritius. The national language of Mauritius is English and there is a very low crime rate in the country. Mauritius is a perfect tropical tourist destination for a lot of people with many amazing sights for you to enjoy.

2. Botswana
Botswana was once a British Colony but since it got freed and became their own nation, Botswana has one of the stablest democracy in Africa which makes the place an ideal destination for any kind of traveler.

Exploring the country is safe and easy. Actually, you wouldn’t have a problem getting around here as almost everyone speaks English. During your stay don’t forget to try a “mokoro” ride to have a unique canoeing experience!

Another incredible thing to do here is to enjoy the wildlife, watch the everyday life of the zebras, elephants, and hippos in their natural habitats!

3. Ghana:
Ghana was rated the most peaceful country in Africa by the Global Peace Index in the year 2008. Ghana is a democratic state and elections and transitions of governments has been held peacefully over the years.

Ghana is currently locked in a Jollof rice supremacy war with Nigeria. perhaps you could offer your verdict after a visit!

4. Namibia
Namibia will not fail to offer you an adventure of a lifetime as it is also one of the most stable countries in Africa.

When visiting the country, don’t forget to check out Etosha National Park where you can see 114 families of mammals and over 300 species of birds!

Hire a truck that will make you have closer wildlife encounters and get ready for some epic adventures.

5. Angola
This rich oil-producing country located in Southern Africa is one of the most peace-loving countries in Africa. Angola is not just among the safest countries in Africa buh also one of the most developed African countries.

6. Morocco
This country is ruled by a King and is the only North African country not to be affected by the Arab uprising. Morocco is the most peaceful North African and is a very nice location for vacations and tourism. Morocco’s peaceful state is mainly due to good governance, economic and political policies.

7. Malawi
Not even a decade ago, Malawi wasn’t a good place to travel for foreign adventurers, but because of the new-found government and economic boom, this country is now one of the best African countries to visit.

Most travelers go to the rural parts of the country as getting along with and getting to know the local Malawian can be a one of a kind experience.

8. Ethiopia
Though this country was formerly plagued by famine and crises it has since gone past those days and is now a safe and peaceful, currently one of the safest countries in Africa.

9. Seychelles
Seychelles is another must-visit gem in Africa. The country hardly delivers bad news on TV and the internet and it has beautiful and peaceful places to go like Petite Anse and Mahe where you are able to experience an easy-going lifestyle. Seychelles has converted many of its small islands to national parks. This is the way of their government to keep the picturesque beauty of the country while allowing travelers to see it for themselves!

10. Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been doing virtually everything right since he became president and this has mad Kenya a tourist destination in Africa.

Just like any other country, it is important to look after your valuables as petty crime is still widespread. While in the country, you will feel overjoyed with the kindness Kenyans will offer you during your stay.

There you have it, the top 10 safest countries to visit in Africa this 2019. Africa doesn’t have a positive reputation in terms of safety but be well aware that a lot of stereotypes you might have heard are derived from false deceptions and there are tons of safe places to travel in Africa.

But then again, this reputation did not come completely just out of the blue; however, these countries mentioned above offer a better safety to both locals and foreign visitors than it had before.

from
http://www.afriforum.net/3163/10-safest-countries-in-africa-2019