₦airaland Forum

BarrElChapo:
All three candidates are BATists I ain’t voting for them.

Oh wow really. And see me thinking she’s the female Obama 😁

DrOA:
The person must link the details to UKVI, and get a code before traveling. Digital world now!

Thanks. Is this the share code or a different one?

Jamesclooney:
Hi everyone,

I have someone coming to the UK on a Standard Visitor visa. With the move to eVisas, do they need to generate a share code before travelling, or is there nothing else to do as long as their eVisa is correctly linked and up to date?

Has anyone travelled recently under similar circumstances? Thanks in advance.

Some help me pls

Michaelmercy:
I’m never saying it’s salary brother, my point is people are raking that in averagely in this same Nigeria.. There are good months, there are months not so good but trust me you’ll get to a level, you will be able to predict your average or minimum income as long as you’re consistently pushing contents.
The guys I’m talking in context have over 3 channels bringing all this income.

I’m saying this because I know unpopular people doing it and cashing that kind of money not to talk of a popular person like Shank.
What do you guys now think about creators like Sabinus, SirBalo, Mcabraka, or sisi yemmie or Tayo aina or pastor Jerry Eze?

My whole point is guys are earning this consistently in this same Nigeria

Or VDM? How much do you think he earns monthly? I’m thinking around $100k usd per month. Agree?

Hi everyone,

I have someone coming to the UK on a Standard Visitor visa. With the move to eVisas, do they need to generate a share code before travelling, or is there nothing else to do as long as their eVisa is correctly linked and up to date?

Has anyone travelled recently under similar circumstances? Thanks in advance.

Why Are Today’s Politicians Such Lightweights? Why Are They Sooooo Bad?

Nigel Farage finally did a media round yesterday and it was a series of car-crash interviews. Not one, not two, but five disaster classes (GMB, TalkTV, LBC, and two separate ones on BBC). They all had one thing in common: £5m bung waffling!

When the subject of the £5m “gift” came up, he obfuscated, tried to muddy the waters, became defensive, and eventually went on the attack. At one point he even asked interviewers why they didn’t donate their salaries to charity or why the live in £4m mansions in north London…like it was the same thing 😂

One bad interview I can understand. But why would his media team let him repeat the same mistakes in interview after interview? If he’s not surrounded by yes-men in an echo chamber, why didn’t they immediately course-correct and stick to: “It’s been investigated by parliamentary standards and I can’t comment further”? Why keep digging? “I can spend it on Ferraris” he said at one point 😂

Which brings me to the bigger point. He’s leading in all the polls (avg 30%). Head and shoulders above the other 4 leading parties. And this is the best the Uk can offer? Kemi Badenoch looks weak too (but best of a bad bunch). Don’t get me started on Ed Davey or Zack Polanski.

It’s no wonder Labour are so delighted that Andy Burnham has emerged as his apparent kryptonite.

But I don’t think Burnham “King of the North”, is a significant improvement on tepid Keir Starmer, “King of the U-turns”.

What’s happening though? Is social media demystifying politicians? Is the 24/7 media cycle, where one bad clip goes viral instantly, exposing everyone’s weaknesses? Even Rishi Sunak, who is arguably more cerebral than most of them, had plenty of poor moments.

The only major politician I currently look at and think is genuinely competent is PM Carney of Canada. The rest increasingly strike me as charlatans.

Ps- let’s not go across the pond or back home to Naija. Inept leaders everywhere 💦

CharlesCNG:
Sowore’s problem is that he often mistakes democracy for a licence to say anything, do anything, and then shout “activism” when the law answers.

Free speech is protected, yes. But free speech is not freedom from legal consequences. In law, there is a difference between criticising a President and publicly making allegations of criminality without proving them.

More importantly, this latest remand is not simply because he criticised Tinubu. Reports say his bail was revoked after he failed to appear in court, and the court subsequently issued a bench warrant. That is basic criminal procedure. Bail is not a souvenir; it is a conditional liberty granted by the court. If the condition is breached, the court can revoke it.

Sowore is entitled to defend himself. He is entitled to challenge the charges. He is entitled to appeal any ruling he considers unfair.

But he is not above the court.

Democracy is not lawlessness wearing a human-rights T-shirt.

Activism is not immunity.

And rabble-rousing is not a legal defence.

If Sowore believes Tinubu is a criminal, let him prove it in court. If he cannot, then he should learn that public life is not a marketplace where reckless labels are thrown around without consequence.

Nobody is above criticism.

But nobody is above the law either.

Stop using ChatGPT ooo

Raregem9000:
Wow, interesting! From Borris Johnson to Liz Truss to Rishi Sunak and to you. Can someone explain why these guys resign? I mean why can't they finish their tenure and let citizens decide?

They make mistakes, become unpopular and lose the support of their MPs; thereby making it impossible to run a functioning government (cabinet ministers start to resign etc.)

Once that happens, it’s all over. A new leader from their party then takes over.

I too like this British system…7 Prime Ministers since 2015. Meanwhile Nigeria has had 2 calamitous presidents in same period (Buhari & Tinubu). Just imagine if we could chop and change like them?

Same thing with Donald Trump…4yrs must complete, no matter what - Iran War, Epstein files etc.

CharlesCNG:
Calling judges’ official accommodation a “bribe” is cheap sensationalism.

First, welfare is not bribery. Proper housing for judicial officers is part of strengthening institutions. A judge handling multi-billion-naira disputes should not be living in uncertainty or begging landlords.

Second, judicial independence is not protected by poverty. A poorly housed, poorly paid and economically vulnerable judge is easier to compromise. Welfare is actually an anti-corruption tool.

Third, these are not private gifts secretly handed to judges in envelopes. They are official government-provided residences tied to office and institutional welfare. That distinction matters.

Fourth, if improving judges’ welfare is now bribery, then salaries, official cars, security, medical care and retirement benefits must also be called bribes. That is absurd.

Fifth, perception matters, yes. But perception cannot replace logic. The solution is transparency, not hysteria.

Baba-Ahmed’s argument sounds clever, but it collapses under scrutiny. You cannot demand an independent judiciary while opposing the material conditions that make independence possible.

Judges should be well paid, well housed and well protected — not because they are above citizens, but because justice itself must be insulated from desperation, intimidation and inducement.

Poverty is not judicial reform.

A vulnerable judge is a dangerous judge.

ChatGPT man strikes again 😂 Oga please use your brain. You’re embarrassing yourself

CharlesCNG:
If indeed this is what it is becoming, then that is profoundly unfortunate.

There is something deeply disturbing about the politics of blood — the tendency to convert human tragedy into political ammunition.

Children are abducted, families are shattered, communities are traumatized, and before rescue efforts even gain momentum, some people are already calculating headlines, harvesting outrage and positioning for political advantage.

That is not activism.

That is opportunism.

There is a difference between holding government accountable and turning suffering into a campaign strategy.

There is a difference between advocacy and political ambulance chasing.

If the primary objective is to weaken Tinubu ahead of an election rather than secure the release of innocent children, then we have crossed a dangerous moral line.

Because no election is worth the blood, tears and fears of innocent Nigerians.

The kidnapped children must never become props in anybody's political theatre.

Not for government.

Not for opposition.

Not for influencers.

Not for content creators.

Human tragedy should unite us in compassion, not divide us into partisan camps.

The politics of blood is perhaps the ugliest form of politics because it feeds on pain and profits from fear.

And that is something decent people, regardless of political affiliation, should reject.

Stop using ChatGPT and use your brain.

I have a U.S. embassy visa interview scheduled in London in the next few weeks. Does the recent visa ban/restriction apply to Nigerian citizens applying through the U.S. Embassy in London, or only to applicants applying from Nigeria?

I am travelling to attend a business conference and would appreciate any clarification or recent experiences. Thank you.

Thhhggbnn. Cv

Lithiumite:
How is hope uzodinma going to run for senate while his 2nd term as gov diest expire till 28?

Plan is to resign May 2027 to become Senate President and handover to his deputy Gov

…

Mumu, the location doesn’t matter. Seyi Makinde wanted to host them in Ibadan.

Awon filmmaker for professors and intellectuals…Na Benin Republic e end up 😂

Meanwhile Funke keeps smashing her own records back to back!

If pride was a person…

Last good movie he made was Figurine in 2009!

WanderingChild:
I am now a bit sceptical about the position that most future growth will occurr outside of the west (I published in line with this in time past but my stance is changing) and this is because we are making one huge assumption - that outside of the west (e.g. Africa) has the capable labour force that will enable or drive this. This may not be true considering that about 70% of Africa's youth population are poor. Coupled with the absence of any governance framework in Africa that can evolve frameworks to drive up GDP/Capita, most of Africa's youth will end up being net negative contributors to national GDP. With the financialisation of commodities and almost every aspect of society, Africa is not poised to determine or impact how its services should be priced. Growth in Africa will ONLY be possible if we achieve full integration within Africa along with EU style freedom of movement of goods and people. That in itself also has a timeline as the more Africa's youths get poorer, the more difficult it will be to lift them up and see them become net positive contributors.

I acknowledge your observation of the Nigeria bourse but let's be clear - it is nothing more than a big Ponzi scheme. Today, investors in a number of stocks on the NGX like Geregu are unable to divest because of general lack of liquidity. A critical assessment of P/E ratios, earnings and valuation of many companies also shows market manipulations of the stock market. Whatever growth is noted, there is no corresponding growth in liquidity (proxied via FDI). Remember that we had similar scenarios during the era of Ndi Okereke Onyiuke where the banks played bananas with shareholder funds and we saw the collapse of their prices. I want you to pause and think of how a company like Transcorp that had its share price collapse to 50 Kobo is now worth over 51 Naira today. Nigeria is a Ponzi scheme.

Another thing we must not confuse is our anecdotal views and what the data states. Network effect may put you in close proximity with folks in high paying jobs who also feel that their observation of a "buoyant economy" in Nigeria justifies remittances back home to "invest". The data is very dire. Nigeria's GDP has collapsed from over $800 billion in 2014 to just under $300 billion in 2025. This is not good news. In that same time, our population has increased meaning we have gotten poorer. Imagine this - Nigeria with a 6th of India's population has about 87 million people in acute poverty compared to about 240 million in India.

One other thing you must note in Nigeria is the huge money laundering machine it has become. Yes, Nigeria has exited FATF list, however there is a very coordinated money laundering system prevalent in Nigeria. We see this in the property market, the kidnapping gangs and contracting. It is pervasive and very organised but is what drives new Nigeria - not enterprise.

India is a painful example because despite their huge population, they have been unable to generate a huge GDP to boost GDP/Capita. Today, nominal GDP/Capita for select countries/regions are US ($89k), Europe (avg) at ($42k), China ($13k), Botswana ($7k), Namibia ($5k), Cambodia ($2k), Nigeria ($1.2k) and India ($3k). African countries like Namibia and Botswana have a better chance of being more economically powerful (GDP/capita wise) compared to India. I also think $5k is a sweet spot (arbitrarily chosen I must concede) to gauge any country that can grow wealth for its people and you can see that Nigeria is not near that figure.

I agree that some semblance of "opportunities do exist, but the huge risks and absence of competent leadership and better use of our resources which have lasted for the better part of the last 60+ years mean that we have lost the possibility of any sensible recovery. You do not want to retire to chaos, rampant crime and huge social unrest. Such environment cannot also be conducive for growing actual wealth. What you will find there is mostly extraction and exploitation. Also, what we call opportunities are nothing but evidence of market and government failures. If we have MPR rates so high at 27% compared to a 15% interest rate, that creates a distrust in inflation values and indicates that the government has lost control of how to rein in the huge cash in the informal sectors. If ATMs worked and money transfer worked like M-PESA, businesses like Moniepoint and maybe O-Pay will be out of business. If financial services made money from deals (loans to the real economy) rather than bank charges and arbitrage from "shorting" the Naira (through dollar-Naira trading) along with widespread presence, people will be incentivised to bank more than transact with cash. If government had a huge housing development scheme and effective transport networks (e.g. fast train between Ibadan and Lagos), property prices and rent will collapse, Lagos will be decongested and states like Oyo and Ogun will see more development. Most of what we think are "opportunities" are simply outcomes from failed market and government policies.

A lot of folks are sick in Nigeria, there is paucity of good healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Do you think this "opportunity" will exist if government did their jobs? Why do we have a lot of private universities in Nigeria - simply because government owned universities have failed. We really should not be talking about "opportunities" because of market and government failures but rather in the sense of improvement in efficiency. This is what will create the scaler effect driving huge benefits, creating more opportunities and generating wealth. This is why I argue that Nigeria is on a managed economic collapse. The government has failed to act for decades and now Nigeria has become this complex maze of failed sectors that are poorly funded and with officials that are at loss of what needs to be done. Let me shock you - Peter Obi will fail woefully. He will fail because the only way for Nigeria to achieve any meaningful progress is to see its acute poverty list permanently decrease by 50% in 4 years. That will mean huge industries, massive industrialisation at a fifth of China's scale. That will cost trillions which we don't have and which have been squandered.

My call for our people to be extremely cautious about returning to Nigeria is to ensure that people who are stuck with the catastrophic immigration policies here in the west do not end up going back home and ending up losing everything. The west for now still provides the safety and exposure to the changing world especially for their kids compared to what is obtainable in Nigeria. As long as they have a fighting chance to remain here, let them try. Back home, it is more of dog eat dog system that places no value on your capabilities but your subscription to the infinity logo.

Lastly, I know we don't agree on the issue of the contribution of our youths to humanity, but think of how you can move freely between Canada and the UK and enjoy superior pay as a medical professional in Canada? Think of the exposure, access to latest tech and literature and ecosystem of sane humans you get to meet. Imagine how that improves your capabilities and makes you more valuable? This is what Nigeria cannot provide. Think of how the systems are setup to make you your best option, this is what will be lost going back to Nigeria. Today, we have an outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria and states are denying it. We had over 150 people kidnapped in a Northern state some weeks ago and the police denied it and later recanted. That is what Nigeria has to offer. We are building a coastal road to nowhere while we have for over 40 years failed to build a simple dam in Benue to absorb excess release from Cameroon leading to thousands of deaths every year. No child or youth is such a system is thinking of innovation or growth or productivity. Nigerians cannot get most US visas (immigrant and non-immigrant) today. Nigerians are far behind in AI infrastructure (we have no one in Africa). This is not a place where immigrants here in the west confronting fluid immigration policies should be encouraged to go. They will find themselves trapped in circumstances that will grind them down.

TL DR

Where is the beauty? We throw the word out too much

Please where’s the “beauty”?

They’re both irrelevant. That’s how we promote nonentity online celebrities like Peller and Egungu. Next!

TV01:
There are very few actual or objective critics of Kemi B on here. Most are simply outright haters and pretty much despise her.

Kem is certainly doing better - no gainsaying. by most estimates, she has been on fire since responding to the Rachel Reeves' budget. Comments on some of the clips have been almost universally positive. Even uproariously so. Even the vanishingly rare naysayers have sounded choked as they protest.

She may not have hit the ground running, but is certainly picking up steam, and many that were negative or lukewarm at best, are re-appraising her and her chances. The British love pluck.

Having said that, one swallow does not a summer make! This may not change her long-term outcome. The Labour party led by the gormless Kier Starmer, and with the painfully out-of-her depth Reeves as chancellor are literally punch drunk punching bags. Sitting ducks, with a chorus line of lightweights. If the Labour party were footballers, they'd be the kind "you go take enter camp".

There are still some in her party who will never quite warm to her and others who would politically off her at the slightest chance - and the right time for that is not yet - timing is everything. I still feel she took up the mantle too early and, by default has some of the "last 14-years" stink cling to her.

Then there is of course reform. Conservative MPs and party members are still defecting at pace and scale. They are are narrowing in on the things that are troubling the majority of people (this country is still 75%-odd ethnic\indigenous British).

If she can keep it up and drop some smoking hot policies, get the party to rally around her for the most part, then maybe, just maybe? Hopefully she's learnt to temper her utterances given the fallout from her ill-judged comments about Nigeria - unwise and unprofitable. even where I agree or share sentiments, being in her shoes I would have kept mum or, articulated much better.

Hope she is getting better advice. She is not any less than anyone on the UK political scene - I have little time for pretty much all of them. She is not a Statesman or even one in the making by any means - not just yet.


TV

You contradicted yourself by criticising her later in your post. Does that make you a hater too?

deept:
Kemi sure has improved giving Starmer and his hand woto woto from all angles. His answers to everything is after 14 years of the conservatives, they had 14 years to know how not to run a country and here we are. I like how she gave them numbers, at least those don't lie. What's with Starmer and £150 given to families for energy bills, energy bills have increased by X amount and will increase in January again and they will give you £150 back, no thank you.

Kemi critics what you say?

Check her poll numbers…no improvement for the Conservatives. She came at the wrong time + wrong party.

Santa2:
Apologies if this turns out to be a long post. This Nairaland is like a market place. You come and buy (and sometimes sell) the goods you want and use it to cook a delicious meal or dump it in the trash. I have always know always believed that two truths can exist. There will always supposed 'high fliers' and there would always be those that stick with the norm. I personally believe that both are necessary for a healthy community. One just has to choose where one falls under and in that process not look down on the next man because you think he is not striving to be better himself. Its ok if the next man to stay 15 years for ILR if that gives him peace, While it might might not be ok for me, I need to respect the next man's choice because we are not fighting the same battles. What prompted this post the issue where someone said @jedisco was boasting about his achievement. I actually think the opposite is the case. I don't think we showcase enough the path of a successful immigrant so other can get inspiration. I have learnt a lot from Nairaland and still keep learning, Over 14 years ago, nairaland was were I ran to when I wanted have our kid in the US and thankfully it provided me the information I needed and the community. When it was time to build our house back then in Nigeria, the housing/building thread was a valuable resource. In 2020 when I decided it was time for my masters study in the UK, Nairaland was the best resource.

I came in as student, Nairaland thread was were I went to for settling down tips, housing, banks accounts, building credit profile etc. I came in at the height of covid when we had to quarantine when we arrive. I got all I tips I needed. While I was a student I did part time care work, I was able to save almost £4000 living frugally, My spouse and kids joined me several month later and she got a very good job here (as she had extensive experience). while the company said they wouldn't sponsor, six month down the line as our visa was expiring they did sponsor her. I got a job after study with a subsidiary of the NHS that offered full remote work and didn't pay as much as I would have liked. I initially gave myself six month to stay in that job but I slowly settled into that job and started to see my self as not being able to earn more than that. I applied to other jobs but didn't get much traction. Through that period my wife and I applied for a mortgage got approved and bought a new build 4 bedroom terrace house and was thanks to guidance from the nairaland mortgage thread (thanks to rent money is dead money conversation that some fought against). When the mortgage payment hit I slowly realised that I would need to double my hustle. Enter in Nairaland again, I had already identified an area I wanted to pivot into but wasn't doing as much action as I would have liked. Then I stumbled on a comment from @copershun ( I hope I got her handle right) on recruiters reaching out to her for roles 70k to 80k, I contacted her and found out that it was the same Data Management/Quality I was play around with that she was referring to. I got serious and did the work, and a few month later started a managerial role in this area. Almost a year into the role I have already identified the next niche I want to play in . Someone might say I am here bragging or what's not but I just hope it inspires some to take step and action and build the type of life you want for yourself. I still am on a journey of self discovery, @chukwuma's post on entrepreneurship has also sparked another fire that I am looking to explore in the next year. Once I again I state that Nairaland is a marketplace, You come here and choose the ingredients you want, and the type of soup you want to use it to cook. Selah

Great post Santa2. Long but good…well worth the read.

Like you, I’ve greatly benefited from Nairaland. It’s been a treasure trove and a reservoir of knowledge for me. Nairaland helped me secure my first job with a multinational, donkey years ago. From SHL prep to all the assessment centre and interview tips for multiple companies. (I was almost always surprised by how generous some posters were, even with direct competitors, but that’s a story for another day 😂.)

Time to japa, NL helped me with firsthand realtime info on schools for MSc. Upon admission, I balanced for UK visa thread (I still refer to it till now to advise friends and family that come visiting). Or is it house purchase, or general settling in the UK, the list is endless. NL has been a sure plug (big S/o to Seun).

I’ve always believed in and bowed to superior knowledge, so I’m genuinely interested in other people’s opinions. Like I said earlier, I’ve only been loyal to Nairaland, and this thread in particular, because of the gems you won’t find elsewhere (and also the anonymity which allows people to be candid).

Where I take exception with some people is the holier than thou attitude. Raising shoulders. Belittling people who don’t have the vision to japa 2.0 or generally the “mental rigmarole” or the “I’m sorry for you with your worldview” comments etc. Simply put, there’s guy no sabi talk (IMHO).

I even recall an encounter months back when I was waiting for feedback on my Canada visitor visa process, and I came here to see if anyone was in the same boat as me and his comment was something along the lines of Canada visa process is superior to UK visa due to the length of visa and more cost effective. But Oga, I applied because I was going for my sisters graduation which was time bound, how does giving me a visa one year after even help me? It defeats the purpose of my application. Baba kept quiet. And so many more interactions with others.

I recall when I was japa’ing to the UK, I had dozens of colleagues who japa’d around the same time, to both UK and Canada. A lot of my friends tried to persuade me to take the Canada option. In the end, I opted for the UK, and a few years later, I can say hand on heart, no regrets. In fact, compared to the friends in CA, it’s been a mixed bag for some of them. While some found jobs immediately upon landing or even from Nigeria, some struggled to find work for more than a year. The point I’m making is: what worked for Mr A, won’t necessarily work for Mr B.

Ultimately, there’s no fixed formula in life. You do your due diligence, make a decision, and pray to your God for the stars to align in your favour. There’s no need for the condescending attitude or treating others as less than. No one knows tomorrow. We are all winging it in this life and so everyone needs to chill.

Zahra29:
Genuine question, (and I come in peace )...

Why has similar support not been given to Wandering child/Chukwuka? He has written several posts trying to encourage fellow immigrants to aim higher and has shared his own successes/experiences to highlight what's possible especially if people work together as a community. He comes across as highly intelligent, but also humble. In response he's been criticised, laughed at ( "Aspire to Maguire" or something like that) and recently been accused of being "far removed from reality" and I don't recall anyone standing up for him (not that he needs it, I'm sure).

God bless you Zahra. Even though we don’t always agree, you are among the posters I check for on this thread because of the quality of your contributions. I can mention other monikers with similarly thoughtful posts that elevate the conversation without the condescending language or self-adulation (wise people let others praise them).

His supporters can continue D riding him and enabling his bad character. See them jumping out to condemn lol, yet when the person in question makes omniscient posts and belittles others… no comment from them. Peep. Now it’s all about context, background and nuance. Rubbish! What is wrong is wrong.

By Gods grace, I don’t have any reason to kiss his asx. Just calling it as I see it. I wish him all the best in his CA sojourns (tbh, I don’t really care lol). The end!

lavida001:
He is quick to shut people down I remember when he called me rat and all. Then noBody said a word, everybody just throw away face but if na lavida na then man like wilberforce go suddenly come out of retirement to ask for admin to remove me.

Na our people we dey accommodate him. No one here has the balls to say it as it is. Just like someone said here some moons ago that he is a politician he knows how to bamboozle our people.

Come online post about couple of houses and cars and brag about the imaginary millions in acccount and watch how naija people become loyal to you and they see no wrong in what you do. You become their mini god.

Him no go try am for CA forum , those ones no get joy. Them go position am for his corner.

Unfortunately for him, I no send him papa, I don’t give 2Fs about a Nairaland medic journeying from NG > UK > CA (maybe US in the future where the real money is). Like it’s not even a unique pathway to him. Men yakpa weh don do pass that one, yet he won’t let somebody drink water drop cup. Every Eke market day, do you know my net contribution this, or I’m so sorry you have that mindset blah blah blah….Like Neeggah who the F do you think you are? Please have several seats.

Even titans of industry are more humble than the guy. On top online world that by God’s grace, I’ll never ever meet you or need your help, respectfully GTFO!

This kind person go worse pass Burna Boy!