₦airaland Forum

The state of things today...

Some might look at it and say that black man with his many 'untreated diseases' from Africa is looking to steal my cookie

willyede:
Am not Una...I do not need to comment on post here i come here to learn how to survive in the uk of which that is what this thread is for. I have noticed that whenever there is a dig at immigrant you come here with your hypocritical Nationshaming dig at Nigerians ''to make Nigeria a better place''. I will speak for myself when i say whatever happens to Nigeria is Nigeria's business but you Nationshaming people here would be called out...If you do not see anything wrong in that Kemi's statement then its best you keep quiet and let those that are helping in the thread continue to do so...

Hehe... you dey vex oo.

The focus here is giving some a mirror so they can appreciate what drives their thought process. A good example is asking what if those returning decide to start developing from his/her home state? They'd sure chorus 'go back to your village'.

People don't think alike and I've found peace accepting it. That Nigeria needs to be rebuilt does not mean a we'd line up behind a rat to do so.

Beautiful. Competition on that route is overdue

iswallker:
I was treated in Nigerian hospital for malaria and typhoid fever for over 5yrs. I was giving up hope but I decided not to die.

So I visited this primary health care center in my area and met a young doctor. Long story short I had ulcer. My stomach walls was being eaten up by a bacterial infection. I could have died.

I can't comment on your story as its all sketchy.

Like I said, healthcare in Nigeria is not removed from the wider environment. Our politicians tell us we don't have the income as a nation to afford modern healthcare for the general populace yet, those same politicians are paid much higher than their western counterparts while still using public funds to get treated abroad.

I've not even gone to our mega places of worship and the billions they receive.

How much do you think an average ambulance callout costs the government in the UK? Yet the government pays that freely for everyone.

UK doctors are not coming to save Nigerians. We better start holding our own doctors and leaders accountable

[quote author=Curious345 post=136166073][/quote]There are too many holes in your story.
First you said he had cold and cough for 8 years. Now a hearsay article.

What was the interval between treatment for pneumonia and subsequent diagnosis of cancer?
Did he represent to his local hospital when his condition got worse?
What cancer was he actually diagnosed with?

Even if it was lung cancer, a chest infection can manytimes be the initial presentation and it's not uncommon to be picked up after on further investigations if the person doesn't get better after initial treatment. This is the case in the west. This does not mean that everyone presenting with a simple chest infection should have extensive investigations for cancer. Moseso, some lung cancers are picked on incidentally in those who have little or no symptoms.

In summary, there is too little detail to take a sensible stand.

We know the state of our nation which feeds into our healthcare, it's far from perfect with huge challenges. However, it remains one of the very few domains where we have good shoots which we should build- tearing it down would not help. UK doctors are not coming to save you.

Curious345:
Great men die young.. like Gani fawehinmi said " I was treated for cold ,catarrh and malaria in Nigerian great hospitals for over 8yrs, not knowing I had cancer , it took only one diagnosis from a hospital in UK to detect I had lung cancer, but it was already too late so I have to kpai now"...

Crap. If the lung cancer was the cause of his symptoms for 8yrs, he'd had been long gone.

The focus should be on pressurising the government to equip and invest in the local workforce. Healthcare, security and economic growth are things you can't import. We'd have to build capacity.

The most annoying part is that when it comes to health they remember Nigeria is a poor country as compared to the UK while at the same time forgetting that Nigerian politicians earn significantly more than those their UK counterparts

Certain things are belittling to a nation.

Why should we be fronting a white person for a simple renovation? It seems that any project that does not have the face of a foreigner managing it has not started. Disgusting!

Meogom:
Thank you.
We're borrowing 32k less than the maximum.
The plan was even to use the deposit we get from our current landlord towards the loan and pay off the balance from our salaries.
I asked the mortgage advisor if we should pay off the loan, but she said we should hold on for a feedback from Barclays.
But I don't want to tell the solicitor to hold on.

I seriously don't understand your mortgage advisor. Are they working for you or someone else?
While its not a good idea to take out credit before completion, yours has already been done. Besides its not a new credit application and it'd be a few days- weeks before your new credit balance feeds thru to your credit report.

Some lenders do make a final check before exchange but I don't see how it's the role of your mortgage advisor to raise issues where there are none.
Given what you've said, this should likely be a non-issue. Worst case, Barclays might ask you to repay it if it'd affect your affordability. If you have enough room, then they may overlook it.

I would seriously be weary of such a mortgage advisor

Not a fan of the torygraph but there are some uneasy facts here.

How can almost 1 in 5 new cars sold be funded by the taxpayer? So when folks incl working migrants are saving money to buy cars, some are gathering their tax-funded benefits to pay a token and then be handed a new BMW every 3 yrs. Not against those who actually need it but let the numbers keep rising, e go reach everybody soon.

Fred2020:
Yes, issues still persist but the economy may be turning the corner and there are many early movers in the capital market reaping unreal gains right now.
...
The important thing right now is that there are some green shoots in the Nigerian economy that can blossom into something good if carefully nutured.
God bless Nigeria.

I'd be skeptical on the first paragraph especially as regards the debt market. For the equity market, I hope most of the gains feed thru to the actual economy as companies find it easier to raise capital and invest. As for the debt market, if it continues this way, it'd be counterproductive. Typically a good chunk of the gains go to foreign portfolio investors- as they have the data to move in early, buy debt, get their profit, sell and leave before the resultant devaluation takes hold. They then move to the next country.

I agree with the last, they are some green shoots (which are long overdue). Time would tell if they would blossom

Cyberknight:
I believe that's the CBN's aim - using high interest rates to tackle inflation. Not ideal, but textbook economics. Hopefully there'll be some relief for businesses soon. Even Argentina is gradually cutting interest rates.

Issue is how long that's sustainable and if they're doing anything differently this time. We had thesame in 2016-2018 ish which was subsequently followed by rampant inflation when the government started printing more money to pay back. This is not even considering wider negative effects on the masses.

Local investors were happy at the high rates without considering the wider effects and when the results came, they saw that 20% meant little in the face of 50% devaluation. It was high borrowing rates that forced Trump to reverse on most tarrifs, it was also same that led to the demise of Liz Truss.

Fred2020:
On LemFi, the rate has only moved slightly — from around ₦2130 to ₦2070 per pound over the past two months & between 2,000 to 2,200 year to date. That’s quite steady, especially considering Nigeria’s usual FX volatility.

The ill-thought interventions by the last government in the name of protecting the naira created alot of market distortions and inefficiencies which helped no one aside those round-tripping the naira. I was singing this on another thread years back.

Fact is most of the solutions we need are largely straightforward. Ending naira subsidy allowed capital to flow better with the true demand of the currency driving its value. Ending petrol subsidy and takeoff of Dangote refinery also reduced loads of waste and artificial demand for forex. Today, if petrol from 9ja is sold to surrounding nations, that's good as it's refined locally and creates jobs in Nigeria.

Certain issues still persist - the unreal rates in the debt market is also another distortion that needs to be fixed. If being used to drive down inflation, it should be short-lived else it stiffles the economy. Except FG revenue is growing that fast, the nation cannot afford to keep borrowing at such rates. The funds used to pay off that debt would be from printing new money which only serves to benefit the rich and drive inflation and subsequent devaluation down the line. Thats the reason why historically, 1-2 yrs after such rates are usually followed by more devaluation. That's not even considering the fact that businesses have to borrow at higher rates than the FG benchmark. How many businesses can pay back a loan at 30% compounded? Even an individual in the west has access to much cheaper credit. How then do businesses grow and invest? Another drawback is high guaranteed rates in the debt market funnels cash out from the real economy and equiy markets. Except the equity markets are steadily beating that return, folks would rather take the no-risk strategy and get 28% for doing nothing. I.e the rich get richer at the detriment of the economy

abuhusna1:
Why many Nigerians in Nigeria keep shouting Nigeria is bad but people are low key making nice profit from Nigeria stock both local and foreigners.
This is my share account and it keeps growing. I hope it grows to billions so i can return to naija cos my hard work cannot make me billionaire but smart work.

Hehe.. Kudos.

Was intrigued by the NSE 2yrs + ago before it gained new highs and started going parabolic. It looked primed then and I gave it thought. Two things that put me off were uncertainties around the exchange rate which could easily take away ones gains and also the lack of low cost means to passively invest. Also, all the money our government prints has to go somewhere. I wonder if there is now a competitively priced platform to invest passively


Overall, it does appear macroeconomic changes the government put in place has helped stabilise the naira. If inflation starts dropping quick (sub 15 ish) then the economy should pick up rather quickly. I'm talking growth rates of 5-7%. Still got my eyes on other sectors. There are advantages of investing in 9ja.


Also, if TB rates begin to drop with inflation, I'd expect a good chunk of profits to find its way into equities.

ToyosiR:
Hello all,

Is there any disadvantages to having locks to my room doors?

Asked same when I bought and was surprised the doors didn't have any. Fire hazard I think. Reason why main doors and upstair windows would include a keyless escape.
In the event of a fire or an emergency, people should be able to move unencumbered within the house

Goke7:
That's political suicide na! The reason his party members are questioning his stance on Labour values and that we now see a spin-off of another party from the Labour party. At the end, they are dividing their votes for the opposition to win easily, like Labour benefited from the division of votes from the Tories.

Asides from the free school meals, VAT on school fees and perhaps expanding inheritance tax on farmers, I struggle to see the core labour values he's championing. Public funds are stretched and reduced migration/student numbers would sure put more pressure on public finances.
The retreats haven't looked good and he'd be careful to hold on to what's left of recent changes.

Someone called it a managed decline.

Lexusgs430:
With stock market investments, you just don't keep buying and comot face....... You rebalance your portfolios, the same way we rebalance marital relationships........ 😂😁🤣

Hehe.. so I gather. I never master the skill of looking at end of year statements e.t.c and plotting the next move. Na why I do buy and forget with index. I wan dey sleep with 2 eyes closed. I have enough active in crypt0 etal.
By the way, our NSE has been going parabolic. You dey also look that way?
Good for local investors and hope it feeds into our economy.

Goke7:
This our Oga starmer don dey resemble kasongo! 😂

He's pissed off alot of groups in his efforts to chase votes that may not vote for him.

The winter fuel payments characterised what governments have to deal with. Pensioners are not ready to give up a penny. Imagine if the triple lock was touched.

Once he reversed on winter fuel, groups against wellfare reform became emboldened and for the right reason.

In all, it's only his immigration reform that may stick and migrants dont have folks fighting for them. And as with many rapidly put up plans, there'd like be unforseen and unpalatable consequences that'd become obvious with time

Lexusgs430:
You see when I said no risk, no rewards..... Check what #TSLA is doing...... 👆👆💚👆👆

Hehe. High risk, high reward.
Though it may seem a good entry, I just find the narrative around it too much. Index I bought in Dec are back in profit and I can sell and retain capital gains. If na TSLA, na everyday calculation

Lolli2pop:
Hi which trading platform do you use? And why

I dont trade.
I use a few platforms but Investengine seems decent for most bits

Story for the gods.
He's looking for a sympathetic story to his cause and many are buying it

RodgersAkpafu:
Trump is playing with fire 🔥
If Elon Musk throws in just 100m into this upcoming midterms
He will be so humiliated in the mid terms

and having no more terms to go, he will be a lame duck as early as late next year

Hehe.. Elon should be sensible enough to avoid locking horns with a president like Trump moreso with the current state of TSLA globally.

Successful businesssmen all over the world know the difference between political and financial power. Even the tech bosses bending the knee likely disdain Trump

I hear he is looking to start a new party - good for him and his followers cos it'd be too early to go back to the Dems

Lexusgs430:
What I see, is an opportunity to load up on #TSLA...... 😁😂

Hold, wait, jump ship...... 🚢🤣😁

Truth be said, I was looking at #TSLA the other day and wondered if to break ranks and take a bite with my 'risk portfolio' but mind no gree me- hands are tied too. Im curious .. what do u really think of TSLA?

Markets have been good though.
Kudos to the person who filled their ISA on April 6. Chap is over 20% up and counting.

Goodenoch:
The sweetest thing about this latest Muck v Rump catfighting is how Rump has now joined in emphasizing that Musk's "home" is actually in South Africa.

Before it was just fringe far right figures that talked about how Musk is actually an immigrant himself (and in some cases said he should be deported) but now Trump has joined in too.

There's a lesson here for those who care to take note.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/donald-trump-threatens-to-slash-tesla-subsidies-elon-musk-tell-him-to-cut-it-all-8806183/amp/1

Hehe... it's brewing and getting hot despite Musks earlier apology. Not got to the extent Musk is even threatening officials with their reelection. Classic case of bringing some termite infected wood home. In Trumps first tenure, virtually all his inner circle came out to denounce him. I don't think this would be different. Folks who hoped Trump would help fight their enemies might just become targets afterall.

gabiomoesu:
It’s actually the fact that the company is a separate legal entity from me that I want to leverage here, to both make the sponsorship route legitimate and ensure I fall outside the scope of IR35. To be frank, I hadn’t even considered the option of opting out of the pension scheme, so thank you for bringing that up. I’ll definitely look into it.

As someone added, there appears to be a pathway which although unknown to me (as of when I checked), doesn't surprise. The explanation is sensible.
You mentioned concerns about being able to get the required pay. If your pay as a contractor can cover the costs, then why not.

Hehe @ all your eggs in one basket. You're not alone and I wish you the best.
Good luck and keep us posted. If successful, others might explore that.

It seems Starmer would once again backtrack on many aspects of the benefits review.

So far 4 areas the government has looked to raise funds

1. Ammendment to inheritance tax for farmers - held

2. Winter fuel issue- failed

3. Immigration review- (longer and more expensive) - might likely scale thru as we dont have a strong enough lobby/voting block.

4. Benefit review- unlikely to pass.

With Reeves insistent on not borrowing more that 100% of gdp and state benefit costs (incl pensions) rising yearly, I wonder where all the money for investments would come from.

A good quote I came across recently- still trying to balance a tripod on 2 legs: 'The UK wants American levels of taxation, with Nordic public services and Japanese demographical hegemony.'

ehizario2012:
Hopefully we get it right someday. Our innate ability is never in doubt, but there's something missing somewhere.

As you think there is an issue, what do you think are the solutions?

There is a cycle to most things in life

gabiomoesu:
Hi guys. I’m hoping to get advice on starting a company in the UK this July, doing genuine business (i.e. trading), applying for a sponsor licence, and eventually sponsoring myself, ideally by November or December this year. I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with something like this, or even just running a small business in the UK.

Your ltd co can't be your primary sponsor.

Also, your company is a different legal entity from you. That your company makes 50k does not mean you make 50k. You company also needs to meet the IR35 criteria to be regarded as one. This is something the organisations you work for would sort.
You only 'make' what you take as benefits from the company- salary, dividends, loans, e.t.c
You'd only pay NI to the tune you pay yourself a salary.
If you pay yourself a salary, you can opt out of pensions if you wish.

If you don't think it's realistic to get the salary threshold in your sector, while still applying, you might consider pivoting to a different role or leveraging your experience here to seek opportunities in other nations. Not easy, but worth having a backup plan.

ehizario2012:
Hi friends. So what I'm currently having (from two paid mortgage advisors, £499 and £699 fees) is £6.4 for 2 years fixed term and 6% for 5 years fixed term. The lender is looking more like principality... Is this what's prevailing?? The rates look high. We discussing 5% deposit at this time. Cheers all.

Those fees are quite high for a mortgage advisor or are you looking at product fees or what the lender would pay your advisor? Haven't come across anyone who paid a broker a fee for a residential mortgage. I know some charge a fee but its not the norm

Also 6% is high, even at the peak of covid, I wouldn't have gone for that. Main driver is your deposit. How long do you think it'd take you to get your deposit to 15% (if prices stay thesame or rise slowly)?

lavida001:
Where have I said I feel inferior?

lavida001:
The earlier you know your place the better. If you are not happy right to your MP and I’d like to see what that will get you. They are the majority and they will always have their way. ....

lavida001:
...Better just take what they give you. Don’t forget you said you came here because of your kids future.

Your quoted responses to people raising concerns on an issue that'd disproportionately affect them shows quite clearly how you think and where you believe your place is. Your proclivities are not new- in Nigeria, it'd take the form of 'go back to your village', 'you are not an indigene' e.t.c.. Like I said, I'm not looking to convince you.

Also go easy with the ad-hominem. The world is for living and I sure know my place in it.

lavida001:
This is you in denial again.

When does Saying the truth becomes self hate?

I will continue to preach the gospel, you can spin it the way you choose.

Hehe. Again, I'm not trying to convince you. You know yourself more than anyone and if you believe yourself to be inferior, then it's possible you're seeing something others are not. Where I draw the line is when you seek to extend that thought process to others.

By the way, if your daughter returns from school with torn clothes, reporting she was beaten up, and told she was of lower value- what would you do?

Lexusgs430:
No be small tin o...... 🤣

What would this type of visa be labelled as.......

Loneliness buddy required, apply within COS available...... 🤣😂

Lol
Loneliness and emotional support visa.... another pathway to longterm stay.