₦airaland Forum

What kind of dinosaur 🦕 is this?
Just look at the dashboard- even cars released in 2000- 2010 look better.

Just imagine.

More annoying is that these attacks seem to be part of a wider attempt at systematic ethnic cleansing. In Kaduna, its mainly southern parts that are more affected

Antoeni:
Ladies f you are not ready to be LOYAL AND SUBMISSIVE to a man, stay single and be m!ser@ble.

If a man can't tell you what to do, stay in your father's house and suffer with a Love Machine every night for the rest of your life

Being single does not equate to being miserable. There are loads of miserable families in Nigeria.

Women are not your punching bag. If you want to feel 'alpha' you start with fellow men

I cannot understand how Nigeria - a poor nation, is able to pay its politicians far higher than the rich western nations. This is their legal pay aside the sum they steal.
It's the reason why I laugh when folks advise people not to japa because of 'tax/bills'. As a Nigerian arriving the west, the first thing is to understand their social and tax system

Take the UK for example, the take home basic pay for an MP (equivalent of a senator) is not more than 3x the basic pay of any minimum wage worker. That's the reason why our politicians become so humble when they are in the west.

First snapshot is for a minimum wage worker on 40hrs/wk. Second is for an MP

essentialone:
Apart from sleeping with men, what else can a lady do to own Billions?

You need to see the world outside your view. If all the women you know and those in your family make money by sleeping with men, then you should understand it could be the opposite in other families.

Home and abroad, Nigeria has many successful ladies many of whom support and even fully cater for their families.
The answer is simple- same thing a man would do

CharleyBright:
No country has ever increase salary above 200%.
Labour Union are demanding over 700% salary increment. That's crazy and will ruin the economy.
The countries you talk about increase in small percentages of 20 - 50 %. That way the increment won't have adverse effects on the economy

Those countries increase yearly - yes in small aliquots and despite being very rich nations with relatively high minimum wage, the pay of their political class is very tapered when compared to ours.

The UK for example, the basic take home pay of an MP (equivalent to a senator) is about 3x that of someone on minimum wage. In Nigerian terms, it would mean a senators basic pay being 90k. You can now see why minimum wage is taken seriously there and thir citizens are not in poverty.

If the Nigerian government wants to fight inflation, they should start with themselves.

CharleyBright:
Minimum wage ease which pressure?
Did you attend Economics class at all?
What did they teach you about demand (more money) push inflation?
Make them pay new minimum wage and see how demand for all items will increase and push prices of these items upwards.
We are in deep trouble caused by Tinubu.
Nigerians should catch Tinubu and line up and give him a knock on the head each to reset that his useless Emilokan brain.

So what happens in western nations that for decades increase their minimum wage annually- in line with inflation?

Are you advocating that Nigerians should become poorer of maybe we reduce our minimum wage to 8,500 to fight inflation?

As the government posits it needs to cut spending to inflation, they should start with themselves. The exorbitant expenditure and thefy if the executive and legislative are of government is a main driver

Goodenoch:
"Not quite as popular".

There is no ego to be had here.. just facts. It'd interest you to know that the percentage of British emigrants as a percentage of total population has for a very long time exceeded the corresponding ratio of Nigerian emigrants. Infact, positive net migration in the UK has only been a relatively recent phenomenon. Migration is as old as man and exists in every society with constantly changing trends. Even after we're far gone, migration would still continue.

missjekyll:
This just out.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/30/the-baby-bust-how-britains-falling-birthrate-is-creating-alarm-in-the-economy?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Interesting read. I find all the comparisons to Japan a good pointer. It's as though western nations are closely following and telling themselves: we don't want to go there.. I also see state school kids are dropping. There'd be enough room for kids of your friends leaving private schools afterall.. hehe

So far, virtually no nation has been able to reverse declining birth rates. It doesn't help that the social net in the West is more of a ponzi scheme needing more new entrants, plus the part that older folks who paid in relatively little for short periods want an increasingly larger pie for longer periods they now live thanks to modern science. At some point, an equilibrium would be reached but no one knows what that'd look like. Perhaps many 'rainbow' nations.

One other thing is the chatter about carers and their net contribution. A previous post highlighted the many ways care workers with families contribute prospectively. An additional way is to look at it retrospectively and see what it'd cost Britain with a falling population to source its care workers locally.
First, people have to be incentivised to have more kids, then maternity and paternity pay for parents, pay for that childs nursery, education, health and sometimes housing. This is the best case scenario as costs might be much higher if citizens have health issues. At the end of the day, you have an adult ready to work in care but whom the government has spent over 150k on already. Given low pay, that adult might still need ongoing government support with housing. If they are off-sick e.t.c, govt has to support.
Now compare that with an adult immigrant that costs the government zero. Even before the immigrant starts working, the nation is already reaping benefits by way of visa fees and the country is sure of 5 years of solid hard work without benefits plus a handsome ILR+citizenship cheque submitted at the end. Moreso, the govt sometimes uses them to subsidise pay that'd otherwise have been higher. A similar scenario happened in nursing with the govt even going on to scrap local bursaries. It becomes quite clear why western leaders tilt towards immigration when the seek growth. It's benefits when done well are tremendous.

Goodenoch:
..

Permanent emigration is not quite as popular and embedded in the public psyche among Brits as it is among people from certain other countries. It's the rare exception rather than the norm.
..

All forms of migration especially permanent migration is very much a part of both past and contemporary British culture. Yeah, times change but its mainly the perception and reporting that differ. When Brits/certain Europeans migrate, they see it as their right. When black folks migrate, its pictured as a privilege.

Even on here, mention of Nigerians relocating the UK is christened as 'folks in search of utopia'. Meanwhile, you'd hear words like explorer, risk taker, yolo, expat et.c being used to describe hundreds of thousands of Brits who emigrate yearly.

babajeje123:
Went to a church last Sunday for the first time and that was the stupid question their pastor asked me after greetings.
Him: bla bla bla, when are you going back to Nigeria?
Me: (snaps) I don't know
A black British for that matter! Probably was privileged to be born here by black immigrants.

Lol. Na to ask am same question too na

Another one I get is I hope you don't mind asking where youre from? Once I guage the purpose of the question, My reply is sometimes stating the town I live in. Some get it and keep shut. Manytimes, I reply 'I'm from Scotland'. Looking confused perhaps thinking I didn't hear them, they're like no, I mean where you're actually from and I reply again 'Scotland or do you have a problem with that'? Responses are in the line of hmmm... ok.. na there useless question dey end.
It's funny how microagrressions fizzle out once properly challenged.

I once told one being, I've never met an American who is not an immigrant given I've never met a Native American. Same apllies to Aus

Occasionally, I encounter those reasonably curious and if I have the time, I engage

[quote author=Zahra29 post=130729259]

Lol, we can all agree that it was a very relaxed route, yes?

It was a route that highlighted the shortsightedness of Brexit and the desperation of the UK government to seek oversees labour to fill gaps rather than let wages rise and the govt/populace pay up as they had promised voters

And this is in part because to the answer to your first question;
1. Yes the UK needs immigrants. Every country does to an extent, even Nigeria to replace the vast numbers of professionals leaving the country.

Where we tend to disagree is that every country has the sovereign right to determine if and how many immigrants it wants to allow in. Even if they have a declining native birth rate, it's still their decision. You can't force them to open their borders more than they want to in order to accommodate migrants (not refugees) who want to come in.

Perhaps you're mistaken. I've never questioned that 'right'. What I've done is discuss immigration policies, drivers and resultant effects. Nigeria adds over 4 million people yearly. Without immigration, the UK populace would be in decline. What Nigeria mainly needs is to upskill its populace

2. It's very difficult to estimate. I don't think any country has managed to pin it down to an exact number. What most countries do is open the tap when they need immigrant workforce and then close it when they've had enough.

You should also realise that skilled workers (which is the main group of immigrants referenced on this thread) represent only a fraction of UK immigrants. There is a significant number of immigrants on the family route, for example the spouses of British citizens, who also plug labour shortages and on average pay even more to the government in visa fees - also without any recourse to public funds.

Statistics doesn't work that way. Just like with life expectancy e.t.c trends can be followed. The US has a cap on certain visas, canada last year outlined how many PRs they hope to issue per year till 2026.
What I had expected the UK govt to do is to institute an independent advisory panel that advises what estimated net migration numbers are needed by the economy to keep afloat and where these numbers are mostly needed and what percentage should be for work visas. This should be done protectively taking lots of economic variables into account. Parties can then campaign based of that. If we had such in place, it'd have been obvious that the net migration from the EU wasn't horrendous. It'd have been obvious that the care industry would struggle post-Brexit.
I'd say 300k - 500k net are needed yearly. Govt officials know this but are too timid to relay this to voters

Zahra29:
Try to read before commenting.

Generous was used in the context that the care visa route was very relaxed and had low barriers of entry compared to other work visa or family routes.

Lol... Zahra.. I agree see it's been a true demonstration of British benevolence.

Stop the back and forth and let me ask.

1. Does the UK need immigrants?
2. If yes, given current realities, what number of immigrants do you estimate the UK needs annually to maintain a stable economy?

LionInZion:
On student visa, the record is there for everyone to see that the highest student to dependent ratio was 5:1. Yet this time last year, many folks including those in the media, who should know better, went about it as if student dependents have taken over the whole of the country and were the cause of all infrastructural and economic problems facing the country. Then it's all about narrative and agenda.

It's very difficult to change a narrative once the media has latched unto it. Look at Rishi. How was the IHS fee introduced? If I'm not mistaken, someone on a visiting visa gave birth in an NHS hospital and left. The narrative was so driven that those on work visas were now made to pay an extra levy including those working in the NHS until the covid experience challenged the folly.

A part of me wanted them to go on and end the psw visa as had been suggested but for new entrants only. So when reality hits in a few years, it's back to chasing tails and they can learn once more that for many, a british masters cert is only worth the migration advantage it offers.

LionInZion:
... I'll resist the urge to go into the argument on whether that route was based on generosity or not, because that's another subjective point that can be open to multiple interpretations.

Lol... I no even see that one. Generosity indeed. Reminds me of a white Southafrican I met who described how the apartheid regime were 'generous' in handing over power to Mandela in 94. Perhaps he was comparing their 'benevolence' to what the relatives of his forebearers did to indigenous populations in the U.S or Aus.

As entitled and ignorant as that word sounds, a fair portion of the populace still thinks same. Its why as a country, were yet to get past the first question i.e do we need immigrants ?

IridescentAge:
I don't think that's it at all.

There are just different groups of people in the UK.

There's a decent size group of people who would just prefer net zero migration and for the UK to be like Japan.

And there's a decent size group of people who don't mind or they're business owners looking for talent and workers or they're the chancellor trying to fix growth numbers.

Neither group is inherently right but it leads to an incoherent set of policies.

I agree with you. There's lots of incoherence in their legal migration policy which gives room for certain folks to case aspersions against anyone who is brown or black. For decades, every PM has let in more migrants than the last despite promising to cut migration and far exceeded thrir own migration target. It's very clear than those in power and their economic advisors know the facts but they have been timid in relaying this to the public.

Two questions the general populace are still grappling with are:
1. Does the UK need immigrants. Keyword: need
2. If yes to Q.1, what number of immigrants does the UK need yearly and how should this number be aloocated to different sectors.

The US and Canada have gone past the first question and now dealing with the second. The US has a fixed number of certain work visas they issue - employers have to jostle for this. Canada has already outlined how many PRs it'd take in for the next few years. They're now looking to finetune entrants via other pathways. The UK populace OTOH is still stuck on the first.

Vinnie2000:
A statue is just a Representative of a Great Personality.
To remind us of the Person's Great Deeds.

In foreign countries, There are Statues of Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, Thierry Henry, etc.

It Does NOT mean such statues should be reverted or worshipped.

In Catholic church, It is Same. Statues are NOT be worshipped.

Just to remind us of Christ.

In that case, have you seen a statue of a Black Jesus in Nigeria?

His sculptures depict another evidence of neo-colonialism. Ask him where his forebears who lived before the coming of European colonialists are and he'd likely say they are in hell just like a number of religious Nigerians today believe.

Nothing has more dehumanised Africa like seeing the image of God is another race.

I've come to see that for every world power or empire in times past, their perception of God wasnt dissimilar from them. Even the British had to create the Anglican church

Jamesclooney:
Thanks, Senior man.
The Lord bought it for us with divine grace and heavenly favour/open doors

I’m a simple man, sometimes I think back to my story, I just weak. I remember colleagues pitying me when I took the leap of faith to relocate a few years ago. “Why leave a well paying Naija salary?” “Why not Canada instead of Uk?” “So what will you do for money?” Etc.

God has answered all those questions for us🙏🏾

The UK has proven itself a land of opportunity for many (myself included). Just that they still think they're still in the empire days and hence drive certain narratives. Also there are quite a number of bottlenecks that stiffle growth opportunities for immigrants. But overall, not many complaints. I don take am as my country.

Congrats once more

MayCar:
They said it doesn’t satisfy their AML policies and yes they are all based in the Uk

Hmm.. might be worth asking them what it'd take to satisfy AML. A letter from each of them stating the reason?

I wonder if a different solicitor might see things differently. Perhaps others could throw share views.
Reason why I've not been a fan of 'adashe' in the UK. There are good saving options where you could even earn interest.

ReesheesuKnack:
A 47 year old Mr’s A gets a CoS of sponsorship to be a Care worker in the UK (£22,000 pa max).
Mrs A has 5 children and 1 husband. The oldest child in SS1, the youngest in primary 2. Mrs A travels to the UK to work (as Care worker on a 22k salary). Mrs A does not pay IHS. Even Mrs A’s visa application fee is massively discounted.

I wonder why you stopped at 5 kids. Why not 10, 15 or 20 since we're driving dubious narratives. After all, Nigel the other day insinuated students come with their parents, grandparents, children and even cousins as 'dependents'

You should start by looking at how many student or care visas were issued and how many dependent visas were also issued. Work out the average and take things from there.

lavida001:
In a way the highly skilled worker they meant are our politicians that brings stolen funds into their economy to buy mansions and pay for their kids tuition from crèche to university.

Hehe. They'd still moan when foreign based folks buy houses for themselves or kids in the UK. It appears the aim is to have a constant stream of migrants arrive at Heathrow, turn over £50k to the UK government and return home. Even with that, they'd still complain about overcrowding the airport. They should borrow a leaf from Japan and own their problems.


A question I often encounter is - are you thinking of going back? It's easy to guage where this is coming from. My response is usually in the line of: 'I'm considering options outside the UK where pay and work-life balance is better. However if I leave, as a Brit, UK would be a potential option for retirement as an increasing number of relatives are coming over'. You need to see how red face dey get. Like say I be cheating spouse ‐ folks dont want you to come, folks don't want you to go.

I once asked one when all the British migrants who went to Australia, U.S and S.A to displace native populations are returning home. UK needs their skill afterall.

Another is the cliché common in certain nations- 'we need high skilled immigrants not Bleep'.
The entitlement with which its said leaves me wondering. Like immigrants are groceries on a shelf to select and pick from as need be. Who then retains the 'bad fruit'? Odd thing is that many nations brand themselves this way which manytimes flies in the face of what the do.

An economy needs the skills it lacks - be it in care, teaching, nursing, IT, masonry, drivers e.t.c
I dont know of any nation that can easily absorb 1000 brain surgeons or astronauts.

P.S. this is not saying a nation should not target the skill they need but blaming poor economic outcomes on the 'quality' of immigrants they take reeks of an absurd entitlement and classism.

Thinking about expat issue, I remember a while back one of the drivers at a site I work detailing what his relatives who are expats in a Spain were upto. Chap kept emphasising the expat word until I asked: 'by expat, do you mean immigrant'? Long talk ensued.

Not long ago, I stumbled upon this thread on reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/v2xLYbqYMi ) and it became clear that 'an expat' is the packaged name for migrants from few select nations. Should be an interesting chat with the next 'expat' I meet

lavida001:
Japan in trouble

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

Interesting. Racking up endless debt to prop up the economy was likely to result in conundrums especially if not backed by fundamentals. I'm not holding my breath though, Japan had a way of edging through certain issues in the past hence being the pioneers of 'unconventional economics'. This seems dire.

What's aso interesting is the rapid rise of China's automobile industry. So quick that the U.S and EU had to quickly introduce tarrifs to slow them. Even in the UK, the MG brand has quickly cornered most of the EV market and I gather their cars are quite good.

Jamesclooney:
Testimony time

(Ushers please be on standby with the offering basket )

The Lord built (bought) us a house!!!!

Congrats... more blessings.

BTW, in what currency did the Lord buy the house?

MayCar:
Hello, please I need an advice, on the process of getting a property and having issues with the solicitors, as they are raising issues about the monthly contributions that came into the account, they are not ok with explanation, if anyone has been in this kind of situation please advise on what you did. Thanks in advance

More details are needed. Did they state what their concerns are or why they are not ok with it? That way, you know what to address.

Also are all other folks contributing also in the UK?

Teenuh:
Thank you @Jedisco. When I see houses with low EPC, I always think it will take a lot of money to get them to like B or A

It depends but many times, it does add up to a good sum esp if it needs added or a new insulation. Also you need to factor in higher heating costs.
Stumbled across someone recently who was selling his beautiful 4 bed detached older house to get a 3 bed new build partly cos they wanted to downsize but more so for the heating costs. Some older houses are hardwork to heat.

Teenuh:
Hi Everyone,

Lately I have been looking on Rightmove for houses on sale and I have some questions to ask. I would appreciate if anyone with experience can enlighten me on them;

1. What does it mean when there is a 'Guide price' attached to the price of a House? or 'Offers in region of'
2. Is it okay to purchase a house with low EPC? What is the lowest a buyer can go for? Is there any cost effective way to make said house energy efficient?

All suggestions and advises are welcomed.

Thank you

As far as its not an auction house, all the wording mean what the seller is expecting. You then bid as what you think is reasonable.

2. You canncheck what the EPC certificate for a house online. It should also include what could be done to improve the rating and what the rating is estimated to improve by if those things are done. Depending on what the drivers of the low rating are, some things e.g bulbs may be easy to fix. I personally would be targeting a B and not go below a C

mamatwiny:
I want to say a big thank you to all the contributors in this thread... You guys are the best.

1. I stand to be corrected but I am unsure if many lenders would consider you on a graduate visa. The few I know would prefer a work visa with a pathway to longterm stay. They generally want a 'reasonable' period left on your visa though in a I've seen some people secure mortgages with very few months left. The limitations of the care visa is the low pay. Lenders would base what the lend on your stated pay. They many times would not consider locums or extras (esp if paid via a seperate payroll number) except you've been shown to do them regularly for a good period. Lastly, most lenders would limit what they'd lend to 4.5x (sometimes 5x) your pay. This is asides LTV criteria where they'd likely insist on you providing at least 10-15%.

2. I don't think they worry much whether you are single or married as far as you have the income to afford a mortgage. The advantage of being married is that the combined income is taken into consideration hence you can have a higher mortgage. But kids might affect affordability.

3. Its upto you to decide if you have the skillset to get a good deal and fix. Remember labour costs now are quite high and the discount had on many run donw houses might not correlate what you'd need to fix it.

4. I doubt you can buy your personal house in a companies name. Even if you do, you'd likely be unable to rent to yourself. If you're thinking about BTL,most lenders criteria entails you having your own house first.

Overall, I think it's worth having a free discussion with a mortgage advisor that has access to all of the market. They'd be able to assess your current income and advise what you can reasonably target for. In the interim using a LISA (if eligible) plus a cash ISA for saving could be a good option.