₦airaland Forum

Gerrard59:
I think we as black Africans even have a moral right to live in the West considering our histories. BTW, the West isn't doing us any favour as we are taxed for our labour and time. So, it is a mutual alliance. When the West is tired, they put up barriers as we have seen recently. The belief that the West is generous with allowing us access to its territory simply for humanitarian purposes does not follow. It is strictly economics, and we should acknowledge it. Nothing goes for nothing. We are dealing with people who propagated capitalism.

Succinctly put. Legal Immigration opportunities the West is based on economic and political need. Like I keep saying, we did not come here on a 'diversity visa'. Whatever legal route we came by was made open because someone convinced the government they'd benefit more by having that pathway open than closed. Main issue is that many come in, think they've been done an eternal favour and are not driven to reach for higher heights which they have the potential for.

As the demographic decline continues, the next century will be dominated by a scramble for human resources same way the last few were dominated by a rush for natural resources. The west has found a way of doing this while convincing immigrant folks their worth lies in immigration. A good example has been India and China. Their GDP was close until 1995. China found a way to retain its best heads (even those educated abroad) and build wealth while India exported it's many good heads. Its the reason why I'm worried about Nigeria. We seem to be exporting our best heads (yes, I'm guilty) and sugarcoating achievements by Nigerians abroad which mean little to the home nation

Gerrard59:
I am concerned about the sub-continent - which any black African and I dare say, every black person, should be bothered about its economic development. Unlike other world powers who exploited and destroyed other countries to propel economically, China did not, which shows a model that works, aka tested and trusted. I admire them for that.

It pisses me off. If na to protest for people who have never acknowledged our own struggles, na we dey front. But to copy and take a leaf from a group of people who have withstood all odds to become a superpower, even just for the economics and aside the military, we no sabi.

Mostly this is due to the effect the western dominated media has on our psyche. A very good example is Chinese loans- in home and diasporean fora, it's interesting how Nigerian appear very worried when it comes up but very few bother about the details. Our Chinese loan of $4.8 B borrowerd at circa 3% has been responsible for most of our infrastructure over the last decade (rail, airport, powerplants e.t.c) while our Eurobond loans amounting to $15B, which is mainly looted back to the West and borrowed from mostly western agencies at rates of 8-12 % (yes 8-12%) are not talked about.

The annoying part is that while we took funds at those rates, European nations were borrowing at less than 1%. Yet, we hear nothing about this. Even this year we've took a loan of almost 2B at over 12 % to 'defend the naira' How can Nigeria take loans at rates of >6x that of Germany? Yet we don't hear western nations (or even local media) warning us about eurobonds. Even yesterday, someone brought it up at work and its always bemusing how the simple question 'why do you care?' reveals so much hypocrisy.

Good news.

Received my COPR last week

Timeline:
Decided on the EE pathway June/July 2023
IELTS: August 23 (Band 8.5)
Applied for EE - Sept 23. CRS score 460 ish
Ontario PNP - Sept 23 (Didn't finally use it)
ITA - Oct 23 - Healthcare Occupations Draw
PR application submission- Dec 23
Biometrics and Medicals - Feb 24
Final approval- Mar 24
Visa in Hand - Apr 24

This would be my second japa after the initial japa to UK. Hoping is goes even better than the first which has been fantastic.

Wasn't a follower of this thread until recently. I wonder if there is a 'Nigerians in Canada' thread like the UK thread

toughest007:
China's leap to greatness and the possibility of becoming a world power is nothing short of miracle!!!

At some point in the 20s or 30s, 'small' Japan occupied them and never ceased to massacre them despite their size difference. Economic hardship and poverty at that time was at its record high in China such that they couldn't even build up any idea of resistance. There was this Nanking Massacre!!!

Irrespective of where one stands on this, there is alot to be learned from China especially for folks from the global south.

China has been thru alot. Even before Japan, a few decades earlier there were the opium wars where which were basically Britain asking to pay China for agricultural produce by supplying them opium. When they refused, Britain and allies invaded, forced them to accept and use opium as pay plus a host of other unfair treaties such as giving up Hong-Kong. What followed was hundred years of humiliation. Even when China agreed to fight alongside the allies in return for their seized land, Britain turned around and handed the land over to Japan all in a bid to humiliate them.


It took alot for them to purge themselves of this and regain some self consciousness. Today, China is about the largest trading partner of most nations. A driver in many fields, practically impossible to sanction and yet has began to improve prosperity by means of relatively fair relations and trade not by conquest and war. Many nations in Africa would have a much more practicable means of getting to the top by following the footsteps of China rather than by blindly following the West as frankly speaking we have no countries to steal wealth off and then claim democracy when we get to the top.

Goodenoch:
As I was saying about playing the ostrich -

https://archive.ph/jZzms - Crackdown on graduate visa ‘being used as back door for asylum’

Restrictions incoming for the graduate visa route, apparently.

Policies in the west are crafted on economic and political need (i.e economic growth and elections) and not innuendos.

There is a reason why the UK government brought back the PSW visa- it was not because they're keen on having graduates remain.

Gerrard59:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3260307/made-china-2025-china-meets-most-targets-manufacturing-plan-proving-us-tariffs-and-sanctions

When people, especially black people, mock China with poverty statements, I find it very appalling and ridiculous considering after Whites and Chinese cousins - Koreans and Japanese - Chinese are the next in terms of developmental status. Arabs exceeds us. So, why try to belittle China?

It's said that if you take away the over 750million people China has lifted from poverty in a single generation, the world in general has made little progress in reducing poverty.
If China goes on to become the world dominant power, they stand the chance of being the first to achieve that with the lowest negative impact in human history. Their story has been an economic miracle. Thats what some folks comparing China to the US fail to understand- the miracle is that in 2024, China has become the elephant in the room.

I get your sense of frustration but in doing that, I'd avoid insulting your folks as it depicts self hate.

Gerrard59:
I keep reading dictatorship and mumbo-jumbo, history has it that EVERY developed and prosperous country you see today underwent a form of dictatorship before it became a prosperous democracy. There were bullying, mass killings and high-handedness. Economic development came before democracy, not after. In cases where there were semblance of democracy, there was a dominant ethnic or racial group or political party who controlled everything. But the majority of countries at the forefront of economic development had a form of dictatorship before they liberalised their political systems.

I said on another fora that just like with most things there would always be different routes and means to good governance
The role of every responsible government is to bring returns to the populace and foster the greater good. In this, China has exceedingly excelled. If we limit governance to whether they fit one world or another, then its a different story

Lalami3232:
Good initiative from the pastor!!! These non-virgins a.k.a boreholes will deceive men with their body counts, dem go still deceive with makeup, now dem wan deceive with eyelashes. God bless you pastor for standing up for us (real men) . Once again, wishing the couple a blessed, blissful and a DNA test free union.
What do I even have to say aside enlightening my fellow men nationwide with the good news.

Oga if you no meet your wife as a virgin, oga go for DNA test oooooo because boreholes aka non-virgins can't be trusted

You are a disgrace!

@Seun this is what you've turned nairaland into. A place where black youg men trade insults. I wonder if larger forums like reddit would tolerate such

Have you compared the terrain where these roads were built and when they were built to that in Nigeria?

Goodenoch:
Many are genuine but the vast majority are BS claims that are designed to take advantage of the asylum route for normal economic migration. It's not illegal (yet) but it definitely goes against the intent of the law and the public and governments in many countries have been clamping down on it.

You can choose to play ostrich and keep your head in the sand saying it's none of your business but you can't then begin moaning racism this and that when policies are implemented that disadvantage immigrants as a whole due to the (perfectly rational) backlash to the abuse above.

Then the justice system should be equipped to promptly deal with such BS claims as you put it.

I wonder if this response is based on stating clearly that I don’t look down on assylum claimants. Perhaps would changing the phrase from assylum to benefit claimants have made it more palatable?
No human is illegal not more less than folks who 'discovered' Australia or 'discovered' America. Being a recent world empire, Britain sullied its hands in the dish of many nations and its invariable that many would want to live here. The asylum system should be well funded, robust and able to deal with these claims promptly.

All said, what are the practicable and legal assylum routes to the UK?

Testiebobo:
In this life not everybody you see really deserves a helping hand. ...

You should have given him new clothes

At this stage of our nation, are we not tired of all this talk of 'set to' 'about to' with pictures of a white man for even basic infrastructure projects that only fan a neo-colonialist mindset?

This is 2024. A working refinery is not rocket science. Well meaning Nigerians are not interested in weekly articles of 'set to' from now till December before further postponement.

FG should get to work and inform us know when the refinery is up and running. That's what they're paid for.

membranus:
Which AFCON cup was won by a "Nigerian" coach?

2013 by Stephen Keshi.

Besuccesful:
Is there no way they can stop this aboki selling naira on the street? Do we actually need them? Why can't only banks be selling dollar to people that need it?

I always wonder. Why can't nt the request for usd via BDCs be chanelled thru the banks.
In the past, folks could spend usd with their naira cards at a bank-determined exchange rate. That more of a transparent market than cas-in-habd BDCs which are difficult to oversee.

LZAA:
I also support local coaches but proper local coaches who have talent and know what they are doing
All the names being bandied around are not the solution

The conversation of what local (or African coach) to give is a healthy one. But the sentiment that a white man is better suited (mainly because he's white) is what I'm against. Afterall our last AFCON cup was won by a Nigerian coach.

Freshtruth:
Because he failed to lift Afcon make him a failure ogaooo. Thank God say Afcon dey next year make I laugh small

Irrespective of how Finidi performs, I'd always be an advocate of equpping and supporting local talent.

We could aswell sit at home and beg oyibo folks to be our doctors, governors, employers e.t.c. infact to come recolonise us. We should give our mineral reserves freely to them, close our refineries and not produce anything rather import all we could from them.

There is no shortcut to success. We have to invest in, build and support local capacity.

Freshtruth:
ur problem is the skin colour and make our brother dey there una self

I'd say the reverse is the case here.

There is nothing to prove he is not capable.

What was our the resume of our last coach before he was appointed?

Would you say this if it was an Arteta, Alonso or De Rossi being appointed?

Freshtruth:
Make we just forget 2026 world cup qualifiers exactly the same mistake that happen 3years ago is playing out. The south Africans finish third they stick with their coach that is consistency . Nigeria coach is been pick base on sentiment and crave for local coach

That's unfair criticism and a neo-colonialist mindset.

Give him time to proove himself.
Guardiola, Arteta, Alonso, Gerard, Rooney e.t.c were players of good quality like Finidi George who have gone on the be given good platforms in their host continent. We should support the right local coaches to build their skill.

Its disgraceful whenever I watch AFCON and see litany of European coaches dotting the bench. Is it that we dont have good ex-players or coaching staff? Afterall, the last AFCON proved we have good refs and the most successful coach at AFCON was an African.

Zahra29:
It's not "negative" media coverage - they are highlighting facts based on their data, and discussing actions they plan to take to stop a rising trend. The issue they've flagged is that these IP (asylum) claimants are coming from "liveable" Britain and not from "unliveable" Nigeria. What merit do you think these cases will have? It's pretty much the same scenario as the boat crossers coming to Britain from Europe - how are the boat crossers regarded on this thread and outside? Do people not look down on them and question why they didn't remain in safe/liveable Europe?

I'm not sure it's wise to compare Nigerians to Albanians - the latter have an extremely poor image and as quickly as they were trooping to European nations en masse, the European nations were returning them back to Albania in the same numbers, the UK even making a "special" deal with the Albanian government to stop their citizens from coming to the UK. Look up the acceptance rate for Albanians versus Iranians for example.

You're trying to be clever by half. International laws and treaties covering assylum claims are clearly spelt out.

1. Coming through a safe country is not a ground for refusal. If not landlocked or Island nations as the UK would be able to extricate themselves from international obligations for the most part. Or all assylum claims for those arriving on boats thru France would be dead on arrival as France is a safe country.

2. I do not look down on those arriving by boats both in a personal or professional capacity and certainly do not get the vibe that folks here do. On a person note, I see many as hapless folks fleeing unlivable conditions in their home nations some of which were a result of misdemeanours by western states. In my professional capacity I have interacted with a number and treated thrm just like I would any other person infact I put in more time and effort with them as they are a largely vulnerable group. Any colleague who does differently should rightly be made to answer to their regulator.

3. Perception hedged on certain narratives mean little to me. I dont think the perception of Albanians a racist mind is very much different from any black or brown person.

To put succinctly, those who are claiming assylum in Ireland have not commited a crime. Let the Irish justice system deal with the claims and decide what's mertiable or not. Also, what they are doing is of little business to me.
P.s this is not advocating folks to claim or not claim asylum.

Lexusgs430:
This is not new ...... In my trust a couple of years ago, an agency worker attended a shift, as an RMN..... His knowledge of medications was NIL, he did not even understand the concept of vital signs/readings...... He was escorted off site, by the police........

Another Agency RGN turned up at an East Kent trust, she already dosed laxatives through a syringe, and was about to give via a patient's cannula......

It's always easier to exploit the agency route.......

Interesting. Recently, an undercover reporter was able to work in a prison via an agency with little or no background check. When something becomes routine, people wrongly let their guards down.

I'm looking to open a trading212 isa this year. Could you share ur ref link? Know u posted it a while back but can't find it.

ehizario2012:
Nigerians, we are a very special set of people. Our ways ehn... May God continue to help us.

I wonder why any negative media coverage mentioning Nigeria is another avenue to denigrate ourselves. As recent as last year, Albanians (a European nation) were trooping to the UK en masse. Would we also call them 'special'?
Significantly more Indians claim assylum in the UK than Nigerians (even adjusted for population) - does that make them them more 'special'.

Nigeria is unlivable for many. Let the countries they are claiming assylum to decide the cases on their merit not we using it an an avenue to look down on yourselves. Migration is as old as man. Most of the developing world opened their doors (voluntarily or involuntarily) to the western world at different times. I don't see westerners going around apologising for that.
We should have some self worth.

aguluobi:
The man was explicit in his question, give me a school Peter Obi built from scratch n commissioned. Till this hour no one answered that question.

Investment in education is not all about building new schools 'from scratch'. Equipping and expanding current infrastructure is of more importance.

New schools should be built only when and where needed. It's also important to understand the local demography as most communities have large orthodox churches who have schools that wre almost public in nature. These were also equipped.

All I see are here little mind, making noise in support of racism of the royal family against a black lady and calling out a chap with a mind of his own. How many of you would stand for what you believe same way Harry has done?
If you all had such spine perhaps politicians would not be raping Nigeria dry why you lots sleep in religious houses hoping for a better tomorrow.

Like I tell pseudo alpha males on nairaland. Aplha starts with achieving and not scrapping the bottom and black ladies to feel good.

MelaninGemstone:
At what point please? I have a Nigerian passport, I don’t think there were scanners in Heathrow for Nigerian passports

All I remember scanning was my boarding pass to access the departure gates

I don't think the UK routinely stamps folks out on exit. I know I had encountered this when applying for ILR. I could see in and out stamp for Nigeria and some other places but not the UK. Dont have my passport closeby to confirm but I wouldn't be worried about this.

BTW, where is @justwise?
He hasn't posted in a while. Hope safe

Zahra29:
Once again, I'm not arguing for tuition to be free in England like it is in Scotland. It was never "free" in England. See also Peerielass's comment on why free tuition is not all that.

No need going back and forth. Economic realities (and this) are not about what I want but actual facts. Just like ending nursing bursaries increased students numbers, here also, certain realities hold true;

1. Income from international students formed an increasingly important part of uni funding also helped to subsidise fees paid by local students.

2. Recent imigration changes has caused a good dip in that income stream.

3. Some unis either have to significantly cut down/lay off staff or look to other sources of funding- mainly govt or local tuition

4. Government increasing core funding has to come from somewhere.

Peerielass:
SNP’s Free tuition in Scotland is not all that’s cracked up to be. Places are very limited for Scottish students in highly sought after Universities and courses. The Universities would rather offer places to fee paying ROUK students and international students.

Best thing is to scrap the free tuition fees so everyone can be on a level playing field.

Hehe... e no go happen as people like free stuff. Another is rental controls in Scotland. It would be interesting to see how that eventually pans out. The issue is that the largesse is difficult to maintain or the opportunity costs are huge.

Reason why I'm sceptical about many Labour supporters. They believe in most things being free without really piecing out the immediate and longterm effects. Like someone said, its quite similar to Buhari of 2015.

Raalsalghul:
I was beginning to think Immigration (Legal and Illegal) was all they could flex their muscles on and naturally wondered if they had plans for other sectors of the economy: can't remember when last I read or saw a major immigration news until the whole thing on sick notes and public benefits.
...

Hehe... problems in health, to housing to education to infrastructure were blammed on immigrants. Even person wey no fit give em wife belle go clam ' but dem immigrants'. You see folks moaning on how they cant survive on certain jobs but them no send say immigrants on same jobs will pay visa fees, ihs and ilr fees, without dipping into public funds and even without access to 30hr free child care. Like one said- they have a higher suffering threshold.

Anti-immigration policies are one thing both sides of the divide agree on. But don't miss the forest for the trees. The coming decades would be dominated by a struggle not for natural resources like times past but human resources.

This same UK pays agencies loads to poach nurses from overseas, they now register more doctors from abroad than the do local grads, have devised a means to ensure cheap care labour from beyond, are also paying teachers 10k in relevant fields.

miidae:
...
I’m just tired, he said sponsorship is the real deal
Is it possible to get sponsorship in my career line?
Do I take the care job as suggested by hubby?
Do I stop applying?

I don't think your options are mutually exclusive. UK experience is very important in getting a job moreso if its in a desired field.

As you have no visa encumbrances for the time being, you could take the care role and still be applying for roles in your given field. At least, you get UK experience and don't have a gap on your CV in addition to the income. You can then look out for volunteer roles in ypur chosen field to garner specific experience. With that under your belt, you should be able to get folks willing to sponsor in your chosen field.

Streetinvestor2:
I don't know what you mean being emotional
All I said is simple,naira had no business going above #750 after the government floating because that was the fair/stable price and true market value because nothing changed in the economy. And if we look at it now because of less demand it should be less than #750.

Therfore I believe the government is reaping us off on anything above #750 black market price they met it

The government is doing the right thing even if thr approach could be better though I am not a fan of apc/tinubu

The true value represents the rate at which market participants- including everyday Nigerians can exchange for. Before this current dispensation, the last time we has a true value was at 150 ish

The black market rate was once 350, then 500, 750, 950. Which of them represented the true value of the naira? Giving usd to a select few at cheaper rates also subsidised the black market rate but in turn generated a gaping hole. Which is why the street price rose whenever CBN adjusted its rates.

What the CBN did for years was cover an infested wound with plaster and tell us look! it's healing well. What you are asking is how deep did the infection go- the answer is simple- we don't know cos we never bothered to find out.

Zahra29:
The bolded is illogical. The facts clearly show that potential nursing students were disincentivised when the bursary was scrapped. The below quote is from the Nursing Times:

The NHS bursary in England was scrapped by the Conservative government in 2017, causing a large drop in applications to nursing courses in the years immediately after

Hopefully it will be reinstated by the Labour government as a sensible strategy to increase domestic intake rather than the unsustainable reliance on foreign labour.

My point remains - if Nigeria can subsidise university education for its citizens, when I'm sure many would argue that this money should be better used to service its many pressing economic challenges, then I'm confused why the constant argument here against UK home fees being capped or even subsidised further for its citizens.

Facts might appear illogical but they remain facts. That's why in interpreting data, the more important part is not the number bring presented to you but the details behind. In this case- actual nursing acceptances/students (not applications) and the trend (not just a year).

The opportunity cost of bursaries were that the numbers were limited to what the govt could sponsor which was in itself a bottleneck. With it being scrapped, students could be accepted freely into courses hence causing a jump in numbers. Like everyone studying, they can still take up student loans if they wish too. There is now also the masters in nursing and apprenticeship pathway to a nursing licence. History has shown a bursary would not help uptake (except its unlimited). Renumeration OTOH might help.

The argument is not against subsiding education. Cherry picking a fragment of Nigeria without understanding the underlying demographic and drivers is not a reasonable comparison. Moreso given the tuition free being paid here is subsidized just like it is in Nigeria. What's better is that anyone can go thru a uni program here without spending a penny whereas uni students in Nigeria have manytimes had to drop out as they were unable to afford the subsidised fee. England can make tuition free just like Scotland. The only two questions are- how would it be funded And what would be the opportunity cost?

opeoyek:
Hi everyone

Do I have to do a survey for an old build?

Thats where it's more important. Don't think its compulsory though.

teeebest:
Yes oo. It is a 4 bedroom house we are getting for 140k.

I'm surprised.. even for the north wasn't expecting it this 'cheap'.