₦airaland Forum

Lexusgs430:
I hope you understand how withdrawal from SIPP also works....... You're only allowed 25% tax free and the rest is taxable.........

Yes, in retirement, one should be in lower tax bands hence pay much less in tax than they'd have paid if they weren't invested in a pension. That's the whole idea behind pensions being deferred tax wrappers in most countries. The UK is quite generous with their 25% tax-free lump sum. Infact the UK SIPP and ISAs are about the most generous in the developed world.

SIRTeee15:
Don't quote me, I don't want to have any conversation with u...decent or not.

Do u have comprehension challenge or what. Don't quote me !!!!!

Doc, are you annoyed?

As regards pensions, alot has been said and people would make their decisions and bear the outcome. I'd end with this - even with all the uncertainty, all I'd say is that you don't need to live the rest of your life in a place to make use of opportunities that arise.

In Nigeria, I served in the north- was never sure I'd settle in the state longterm but it didn't stop me from picking up a piece of land. As per the UK, It was when it became clear to me I'd leave the UK that I hurried to complete my property purchase. I contrinued contributing to the NHS pension till the last day I was eligible. Even though I was leaving, I weighed the pros of property ownership via a business in the UK to still be worth it- afterall, it was a system I knew and Canada was largely unknown. My accountant recently told me- why not just sell everything and bring it over to Canada and invest. I told him - baba leave that one there- e get why.


What am I saying? Access to a modern pension system is one of the basic means westerners use to maintain wealth. I've looked at Nigerian based funds and I'm yet to see any with the cheap fees or global reach as you'd see in the UK. For reference, the difference between a 0.5 and 1.5% annual fee might seem small but over 25 years can easily amount to over 30% in additional returns. That you may leave the UK does not mean you cannot benefit from its pension apparatus. Also remember you can move your personal pension to many countries. It's your money and would payout when the time comes. No one knows the furure but we can only plan based on information we have.


When someone says don't contribute to a pension, do well to ask them how you should fund your retirement - is it thru ip? Also ask yourself if you plan to keep working till 70.
I'm not talking about state pension contributions as that is mandatory. I'm referring to additional contributions.
I'm labouring this point as it's one area most migrants hardly engage with. We don't have many older folks around who've seen it through. Even among colleagues, I'd count on one hand those with a robust SIPP.


I'd end by saying this- there are two financial moves I regret as per my time in the UK.

1. Not buying a place before or during covid eventhough I had the means to. I dillydallied on this and thought that afterall, I can always buy. End is I missed about 50k in capital gains I'd have earned if I did.

2. Not prioritising my personal pension. Yes, the NHS pensions are generous with the state pension being a the cherry on the top as I thought. However, as I later learned, the tax advantage and flexibility of ones private pension is unrivalled. I focused more on my ISAs most of the time I was in the 40% tax band. Yes, I always used my ISA allowance but some money would have gone much farther in a pension considering my tax band. By the time I started contributing aggressively, I couldn’t maximise lost years due to contribution caps. A good example was a government grant of £20k I received. I paid 8-9k in tax on that money. If I had shoved a chunk into a SIPP in that tax year, my tax liability on that sum would have been significantly reduced. I left so much on the table by not utilising my SIPP.
Today my UK SIPP is a decent sum (pictured) but could have easily been much more robust. This would have enabled me be bolder in exploring opportunities elsewhere.

WanderingChild:
Long read... you have most of your figures wrong.
You can write a book on the challenges Nigeria faces- same with most countries. Again, that is not why I'm here. I'm interested in identifying opportunities in a changing world. The last two times I preached about opportunities here was last year which I considered a good time to approach the housing market and post covid, when I talked about options outside the UK. I'm glad I latched onto both even when it seemed like folly.

Response – My contention with property as a primary means of investment for growing wealth in today’s age is simply based on the fact that it is immobile and lacks the ability to scale wealth in ways IP does. A simple fund raising and a company is worth millions. Co-founders can extract a fraction of their wealth through debt and still invest in property or other businesses. This is the modern way of creating wealth. Property becomes a top up rather than a main route to wealth. Elon Musk has just demonstrated that again with their planned IPO for SpaceX at $1.25T valuation. Your property story is not being discounted, I am simply proposing an alternative that is timely for immigrants in today’s world.

I'd highlight a few oddities in your post.

1. You make the mistake of comparing GDP per capita without appreciating the economics of scale larger countries wield. Based on GDP per capita, China would be poorer than most European countries. How come they weild so much influence?

Response – If I go with this your logic, countries like Nigeria, DRC and Indonesia should wield similar influence? Economics of scale works when a country is able to develop the capacity of its population to grow wealth. China has been able to leverage its population along with fiscal discipline and a well-managed monetary policy in directly influencing capital allocation and priority areas. Overall, Chinese are much poorer than Europeans when purchasing power is compared. That is what economists use as a metric.

2. Already, over the last 20 years, most of the improvement in living standards happened outside the west. Its said that if you remove those China lifter out of poverty, the world has hardly made much improvement in poverty reduction in the last 20 yrs.

Response – Most of the improvement in living standards happened because of the gap. It is like saying party A is worth $1m today from $0.9m yesterday and party B has recently seen its wealth move from $50k to $500k. This does not mean Party B is worth more than Party A or better, it simply means the development gap Party B needs to cover is significant. This is what creates opportunity for investors. It is expected. Unfortunately, and as you concede, China has been responsible for MOST of this over the last 30 years and is plateauing meaning that growth from most Global South countries will start plateauing in the coming years.

3. Nigerias GDP never got to $800 B and India do not have 240 million in poverty. Get your facts right.

Response – Nigeria rebased her GDP in 2025 adding $235 billion to 2014 GDP. https://intelpoint.co/insights/nigerias-2024-gdp-just-got-a-65-billion-boost-after-the-2025-rebasing/

Reports show India having over 230 million people in poverty - https://thesouthfirst.com/news/india-has-23-4-crore-people-living-in-poverty-highest-in-the-world-un-report/

4. When I mention business interest rates, I point to opportunities to unlock tremendous growth by getting some basics right.

Response – Tremendous growth does not come from high interest rates. China leveraged low interest rates to drive private sector growth. In fact many business sectors were subsidised by the government with its currency deliberately undervalued for years to drive exports. Growth for China came from fiscal discipline, rapid expansion of exports (cheap manufacturing, cheap labour along with cheap loans) and a very well managed and aligned monetary policy. China does not run an exploitative economy. Growth driven by exploitation does not bode well for countries.

5. I don't get your obsession with PO- I'm all about leadership that'd get certain basics right.

Response – PO was mentioned without proper context (a fault on my part). I mentioned him to state that even our best shot (PO) at getting Nigeria right will fail because of the scale of what is needed for which we don’t have the funds.

All said, I can only thank God I'm one of those youths Nigeria produced.

Response – Excellent.


Going forward, let me preview your submissions here first.
As per your submissions :
1. Folks living in Africa are useless to humanity. Perhaps, they should unalive themselves and become manure

Response – You misstate my statement because you fail to contextualise it so not much my response can do here.

2. Any youth not in the top-10 world cities is useless to humanity (which ironically includes most of Europe). Now that Trump is shutting the U.S, should Europeans also convert themselves to manure?

Response – Lol. I actually said 20 and the Network effect of London and Paris covers Europe. Today, living in close proximity to top cities is what creates early access to opportunities to grow wealth. Being able to access funds investing in early and disruptive startups about to IPO is a function of proximity. Being able to even access funds, grants, abundant cloud resources or infrastructure to do significant work in your startup or AI is a function of proximity to top global cities. As harsh as the statement may sound, this is why the most valuable startups and businesses coalesce around these cities and where wealth id mostly created.

3. Anyone without £300k to take risk is useless to humanity. Lol...

Response – Again, you overexaggerate and misstate my statement here. This was talking about folks pooling together £300k and there was a context to this.

4. Not too long ago, you were mocking those who bought houses- an endeavour which has been a sure way to build wealth in the west

Response – I never mock. I stated that the property thread had died off. This was an observation and was contextualised with the rising anti-immigration sentiments in the UK. Most immigrant facing possible extension of their stay in the UK won’t be eager to take a mortgage. It is just gumption.

5. Now, you're preaching to folks to liquidate their pensions- a path that is sure to render many destitute in retirement.

Response – Again, you overexaggerate my statements. I was specifically talking about state pension reforms and how the government will be coming for immigrants by making it a benefit. When I responded to you earlier, I argued about wealth protection strategies for immigrants without settlement in light of growing anti-immigrant sentiments.

There is more to life than ip. The reality we live in far different from aspire to acquire.

Response – Not sure what this means but in today’s age, IP is the default wealth creation strategy hence the prevalence of VCs and startups and innovation, etc. It is IP everywhere. It does not discount other means but if people can also explore it, why not? Aspire to acquire is more the field of Fela Durotoye and co. Not sure how it works in today’s world. Maybe when I bring my “much anticipated” course on “10 proven ways on how to be a millionaire from your startup”, I can sign up to the group.

Lastly, it's easy to hide under the cowardly phrase- 'you're lucky because you're doctor' without appreciating the difference in mindset and approach. I was singing it like a song several years back that we're in the west cos we're needed, some folks thought I was proud and they were being invited to a lovefeast. Today, its kitikata. I had every opportunity to remain in Nigeria and the UK and be a top- 5% earner for the rest of my career. Yet I left - unapologetically. I'm glad that I'm at a point today where I can ask myself- to what end and not live to chase the next pay check.

Response – Hmmm…. You are not lucky because you are a doctor. You are lucky or fortunate because you left Nigeria timely and was able to thrive in societies that made sense of your prior training and availability. If you remained in Nigeria, would you have seen any significant rise in your quality of life compared to what it is today or the resources you can access? One’s profession is not necessarily important in wealth creation today. What matters is that you are in an environment that can take you and enable you create wealth. People “in the abroad” are killing it in food business and fashion design and startups and professional careers. There are also people with solid mindsets in Nigeria overwhelmed by poverty. Their mindset notwithstanding, they are unable to defeat the barriers setup by ecosystem that bounds them.

I think we are somehow aligned but talking past ourselves.

The key issues you raised ab initio to which I replied are as follows:

Most of the economic growth that the world would see in the coming decades would likely be outside the West. Many western nations are stagnating with things not looking to get better as their population ages.

Response – Not true again. Population growth is getting decoupled from GDP. In fact most of the $10T in wealth Donald Trump destroyed with his tariffs came from the US, UK, and Europe. AI has made population “irrelevant” as wealth has become intangible. The US GDP has been growing at averagely $1T yearly just from intangibles. Remove China and most of the Global South has plateaued or is in decline.

As we clobber to get in, let's remember we'd be fighting for a hardly growing pot without the headstart native populations have. The statistical reality is that many coming in would be stuck art lower rungs of society except they work terribly hard. The odds are stacked against them. We can see this among descendants of Caribbean migrants in London and the midlands- quite a few are struggling.
At some point we'd ask ourselves... to what end? (Yes, I can appreciate most narratives and see how they tie-in)

Response – This has been disrupted. World economy is growing (proxy GDP). Folks from migrant communities are getting into the financial space and startup space and changing the dynamics wealth-wise. Diversity policies have created pathways for many to secure access to ivy leagues and on to great careers in fantastic companies. Opportunities are actually more now than ever before because of AI and innovation in general.

I have increasingly seen my colleagues think home -not because they look to relocate soon but because they see the opportunities there. Many have set up short-term lets some of which are priced in USD. I remember strongly considering investing in the Nigerian st0ck market a few years back as it seemed primed. I ultimately decided not to but its grown over 2x since. No regrets.

Response – Nigeria’s stock market is a giant ponzi scheme with limited liquidity. Transcorp moving from 51 kobo to 51 Naira is bonkers.

PO once mentioned how Indians in the west took readily available 'cheap' loans to invest in India. I saw the point but devaluation was the achilles heel. A successful business in 9ja owner recently told me they were seeking a bank loan and being quoted an interest rate of 37% with 2yr repayment by their bank. This got me scratching my head both for the locked opportunities and growth that could ensue when that is tapped.

Response – China deliberately devalued its currency for years and that made its exports cheaper. Devaluation is a sound strategy when you are export heavy. Black market finance operations is evidence of market and government failure. When systems work (not perfect but work), they die off easily. No country builds wealth on exploitation and thrives.

I am not trying to convince anyone, but just like it was clear to me years back that I had better opportunities outside the UK, it's clear to me now that there are ready opportunities back home. All I pray for is a decent government and fairly stable currency. I dont even want the government to work wonders- just don't be a Buhari.

Response – You cite anecdotal reasons, so I cannot argue with that. The data however says otherwise.

Your first paragraph is a good example on why I struggle to engage with you- it's far disconnected from reality. I've met quite a few wealthy folks - dont know any who owns IP. I wonder what percentage of Americans own IP. There are niche means of wealth geberation and there are means that apply to most. But I agree with you- I'd sell down my properties, liquidate my savings, stop saving in pensions and pursue ip.

There is no point going back and forth in a rigmarole. That'd simply derail this thread.
In times past I used to have drawn-out debates with folks. These days, I've learned to skip unnecessary arguments. Like I said at the outset, I'm not trying to convince you. Your narratives are known - that Nigeria (and Nigerians) are of no use is the latest. As folks become established in the west, I'm sure this conversation would be revisited in future.

The last I'd add is that whether it was my work in Nigeria, relocation to the UK or subsequently Canada. There was no luck involved. At the time I moved to the UK, it was not neither the quickest, cheapest, most straightforward or best paid option. Opportunities have and would always be fleeting- the ability to spot and take those as they arise is not luck.

Goodenoch:
I strongly disagree with the idea that there’s no hope for Nigeria.....
Returning to live in Nigeria is a key part of our early retirement strategy (although we’re flexible and if things don’t work out we’ll head to Spain or France or South Africa, Kenya or wherever else that’s working well, is more affordable and has better weather in 20-something years’ time) so I’m involved substantially with the country business-wise and go frequently as a result. Can’t be too detailed on that point but the takeaway is that there are opportunities and being in the UK gives you very good leverage to maximize them if you can move beyond ideological roadblocks.

Business aside, I think there’s a key role to be played by the diaspora, contributing to the country’s turnaround via charity. I have a private arrangement with a few friends supporting a few NGOs and would encourage you to consider the same. Harvard etc are all fueled primarily by endowments.

We may not have millions to give yet but a group of 20 people who commit 20 pounds per month over the course of a year to support their Alma mater back home will have almost 5k pounds which is ~10 million Naira. That’s enough to pay fees for 100+ primary or secondary school students or cover several secondary school teachers’ salaries or provide lots of resource for 2 or 3 clinics. Double or triple that (which is still small money for many here) and you’re getting to amounts that can build a school building or clinic from scratch.

@the bolded, there are arguments not worth having. Its like when I encounter posts on NL asking regular Nigerians not to travel so they don't pay tax or folks telling you coke is more expensive in the UK than Nigeria cos they are comparing the sticker price... where do you approach that from?

The advantage of a country like the UK is that by being a being rich nation, it lifts your average. After that, what next? Work till you're 70? How many of the folks looking to stop contributing to their pension are also ready to work till they are 70? There is a part to western nations that many have not understood.

Two instances I recollect;
First was years back when someone here was angry we were not consistently discussing about 'how to pass the driving test' or 'build your credit score'. I recollect saying that as communities grow, conversations evolve. Soon after that, the UK mortgage thread was born. This conversation is one I'm sure we'd come back to in time. After years grinding (and doing well), many would ask themselves... to what end?

Secondly, I also remember 2-3 yrs ago when the Canadian PR was much easier to get. I said I'd leave and probably remain a UK landlord as I go. I can still remember posts here mocking me for chasing utopia. Today, when it's testimony time, folks chorus 'u get luck'... my brother no be only luck.. na favour. Or is it all the preaching that we are here as a result of need... started singing that from day 1.

Most colleagues who I moved with are not planning to retire in Canada. However that does not stop us from providing services and availing ourselves of opportunities there. Even me no know where I go retire.. e fit be a mix of 4 countries... 3months per nation
Last week, I was chatting with someone who grosses 1mil CAD per year. Chap is heavily invested in luxury real estate in Lekki. He's already set to retire in 2 yrs and relocate to 9ja.
We also saw how blessed @Ticha narrated how many countries she has meandered thru... living life as it's meant to be.

I also visit Nigeria often and of late, its brimming with opportunities. I just need a government that tackles security, reduces inflation and keeps the naira fairly stable. Just do that and boys would do more. All said, the fact is that true economic freedom for many migrants would not be based on years of struggle and doing shift work but rather on how they leverage their position to tap into begging opportunities.

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.

Long read... you have most of your figures wrong.
You can write a book on the challenges Nigeria faces- same with most countries. Again, that is not why I'm here. I'm interested in identifying opportunities in a changing world. The last two times I preached about opportunities here was last year which I considered a good time to approach the housing market and post covid, when I talked about options outside the UK. I'm glad I latched onto both even when it seemed like folly.

I'd highlight a few oddities in your post.

1. You make the mistake of comparing GDP per capita without appreciating the economics of scale larger countries wield. Based on GDP per capita, China would be poorer than most European countries. How come they weild so much influence?

2. Already, over the last 20 years, most of the improvement in living standards happened outside the west. Its said that if you remove those China lifted out of poverty, the world has hardly made much improvement in poverty reduction in the last 20 yrs.

3. Nigerias GDP never got to $800 B and India do not have 240 million in poverty. Get your facts right.

4. When I mention business interest rates, I point to opportunities to unlock tremendous growth by getting some basics right.

5. I don't get your obsession with PO- I'm all about leadership that'd get certain basics right.

All said, I can only thank God I'm one of those youths Nigeria produced.


Going forward, let me preview your submissions here first.
As per your submissions :
1. Folks living in Africa are useless to humanity. Perhaps, they should unalive themselves and become manure
2. Any youth not in the top-10 world cities is useless to humanity (which ironically includes most of Europe). Now that Trump is shutting the U.S, should Europeans also convert themselves to manure?
3. Anyone without £300k to take risk is useless to humanity.
4. Not too long ago, you were mocking those who bought houses- an endeavour which has been a sure way to build wealth in the west
5. Now, you're preaching to folks to liquidate their pensions- a path that is sure to render many destitute in retirement.

There is more to life than ip. The reality we live in far different from aspire to acquire.


Lastly, it's easy to hide under the cowardly phrase- 'you're lucky because you're doctor' without appreciating the difference in mindset and approach. I was singing it like a song several years back that we're in the west cos we're needed, some folks thought I was proud and they were being invited to a lovefeast. Today, its kitikata. I had every opportunity to remain in Nigeria and the UK and be a top 2% earner for the rest of my career. Yet, I left - unapologetically. I'm glad that I'm at a point today where I can ask myself- to what end and not live solely to chase the next pay check.

SIRTeee15:
Go and give the food to your parents, I'm very sure they will appreciate it.

Again you demonstrate an inability to have a decent conversation without resorting to insults. Says much about you.

Adebayofca:
It seems the pressure is hitting primary academies too. I was reading a newsletter from one of the education trusts today, and for the second edition in a row they highlighted growing financial challenges caused by falling enrolment. National enrollment have dropped by 2% since it peaked 2018/19 and are predicted to fall another 4% over the next five years due to declining birth rates.

This particular trust has c650 fewer pupils this year, with further declines forecast for the next academic year, which of course means reduced income. This is not peculiar to the Trust, according to the newsletter . It does make one wonder what the numbers would look like without the children of recent migrants, who make up a good share of dependants 🤔

In the end, it is clear that immigration is driven by economic need, just as you’ve always argued. But those who deliberately opened the borders will never admit it, because doing so would put their jobs at risk.

Well said- we're here cos we are needed not cos we're wanted. Many were carried away few years back thinking it was a lovefeast. It never was and would never be.

What you say makes me remember all the narratives we've been gaslit with here- first that migrants were the reason for the health crises or folks inability to see their GP, next that migrants were crowding schools and preventing British kids from getting in. Next was that we come with our many diseases from Africa which were a strain on the health system.... it went on and on. The funny thing was anyone with a brain was able to see the folly in those statements. Its the funny thing about these Brexit-like narratives and how they come to bite back.

Take education for instance, because of how economies of scale work, the funny thing is that as pupil numbers drop, income to the school drops too but costs to train those kids remains same or doesn't drop as much. A relative of mine had to have their class merged with a higher class due to falling numbers. In Wales and some rural parts of England, some schools are closing. The wider effect on the local economy cannot be overstated. Maybe those schools should be converted to care homes.

WanderingChild:
..... Don’t also live life hoping that things back home will change. Nigeria is not an option. It has gone past the point of recovery. Nigeria is on a managed economic collapse. Anyone selling you on Nigeria is lying. The country is gone. Whatever you are seeing are the last moves of a dead horse.

As usual, I am not a financial adviser and please always consult a financial adviser.

HustlaOfLagos:
Nigeria will not be better in your lifetime, we are too ignorant, short sighted, selfish and foolish to see the big picture.

The earlier you come to terms with that, the better for you

In times like this, it's difficult to challenge certain narratives. Lets not miss the forest for the trees.

Most of the economic growth that the world would see in the coming decades would likely be outside the West. Many western nations are stagnating with things not looking to get better as their population ages. As we clobber to get in, let's remember we'd be fighting for a hardly growing pot without the headstart native populations have. The statistical reality is that many coming in would be stuck at lower rungs of society except they work terribly hard as the odds are stacked against them. We can see this among descendants of Caribbean migrants in London and the midlands- many are struggling.
At some point we'd ask ourselves... to what end? (Yes, I can appreciate most narratives and see how they tie-in)

For enterprising ones, the focus should not just be on where the opportunity train has been but where next it's going.

I have increasingly seen my colleagues think home - not because they're looking to relocate soon but because they see the opportunities there. Many have set up short-term lets some of which are priced in USD. I remember strongly considering investing in the Nigerian st0ck market a few years back as it seemed primed. I ultimately decided not to but its grown over 2x since. No regrets. Of late, I stumbled upon a community on Reddit called 'BackToIndia' which is a constitutes of Indians looking to move back. It was interesting reading posts there. While some were being forced to make that move due to visa issues, some established Indians in the west were making same move due to opportunities they see back home.

I visit Nigeria almost every year and for the first time in a while, I'm beginning to see fresh shoots of progress. Nigeria can effortlessly grow at a rate of 5% pa for the next 20yrs. Virtually no western nation can. With the right capital and knowledge which we have - that's a waiting opportunity begging to be tapped.

PO once mentioned how Indians in the west took readily available 'cheap' loans to invest in India. I saw the point but devaluation was the achilles heel. A successful business in 9ja owner recently told me they were seeking a bank loan and being quoted an interest rate of 37% with 2yr repayment by their bank. This got me scratching my head both for the locked opportunities and growth that could ensue when that is tapped.

I am not trying to convince anyone, but just like it was clear to me years back that I had better opportunities outside the UK, it's clear to me now that there are ready opportunities back home. All I pray for is a decent government and fairly stable currency. I dont even want the government to work wonders- just don't be a Buhari.

SIRTeee15:
It's like u looking for my trouble. u dont want peace and if that's u want- I will give enough dose of trouble to choke u.

I already block u but I want to warn u- don't ever quote me here again if u desire peace. I dont want to talk to u and I'm not interested in whatever u are saying.
I repeat dont mention me here again, otherwise, MA RAN E SILE. If u lack proper home training, there's nothing wrong learning at your old age.

Aren't you tired of making empty threats? It's easy to see thru people like you.
Start building and make decent contributions to this thread. Folks are looking to build wealth not stew in hate.


BTW, I attached some food for you

Hmmm. Explanations are needed. What tangible things did the state do differently?

From 26 Billion in 2022 to ober 400 billion in 2025.

Goke7:
Very true, agencies jobs are sporadic and last minute and with the main care job that will be difficult to manage unless if the person is the dependent, what helped my wife then was that she was on student visa so getting on those agencies jobs were easier without visa restrictions in fact she ended up with a college (like a polytechnic) as a senior learning assistant for over a year until she got a job as a senior nursery practitioner on a skilled worker visa. The secondary schools unfortunately are the easier jobs to get because that’s where the shortages are especially for maths teachers and other sciences. If they are not too fixated on the uk they should attempt getting teaching licenses in Australia and Canada even if they feel they don’t need it now, it may come in handy tomorrow. They can even get into the express entry pool for Canada and just stay in there for whenever there is a draw for education category. Their current visa status may not make things easier unless they try another option to get the license for higher education to enable them teach in colleges and polytechnics as the students there are more mature and less stress from my wife’s experience.

Good points. I'd raise these with them.

Last we spoke, they said the cost of 9ja transcript (abt 200k) has prevented them from applying for Cana express entry. I said no wahala.
Unfortunately, they are not keen and riding the care route. I only hope sh*t doesn't hit the fan. Cos if it does, na last minute kitikata

ferfer:
The ideal follow-up to that speech should be answering the press about some of the high points. Not only was Carney not available for that, he ensured that the hatches were battened down when his ministers did not answer any questions about the speech. Not even one aspect of it. That is a fluff speech!

Based on Statistics Canada data, Canada’s merchandise trade surplus with the U.S. last year was on track to reach C$100 billion. That equates to 3.2% of Canadian GDP (A merchandise trade surplus means Canada exported more physical goods to the U.S. than it imported from the U.S. over the year).
On the other hand, looking at the trade situation from the U.S. lens yields smaller figures, partly reflecting different data measurement. Applying Census Bureau figures, the U.S. is on track to record a trade deficit with Canada of roughly US$45 billion in 2024 (or a mere -0.2% of U.S. GDP). In Canadian dollars at the spot rate, this would amount to $65 billion (https://economics.td.com/ca-canada-us-trade-balance).
Canada needs the US more than the US needs Canada when it comes to trades.
In my opinion, it will be better to not ruffle feathers, to continue to manage an already bad situation so it does not become worse. Whilst hustling day and night to ensure this situation never happens again, which is what Carney has been doing.

The job figures were released a few days ago and it does paint a not-so-good picture, and that is an euphemism because if you combine that with inflation, cost of food prices etc, then you have a real situation at hand. This is not the time nor the season to be engaging in fancy talk at all. Just knuckle down and do the job. It is a season and it will pass. The US midterms are coming and the report card will be out soon enough, the pressure Trump is exerting will not be maintained like this for long. He is able to do that because he has both the senate and house. The moment he loses one, then stuffs will get real. He will be busy swatting flies away from his now-exposed necrotic sore that he will not bother riding roughshod on others.

Russia does not come into the conversation at all. Putin is another US democratic president away from serious problem. Remember that this war was supposed to be a police action in which they will over run Kyiv in weeks and it is extending to years! It is estimated that Russia has lost 2% of its males to the war, that is future, never mind present, problem right there (https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine).
Senescence is real and as advanced as modern science is, it has not solved the problem of immortality yet. Have you ever wondered what will happen in a post-Putin Russia? If what happened after Stalin was anything to go by then drama go dey for that side oo!

China is not restricted to trading with just a country, they are friends with all continents. In addition, they are not restricted by any green policy that bottlenecks mineral exploration, they have put themselves in a strong position.

Most western countries need the U.S more than it needs them but guess what? The reverse is also true of the U.S and the West as a whole.

Appeasement has been tried and it didn't work. Europe was only able to secure a retreat now they've drawn lines.

In all my travelling, one thing I've learned quite clearly is that going into conversations with the west (or a westerner) from a position of defeat never ends well. If CUSMA negotiations are opening up, it should be clear where lines are drawn else the U.S would ask for Alberta and B.C and some Canadians would chorus- give it to them- afterall we need them more.

Soon enough, some would advise Canada to sign a similar deal to the opium one the U.K enforced on China that led to centuries of humiliation. At what point does it stop?

Don't forget Carney was the cool head in the room when Doug Ford's temper was raging hot. He now sounding the alarm for 'middle countries' to work together only puts pressure on the U.S.

SIRTee15:
Latest report card on quality of Life in Canada

How's the nation of Canada faring compared to other nations when it comes to best place to live.
Well, It dropped from 5th position to 33rd.

Well, some of us are not surprised, it only confirmed what we've saying here while some people thought they know better. Unfortunately, facts and reality don't care bout your feelings. Canada is going down the drain and it has nothing to do with Trump tariff.

It's important to know the govt in power in the last ten years- the one responsible for the abysmal performance.

Quite pathetic!

If you're not moaning about Indians, you're complaining about Canada. Pray tell, why haven't you moved to the U.S to go enjoy a forward-moving society? I've been around the world and can tell you most of Canada's problems are being experienced elsewhere.

Trudeau left government almost ago and lots has changed since then. You need to start looking forward.

For someone who claims to be an OG, the lacuna in your contribution here is striking. All you see are Indians or decline. Folks have asked about market investing, businesses, properties, jobs e.t.c. its all crickets from you and your likes. You only come around when its time to spread hate. The Indian next door is not the reason you're struggling in a basement.

Lexusgs430:
Keir should negotiate with the leaseholders, would make very descent accommodation for those English channel refugees/illegal immigrants/invaders ...... 😂🤔🤣

Hehe... wawulence.

I've increasingly heard about companies who contact private landlords looking to sign a long lease and rent out to the council.. some returns being shown look good. Business everywhere...

HustlaOfLagos:
The peace of mind and certainty is bliss and I hope to experience it one day.
Having one's status swinging like a pendulum is not a good place to be tbh. I mentioned last year that UK has the worst immigration deal out of all the developed English speaking country but its the grass some folks focused on ; they do not have PR options, do not grant jus solis , immigration fees are like x5 of everywhere else and immigration policies are dependent on the whims of people who do not seem to understand the system

Canada actually provides a sensible pathway without crying about students and changing rules every 7 days. .. this means you can actual settle and contribute like the UK wants but without making an enabling environment for.

In 3 years time, I am sure the UK folks will begin another round of crying about shortages here and there abi no be UK again

Fair enough. It's always pros and cons. There are always options out there.

It all comes in waves. After a while, when shortages start biting, they'd be clapping for care workers.
The funny thing with such moves is that it may have the untoward effect of chasing away the 'best and brightest' which they keep singing about attracting. The vibrant shooters with the means to would get the UK experience and head over to Aus, Cana or even the U.S. Those with little options will stick around. Down the line, when data comes thru about this 'japa 2.0', the new song would be on how to retain the best and brightest.

Goke7:
With QTS he or she can apply for teaching roles that can sponsor work visa the challenge now is that the salary thresholds are higher now over 30k and how many schools can even pay then what’s the specialisation? Does he or she teach science subjects as they are more in demand especially in secondary schools which could be easier to get into than primary schools but must be ready for the demands of handling teenagers in a peculiar uk society. Truly it’s tricky especially getting visa sponsored roles as many organisations and schools now avoid it. The part time assistant teaching role can be a good start (that’s how my wife started over 3 years ago when things were much easier) or going through agencies that can offer such opportunities!

They teach maths but are keen on avoiding secondary school kids for obvious reasons. A part-time teaching assistant role is being sought but hard to combine with a care role. They have registered with agencies but available jobs are sporadic and last minute. Ultimately, the aim is to get some UK teaching experience which opens up the door to opportunities out there.

Just like an insurance, I agree that the best time to start looking for alternatives is when one doesn't need it. I started looking 2yrs ago when UK was the cushy option and today, I have no regrets.

Thazard:
Please is 25$/hrs good enough for a new immigrant?

Depends on the role and persons qualification.

First ask what the going rate for that role is in Canada so one doesn't shortchange themselves.

Luckybelt:
Does anyone do any investment (st0ck, b0nds, ETFs ) that yields 12% p.a. Low risk?

Low risk and 12% would be a stretch. Best bet would be a global ETF.


Oddly, if looking at the long-term (>10yrs), ETFs are pretty safe with good returns. The price you pay to get that return is the volatility you endure in the short-term i.e it can drop significantly in the short-term.
If you want to avoid that volatility then certain b0nds would be the option but the yields would be low and possibly be below inflation. With b0nds, you get guaranteed returns.
I personally only do passibe and global ETFs and use money market funds or high interest savings when I need the money in a short defined period. e.g when looking to buy a house

Just before Christmas, Essex University announced that it would close its Southend campus this summer due to a big fall in international students, who pay much higher fees. The move will affect 800 students, as well as staff, but it will also have a huge impact on a city that has come to depend on the university in many ways.

I thought most universities have stabilised. Another campus which includes a nursing school closes.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/04/essex-university-southend-campus-closure-seaside-deprivation

HustlaOfLagos:
This...

I remember when this conversation several moons ago on this thread and people were saying the grass isn't greener etc. Some will even tell you that "Na because e easy for you advice full your mouth" which does not even make sense

My friend that entered Canada after me is due for his passport next year while I am still waiting for new policies and how it will affect me. Even with the PR and citizenship enroute, he is still looking at EB1A so he can tap into the business opportunities in the US

Fortune favours the brave and those who prepare for contingencies or have alternate plans. It is not easy, but nothing good comes easy at the end of the day

Hehe... 'Grass isnt greener' a.k.a 'it's thesame everywhere'. When I saw those pushing that I knew the ulterior motives involved. I've been and the grass dey different.... e green die sotay peace of mind wan kill me.


On my recent return to Canada from the UK, it was the first time I used my British kpali to 'go home' and true, it felt surreal. However, on return to Cana, as we landed and I got out my PR card, I became emotional. The whole 6yrs aiming for British ilr and passport came flooding back. Same ILR I got in Canada even before I stepped foot there. Like play, I'm almost 1yr in with 2 left before the kpali. Funny thing is that over 365k of such direct PRs/ILRs would be issued this year and next. This is outside other routes/pathways. Yes, they took in a lot (esp diploma students) and have also pared back/introduced caps but the conversation has moved past that. Focus is on building the economy not increasing performative wickedness.

Goke7:
A lot of folks were just carried away living in the uk on visas, all the signs were there, historical facts were there but somehow folks just continue to hope and wish for miracles. The uk system is an unforgiving system and brutal with no mercy, as long as you’re on a visa even if it’s a work visa you got to have a contingency plan and anticipate the worst. It’s what it is. I was on a skilled visa with a global firm but redundancy hit and I got laid off, my saving grace was my wife was also on a skilled visa as a teacher so I switch to become a dependent. I still have a pending application in the US and even with Trump am not expecting anything. My wife is also seeking teacher licenses in some Canadian provinces to explore opportunities there and once it clicks we are out. Honestly I don’t know how folks can completely rely on the Uk if you’re not yet on ilr even folks who are citizens are moving out then you that’s on a visa you’re behaving as if it’s your own country, people get mind o! And they continue to gaslight themselves, Issorite. We will all learn to streetwise by fire by force!

Miracles... hehe. I sometimes go on the student visa thread and the rate at which folks spiritualize study visa approvals leaves me shaking my head. I only hope they are clear-eyed about the current realities. I hope to partly retire in 9ja someday (and visit often) but I understand the 'enjoyment' I'm seeing is much easier to access due to the pedestal migration gave me. Oddly, I have stumbled on the 'backtoIndia' reddit page with stories of many well-established Indians in the west going back. If 9ja maintains progress, a return move would grow in popularity

Life has no one cheat code but many times, folks sit, don't take or seek opportunities and later blame events when things don't go their way. Of course, many would have sought opportunities but still get caught.

Pray tell, how did your wife get into teaching? I have a relative who I've tried to ginja to seek wider opportunities. They seem settled on a care visa but now have a QTS license. Getting a part-time teaching assistant role they can combine with care in the interim before pivoting has been tricky. I have tried to egg them on to get some UK teaching experience and explore Canada but they are not keen. As per the teaching, what are the available routes to entry for someone who is QTS certified?

All said, its tough out there. I do hope you get something soon.

Crap. Same U.S mission that is quick to denigrate Nigeria when it comes to visas.

Whats even worse is those here claiming he's from y or z.

Resurgent2016:
Adult social care already accounts for 75% - 80% of many council budgets - something must give to substantially grow the budgets. They can use their hatred for HCA to shoot themselves in the foot and tomorrow blame politicians for increasing taxes or the service being stripped bare.

Already many councils are broke or on the verge bankruptcy mostly due to rising social care costs. The thing about social care (just like health) is that the government ultimately backstops most of it. Bearing the cost, they know how it pinches.

Like I've said on multiple occasions- the question has never been if migrants are wanted- it's always been if we can afford not to have them.

I'm all for a carer earning £100per hr in todays money but I wonder by how many multiples my fellow British voters want their council tax to be put up to pay for that. What percentage of the elderly, their relatives or parents of kids with special needs are ready for Social care to strip back their benefits to mitigate rising wage costs? Who bears the cost? Those are the real questions- not whether carers should be paid x or not.

Why cant they allow the Lions be at night. Must be discomforting following them around all the time just for tourism

Bwisewiturvote:
Yes the car reg on the sms is correct, I mean, it's mine
The sms was sent via a number....
I visited the site and input my case reference... was directed to payment interface

The (3) menu options on the site only directs you to the same payment interface....

See the attached screen shots

Tickets are usually sent via post to the registered address of the vehicle owner. Have you changed your address of late?

Before proceeding, I'd search online using especially on forums using details in the SMS e.g phone number see if this is a known scam

On their website, I see there's an option to write in to them. Personally, I'd be doing that to keep a verifiable contact trail. Without revealing personal details, I'd be quoting their reference number and asking them to update me with details of the infarction. Where and when it occured and what my options are (there should be an appeal process). I wouldn't be filling out the non-mandatory part of the form and possibly using initials in place of a name.

tiwasiaife:
Poor man advising a rich man how to run his business.
If you have this brain atleast you will be producing toothpick and supplying it to kiosks around your neighborhood.

That's not how life and business work. There's a reason the biggest companies in the world always ask for customer feedback after any contact. They know what hidden gem it is

Bwisewiturvote:
Brethren is this real or some kinda scam?
I got this sms now (at the end)
I can't remember getting any parking ticket of any sort
I have tried to view where exactly this happened?
I called them endlessly but no agent picking up the call they only kept repeating the option 1 to make a payment automatically, same is applicable on their website where you can only make payment. The worst, I saw its £170 to be paid...
How?

Please can someone help me cox this is getting man crazy... still have £20 outstanding payment at the garage where car was fixed? Which kind play be this nah?



Your parking charge ref. 507××××2 for R×××××M issued by UK CAR PARK MANAGEMENT LTD is overdue. It is your legal responsibility to settle this charge. Pay now to avoid potential late fees and clear your record today: paydrp.co.uk or call 0208 2346 775 to speak to an advisor quoting reference number 158××××2. We thank you in advance for your co-operation in this matter.

Likely a scam. Have you done an online search?
Such tickets are based on ones V5C details and sent in the post.
Also, do the details match that of your car? I.e the reg no e.t.c?

delenet:
Fair point. Open sharing is great for general awareness, which I’ve been doing here and will continue to do. Also part of the reason I brought up the $50k passive income rule which is a specific Canadian hurdle many miss.

Just a quick heads-up on the HoldCo idea: unlike the UK or other jurisdictions, in Canada, if you own both the operating and holding companies, they are usually considered 'associated' by the CRA. This means they are legally required to share that $50k passive income threshold and the $500k Small Business Deduction. A HoldCo doesn't actually 'reset' the clock on that tax grind-down here; oga CRA sees the whole group as one.

I totally agree that personalized advice should come from a qualified professional—that’s exactly why I’m cautious about giving specific blueprints in a general chat.

I’ll leave it there for now, but definitely happy to pitch in on more of these high-level deep dives to help and educate the community as much as possible.

You made some good points. However, communities grow by dissipating information not hoarding it.

ferfer:
Europe! The 'old world' that subjugated almost every human in the days of yore! Pillaging everything in its path and claiming it in the name of royalty! Enough said.

Never please a bully, bid your time, some will say stoop if you must, then go all in with everything.
I am not sold on Carney's speech because he showed his hand too much. Remember this is not just any bully but the most powerful one. And it seem Carney has realized it, hence, his refusal ( and his ministers) to comment about Trump's recent threat which was as a result of the speech.

Preliminary skirmishes should not be fought with major artillery. Subterfuge with a slice of flattery should have been key at this point while Carney bids his time. But he is the PM, so he knows best. The US midterms are coming, that is when Trump's report card will be out. Politics may seem international but it is almost always local.

I think his speech was well calculated. He's responded to Trumps criticisms especially in light of CUSMA negotiations which are due soon. How long would one stoop while Trump grovels?
Russia and China have shown that Trump only respects strength. Europe and the UK have realised that too.

Canada has it's own peculiarities but bending over to Trump at each turn would be disastrous. Now they're gunning for Alberta - pleading and begging only means they'd come for more.

cashmyles:
Good day fam! I’m trying to choose between the Pixel 10 Pro, the Galaxy Fold 7, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Please, I’d love to get your take on which one is the better and also, if you think there’s a dark horse phone out there that’s better than all of them, let me know. Your input will highly be appreciated. Thank you all.

Would go for the Fold. I've used Fold devices for the last 5 yrs with no regrets.
If you're into the Apple ecosystem already, then the iPhone is a no-brainer

True, the cameras might arguably not be the tippy top at their release date, but I've found them very capable. Use the Fold 6 and recently got a play around with the promax 17, still love the Samsung camera. Phone cameras have come a long way and either of the three eould be a good performer.

For documents e.t.c. nothing comes close to the Fold. For consuming vids, the Fold is better but not by much mainly cos the black bars due to its square screen

Personally can't wait for the next iteration of the tri-fold. One that can be used as one device, a 'double fold' and a proper tri-fold.