This is a somewhat funny but true experience that happened to me just this morning in motor traffic on my way out.

I was driving slowly in the mad traffic, and all of a sudden, a vehicle, which was also in the same traffic on my right side, paralleled itself with mine and beckoned on me.

It was a nice decent mid size SUV, driven by a fairly old, decent looking, seemingly educated woman in her 50's.

At first I thought she was my mother's friend that recognized me in the traffic and wanted to say hello.

So I put down my passenger's window to hear what she had to say...

She pleaded with me that I should give her 1,000 Naira.

I was in total shock to say the least. I did not understand. I went blank for a few seconds.
I did not have money with me since I just used cash to buy fuel.
So I explained to her that I did not have any money on me.
She looked at me and said okay and we both went on slowly side-by-side in the traffic until I made a turn.

It was really awkward!

I am really concerned and somewhat scared because it did not add up somehow. She seemed an okay person, she was driving an SUV, she had FUEL to move about and then she was asking a random person in traffic for a thousand Naira. I mean what happened to her family, friends, ex co-workers, loans, etc. She has definitely got to have at least one family person she can turn to right?!

What if I had the money and gave her, with all these 'ogbanje' tins going on in Nigeria (God forgive me, peeps please forgive me too!) just like it happens in movies, abi was she an angel?

I'm really worried oh, did I do the right thing? God help us all.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mukina2

Please is there anyone on NL that has links or works in the NERC Eko Forum Office in Lagos Island?
EKEDC is exploiting and extorting innocent customers in Lekki Axis by issuing out bogus estimated bills.

They also just jack up your assumed electricity usage capacity to whatever they like and then seize cut outs from residences.
This applies majorly to customers with no meters installed yet on their properties, even after they have paid.

Can someone highlight this CAPMI Scheme and enlighten us further.
Please NERC come to our rescue!

Which way Nigeria? Buhari, abeg do this power reform in no time.

adeekiti:
Bros u dey vex o, Shey u know the girl ni

Guy, I no sabi d girl oh, na so i sidon jeje for my car na hin I hear am for radio oh!
But on a more serious note, na major rubbish now. In this time and age!

Maybe its a common sight elsewhere and generally accepted in other places, it is barbaric for lack of a better word.

I heard on the radio on my way home from work this evening how a shoplifter was caught at Ebeano Stores in Lekki Phase 1 and the security men attached to the supermarket made a mockery of her by stripping her half naked and making her walk round the store in full glare of other shoppers!

C'mon, that is just a bit too far...for a big supermarket chain like Ebeano, and highly degrading to an individual no matter what they did.
What happened to handing her directly to the police? Or just taking the usual picture and putting up the wall of shame?!?

I'm unimpressed with Ebeano, next thing you'll be putting tyres on peoples necks and dousing them with kerosene abi?
How much worth is the item or items she shoplifted sef?!

With all the overpriced margins you put on all your items plus wrong price labeling, this is all tantamount to investigation for fraud sef. Consumers Protection Agency, SON, NAFDAC etc... take note!

So NLs and fellow Lekki Residents, please BOYCOTT Prince Ebeano Stores for not respecting basic human rights and for their overpriced items and fraudulent ways of exploiting innocent customers on priced items on display.

They put N50 as price on an item and when you scan it checks out N85! Then if by chance you notice, they'll say..'Ohh, sorry our systems have not been updated' or 'its the old price...' or '...are you sure, because this is the actual price on the system'! WTH! Over my own money!

There are many other supermarkets within the same vicinity that offer better stock and at more affordable prices. Besides you will be helping other small businesses grow and not being bullied out of the market. Fair trade, fair market!

Prince Ebeano Supermarket, CHANGE!

thegreengooner:
One World status over colour of your skin...just saying

How does one get this one world status?
I have my flying blue on delta-airfrance-klm and skywards on emirates but not this one world stuff.

Details pls. Thanks.

Meeehn, thank God for the free WIFI oohh! That was the only thing that kept me sane...and the food stamps too! Lol!

jukeblam:
Makes two of us who just made that vow...lolz.

I had a similar flight too; when I called their office to inquire about that STPC and it wasn't standard procedure for my ticket class, I just boned and used the money shop somethings (not at duty free, of course!).
I used my few Qmiles buy DF sha since I don vow.

I had 8hrs layover going and 14hrs returning; I just camped at the airport staring at those metal statues- as if one of them would move

Meanwhile, even the Dubai officers have their noses stuck in the air as well (must be a Middle Eastern thing, no?!)
My own vow now is avoiding the whole M.E.- except as a last resort. It's actually a boomerang journey if one checks it well.

And then, their carryon weight tolerance is way stricter than emirates- or maybe I was just unlucky (both ways )

Thank God for the free wifi though!

Thanks guys for the new info, most especially about the 40USD Lounge.
Its just that I was so upset and in so much disarray, I vowed never to go via Doha again.

On my last birthday, I promised myself I would write down and achieve one by one, 100 things I would like to do in my lifetime.
Life is short, so I thought...better start working towards things I can say I did, instead of sitting down and whining years later.

So NLs, you can add your suggestions or include your own personal achievements that can encourage others.
I implore every one to have a list too, it will give you a sense of purpose, fulfillment and adventure.

My List of 100 Things;

1. Visit at least 50 countries in the world. 10 Done, 40 to Go!
2. Write a book.
3. Learn a second language. DONE - French
4. Go skiing.
5. Go jet-skiing. DONE
6. Go parachuting.
7. Go scuba diving.
8. Visit Jesus' tomb.
9. Do a lap at the Nurburgring.
10. Shoot at a Gun Range.

11. Go on a Boat Cruise.
12. Visit Mt Everest or Kilimanjaro. (I may NOT climb it!)
13. Get an MBA.
14. Meet at least 5 great Influencers of all time. E.g. HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
15. Go Dakar Rallying.
16. Go Desert Racing in Dubai.
17. Visit an Island in the middle of the Pacific or Atlantic or Indian Ocean!
18. Spend one night in Las Vegas!
19. Adopt (sponsor) an endangered specie animal.
20. Set up a Foundation for the Less Privileged.

To be continued.

On my last trip to the US, I opted to use Qatar Airways, mainly because of the affordable ticket promos....BIG MISTAKE!
The officials at the Point of Connection (POC) in DOHA are unfriendly and unreasonable to Black Africans travelling via Doha, as I observed.

If you are Algerian, Egyptian, Tunisian or can speak Arabic, you get preferential treatment. If you are a black African, you are made to wait before you are attended to.

The issue is the short visit/stop over immigration. Flights to the US usually have waiting or connecting times of up to 14 hours at a go. I was aware of this before the purchase and made a request for a stop over transit visa and accommodation (STPC) so I could rest before continuing with the flight the next day. This attracted even more money to the ticketing fees itself which I obliged.

On getting there, my transit visa request was refused and I was given food stamps instead and ended up staying in the airport all through the 14 hours. To make matters worse, I had to face the same ordeal on my return flight back.

My question and argument with them is that if you knew you were not going to issue any transit visas to non Arabic speaking black Africans, why did you take our money in the first place? Its called advance fee fraud.

My advice, not all that glitters is gold. And if something looks too good to be true, it usually is so don't go for it.
For the ordeal I went through, and the time, discomfort and money I suffered at Qatar Airways, I would have just added little more money like N20,000 extra and fly direct to the US on Delta or United and feel refreshed instead.

Don't get me wrong oh, the Qatar Airways flights were smooth and cozy but if you have time to burn/waste, don't mind sleeping in the airport, don't mind being treated with racial discrimination and/or you're looking for a cheap bargain, then you can fly with them.

In fact, instead of flying with them, fly with Emirates and Etihad instead, they are more friendly and have shorter stop over times.

vfactor:

Thank you vfactor, you just saved me some 'valuable' time!

Help! We keep getting NEPA bills from EKO Distribution Company Lekki Branch with amounts that they themselves cannot defend.
It is even more worrisome that most of us in newly developed areas where electricity barely gets to, have not been issued meters with which we can verify the said amounts that NEPA/EKO claim that we are owing them.

First it was, pay lump-sum monthly to cover electricity usage. Might I add that these lump-sums were never declared to the regional office. Secondly, it was a new revised bill aggregating what we have used in the last couple of months!
My question is - How can you aggregate or estimate my electricity usage when there is no meter connected to my house.
Its even further mind disturbing when the total hours electricity has been made available in certain areas in between 5 to 10 hours in a month!

Now, another bill has surfaced with a bill of over N175,000 and yet they have admitted that there is a N50,000 mistake/error on the billing system. I have lodged complaints severally there and their explanation is they assess your property and belonging and 'estimate' your consumption, then 'distribute' the wholesome bill generated within a locality to each individual! What?!?!?

So what happens to the mallam that has a freezer and is illegally tapping light 24/7?
And I still get bills when I am out of the country and my switchbox is switched off?!?!?

C'mon NEPA!!!!

Please can someone in higher authority at NEPA/EKO look into discrepancy or is there somewhere where this case can be referred to.

I have a 6 month old daughter and everyday I wake up happy! The feeling is indescribable, one of pure unadulterated joy mixed with positive uncertainty, helpless but assured hope and emotional intriguing amusement. It makes me respect my parents even more.

Funny enough, when I was younger (I'm in my late thirties now) I used to be extremely child phobic. My married male counterpart friends then already had kids averaging 5 years in age. I just could not understand the thrill then about having kids. Left to me, asides from the usual cultural expectations as a Nigerian man, I would have opted to just being a financial patron to a children's home.

But now, having taken the step, I am overjoyed and wonder why I wasn't man enough to have braved the challenge then. My advice to men, and women alike;

1. God is the giver of children. Children are a blessing. They are an inheritance from God. Don't squander it! Don't Abort!

2. God gives to whomsoever He desires. The fruit of the womb is a reward from God. He gives some now, He gives others later but in the end, He gives ALL.

3. If you're ready, you're ready. Don't contemplate or procrastinate. Its better to have kids early when you're still in your prime, youthful, strong, playful and willing to explore. If you've achieved the basics in life, school, work and relationship, and a baby comes, grab it! Children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior when born in one’s youth.

4. This does not mean one should be irresponsible and then procreate without appropriation or preparation. If anyone brings a child into this world forcefully or deceitfully, without providing any means or plans of catering for the child, the soul of the child is already bearing witness against the parent in heaven and here on earth. Untold hardship, destitution and ridicule will follow that 'parent' like a foul-smelling stigma.

5. Children are children. Whether through copulation, IVF, test-tube or adoption. Whichever works best for an individual or a couple is up to them. But don't be in a haste. Do your research. Be patient. Ask yourself a lot of questions. Are you willing to break the norm accepted in your circle of family, friends? Have you resorted to realizing the fact that at the end of the day, you alone can make yourself happy and not family or friends.

6. Note, no matter how 'ready' you feel you are, whether financially, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically...and all the other -ally's ..... have in mind that its only God that will see you through. As humans, we are incapacitated by our limitations and can only rely on a true living supernatural being that is beyond our reasoning, to provide, protect, nurture, prevent and secure these little ones.

Take my case for example, just when I though I was now ready 'financially' to cater for a child, I got married, my wife got pregnant and shortly after that, I lost my job! All in the space of 3 months! And that was almost 2 years ago. I still haven't been able to secure a good job since then but like Nigerians say, we're managing. But through it all, God remains faithful, we keep finding favor, and day in day out, we survive.

7. Finally, there's nothing as rewarding, as fulfilling and as calming as watching your child (or baby toddler as they call it) sleep peacefully, and sometimes smile or laugh in her sleep, or waking you up with a smile on her face every morning, or learning new tricks that just keeps you on your toes and makes you laugh even harder that you even shed tears. Nothing beats that. It takes away all the frustration, the stress and all the shortcomings in this world. Nothing matters anymore, except to ask God to bless you to provide for your family and watch your child grow up in wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Well, I have decided to stop at 7, because its my favorite number but if you'd like to add more, please feel free. Its for the benefit of those contemplating having kids, those in limbo on what to do about falling pregnant and those eagerly looking for or procrastinating why they should have kids.

Also feel free to share your personal experiences too, it will help motivate and encourage some people out there and help them decide what next steps to take.

@Mod, please promote this article to front page if you kindly would. Thank you.

chymystique:


I want manny to win too. Floyd is just too pompus for my liking. Him losing will reduCe his ego small and give him something to think about in years to come

You're definitely right?! He's (Floyd) even comparing himself with the Great Ali, and Ali himself is siding with Manny!
Boxing, anything can happen oh! One mistake from Floyd and it's over, no explanation. He definitely needs a reality check in his lifetime!

No be Tyson be dat! Where hin dey now...hin dey do reality series! Lool!

I'm looking forward to the fight, my bet is on Pacquiao to win. Manny is calmer and respects the sport but Mayweather na agbero! Lol!
But then again, Mayweather fit win narrowly on technicality but I'm still sticking with Manny!


FTC! Ope Factorial! Feels good! Thank thank you! Overtake don overtake overtake ehheeeyyahh!

Hey,

Does anyone know anyone that was recruited through the GCC in the last Summit in 2006?!
Anyone attending the UK Career Summit in London between May 4th and 7th?!

What are the terms of employment usually like?!

@smoothjazz, Lol! I understand your frustration! But keep up the good work!

Thanks man! Much appreciated! Ive just been thru the links you gave, i exceptionally like the bayt link, its so packed! I sent an email to ur gmail! Thanks again!

I would love to work in the UAE. But my work skills are limited only to telecommunications! So Smoothjazz, just in case you bump into any job descriptions fitting SDH, i'd appreciate if you holla! Cheers man!

i finished with a 2.2 and i'm doing pretty well! I earn considerably more than a lot of my 2.1 or even 1.1 colleagues! i think it has to do with the employers ridiculing the eductaional system just like someone said cos how will u explain a scenario where an employer asks for 3-4 years experience and shouldnt be more than 26years coupling with incessant school strikes and nysc postings?!

so my advice is first, pray hard to God then try developing ur skills in sthg else that will give you an edge over others and i believe that inasmuch as global unemployment exists, there's always a job for someone out there if he is willing to take the risks of change!

She used to be my inspiration to wake up early and go to work so I can catch a clear clean glimpse of her face against the rising sun on the billboard after the Military Quarters opposite the Muson Centre while ascending the bridge just at the beginning of Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island! Her face used to be side by side with the "fair-skinned" one! All of a sudden, she was gone, and the "fair-one" remained! "Its a conspiracy, " I shouted! God knows how many times i almost hit something or someone or some car while looking at her. Why on earth did they remove her, her contract couldn't have possibly expired just like that?! Its a conspiracy! Please who knows her??! Someone should tell Orange drugs to put her back!!! Betterstill, someone should tell me how I can find her, who is she?!

Who is Dan Foster?! Why is everyone on and on about Dan Foster, He's just a regular guy with a regular job!!! Its just his way of stirring up controversy so he can get more attention, the typical american way!!! Today he's leaving, tomorrow he isn't, today he's gettin married to a socialite's daughter, tomorrow he isn't, but i have to admit, he does have a huge sense of humor! But then, don't we all?! We just have to look deep within and find what makes us unique in our own special kinda way! So everyone, LET HIM GO!

Hi ladi, i dunno if u get to read the posts again but how did u get the stillwaters apartment, a 3 b/r apartment or a bq chalet?! and how much?! thanks man!