₦airaland Forum

Oga Spyder....I have been following your work for a fews years now...Excellent work and most importantly your integrity is unprecedented. How much is this blocks of flats projected for including finishing.? I'm considering doing the same in override but a student hostel?

1.4 cash and where is the car located?

1.4....and where is the car located?

I think this was staged by Amaechi to divert attention. The Next thing you will hear is that he on his way to London for check up while the poor driver or actor will be sent to the teaching hospital. When he returns he forgives the guy and gives him N400000 to repair his car....and all of you will shout Halleluyah!!!!

Disclaimer: not my original idea culled from Rochas's handbook of dodging political bullets

Folks I have a one question....my bros has received an admission for a Diploma program from University of Winepeg
http://pace.uwinnipegcourses.ca/project-management-diploma-program-full-time

and he is about to apply for his study permit though he is not happy with the course and would like to switch to another one prefeerably a masters course in Alberta (though the school is delaying for the admission). Is it possible for him to obtain the study permit for the diploma program and switch to a postgraduate diploma or masters in another school without reapplying for a modified study permit?

You advise is appreciated

Folks I have a one question....my bros has received an admission for a Diploma program from University of Winepeg
http://pace.uwinnipegcourses.ca/project-management-diploma-program-full-time

and he is about to apply for his study permit though he is not happy with the course and would like to switch to another one prefeerably a masters course in Alberta (though the school is delaying for the admission). Is it possible for him to obtain the study permit for the diploma program and switch to a postgraduate diploma or masters in another school without reapplying for a modified study permit?

You advise is appreciated

More of Ogbete....Agidi Jellof & Igboka!..yummm salaivating

@Ogbete Main Market..Check Out the Overtaking!

Oriri Place

Coal City....100 Years and Still Counting

Coal City Buses...Old vs New Generation

Enjoying this thread....As Nwa 042. Here are a few pics of mine of the Coal City starting with Ebeano Tunnel by Chimaroke ( I'm still wondering if this is the best he could offer his people after spending many years living in the US before becoming State Governor )

Guys ,
I'm about to buy a used car and turn between a used BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 uk models. I've read a lot of reviews for both cars and still can't decide on the better one.
The grey areas for I have are;
1. Maintainance cos? I know used cars come with a few issues but I don't want to buy a car that is full of issues after a few years.
2. Ride and handling.
3.Reliability. Both are German but which is better ?
4.Perfomance.

It's going to be my first of any if these two cars and I don't want to make a mistake. Your advise is highly appreciated.

N.B Car to be used in UK

Hello All,

I read a thread recently on nairaland where someone mentioned having family members( nigerian) join them in the UK on the EEA family permit for non-EU residents. I went to the UKBA website and found some more information on the link below

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/

I'm not sure if this works for Nigerian families as I have not seen anyone on this in the UK (though I know people code their visa status). My question is if one is a British Citizen or EU citizen residing in the UK can your family members dependent on you apply for this especailly those living in Nigeria to join you.

I would like to hear testimonies or guidelines from folks who have done this before as well? please feel free to drop any experience you may have on this Oga "Justwise" and "Vicjustice" and all the UK immigration guru's in the house please comment.

Thanks

Nigeria will not charge fuel subsidy fraud accused
Fri Jul 6, 2012 5:39am GMT Print | Single Page[-] Text [+]
By Camillus Eboh and Tim Cocks

ABUJA/LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's Attorney General has filed a court petition to prevent anyone implicated in a $6.8 billion fuel subsidy corruption scandal being prosecuted, after allegations the investigator himself took a bribe to manipulate the report.

Nigerian legislator Farouk Lawan blew the lid on a massive scam in state fuel subsidy payments, exposing a web of fraudulent transactions that enabled corrupt officials and fuel marketers to grow rich, some without delivering a drop of fuel.

But now his committee's report is being called into question over allegations Lawan demanded, and took part of, a $3 million bribe from one of Nigeria's richest oil tycoons to remove him from the list of fraudsters.

Police questioned Lawan last month and parliament is investigating the claims. His lawyer told Reuters on Thursday that Lawan took $500,000 offered by tycoon Femi Otedola, but only in order to expose him, saying he disclosed it to parliament and left the cash there.

"The report of the committee will be studied and given to relevant agencies of government but (we) will not prosecute or take legal action against the person or persons indicted by the report," a petition filed by the justice ministry on behalf Attorney General Bello Adoke dated July 3 states.

The move could kill any attempt to seek justice against those implicated in the scandal, an outcome likely to please Nigeria's downstream oil marketers and some corrupt government officials, but enrage the public.

SMEAR CAMPAIGN?

The report fingered several fuel companies, including a local unit of ExxonMobil, as being involved and called for the board of the state oil firm, including its head Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, to resign.


President Goodluck Jonathan has since sacked and replaced the NNPC but kept Alison-Madueke.

Lawan declined to comment but a lawyer speaking on his behalf said the allegation is a smokescreen.

"Some powerful oil marketers are diverting attention from the main issue, which is the committee's report," he told Reuters by telephone.

Lawan's report was scathing about some of Nigeria's most powerful people - few would dare take on the oil minister - and was an embarrassment to Jonathan, whose office repeatedly pledged to prosecute those implicated but urged patience.

Otedola this week published an alleged audiotaped conversation between him and Lawan, in which the participants make arrangements for the delivery of cash. Lawan says the tape is not his voice but has been doctored to sound like him.

The oil tycoon has been quoted in the local press as saying Lawan solicited him for the bribe, and that he paid it as part of a sting operation to expose him as corrupt.

"That is totally untrue," his lawyer said. "He never demanded $3 million or any such amount. Otedola approached him in his hotel ... The money he took he turned over the house committee on financial crimes."

Source
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE86500Y20120706?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

The $1.1billion proceeds paid to Malabu oil company was shared by some private firms owned by people very close to the presidency, a report by an anti-graft agency shows.

The sum of $1.092bn was paid by ENI AGIP and Shell into depository Escrow Account domiciled in JP Morgan Chase Co, London as proceeds for the sale of oil block OPL 245 on 25, March 2011, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report, which investigated the deal shows.

The report said that by August 16, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke and the State Minister for Finance Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama "instructed the release of $401, 540, 000" into Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd accounts domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria and $400 million into another Malabu accounts with Keystone Bank (former Bank PHB).

The EFCC report said "JP Morgan complied with this instruction and made the transfers on 23 August, 2011." Malabu, controlled by Chief Dan Etete, ex-oil minister, who was convicted of money laundering in France in 2007, further shared these monies to several other accounts belonging to individuals with very close ties to the presidency.

The following day, of the $400 million deposited at the Malabu's Keystone bank account, $336 million was transferred to Rocky Top Resources Ltd's account No 1005556552 with Abuja CBD branch of the same bank. The remaining balance of $60 million was transferred to account No 3610042596 (allegedly belonging to Etete) for forex trading, leaving zero balance with Malabu's Keystone bank account.

Of the $336 million transferred into the Rocky Top Resources account, $165 million was subsequently transferred into various individual accounts, leaving the balance of only $171 million, the anti-graft agency's report said.

Rocky Top Resources, the report said, was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with 100,000 shares capital only and is owned by one Abubakar Aliyu.

The report said that first payment of $401 million to Malabu's First Bank account was distributed directly to A Group Construction Co. Ltd-also co-owned by Abubakar Aliyu ($157m); Mega Tech Engr. Co. Ltd ($180M); Imperial Union Ltd ($34m); Novel Property and Development Ltd-also co-owned by Abubakar Aliyu ($30m); leaving the balance of $143 million Malabu's account. And "reasons for this payment is yet to be ascertained," the EFCC report said.

Attempt to get the reactions of Adoke yesterday was not successful as he neither picked his calls nor replied text messages sent to his mobile phones. Ngama could also not be reached for comment.

When contacted on the matter EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, asked for more time to respond to the questions.

Later, he told our reporter through the phone that he needed more time, explaining that the EFCC official that will brief him on the investigations was unavailable and promised to call back.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201205250138.html

@ Poster I think you need to define your objectives first. Do you want to have a Phd, an M.Eng or work in IT? If you can sincerely search yourself and answer this question then you have your answer. contintuing your studies to get PhD so as to fulfil your parents wishes may not be the best idea for you. Remember its your life and Phd and no-one else's. Your parents can support to you to a certian stage and then leave you to chart your course in life and you'll not blame anyone for wasting your time studying if it doesnt work out.

From my experience Phd holders find it a bit difficult to get jobs in the industry(especially without prior working experience) cus there are over qualified for most entry level positions and are older too! By the time you are done with the Phd you'll be close to 30 or more if in Nigeria and competing for entry level positons with 21 year olds. If your interest is not in lecturing but working and gaining a maters in IT (seems you love it already) then take the job. In a few years with an 80K starting salary you may have moved up to 200K or more depending on how it works out for you and you have work experince too (almost 5yrs if you start now). Also you masters abroad may not be unreacheable as you can enrol in distance learning programes abroad from naija and study as you get experience.

My two cents. Best of luck!

kamisco:
Areeo, I'm not too sure you understand what Jikings is saying here. Every trade/business has its mode of operation, incidentally the nature of this business may not be in best interest of Burgerking except he is willing to do so much for so so little; not until he has his own retail outlet to sell directly to the end consumers. I have been through a similar experience and I can identify where Jikings words of wisdom is coming from. Now please help me understand in simple ENGLISH, what does that have to do with trust?

Thanks for your comment. We quit cus the price wasn't worth the risk. The returns for us will be too little even when we eliminated the direct influence of some of the externalities. We had good jobs and this was a side biz for us. If I thus was my only income as most of other importers are then I would have made a success of it.

The guys that make it in spare parts are not the part-timers. If I had time I would spend more time with the scrap yard guy. Cus you show up once a week or so during the breaking process and you can't possibly spend enough time checking all he did for you.

@ Poster, remember moving your goods accross various geographical zones adds more cost and risk. To transport your 20ft container from Apapa to Ladipo will Cost nearly 70k including police egunge, agbero and lastma settlement. When your are moving across other states, then this figure quickly multiplies.

I'm not trying to discourage you though but just to provide more info for anyone wishing to do this biz.

Once again best of luck!

@ Poster in response to your query. I have done this same business from the UK for a couple of years and got out. There is demand for virtually every type of car part for cars that run in Nigeria especially Japanese, German and Peugeot cars. The challenges involved are first of all being knowledgeable enough to know which car parts are needed for each vehicle. For e.g. certain body parts will make you more money than engines of the same vehicles due to the accidents that occur everyday e.g. lights, fenders, bumpers etc.

The only problem lies with the cartel that buys your stuff in Nigeria. Just like you are doing we did our research very well and got in touch with the traders in Lagos and they expressed a lot of interest and gave us advice on what to get and prices. The issue lies on delivery of the goods. The same guys will show up at your rented warehouse and start pricing the items less than half of what they advised you on the phone stating that one or two non-essential parts are missing or the market has suddenly changed. They use a lot of proxies or if you’re igbo "Oso Ahia" guys to come and price the items within the same range and you are left with no option to sell at almost cost price at times. Also if any of the top traders in a particular line shows up, no one hardly interferes with the goods or if he is the one organising sales for you nobody prices the particular product he is into e.g. our guy was a Nissan merchant and we noticed that each time we brought Nissan engines nobody in ladipo will show up to buy Nissan parts from us ( not that we are not interested in selling the items to him ) and this gives him monopoly and we have to accept whatever he offers as we have only a week or so to sell the items

As per shipping and forwarding we used 20 ft container sized trucks and loaded our goods in it and sold the truck in naija. That is another challenge as the truck type, size and length of time spent at the show location affects your profit. But we somehow always made some cash with the truck though it took forever to sell at the truck incurring daily demurrage and selling fees.

After about three attempts and learning from several mistakes we decided to call it quits as we barely broke even.

My advise for anyone wishing to do this business is to do the following

1. Best to be a mechanic or have a mechanic on ground at the scrap yard all the time monitoring and picking up the right parts
2. Do your home work very well on the Nigerian end and trust nobody. Get into the local spare parts market and do your survey yourself
3. Get a permanent shop if you can and sell the items at your own pace and time. If you are doing this part time, it’s very difficult as you are pressured to sell quickly at times at a loss and head back to base. lf you decide to leave with friends or relatives then you will incur more running costs and losses.

Folks make this debate simple for me, Assuming one is born in the UK ( a British citizen by birth) with both Nigerian parents) raised in Nigeria, served in the NYSC and holds a Nigerian passsport and lives in Nigeria as well. Does that mean that this individual is not allowed by law to contest for elections in Nigeria except he/she renounces the british citizenship??

justwise:
I'm happy that he was captured alive and not shot dead.

Dont be too quick to rejoice cus his father and brother were captured alive and were later killed. I think he being alive will be more dnagerous for his enemies and Libya. His former western cronies will like to see him "silienced " asap to stop him from spilling the beans on thier past shady deals. Lets see what happens. For me I'll like to se him tried and possibly like him to tell us a little bit more about his old "special relationship" with Blair and Co.

Too bad the hunter finally became the prey,

Jonathan Response "Oga Ban Kin Mon.Nepa don take light since 5 years now and our transformer don burn. Infact Nepa don ask the people for the area to contibute money for new tranformer. No fuel for generator. The contract for the CCTV has been awarded five times for over $I Billion but the container still de for high see. Don't worry our secutiy agencies are on top of the situation. We know their sponsors and a panel of enquiry has been set up,surely they will come up with answers in another century. Meanwhile you can move your office closer to Aso Rock as I have Isreali Security now! "

@ Poster, I'm a Pet Eng with three years exp in the UK graduated from HW and I must tell you I'm yet to meet one person who graduated from LSU working in the industry, The course is new and as others have told you, UK is a class society. If you don't graduate from Heriot-watt or Imperial in Pet Eng, forget it. Its like graduating from kebbi state uni and competing with UI graduates, The industry is geared towards recruiting people from same schools as the older folks in the industry all come from same schools. I must tell you as well that even some firms here by default will only take one of the two schools mentioned above. I have friends currently on the course at LSU and not even one employer has asked them "I kpo asara akposa ka i na ere ere?" meaning "Are you for display or sales", lol. Folks in  HW and Imperial wil tell you that employers will start hustling you from day one, starting with oyibo boys and filling the remaining spaces with najia if any at all and believe you me, its a tough competition even in these schools.

If you have money & 2.1 why not try HW or Imperial? Also consider your age and exp, it matters as well. Continuing in Banking or related subjects might be easier than starting afresh in O & G esp in UK.

My two cents.

@ vi justice, Where do you get your statistics from? Do you mind sharing? If these folks are illegal as you claim then your figures are wrong whatever the source as most illegal people hardly leave any trace for statistics to take account. I'm struggling to believe ur numbers except na IWU give u!

@ Vic Justice, There are two sides to everycoin.You piece is nice but has to be balanced. You've painted a negative picture of what life is for Nigerians in many of these countries, mostly right if you are illegal but what of the legal folks? I have travelled widely as you have as well and I must state that your perception of the life in country is a reflection of the kind of people you hang out with , This I have discovered with experience. Take UK for example if you live in East london you may want to believe that Nigerians are up to no good in UK and life is vey tough as a result of the folks you may hang out with, similar to someone vsisiting Lagos and staying in Ajegunle ( not that East london is Ajegunle) and concluding that all Nigerians are suffering. I remember my ealry days in UK and my friends were discouraging me from pursing an extra 4 years of study and join the "huzzle group" I rejected that and cut my association with them and found folks with similar ambitions and I acheived what seemd impossible to many, and there are thousands doing the same everyday in all countries.
In many of t hese countries there are a sizeable number of Nigerians in many proffessional jobs and industries who you may not encounter as a result of the kind of assocation you keep. I must say that though a few folk bring disgrace to our nation, alot are working hard abroad and doing very well contributing to the growth of the economy.

My complaints, I have been member of this forum for a long while an d have noticed lately that a number of useless posts now make it to the front page . The front page used to carry only very mature and reasonable topics but these days you find all sorts of stupid topics on the page. It begins to make Nairaland look like a balckboard where primary school children can write whatever comes to their mind and it gets published. Some form of filtering needs to be put in place to check this.

Also I have noticed that duplication or multiplication of threads is now very common on many sections esp "Politics" moderators pls delete the duplicates asap and ban members if they repeatedly violate it. All discussions relating to a particular subject matter must be discussed on one thread and not twenty!

Nairaland will continue to loose credibitity if this is not checked. Its very difficult to find resaonable topics to join these days either you have too many threads discussiogn the same issue or useless topics are on the front page and the rest hidden.

My two cents, Bash me if you wish!!!

R.I.P Obino, I pray your family finds the grace to bear the loss. I never knew you but I feel the pain and may you find rest in the bossom of the lord. I hope the familes of the people that commited this act will never know peace all the days of their "useless" lives!!!! Unfortunatley we have a lame government overseeing a dying marriage between nothern and southern nigeria busy sharing our wealth instead of protecting our basic rights!!!!

ify101:
Most Nigerians here are Security Guards , don't let anyone fool you
They live two men to one bed work for on average $2500 TT a month and rent is $1000TT
I was a friend of one who would slip details to his friend how "he is going home to buy a BIG car live in a BIG house"
but he sleeps on a mattress on the ground
That class of Nigerians here will do anything for money!!!! anything
They fish around on the internet looking for young ladies to fool who they hope will send them money! mind you because of the sleeping arrangements two men to one mattress most are also bisexual
but at the end they send a measleY $100US home and some family from the village is ooooh soo happy!

@ Ify 101 , I agree with you on all points except one, for the fact two men share one bed due to economic conditions does not make them Bisexual or Gay, I’ve lived in similar conditions in the past as a student in Nigeria and I’m sure many still do today and that has NEVER lured me into fancying other men, God forbid!
Also I think Trinidad is the last place a naija man will like to be gay, apart from the fact that economically the island is nothing to write home about but it is exceptionally blessed with the most beautiful array of women I have seen in my many years of sojourn outside naija, and I can beat my chest and say there are even more friendly are beautiful than my naija chicks, any man taken to that island and has no problem with lust is “confirmed gay”
I’m still smouldering after 8 months of leaving the island and now free of lust as my current location is full of wowo, ( not naija before some sisters start shooting)

What do you expect bunch of illetrates under the umbrella of CPC to say? They " northerners" have systematically denied a generation of youths education turning them into religious fanatics with no ambition except to kill and destroy at the slightest provocation now they are busy complaining "Excel" was used to rig the election, msschew!!!
If they did the right thing may be one of these stupid almajiris roaming the streets could have been a computer programmer or owned Zinox computers and could have understood how to use Excel and possibly seen The so called rigging by software. Anyway I hope they learn cus by 2015 Excel may be obsolete and they may have to deal with another program!!!

Wellone and God bless!!, your sacrifice for Nigeria will always be remembered!