₦airaland Forum

It is no news that unemployment in Nigeria is fast becoming a trait associated with bad governance.

Arguable, the vast majority of Nigerian youth are unemployed! With this growing trait one would expect the Federal Government to act by quelling the scorch of unemployment, they come up with all kinds of rhetorics and say that Nigerians should not depend on them (the FG) in lieu, Nigerians should be self employed, and they site examples like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and the likes who became self employed and end up being wealthy men.

They the FG forget that Zuckerberg and Gates have an enabling environment for them to be self employed, light is there, they have stable power supply, good roads etc, Things the FG have so far shied away from.

To make matters worse, many Nigerians have also decided to add to the plight of their fellow Nigerians, this can be attributed to the way many of these so called employment agencies exploit Nigerians who came to them for assistance in acquiring a job.

While its fair for them to charge a small fee as a token for their assistance, many of these employment agencies have grown avaricious, they charge exorbitant fees and use all sorts of gimmicks to exploit people.

Some of them will tell you that when they find a job for you, you are to remit 35 or 40% of your monthly salary to them not just for the first or second month, but for the entire time you keep the job they provided for you.

Others go as far as telling you to pay N10,000 or N20,000 in a bank before they will even answer you, some will tell you 50% of your monthly salary belongs to them for one year that is after registering with them for N5000.

While others will ask you to pay a certain amount (non refundable), after payment they prove to you that "Cristiano Ronaldo, is not the only one who knows how to dribble".

Every employment agency has its own unique style of 'milking' the unemployed, they are using the current employment situation to enrich themselves and no body is doing or saying anything about it, To my utter amazement, Nigerians troop to them in hundreds for assistance never minding the fact that they are involving themselves in another form of slavery. Is this how far we've fallen?!.

Una for ask weda na plane crash sef?

I want to believe these kidnappers are confused! First they said the wanted $1 billion, then they said they want N200 million naira now they are demanding for her resignation! I believe there's a political motive behind this kidnapping!

The camp commandant has no reason what so ever to slap Bakare's son! There are rules and regulations guiding NYSC if've served check your NYSC bye laws. When I served In Sokoto we carried out an Aluta and there we poured sand on our camp commandant for telling us we're a bunch of "rotten tomatoes".

He never did anything to us... The Aluta was done because of the way we were treated on camp. My batch is 2011 batch B. Find out for yourselves, nobody has the right to slap a corper no matter the offence... The camp commandant was outta line.

Some amazing things I find common among we Nigerians is our unnatural affinity for anything relating to superstition and the unorthodox.

I woke up this morning to find that today is the 12th day of december 2012 that is 12.12.12, and to my utter amazement many Nigerians have started attributing all sorts of supernatural instances to this date.

What is so special about this date that many people are making a fuss over? Can this date be anything different from the other unique dates such as 4.4.4, 6.6.6, 7.7.7 and the likes... When we experienced these dates what thing of extraordinary event or significance happened?

I am not an astronomer neither am I a numerologist, but one thing I know is 12.12.12 is indeed unique, in that it will be another century before it occurs again, so here's my advice: To those Nigerian employers who owe their workers salary, today is the day to pay, to those people who lie and cheat, today is the day to stop, to those public officials who loot and squander public funds, today is the day to stop and rethink your ways, to 'you' that man who abuse his wife in unimaginable ways, today is the day to stop, to that President who's as incompetent and passive, today is the day to wake up from your incompetence and be active, to those who refuse to do anything for Nigeria 'cause Nigeria has never done anything for them, today is the day to work hard and get this country moving etc.

However way you chose to look at today, today is indeed unique, Incidentally 12.12.12 is the last of the repeating dates 'til 1 january 2101, so in lieu of waiting for a miracle to happen today, be the miracle. Today, a unique day for unique things to happen. Nigerians, today is the day!.

Lol! I still want to know.

Often have I ponder the 'real meaning of who or what a christian is? Simple put, being a christian means being Christlike, that's being like Christ. How many of our Nigerian christian today have that christlike attribute?

A person who says he/she is a practicing christian is expected to be like Jesus Christ in every facet of his/her life, yet I've come to notice a drastic difference in the way many 'supposed' practicing christians behave, Jesus Christ himself never condone evil, neither did he tell lies or accept bribes, or cheat, but many practicing christians of today are the exact opposite of Jesus.

Jesus spoke of humility (Matt 18:3-4), Today christians are way too arrogant, they exhibit all forms of hubris, he spoke of love and tolerance (Matt 5:43-44) (Mark 9:38:41) (Luke 6:27:36) for Christians today, just 'cause you don't attend the same church with a Nigerian christian, he/she instantly becomes your enemy 'cause they see you as a competitor or one who wants to 'steal' his/her members.

Just 'cause one goes to church regularly, self style himself in the image and likeness of his pastor and worship his pastor. Does that makes him/her a christian? What an aberration! The true meaning of 'christian' have undergone all forms of mutation, what we now have is the direct opposite of the word, and this is done by those who want to continue to use christianity as a means to exploit, and keep the people under control, just like the white man did years ago.

I urge Nigerians to wake up and see the light! Until we see ourselves and truely practice everything christ taught us our minds will continue to be enslaved by those who want to earn a living, using christianity as a means to do so.

@yungeagle the country is already black, who do you think is painting it, Blacker the citizens or the political ruling class! Imagine this house of reps member lying blatantly saying the FG is addressing insecurity! Like they've been addressing it since it started right! Remember "the deepest pit in hell is reserve for those who keep quiet in the face of oppression".

Having swags will certainly not pay your bills in future. You adorn yourself with whizkid's carrot pants when your fame is only within the confines of your compound. We see you with a 'Gallas' and 'Ballotelli' haircut, and you wonder why your life is stagnant. You wear a shirt that reads 'my money grows like grass', but we know how you managed to even buy that shirt. Your parents are still struggling to make ends meet, and you are busy adorning yourself with blings. You know how to dance 'ethigi' and 'azonto' with precision and perfection, and you fool yourself that you are the happening thing. You are 27 and Whizkid, Olamide and Davido are your role models. You attend every available party in your neighbourhood, and you cage yourself that you are the hottest thing in town. You know all the lyrics of 'Kukere', but you can barely mention three ministers inNigeria. You are subscribing your BIS for 1500, but you can't raise enough funds to purchase a Jamb form. You speak with an American 'nigger' accent, and you are thinking it is the forces from village that has made you resit English five times. You are the happening girl in almost all the clubs in your area, and you want to find a responsible husband soon to marry. You take everything that is alcohol at 20, and you tell yourself that you have a bright future ahead of you. You are 32 and Lionel Messi is still your role model. You know all the Nollywood hottest actors, but you don't even know who the governor of your state is. You take every picture raising two fingers in the air, and you call it guy. You have over 900 bb pins, and you think you have contacts. You hug every guy on your street, and you feel you are social. Grow up! Time waits for no man. You reap what you sow. Don't waste your youth catching 'fun', then spend your old age in regrets. It is your life, your decisions, your choices. Remember, you will never live this life twice!

By Samuel Okonkwo

I believe the house of reps member is not aware of the growing insecurity situation in the country, perhaps if they kidnap one of his relative he will become aware!

According to Transparency International 2012 report released last week, Nigeria scored 27 out of the available 100 marks to rank among nations that topped the list of countries where graft has become a way of national life. Nigeria occupied 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. The report placed Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt country in the world.

The 2011 survey by TI placed Nigeria on 37th position. According to the 2011 survey, Nigeria took 143rd position out of the 182 countries surveyed.

In 2002, Nigeria was ranked the second most corrupt country in the world out of a 102 countries.

What I find outrageous is that given the release of these report Many Nigerians celebrated the outcome of the 2012 report by TI, and became disillusion that the Federal Government is winning the fight against corruption and saying Nigeria has improved, So according to them if you write an exam and score 2 out of 102, then some years later you write that same exam and score 37 out of 182, the following year you score 35 out of 176, you'll say you have improved?

The results by TI shows an episodic failure in the Nigerian Polity, it also shows the amount of mental degradation many Nigerians are undergoing, nothing in the country seems to be working! Corruption, which the FG publicly declared that they are winning the fight against, is sky rocketing right under their nose.

When I was a kid hardly will you see a child talk about sex and all forms of pervasion publicly! Corruption was not on the increase as it is now, people still have respect for norms, values and ethics and morality was not on decline.

You'll agree with me that Nigeria is fast becoming a land flowing with all forms of corruption and pervasion. If you really want your kids to grow up in a country where looters, rogues, thugs, convicted criminals and prostitutes are being celebrated and given national award, then I suggest you stand back and do nothing!.

Guys if am loosing touch with reality then I believe we all have lost touch with reality!

Marijuana or cannabis, like its popularly called in Nigeria 'Igbo' is a substance that is vigorously frowned upon by most people, not only is it illegal for one to use or possess it, it is also deemed a taboo for one to be seen using it or even perceived to be associated with someone who use it.

Which ever way we tend to perceive Marijuana, it is no news that Holand a country in Europe allow the use of it, recently, the states of Colorado and Washington in the U.S have also allow the use of Marijuana for recreational purposes for persons 21 years and above.

Marijuana usage have never been proven to cause any damage to an individual, many would say it causes dependency on the part of the user, while some will say it leads the user to take hard drugs such as cocaine, heroine, opium etc. There have never been a proven case where marijuana has caused damage the way alcohol and tobacco does.

Marijuana can be use medically to treat some certain illness such as glaucoma, asthma etc! I ask, What medical purpose is tobacco and alcohol use for?, has there been any case where tobacco is use to treat a certain ailment? Or alcohol is use to cure a certain sickness?

Here in Nigeria, marijuana users are vehemently ostracize by most people! They call you all sorts of names and even say you are not serious just cause you are a user, in fact there's no hiding it that the current sitting President of the most powerful country in the world use it at one point in time, same goes for the Afro Beat Legend, even celebrities in the U.S, these are people highly respected all over the world.

The usage of alcohol and tobacco have cause untold damage to people everyday yet it is still legal in many countries, it is even used and sold indiscriminately!.

What harm have the usage of marijuana cause? If its okay for people to use alcohol and tobacco on a daily basis, surely its okay for people to use marijuana too, Dipsomaniacs and tobacco users are allowed to do whatever they want even publicly flaunt their drinking and smoking style while marijuana users are ostracized!. I ask, who in the world today respects a dipsomaniac.

I find it frivolous that majority of us Nigerians treat the issue of marijuana like its a plague! Our politicians steal billions of naira everyday and we celebrate them like kings and queens, a simple man who has never hurt a fly in his life, smokes his weed and they call him all sorts of names, even treat him like an outcast!.

I believe its time we stop pettifogging over the issue of marijuana. States in the U.S whose economies are ten times buoyant than the whole of our economy are allowing the recreational use of it and we are busy chastising, berating, lampooning marijuana users, even celebrating rogues and idiots. If marijuana is illegal in Nigeria, alcohol and tobacco should be illegal too! After all, "what is good for the goose, is good for the gander". Quod erat de monstrandum.

In due time, people will begin to see the seriousneSs of this issue!

What I find amazing in some, if not most of my country men is their unnerving ability to attach personal feelings in everything they do, be it religion, tribe, ethnic, politics etc.

I've taken time to identify some reasons why 'we' Nigerians are the root cause of our problems,

1. Selfishness:- This is a common habit among many Nigerians of today as they think of nobody but themselves! In whatever they do, they put their personal gain, interest and personal feelings first, even to the detriment of others.

2. Greed:- The average Nigerian is way too greedy in everything he/she does. They always think of their personal gain or what's in it for them. The quest for wealth have made many Nigerians non compos mentis, they desire riches with so much zeal that they can do anything to get, even sell their souls!

3. Sentiment:- The average Nigerian applies sentiment in whatever they do, a good example was the 2011 presidential election, where many Nigerians openly supported Goodluck Jonathan and the other presidential aspirants out of pure sentiment! They forgot things like precedence, integrity, will to serve, selflessness, steadfastness, accountability etc.

4. Nepotism:- Given obvious favourism to friends and family members who are mediocres is the norm in Nigeria today, people often say there are no jobs in Nigeria, well there are, you only just have to know or be friends with someone who belongs to the political elite. This is among the reason why every sector of the economy is decaying at an alarming rate.

5. Hubris:- I must say the amount of hubris possess by many Nigerians is of tremendous quality! Even an individual whose image has been tainted with all sorts of proven facts on corruption will still come to the public and speak openly without shame. The way Nigerians flaunt their arrogance is alarming, Humility has been flushed down the toilet, gone are the days when prostitutes, 419, thieves, rapist, paedophiles and homo sexuals hide, now you see them opening flaunting themselves, you ask a person, who was caught red handed breaking the law why he/she broke the law and their answer to you is "do you know who I am?" Or "do you know who my father is?"

These traits are the major reasons why Nigerians are really the root cause of Nigerias many problems, because they reside in each and everyone of us, to some its much and to others its little, if we can put our negative attitude aside and do what is expected of us, I believe Nigeria be on the same level with many developed countries.

Hall of fame should be the Nigerian youth! They stood up in one voice and openly call for justice in respect of Cynthia Osokogu and the Aluu 4! I still give them kudos.

Hall of shame should be the Federal Governemnt of Nigeria who idly stood by and said the country is safe when people are being bloom to bits and for telling the whole world that they are wining the fight against corruption when Nigeria was said to be the corrupt country in Africa right under there nose!.

Johndoe people like you are lobotomize purus idiotas! Your type are nothing more than masa damnatas who go about social media spreading their ignorance! The generator you are talking about can you use it 24/7! Or will you even see fuel to buy! I posted this write up to get meaningful contributions not your stupid opinion. Imagine the level of stupidity you just dsplayedby posting your narrow minded comment! If the light situation is bad is should switch off and use generator? Instead of looking for solutions... Asswipe!

@sincere 9gerian so power is the only thing you can mention? I stay in Lagos and we still share light! 12 hours on and 12 hours off mind you PHCN still take the light when we are on.

@sincere 9gerian how have all what you mentioned improve the living condition of the masses? Petrol is still scarce, no light, bad roads everywhere, no jobs for the youth, decay in every facet of government, corruption on the increase and people dying everywhere. All you mentioned are just rhetorics, nothing more, nothing less.

When Goodluck Ebele Jonathan declared on mass and social media that he will be contesting the 2011 presidential election, millions of Nigerians went amok with rancous applause because they believed that the very change they've been clamouring for has at long last arrived!.

Taking a cursory look at his performance since he took over the reins of power, one may come to terms with the nortion that the country has been plagued with all manner of degradation known to man.

Recently the respected global audit financial advisory firm KPMG rated Nigeria as the most fraudulent country in Africa. The firm also said that Nigeria’s fraud profile has been compounded by fraud and corruption in the oil sector, with “bribes in the private and public sector, misappropriation, and contract inflation” as common forms of fraud.

Also the Economic Intelligence Unit EIC declared that Nigeria is the worst country for anyone to be born in in 2013, Nigeria ranked 80 among the 80 countries accessed.

In October 2012, the African Insurance Organisation ranked Nigeria as the “Kidnap-for-Ransom Capital of the World,” accounting for 25 per cent of global kidnappings.

In June 2012, the Global Peace Index ranked Nigeria as the sixth most dangerous African country to live in.

Among these occurrences, is the most prevalent, Boko Haram which has unleashed all manner of terror on Nigerians, one might notice that despite GEJ assertions that they (Federal Government) are winning the war on terror, when he declared some days ago that Nigeria was safe, there has been all manner of sporadic bombings in the country.

A man who goes out to say all is well when things are falling apart around him can be said to be oblivious and ignorant of the plight and sufferings of people he swore to protect and serve, ergo should one say he is a success or fit to be a leader?!.

@ebereugwoji bro I feel you so much! Was it not for the public outcry via social media the murderers of aluu 4 would have gone scud free same goes for Cynthia. We not to open our eyes and see beyond the wiles of an incompetent and irresponsive governement that thinks about their own well being and not that of the people they represent!

@taharqa now your making sense I know well of the Taliban, IRA and co... I think its time we start getting answers in this country, so many issues have been flushed down the toilet! And judging by the looks of it this issue of terrorism will follow suit along with many lives and no nobody to give account for them. A government is s'pose to protect the lives of its citizens, not stand back and watch and be a spectator!.

@taharqa! You made mention of the US and her allies keeping high value terrorist in detention facilities... So they can only keep them there cause they caught them right? So why is our own government trying so hard to negotiate with terrorists! The U S has a slogan "they don't negotiate with terrorist" why is our government looking for every means necessary to negotiate with cold blooded murderers?

You seem to know a lot about the Federal Government, am surprised you didn't know when GEJ said his government is highly compromised! And you here insulting people calling them eeediots! My friend I pity the likes of you who allow tribalism and religion to lobotomize you, and become your modus operandi!

People like you voted GEJ out of pure tribal and religious sentiment. It is because of advocatus diabolis like you that Nigeria remain a backward country.a

@sandysprax its not about being a Hero, I asked a question. Simple!.

@taharqa you spoke of sep 11, we all no the mastermind of that attack is 6ft underground! So from all the political murders we've seen, who have been prosecuted, the US and cohorts keeps high ranking terrorist in guantanamo, why is our governemt trying to negotiate with terrorists... My good friend you are the one not using your head.

@cooldon thanks for the correction, the site I used said newsweek! Buh that's my bad! @maximilliano bro you really do sound like doyin okupe! Saying boko haram will fizzle out is like saying the countless of lives they take with them don't mean a 'damn thing'. Only an irresponsive government will ignore the plight of its citizen!

@maximilliano you sound like a government official!

Let's hope not! We need answers in this country!

One common trend I find among we Nigerians is ability to forget! With us, its the most common and logical thing to do even when the issue being forgotten is grievous.

Over the years we've heard about many different kind of acts perpetrated by individuals or a group of individuals which often begs the question if those who perpetrated these acts are human beings?!.

Of recent I was lost in thought when I heard that Clifford Orji the infamous man eater who killed several people and sold their body parts died in prison with out trial, I find it hard to believe that this individual stayed in prison for many years and Nigerians totally forgot that someone like him ever made the front page of many news papers in the country.

While I was lost in thought I took time to reminisce on almost all the crimes that made front page in many Nigerian news papers.

Some time ago during the regime of IBB, the editor of a magazine newswatch by the name of Dele Giwa was killed via the delivery of a letter bomb... In Sani Abacha's regime the wife of late MKO Abiola Kudirat Abiola was murdered! While the murderers were caught and sentence we don't even know if the sentence has been carried out or not.

Since we returned to Civil rule this trend seems to be on the increase, Nobody seems to be saying anything about the death of Bola Ige, we don't know who has been arrested, tried or sentence? Its as if the authorities are observing the law of silence?!.

To cut a long story short about a year ago, Boko Haram carried out a series of bombing on christmas day where they attacked churches in many states in the Northern part of the country nearly exterminating christians in the North, the master mind the act Kabiru Sokoto was apprehended, he escaped, but was caught again because of the magnitude of public outcry that followed the announcement of his escape.

I ask this question: where is Kabiru Sokoto? It is almost getting to a year since he master minded the cowardly act of almost annihilated Christians in the North. We shouldn't just sit down and let this pass us by, we should call out for justice for the lives of those who perished in those bombings, they deserve justice, same way Cynthia Osokogu and Aluu four did! If we had sat back and do nothing about Cynthia Osokogu and the Aluu four, their killers would have gone scud free.

We need to see the government move into action not just sit down and display their docile nature about issue that borders on the lives of its citizen. Let's use this as a wake up call rise against crimes of mans' inhumanity to man.

Often times when I hear most of these self styled motivational speaker and most people who occupy position of status say People should stop relying on government, that they should be self reliant et cetera, I just can't help but ponder about the gravity of the statement.

It is without a dought that most of these motivational speakers are often after one thing, that is their own pockets... Same goes for those people who occupy position of status.

Should one investigate the doings of these people, that person will find out that most of them are working hand in hand with the government, or they gain favour one way or the other from the government.

When you critique the gravity of the statement: don't rely on government (a statement that is now becoming an anthem in Nigeria) you often wonder the rational behind it, I mean take this scenario for instance, am self employed, I provide my own electricity, water, food, the road I drive on is tarred by me, I live in my own house et cetera, to give the brosom mono I am my own man. Why In God's name should I listen to the government?, and why should the government tell me what to do? Or enact laws on the things I did myself!. I believe its an insult on my person for government to start telling me how or when I should use the things I provided myself. To make matters worse they (government) are busy doing nothing apart from looting and shying away from their responsibilities.

The truth of the matter is government should do for its citizens what the citizens can't do for themselves that is the provision of basic amenities such as food, water, shelter, good roads, constant electricity supply, provide employment, and good communications for its citizen. I wonder what an individual is thinking when he/she is saying Nigerians should stop relying on government, to me that is the depth of narrow mindedness!. You are telling an individual to stop relying on the government when the conditions needed for that to do so are not available. I wonder the sort of magic these people think Nigerians possess! An individual is busy doing what government's suppose to do for him while the government sits down and continue to make that individuals' life a living misery, and people keep on telling that individual to be self reliant, and should that individual listen, who do you think is more stupid the individual of the government?.

I believe Nigerians should see beyond the wiles of a regressive government who uses people the masses look up to, and for those people who tell Nigerians to stop relying on government, they should also tell government to wake and live up to their responsibilities, it's ok for them to tell Nigerians to be self reliant and very ok for them to continue to encourage government to be docile? You can't rub Peter to pay Paul! What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

Nigeria, unlike many countries in the world is plagued with so many accidents, both man made and natural, accidents that if proper and adequate preparation have been made would have been avoided!

When you critically observe these accidents and the way they occur, you'll have to agree that the level of mediocrity in the Nigerian civil service is sky rocketing.

Of all the accidents the one that is most frequent is that of road accidents and to a reasonable extent, plane crash. You'll have to agree that the amount of road accidents triple that of plane crash. As a matter of fact, road accident occur on a daily basis due to the appalling conditions of roads all over the country. Its as if road accidents have become a norm in the Nigerian polity!.

However the same can not be said for the issue of plane crash, which rarely occurs, however, whenever there's an incident of plane crash in the polity the country goes into a state of frenzy to the extent that all hand will be on deck, various committee is set to look into the incident and a gigantic amount of money is pumped into these committee.

The issue of plane crash first occurred on 20 November 1969. Since Nigeria returned to Civil rule, the first plane crash incident was on May 4 2002 in Kano involving an EAS Airline BAC-1-11 bound for Lagos, which plunged into a densely populated area in Kano killing 78 people on board and 70 on the ground. The year 2005 recorded about two plane crash, In 2006, there was also incidents of plane crash. Just when people were begining to think the issue of plane crash was a thing of the past, another one happened, that is the Dana Air crash!

My bone of centention is this; why is it that anytime there's an incident of plane crash in Nigeria the whole country runs amok, everybody tends to be saturated with concern, people starts pointing fingers at one another, lamenting the decadence in the aviation sector. You'll notice that the direct reverse is the case when it comes to the issue of road accidents, nobody seems to care or notice, nobody blames anybody, infact people at the helms of power totally become ignorant, are they trying to say the lives lost in plane crashes are more valuable than that of road accidents? Or is it because of the fact that those who patronize airliners are from the upper echelon of power?, Even when a politician of the infamous 'biggest political party in Africa' was attacked by armed robbers, and another occasion when two senators were killed in Jos, the whole country was thrown into frenzy, the security apparatus were suddenly rejuvenated, all because these individuals are members of the political elite!.

The amount of people who die in this country on a daily basis surpasses that of any other country in Africa. Yet the government sit down and do nothing, they act as if its the very nature of the common man to die. Forgetting that death doesn't know whether you're rich or poor...

The main course of all these problems are our overwhelming ability of putting square pegs in round holes. In many developed countries, its hard you hear of such things as road accidents or plane crash, if at all it occurs whoever is responsible (if its coursed by man) will be brought to book. The untold amount of road accidents, the plane crashes that occurred this year have all gone unquestioned and uncounted for. The government can't even say who's responsible for this and that, In lieu they come up with all sorts rhetorics to excuse their ineptitude and try to justify their celebrated backwardness.

It is high time Nigerians say an emphatic no to mediocrity and an emphatic YES to meritocracy, this is the only way we can attain Uhuru!.

Thanks a lot Owen I see we operate on the zame frequency! People just listen to these our naija songs cos its the thing in vogue! Many Nigerians love to follow the band wagon. I for one listen to gothic and alternate rock with a little of jazz and classical, and am kinda rebellious! Your analysis is kinda valid. Thumbs up.