jedisco: You do tend to lay undue emphasis on what random people think about you. Look around you- the world you live in is a story of migration. It would never change. You are a Nigerian today because someone migrated.
Even in Nigeria, same can be said. I was earning good working in northern Nigeria despite being of southern heritage. Should I have packed my load and went to the south cos many of my kinsmen had been killed in the north? Or is it the recent Lagos shenanigans?
No offence, but I find it difficult to believe youve left Nigeria- most of those comments you place undue emphasis on are made by people with less education than you who would certainly not say that in the open -folks whose livelihood are partly funded by taxes of migrants. If I was worried about what natives though about me, I would be living in a hut in my village.
psalmsjob: You gat it gat it.... He is a hero of people who hate to see others progress. They delight in pull people down for nothing more than because they are up while they remain where they are.
Can you explain what you meant by that? How is he after the down fall of others?
helinues: There was reasonable pending petitions against VDM before the bill was passed. There was even a time he had a court case and travelled to China and still posting videos.
He overrate himself. Who is he? Those who might have come out for him, he has attacked them unnecessarily .
He can't even win reasonable of the petitions against him, except if they just want to pardon him.
Name one, just one elected official who is better than VDM, name one that has achieved 1% of what VDM has achieved within 2yrs.
willyede: The Central Bank of Nigeria has finally dismantled the longstanding obstacles that have kept millions of Nigerians in diaspora disconnected from their homeland's financial system. With the launch of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN), yesterday in Abuja, the CBN has systematically eliminated barriers that once restrained Nigerians abroad from making seamless and cost-effective financial transactions to Nigeria. This transformative initiative is already eliciting much excitement from Nigerians living abroad as a dream come true. Now they can make transactions from anywhere in the world as if they’re right in Nigeria.
1. Mandatory physical presence for banking services
The Barrier: Previously, Nigerians abroad had to physically travel to Nigeria just to open accounts, update information, or complete basic banking tasks.
CBN's Solution: The NRBVN has eliminated this requirement entirely, allowing complete digital verification from anywhere in the world.
What This Means For You: No more expensive flights home just to handle banking matters. As CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso highlighted at the NRBVN launch, this removes "considerable costs in terms of time and financial resources, especially for individuals residing in remote locations." Your financial connection to Nigeria is now independent of your physical location.
2. Limited access to Nigerian financial institutions
The Barrier : Distance created an insurmountable wall between diaspora Nigerians and Nigerian banks, restricting their ability to fully participate in the financial system.
CBN's Solution : A comprehensive digital platform that connects Nigerians abroad directly to the entire banking ecosystem.
What This Means For You : You can now open and manage accounts, conduct transactions, and access the full range of services from your phone or computer. The new platform creates what Governor Cardoso calls a "single digital gateway" that enables "seamless access to banking services" for all Nigerians, regardless of where they live.
3. Restricted investment opportunities
The Barrier : Complex procedures and verification requirements effectively blocked diaspora participation in Nigeria's growing investment markets.
CBN's Solution : The NRBVN paired with the complementary Non-Resident Investment Account (NRNIA) opens access to the full spectrum of investment options.
What This Means For You : Direct participation in Nigerian stocks, government bonds, real estate, and pension products is now possible without logistical headaches. The CBN has ensured you'll have "the flexibility to fully repatriate the proceeds of your investments" when needed, removing another major concern for diaspora investors.
4. Expensive and insecure remittance channels
The Barrier : High fees (averaging 7%) and security concerns made sending money home both costly and risky.
CBN's Solution : Formalized, regulated channels with lower transaction costs and enhanced security measures.
What This Means For You : More of your hard-earned money reaches its intended recipients safely and efficiently. This barrier removal is set to boost remittances, one of many initiatives to enable the CBN meet its $1billion monthly target from $4.73 billion for the whole of 2024.
5. One-size-fits-all banking products
The Barrier : Nigerian banks rarely offered financial products designed for the unique needs of customers living abroad.
CBN's Solution : A formal directive for banks to develop specialized offerings for diaspora customers.
What This Means For You : Access to financial products that actually understand your cross-border lifestyle, including specialized savings accounts, diaspora mortgages, curated investment bundles, and seamless cross-border services. The CBN has explicitly called on banks to "proactively develop and offer products specifically tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of our diaspora community."
6. Inconsistent regulatory framework
The Barrier : Unclear and often changing regulations created uncertainty and risk for diaspora financial engagement.
BN's Solution : A clear, consistent framework built on successful models from countries like India and Pakistan.
What This Means For You : Confidence in a stable, tested system that has proven successful elsewhere. India's similar framework has attracted $160 billion in deposits, while Pakistan's Roshan Digital Account has pulled in nearly $10 billion. The CBN has adapted these successful models to Nigeria's specific context.
7. Disconnection from economic Nation-building
The Barrier : Distance often prevented diaspora Nigerians from contributing meaningfully to Nigeria's development.
CBN's Solution : Formal channels for investment in development projects and job creation initiatives.
What This Means For You : The ability to strengthen Nigeria's economy and support community development from afar. As Governor Cardoso emphasized, this initiative ensures "that every Nigerian, no matter their location, remains connected and empowered to contribute to Nigeria's vibrant future."
This landmark initiative represents what the CBN Governor calls "not the final destination, but the beginning of a broader journey." The CBN continues to refine the system based on diaspora feedback, progressively removing any remaining barriers to full financial inclusion, because your financial connection to Nigeria should be as strong as your cultural one.
Lexusgs430: How do your people expect me to navigate some of this requirements........ 🤣😁
I got the same reply from them with the same form, i started completing it then got to some point...i was like..this is too much info to put out there..pages and pages of personal info..nah!
Lexusgs430: The changes, cannot be retrospective...... Those on the old system, would still qualify for the 5 year route......
Once the white paper becomes black paper, only new applicants going 4ward, would be caught in the 10 year trap..... But if Kemi wins, she might make it 20 years...... 😉🤔😂
bigtt76: Ha, have you always used the same BVN for other bank applications? Check with the bank you did your registration with and see what they can help with.
I have only one Nigerian bank account and I have been using it for account for over 7yrs now.
santaclaws: I don't recall referring to Abike as the hero in this particular case, but if you want to talk about previous repatriations and how she handled them when Geoffrey Onyeama was the minister of foreign affairs, be my guest. She literally carried the load of the ministry of foreign affairs on her head, without being a minister.
Most of the time, our issue in Nigeria is that we allow our emotions impede our cognitive process and we begin to attach feelings to perspectives instead of seeing things clearly- something you're doing here without realizing it.
Anyways, I'm done with all the back and forth. Adios! ✌🏽
That is not even close to our problem in Nigeria, our biggest problem is ungratefulness as you have displayed here today.
Abike is employed and getting paid to do her job, VDM is not employed neither is he getting paid. Massive difference
santaclaws: So I didn't give him credit? Kindly go back to the comment I made and you'd see that in the first paragraph! What you want me to do is to sing his praises for raising awareness and I am not going to do that! I have my reasons for defending [b]Abike Dabir[/b]i as well and if you don't like that, free world!
You cannot expect everyone to follow a fixed pattern of behaviour like a flock of sheep, no! You don't accuse people of häting just because they differ in their opinion... Good luck to you.
She did not, VDM called her attention to this but she distanced herself and directed VDM to another agency. Whatever she might have done in the past is not the issue. VDM is not appointed or elected to any office, he travelled to ivory coast and donated 20M to the agency so as to help bring those girls back.
Remember that VDM brought back some girls before this current set again with his own money and with the help of Preccystv.
Abike Dabir played no part in this so how is she a hero?
santaclaws: I can see you're trying to get certain words out of me being a moderator that you are, but e no go work.
My freedom of expression and opinion shouldn't bother you so much, but here you are... I don't believe in herd mentality, if you have an issue with that, that's your cup of tea!
I still maintain, all the words you spoke are for you alone. I don't have your time!
It should bother me as this is a public platform. I don't find it difficult to give credit where one is due, clearly you are unable to do that.
Zahra29: Hey! I was thinking about you the other day - good to have you back here. Hope you've been keeping well.
I hear she's defected from Labour to Libdems lol The "competent man" Starmer has disappointed many. Not much daylight between his policies and those proposed by the racist Kemi/Tories.
If you read Home Ofice message from X you will not be wrong to think that Kemi sent it
Cyberknight: There's no time frame or specific details in the White Paper, but were I in the shoes of those a-saving, I would go a-borrowing where at all possible and expedite.
Trust me many will do that if they see where or how to borrow..
Zahra29: It only impacts foreign workers, not those on family visas for example.
It's very likely to impact all skilled workers who haven't already applied for ILR.
It won't be retrospective on those who already achieved ILR after 5yrs or those who apply for ILR before the changes come into effect.
The govt made a similar change to the ILR qualification period in 2006, increasing it from 4 years to 5 years and people on HSMP ( the former highly skilled visa) had to get a visa extension of 1 year to achieve the new 5 year requirement.
Incidentally, it was also a Labour government that voted in and implemented this change.
Asking because I know people who are yet to apply as they are waiting to be eligible or save the money required. So this changes will hit many families badly.
Cyberknight: Somewhat bizarre, I agree, but we'll find out the details of the government's planning tomorrow. The government will probably have to bail out some of the universities, like the Scottish government did with Dundee. We'll know tomorrow if they've made the political decision to absorb a quantum of job losses in the university sector and the potential loss of votes from that sector and the communities they support in order to try and win some votes from possible Reform voters.
More of interest to those of us on visas is the proposed extension of ILR eligibility to 10 years, except for those the government deems useful to the country. Intended to head off the so-called Boriswave from gaining ILR in 2026. Most likely NHS doctors, nurses, IT folk et all will make the cut, care workers obviously not. All will still have to be legislated and worked out, but it'll definitely all be in place by early 26 at the latest to nip the Boriswave in the bud.
Interesting times ahead. Plans B, C and D beckon.
Totally agree with you regarding bailing out some universities and it will not be a one off thing, the government has to do it yearly else some universities will have to close down.
It will be really sad to introduce any policy that will affect those close to achieving ILR . Families already struggling to raise money for visa extensions so the last thing they need is more yrs added to that.
Zahra29: I'm thinking they might not bother with any PSW changes afterall as their plans to scrap visas for low skilled work sort of achieves the same purpose after the 2 year period. We'll see tomorrow
This is just knee jerk reaction by the government and it will backfire because the UK needs low skilled workers and they need foreign students badly, cutting off any of these will comeback to hurt the British economy.
If they bothered to interview visa applicants then immigration figures will drop.
Zahra29: I'm surprised that Labour is allegedly proposing to make changes to the PSW route when that is pretty much the one area that the Tories left alone in their immigration reforms.
We'll get the full deets tomorrow but I hear that the PSW may be extended from 2 to 3 years. However, reports are that it will also be restricted to graduate level jobs - so a bit of a mixed picture.
It should be good news for students though if they have an extra year to explore post-study opportunities.
That makes things even more difficult, how will that work? They need to get the job first then apply for PSW? Interesting time ahead...universities are about to face a serious hard time financially
Zahra29: A big day for Labour tomorrow with their Immigration White Paper expected to announce a raft of tough new measures on immigration.
Other reported measures include changes to the PSW route, changes to the ILR route for some migrants and visa restrictions for some countries.
Labour sounding more like the Tories/Reform but they insist that these changes were already on the table before their local election defeat and that it's not just a ploy to win back voters.
That will hit universities harder, they are struggling already.
I major in this subject as a first degree to Msc and currently PhD.
If it his calling let him get proper tutilage and education on activism.
They pleaded off the radar for his release from the EFCC chairman and he came out and in less than 48 hours warning them on what allegations to level against him.
bigtt76: I had the account with them before I relocated but I think if you download their app you should be able to register an account with them. I wasn't in Nigeria when I got the account. Good thing is you get a virtual account you can transfer funds into and it updates real-time.
OMEGA009: This e-diot doesn’t still know the meaning of “alleged”. The EFCC can post your picture as long as it has alleged before any crime and you’re being charged with that crime in court. He didn’t even say a single thank you to his useless fans who risked life and limb to protest his release, he’s busy chest beating and proposing friendship to an organization that he has insulted time and over again. Anyways, like I’ve said before, VDM is a butterfly that thinks it’s a bird.
He did, he dedicated more than 30mins for that a lone. I know his haters like you are blinded to any good thing he does.
HomoDroid: Na so e dey take start. If you have all the time and energy to fight a Govt Agemcy, why not invest same energy to lift the underprivileged up, one by one? [b]Govt no be anybody's mate o! (2Cent, 2027 release)
[/b]
Why not do 1mint research about charities VDM does daily before typing this? VDM gives out millions to the youth to skill-up and you are here talking out of ignorant
bigtt76: Ha 😳 10k every week? Sounds good really. I do mutual funds (money market funds) with ARM (any other funds manager also that offer such) and I think they offer more.
Travel › Re: Living In The Uk-life Of An Immigrant (part 3) by justwise(mod): 4:01pm On May 16, 2025
