₦airaland Forum

Bitter truth is that online schooling cannot work for the general masses with the lack of basic infrastructure like electricity and wifi affordability, but we cannot take away that option for those that can afford to facilitate it for their kids through private schools. It's not fair to the masses but its legal. Instead of trying to shut it down for those who can access it, we should focus on trying to open up the opportunity for those who can't.

I can almost guarantee that the state government does not have legal authority to stop private schools from conducting online classes and or moving ahead with the third term. Lots of sentimental opinions here, but we should stick to facts. I understand why the government is trying to do this. They are afraid that if some schools are allowed to continue educating the rich/elite/those who can afford it, it could lead to revolt from the masses who are left behind. It will expose how ill prepared and inefficient our state education system is. But then, this revolt is exactly what we need to fix the system.
When state and federal schools are on strike, do private schools stop teaching? Do they wait for govt universities to resume?
In addition, lots of private schools are not teaching towards WAEC and JAMB only. There are many international exams that these schools take that they need to follow their curriculum and not wait for one useless govt. This is a capitalist system. We need to sit up and force our govt to work for us and stop making excuses!

slashthroat:
You are too hateful of your country. Haba
No be this same country dem born you? See person whey never even spend 8years for America done dey yarn like say him be american indian mshew

Against my better judgement, I will provide a singular response. "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". I presented facts, many of which I have been a living witness to, but you pivot to attack my person rather than attempt to dispute or disprove my positions. Speaking the truth about ones country does not in anyway equate to hate. On the contrary, I love Nigeria and would love to see her situation improve in my lifetime, even if it's only back to how it was when I left.
You know absolutely nothing about me yet you present nonsensical grandiose assertions like you know me like that! This much I know. When people start hurling insults at you rather than addressing the issues at hand, you know their minds are closed and there's no point in further engagement. You disengage yourself as quickly as possible from the situation.

Regardless of how they were married, the man/woman should seek a proper separation/divorce in a court of law to protect their rights. The court will clearly spell out visitation rights and any other obligations. Constitutional law seperceeds any tradition. If she goes to a court of law and obtains a legal resolution, it will usurp any and all side agreements that have been made. Under the law, the act of exchanging the bride price and doing the traditional wedding considers them married under a common law setting. However, a bride price is considered a gift, and under the law, a gift cannot be revoked or taken back. The woman is not obligated to return the bride price under the law. If she is offering it back, its simply a gift and does not in any way deprive the man of any of his legal rights. Short answer, go the legal route. Any side agreements can still be overtaken by a court of law!

Beautyaddy:
We hear you o

But you're speaking to the Choir when it comes to Nigerians.

We Nigerians are a special breed. We often do wrong things, not because we don't know what is right, but because it is almost impossible to survive in the country without taking short cuts and cutting corners. It is extremely difficult to fight against the corrupt system. Take for example, if you determine never to pay a bribe and you're earning a living in Nigeria, you will end up extremely frustrated or even dead. You better have the number of a top federal government official on speed dial to rescue you out of the different compromising situations you will find yourself on a daily basis. Like Mr EgunMogaji, I bring my money to Nigeria to enjoy myself. I don't depend on anybody for anything. Provide my own water, electricity, transportation, security etc. I will no longer come as a citizen. I come as a foreigner and register with my consulate when I get there so as to have a dependable ally in times of trouble. I do not have the strength nor the desire to fight battles at this stage in my life.

Nigeria was not always like this. Things have slowly degenerated over the years. I cannot imagine how a person who goes by the book can conveniently do business or work in Nigeria. I will never work or do business or earn a living in Nigeria anymore because of the level of frustration involved in existing within the system. The absence of the "rule of law" is one of the biggest if not the biggest problem in Nigeria.
"The rule of law exists when the constitution functions as the supreme law of the land, when the statutes enacted and enforced by the government invariably conform to the constitution. In addition, no one is above the law, and everyone under the authority of the constitution is obligated equally to obey the law"
This does not exist in Nigeria. The law is not equally enforced and there is so much injustice in the system. In theory, there are supposed to be 3 coequal branches of government. However, the executive branch wields majority of the power and has crippled the legislature and Judiciary. The system of checks and balances does not exist. Nigerias problems are systemic such that we need the force of government authority to solve them, and the cleansing needs to start with the government itself.

Unusual for me to venture outside my usual stomping grounds but I feel the need to say a few things. OP, you need to nip this in the bud or else it will perpetuate into the next generation and onward. You are not in a position to concurrently support your mother and sisters indefinitely. Your sisters need to figure out how to support themselves just like you have done for yourself. Nobody was born with skills and knowledge. Let them go learn a skill or get a job and figure this out themselves. If you continue to provide, they will never feel the need to go fend for themselves. This is the time for tough love, exactly like your uncle did. Never mind about what people will say about you. You need to do what is right not what feels right. Guess what, your Uncle has broken the cycle on his side of the family. He will be able to provide for his immediate family and then fend for himself in retirement. He will not be a burden to his children when he retires which gives his children an advantage in the future and frees their income to take care of their own families. This is how the cycle is broken.

As for you, its looking like you will need to be the sole provider for your mother indefinitely, if your sisters do not step up to the plate. How will she survive when she's older with no income? You are already at a disadvantage. Break the tie with your sisters so they can help themselves, help you and free their own children in the future. This is one way to break the vicious cycle of poverty and dependency.

MMotimo:
Very true and if your child is in Uni or almost there, you should be safeguarding that university fund. I always knew that but greed set in and Corona happened. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. . .

You are not alone in the desire to earn more from the market, its human nature . I've done that and been burned sometimes and successful other times. The best advice is to consult a financial advisor as well as a tax consultant if you are nearing retirement or relying on your investments for a major life event. One free advice I can give here is this (any decent tax consultant will point this out). Don't risk your regular 401k money in those situations (regular before tax contributions). Your regular 401k losses are not tax deductible in the US. However, after tax IRA contribution capital losses can be deducted on your taxes, and I believe for several years. This is one sure way of minimizing the downside. I have taken money out of my 401k and funded my IRA in times when I wanted to purchase large amounts of individual stocks. But then, I am not looking to retire in the near term.

EgunMogaji2:
If that’s what works for you. It’s what works for me.

But for others they put money in high risk but high yield investments up until the last minute. It’s worked for some and some have lost. It doesn’t make you be better than the other.

Life’s a gamble.

I am in no way saying or implying I'm better off than anyone, that is certainly not the case. My intent was to reinforce or share some investment principles related to the situation. I wasn't born with knowledge. We all learn somewhere along our walk, so someone out there may gain something on a public forum like this. I have also been burned several times by the market over the years so certainly not smarter than anyone. Life is indeed a gamble, but we should go in with eyes wide open and take informed calculated risks.

EgunMogaji2:
Seems like you have calculated a good plan for YOU.

One size does not fit all in life.

In this situation, one size does fit all. Anyone looking to retire in the short term (implying a risk averse investor) should not put majority of their money into stocks due to the inherent volatility of the market. Majority of my 401k is with Vanguard/mutual funds and they preach this mantra hard.

Olalekank:
Please, could you share some of these stocks you put your money in?

LOL... the game is to be sold, not to be told
I don't render investment advice online aside from the generic advice to invest in mutual funds. They will most likely appreciate over time.

EgunMogaji2:
He wanted to retire on March 31, 2020 and his 401K is his safety net as not all USA companies offer a pension.

He can’t wait for the market to go on an upswing.

The crux of the matter was investment was lost.

PS: Folks, please don’t make rash decisions but at the same time don’t die on the job. 2 years is 700 plus days. A lot could happen.

People perish for lack of knowledge
If he was looking to retire soon, even if 3-5 years out, majority of his 401k should have already been in cash and bonds. Company 401ks provide free advice illustratrating how your money should be invested based on your age and target retirement date. But then, even if he retires now and manages to live off soc sec for the next couple years leaving the 401k intact in stocks, he should regain most of the losses.

EgunMogaji2:
I can imagine Sir.

A former coworker went down by $75K. That is N30M gone.

Market goes up, market goes down. That's the nature of the game. If he stays put for a couple years, I can almost guarantee he will recoup the losses and even get ahead again. While majority of the market has been in a selling frenzy, some of us have been in buy buy buy mode. I have moved a significant portion of investments out of bonds into currently undervalued stocks that are a really good bargain right now. Some people with deep pockets are going to emerge very wealthy within a short time period.

bodejohn:
About a century ago, amelika brought dozens of ships to the west coast of aflika and ferried people thousands of miles away from their family and friends against their wish...without issuing them visas o.

Now, children of the people ferried away who wish to visit their ancestors' grave are been mandated to apply for visas...Abi someone whose father moved to Lagos or Abuja from village cannot enter bus to go visit him?

Only God can judge...even our Supreme Court go review this injustice tire...

As usual...na humor I dey o.

Albeit said in jest, I am of the opinion that there is 100% veracity to your post. I have said it a couple of times here that a workman is "worthy of his hire" according to incorporeal laws that govern our existence. Our forefathers put in an honest days work for which their descendants will collect their just recompense. Whether America likes it or not, that pay day is coming. The day is coming that they will share this thing they call visa like gala.

I love and romanticize the Nigeria of my youth. So ocassionally, It brings me great sadness to witness from afar the decline, degradation and continuous march to anarchy of my home country. It is a feeling of extreme helplessness, kind of like watching your house burn down on live TV. But then, it dawns on me that even if I was physically present, I would still be very helpless to stop the decay, then I thank God for extracting me from "a burning building" and providing me with the wherewithal to return somewhat infrequently to attempt to pick up from where I left off.

s3nn2x:
Perhaps. I booked a flight to Lagos from New York yesterday and I was asked to come along with the credit card I used for the booking to the airport on the day of travel. It hasn't happened to me before. I don't know if it is because it is a Delta Airline direct flight to Lagos.

They have been doing this for years, nothing new. This happens especially when the ticket is in a different name than the name on the cc.

Oggg:
Sincerely this is too much
U guys stay on here asking people to post their transcripts. Who would do so seeing the way you people wait to just pounce on people...
..As far as I am concerned he went about it the veryyyy wrong way but the degree of self righteousness is appauling. He messed up big time and the VO has shown him who is boss! not we here.. we nor be vo. Calm down
Attack small and leave the guy. Which kain full mode attack be this? Post transcripts yen yen... nobody should post anything.... The vulture like behavior from everyone is scary to be honest.

Please understand this. He is being called out because he started out painting the VO in a negative light for denying his renewal when it was obviously due to his own malfeasance. In addition, his position is untenable, but he continues to maintain his ground and try to justify with evolving explanations. The VO was pissed off to the extent that he literally called him a liar to his face and said he is unintelligent. These are very strong words addressing his own unique situation and have nothing to do with a perceived vendatta against Nigerian's as he would make us to believe. The piling on serves as a reminder to folks that "He who comes to Equity must come with clean hands". If you come here seeking help, please be honest with us and yourself. Tell the full story with the whole truth. Don't hold back important details. There are knowledgeable folks on here that may initially castigate you for the errors in your ways, as a deterrent to others, but will quickly move on to advice on how to proceed. It is the same hands that are used in beating that are also used in hugging!

seyewest:
That's another angle but why will you get an agent that will do that? is that not madness?

Your initial answer was absolutely correct. "If your ticket is a one way ticket from Lagos and you're on tourist visa, no airline will allow you boarding to U.S"

This new scenario about cancelled return leg does not make sense. If you have a return ticket and you cancel the return leg before you depart, you effectively have a one way ticket which will raise concerns with the airline. They will not board you. Airlines are very careful about situations like this because if a non compliant passenger is denied entry into the destination country upon arrival, the airline will be liable to significant fines.

tunlaji:
Lol. Well I didn't tell the VO that moreover he didn't give me the chance to explain and about the ticket I don't expect you to believe me, you need to experience stuff to believe too.

If that is not what you told the VO, my question still stands. What did you say that brought about this response?

VO: so what we're you doing for 3 months?
VO: if you're gonna lie think of something more intelligent

About the ticket story, do you realize how many obstacles you would need to overcome to travel in that setting? Multiple Airline processes, US advance immigration checks even before you fly, Nigerian immigration and their thousand checks (they for don obtain you taya), POE........ Are you saying nobody questioned you about this?

tunlaji:
Thanks for the reply. The first time I went for the visa interview I was refused and after 4 weeks I applied again with same info and got the visa. I was neither married or with kids, I went on vacation but my travel plans changed, I will give the reasons why.

The ticket I bought from an agent ended up being one-way even though I paid for a return ticket, he got the date I was traveling on the ticket but never fixed the date I was returning even though I reminded him severally before we both parted at the airport (don't ask me how that is possible) , so when it was time for me to return, I realised there was no history of a return ticket, the agent promised to rectify the issue week after week until it became evident I had to buy another ticket. That's just one reason why, I don't want to share the other for personal reasons.

I'm convinced the refusal was on the grounds of the travel ban, just to make it more tough for Nigerian's to travel there and nothing more cuz the VO was very mean to everyone he attended too, if I knew I would have just switched queue

"The ticket I bought from an agent ended up being one-way even though I paid for a return ticket, he got the date I was traveling on the ticket but never fixed the date I was returning even though I reminded him severally before we both parted at the airport (don't ask me how that is possible) , so when it was time for me to return, I realised there was no history of a return ticket, the agent promised to rectify the issue week after week until it became evident I had to buy another ticket. That's just one reason why, I don't want to share the other for personal reasons."


Chai Chai Chai, you fall our hand o! We have a reputation for telling fantastic well thought out lies at the embassy, so this is very disappointing. You supposed to consult our honorable Minister of Lies, Mr. Liar Mohammed for a better story Is this what you told the VO? It is now clear why he said "if you're gonna lie think of something more intelligent"
But forget my jokes above. I am not saying you are telling lies (I was not there when it happened and it is not my place to say so), but even though your explanation is possible (anything is possible), it is extremely improbable, implausible and not believable at all. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a short term tourist on a b1/b2 visa to travel on a one way ticket without some extenuating circumstance. Even if your long juju works at the Nigerian end, what about at POE? Juju no dey go transfer o!

tunlaji:
True! That's why I want to re-appeal but I need as much information as possible to prepare myself cuz I wasn't expecting that question about why I stayed longer after all we are given 6 months max at the point of entry.

Bros, there is no appeal. The decision is final. You can only make a fresh application, but before you do so, make sure you address the perceived deficiencies in your profile. I am pointing out that there is no appeal because you will naturally try to rehash the last interview but that will be to your detriment. Treat the next one as a fresh/new start. Only answer what you are asked and answer directly, no stories.

Beautyaddy:
And you're wondering why you were denied US visa this time around

My thoughts exactly. How does a short term (2 weeks?) vacation in a hotel turn into a 3 month stay? I'd like to hear the reason you gave to make the VO tell you to your face that you're a liar!

tunlaji:
I failed to renew my visiting visa during the drop box era, so i had to schedule an appointment to be interviewed. While I was waiting in-line for my turn, I couldn't help but over hear the visa officers asking applicants [b]why they had over-stayed a previous visit [/b]and immediately refuse to renew their visa despite coming back to Nigeria after 2 to 5 months. Reality struck when it got to my turn and I was asked the same question after staying 3 months.
Please I will like to know if anybody has experienced this too and scaled through despite staying longer than you applied for. Thank you

The VO used a very specific term... "overstayed". This implies that the tourist violated one or even both of two timeframes that are in play. First, when you apply for the visa, you state how long you want to stay along with the purpose of your trip. You may tell the VO you intend to stay for two weeks. Second, they may stamp you in for 6 months at the POE. In this situation, if you stay for 4 months, you have technically violated the first timeframe you told the VO. One key thing you need to realize is that these are two different authorities in their own rights. The officer at POE (USCIS/Homeland security) has the discretion to refuse you entry after the VO (State department) has granted you a Visa. The VO can revoke your visa at any time even after you have been granted entry at POE. The VO's decision cannot be reviewed, its final. The POE officers decision can be overturned, but I won't get into that process now.
Another thing to watch out for is that you can indirectly violate the terms of your tourist visa even if you return back to your home country each time. For example, if you are consistently spending a large percentage of time in the USA/overseas over the duration of your visa, the VO may construe this to mean that you are attempting to live in the US with a tourist visa. It could also be construed to mean that your ties to your home country are not really that strong. I ask this in good faith, but how can an individual spend 5 months on vacation in a foreign country and claim to have a job (or business), a wife and children back home? A typical vacation in the western world is 2 weeks at best. Even a month would be stretching it. There are also frequent travelers that shuttle between the US, Europe or Asia and back to Nigeria. They do not violate the individual terms of their visas, but when viewed in totality, they are spending an inordinate amount of time away from their home/"strong ties" thereby weakening that argument.

Sweetchilli:
Yes I can reapply from there. The real question is if I'm allowed to apply from a country I don't live in. I'm not sure if I'll be allowed. Any ideas?

Do you have a residence permit to live in the U.K.? In which country do your fiancé and son reside? In the last 6 months, what percent of your time did you stay in Nigerian vs the U.K. and other countries? Answers to these questions should give you insight into whether you have adequate ties to Nigeria vs UK and if you can apply from the U.K. Could also provide an idea as to why you were denied.

Dave233:
Bro, you CAN use your B1/B2 to take an exam. 100% legit info.

I am not disputing this one way or the other. I am only counseling him to think this through very thoroughly. He had to prove that he had no immigration intent when he got the B1/B2. Prepping to write the Canadian bar exam signals a clear intent to immigrate, albeit to Canada. If the opportunity presents itself, will he stay back in the U.S after writing the exam? These are legitimate questions a border control officer will ponder at POE and also a VO will think through at point of renewal. All I'm saying is why take the risk? I will go to SA if I was him!

Curiousdee:
I don't mind at all. the exam is to obtain a certificate of qualification to be able to write the Canadian Bar exams (NCA). you can only write in 3 locations outside Canada (USA, South Africa and the UK). Since i already have a US B1/B2.. seems my viable option is writing it in the US

Considering the current "fever pitched temperature" at the U.S. embassy, I would counsel you to tread carefully. My dispasionate opinion is for you to take the path of least resistance and lower risk and go to South Africa. With an American visa in your passsport, it should be easy to get their visa. It should also be cheaper overall.

Gentlemen, it's getting way too hot up in here. Please consider the original purpose of this thread and remember that all the brouhaha really detracts from its objectives. Y'all should consider taking the high road, sometimes it's better to react with no reaction. Conflict cannot survive when only one person participates. Another thing, not cool the way some have disparaged SmartKitty, also making negative remarks/insinuations about other nationalities. We all have our faults and deficiencies and don't need others throwing them in our face. We can disagree without being disagreeable.

Ishilove:
Two days ago I had to call US customs in Atlanta before I could get information about the status of my cargo because Delta wasn't giving any useful info. That's how shitty their services have become.

The one thing that works is pulling your skymiles rank. Platinum medallion members have access to a dedicated phone line for service and support. The difference is sparkling clear between using regular customer service and the dedicated line. They will go the extra mile to make you happy

Ishilove:
Their cargo services have recently become very shitty.

It's annoying that customer service becomes subpar for international companies when they deal with Nigeria. The can get away with almost anything

earthrealm:
emirates usually hv long stop overs in uae, with minimum being 9hrs . they used to lodge pax in hotels for layovers exceeding 8hrs, am unsure if such still happens

I can't do long layovers. Time is always of the essence. I wish more airlines would join Delta in doing direct flights to/from Nigeria. They have a monopoly on that route and squeeze us for every penny

seyewest:
N313,000 to Houston on Ethiopia and N345,000 on Emirates to New York

These appear to be good deals. Do these prices hold for US origination and are they direct or stopover in Europe? Economy comfort? I will add my patronage if so.