₦airaland Forum

Ridiculous.

Is this a joke or what?

There is no perfect place in the world.

Quiet Christmas.

Not worth it if you live a good life in Nigeria. Rather, visit during the holidays and see if you can withstand the hustle of life in the western world.

If you were so broke, or just relocated to a new city, like Lagos, renowned for its ridiculous real estate prices, will you move into your father in-law's house to stay, or will you rather, no matter the circumstances, look for accomodation elsewhere? I heard from one of my tribesman (ibibio) that it is insulting for a man to live in his father in-law's house, and I'd think that traditionally, it will be frowned upon, because it will portray you as incapable of providing for your wife/children.

Interesting question, but men should be asked that question.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4218289.ece

She paid dearly for it, still no difference from the harsh treatments we have meted out to our househelps.

Interesting topic. A lot of people always think that living abroad is the ultimate in life. That is not true. I think that with the economic meltdown, some folks, I know of at least a few who have moved back home. America is not going to be a dominant economic power forever, and it's best to tap into Nigeria's resources before it's too late.

Now, if you get a job working as a customer service agent, after your MSC, and you are still on the job for two, three or four years, you gotta question the point in going to school in the first place. I know it's tough in Nigeria, but if an opportunity opens up, ol'boy, I go take am.

Love.

I think the North would still have survived, had we seceded, with their reliance on groundnuts. But honestly, I would have wanted the war to be a success.

The woman should not have served as a spokesperson for the family in the documentary, if she was aware of the consequences. And coming to publicize the fallout later on in the media perhaps portrays her as one who was only interested in milking the family's name for her personal gain.

Le Moor:
This Thread is very funny. And the level of ignorance contained in it is amazing.
I am a Nigerian living/working in the west. My immediate circle and people I know include countless doctors who earn a minimum of $150k and abov, numerous business school grads who all work in fortune 500 companies. (including 2 vice presidents) for one of the top five banks (by the way, these vp's are not even in their 30's yet). Countless consutlants for deloitte and accenture. And all of these people, none of them out of a job yet, So all this talk of Nigerians only doing menial jobs, etc etc is all meaningless and besides the point.

True times are tough and the economy is bad, but this is true for everyone everywhere. But what I find amazing is, it is people whose livelihood directly depends on the US' ability to purchase their only product, that seem to be rejoicing at what they deem to be the misfortune of other Nigerians in the west. With the ever falling prices of crude (presently lower at the national budgetary provisions), I would have though we would be thinking of how to move our country away from oil export dependency

As for me, I still wake up at 8am, leave my house by 9am and get to work by 9:20. Leave work by 5:30 and I am home by 5:50pm. Am I rushing home anytime soon? Nah, I don't think so. But guess what? for al the hating I see on this board, if I do intend to come back home, i will most likely still sign a very lucrative contract with a firm back home, and there will be NOTHING anybody can do about it,

How do you know they make a "minimum of $150k?" And if your inner circle of friends include business people with 2 under 30, being VPs at one of the top five banks, dude, wetin you dey yarn sef?

European Airlines' Maltreatment of Africans Must Stop

The long history of exploitation and maltreatment of African people by European airlines can no longer be ignored. In fact, they must stop. The petition below is a rallying call for an end to such exploitation and maltreatment which are obvious to any one who travels to and from Africa with any one of these European airlines.

Specifically, this is our position: Since African people are a part of the human race, European Airlines should treat them with respect and dignity, just like they treat any other group of human beings who are not Africans. As such, the apparent maltreatment of Africans by the European airlines will no longer be ignored. We must stop this maltreatment NOW.

Signing of the petition has ended today, April 1, 2005. However, you can participate in the poll at the end of this petition. For questions about this petition, send an email to: umez@umez.com or call 281-425-6368.

Together, we will matter and make Africa proud again.
Thanks for your continued fraternal support and be blessed abundantly.

About Dr. Umez, the author of the Petition

Below is the Petition

From: CONCERNED AFRICANS & FRIENDS OF AFRICA
January 24, 2002

TO: United Nations (UN), Organization of African Unity (OAU),
Organization of American States (OAS), International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO), Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), and the European Union (EU)

CC: Lufthansa, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic,
Air France, and Swissair

CC: Kweisi Mfume, President NAACP; Rev. Jessie Jackson,
Rainbow/Push Coalition; Kofi Annan, Secretary General, UN;
Randal Robinson, Founder of TransAfrica; Ambassador Andrew Young;
Colin Powell, Secretary of State, US Government

CC: All African Governments: The Governments of Algeria,
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote D'ivoire,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,
Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

A PETITION
European Airlines’ Maltreatment of Africans Must Stop

• Considering the exorbitant air fares being charged on African routes by European Airlines;

• Considering the poor services given to Africans and the rudeness of most staff of European Airlines to Africans;

• Considering that mosquito and other insect killing chemicals are being sprayed in the passenger areas of these European airplanes right before leaving Africa for Europe;

• Considering that much older planes are being used for African routes;

• Considering that flights to and from Africa are generally overbooked; and

• Considering the unwarranted and humiliating searching of African passengers by Customs officials at the airports in Europe, we, the signatories, therefore:

Call upon the United Nations, Organization of African Unity, Organization of American States, International Civil Aviation Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union to investigate maltreatment of Africans by the European airlines and ask, without further delay, European airlines to:

1. Lower the exorbitant air fares being charged to Africans;

2. Improve the quality of their services to Africans, e.g., the quality of the meals;

3. Use newer planes (which are comparable to those used in Trans-Atlantic flights) to transport Africans to and from Europe and America;

4. Stop spraying mosquito and other insect killing chemicals WHILE African passengers are seated in these flights;

5. Stop overbooking of Africans to Europe/North America; and finally,

6. Search Africans with dignity, respect and decorum, and generally apply the universal standard of treating all customers as equals.

We condemn strongly the apparent injustice to Africans, and in support of our petition, submit that:

1. For so long, European airlines, specifically, Lufthansa, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and Swissair have continuously charged Africans exorbitant fares. Compare, for instance, the following standard round trip fares from the US to Africa and from the US to Asia (21-day advance purchase, Source: Yahoo Travel, January 23, 2002).

[b]US to AFRICA US to ASIA
Houston, US to Ghana = $1,570 Houston, US to Beijing, China = $649
Houston, US to Nigeria = $1,539 Houston, US to Tokyo, Japan = $608
Houston, US to Kenya = $1,813 Houston, US to Korea = $658
Houston, US to Tanzania = $1,929 Houston, US to Philippines = $715

It is noteworthy that the distance between the US and Asia is much longer than that between the US and Africa. For instance, while the distance between Houston, US and Ghana is 5,513 nautical miles, the distance between Houston, US and Beijing, China is 6,276 nautical miles. While some rationalize the higher fares by arguing that Africa has less traffic volume, it must be noted that flights to/from African countries are often overbooked (as noted in item 4 below).[/b]2. The rudeness of most European airline staff to Africans is serious enough to bother any human being with a conscience. Africans at European airports are simply ignored, snubbed and downrightly disrespected. In fact, a substantial number of African passengers feel frustrated when trying to ask European flight attendants and the staff any question concerning their connecting flights. Furthermore, the quality of food and refreshment offered in flights to and from African countries leaves a lot to be desired. For instance, food served to passengers leaving Europe for Africa are in much smaller portion than those served to passengers from North America to Europe. While drinks are served to the passengers (mostly Westerners) from North America to Europe in whole bottles and cans, passengers from Europe to Africa (mostly Africans) are served with small plastic cups; higher fares paid by Africans notwithstanding.

3. In violation of moral code, mosquito and other insect killing chemicals (well-known to be dangerously harmful to humans) are being sprayed in the passenger areas of these European airplanes right before leaving Africa for Europe. In fact, what is shocking to any human being with a conscience is that these hazardous chemicals are sprayed WHILE African passengers are seated in these flights. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are the worst in this regard. Africans are human beings; they are not insects.

4. Any one traveling from North America to Africa via Europe will note that airplanes on the Trans-Atlantic route are much newer and with much legroom, while those leaving Europe for Africa are much older and crampy. Africans deserve similar newer planes with similar legroom as those flying to and from North America and Europe.

5. Overbooking of flights to and from Africa by European airlines is well known, especially flights returning from Africa. It is also well known that some Africans have been stranded due to the overbooking of flights. Stories of some Africans waiting for days to be rebooked are common. No doubt, those stranded Africans suffer not only apparent inconveniences, but in addition and most importantly, financial losses.

6. African passengers, more often than not, have been singled out by some European airline officials and treated as criminals. As such, Africans have been subjected to the most unwarranted and humiliating search at European airports. Alitalia and Lufthansa are the worst in this strip-search. Some Africans have been stripped almost naked in the process of being searched. While we recognize the need for tighter security at airports, it is a well-known fact that Africans have long been subjected to strip-search at Western airports. Strip-searching only Africans is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights. Africans, like any other group of human beings, deserve respect and dignity.

Painfully noting the above injustice, mistreatment and sheer disrespect of Africans by the European airline officials, and the regrettable fact that so many African governments are indifferent to the sufferings of their own people, we, the signatories to this petition call for immediate action to remedy these gross abuses of human rights. We believe that addressing these concerns will be beneficial not only to Africans, but to the airlines, as well as humanity in general.


http://www.liberateafrica.org/petition.html


Ndipe's comment: Interesting facts that the authors brought up, because I never realized that the distance between Houston to Nigeria was about the shorter than the trip from Houston to Beijin. But still, why must we look up to the west to 'remedy' this problem for us? Cant we start our own airlines and just boycott the western airlines instead of complaining and beating around the bush?

The current state of affairs in Nigeria leaves nothing to be desired in the mindset of progressive Nigerians. Echoes of the civil war, long buried has resurfaced with a website created for the failed 'country' of Biafra. At first, I was against the war, (Not that I was born then), but lately, I have thought about it, and realized that, perhaps, the country would have prospered, and the citizens would have benefitted immensely from the secession. Imagine, just four states in a country with ample resources at its disposal and perhaps, less than 10 million people to rule over. What a nice change it would have been.

Don't you think so?

rickky421:
Sorry but those figures are very suspect. If there was such a huge movement of half a million people it would have have been very noticeable and would have been reported by the US press.

Doubt it. That would be too 'trivial' for the US media to report on. I mean, you think they would be at the Nigerian embassy getting figures? That would be a ratings disaster for them.

This one no be lie, I witnessed this incident in my hometown, Uyo.

An old woman around Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo drew the attention of pedestrians. I dont know why, but I decided to witness what was going on. She was just talking, and then one of my former classmates in high school became suspicious and commented that he was suspicious that the woman was not a good woman. The woman may have said that she was a witch, and curious bystanders asked her, to dig more into this abominable practise.

She started singing and dancing, in broad daylight, that in their coven world, they would sing "Tim Nek, isiereke" (Keep dancing, it's not yet morning). She was kicked by some dudes, but I ran away.

Tell me, was she delusional or was she a witch?

WHEN your grandfather is the world's richest man, you'd hardly expect to have to worry about paying the bills.

 
PICTURE: REUTERS 
Yet Miss Nicole Buffett, the dreadlocked granddaughter of the famously frugal Nebraska billionaire Warren Buffett, has no cable television or health insurance.

The 32-year-old abstract painter was adopted by Mr Buffett's youngest son, Peter, who married Miss Buffett's mum when she was just four years of age.

In a Marie Claire interview, Miss Buffett said she has been financially cut off by her grandfather and lives on the money she makes selling her paintings.

Her famous surname helped her earn some of the US$40,000 ($58,000) from sales of her paintings sold from a hippie enclave of Berkeley, outside San Francisco.

She said: 'For most people, your life is largely determined by the wealth you were or weren't born into. But our family was supposed to be a meritocracy.'

The 78-year-old Buffett, who still lives in the Omaha suburban home he bought for $31,500 in 1958 and self-drives an American-made car, believes in holding on to the values he grew up with.

He does not believe in rewarding those he calls 'members of the lucky sperm club'.

Dubbed the 'Oracle of Omaha', Mr Buffett had reportedly said: 'I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing.'

Earlier this year, he toppled Microsoft's Bill Gates as the world's richest man with an estimated US$62 billion net worth, according to Forbes magazine.

Yet as the world's savviest investor who served as an adviser to Barack Obama during the presidential campaign and was touted as a possible Treasury secretary, Mr Buffett paid himself only US$100,000 in salary in 2006.

Broke family code

Miss Buffett's troubles with her grandfather began when she broke the family code to speak about life as a Buffett.

She appeared in a documentary made by Mr Jamie Johnson, an heir to the Johnson and Johnson fortune, about wealth, entitled The One Percent.

When asked how her grandfather would react to seeing her, she had said: 'I definitely fear judgment. Money is the spoke in my grandfather's wheel of life.'

To worsen matters, while on a talk show to plug the documentary, Miss Buffett said: 'It would be nice to be involved with creating things for others with that money and to be involved in it. I feel completely excluded from it.'[/b]On hindsight, she admitted her remarks sounded brusque, but Mr Buffett had already taken offence.

A month later, he sent her a letter in which he said, among other things: 'People will react to you based on that 'fact' (of having a famous surname) rather than who you are or what you have accomplished.

[b]'I have not emotionally or legally adopted you as a grandchild, nor have the rest of my family adopted you as a niece or a cousin.'[/b]Said a distressed Miss Buffett: [b]'He signed the letter 'Warren'. I have a card from him just a year earlier that's signed 'Grandpa'.'
Since their falling out, she said her grandfather does send sizeable Christmas cheques despite his no-freebies rule.

Though she dreams of a reconciliation, it is not likely. Still, she will never stop being a Buffett.

She added: 'I will always be self-reliant. Grandpa taught me that, and it has set the tone for my life.'

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,187651,00.html

Warren Buffett, the 2nd wealthiest man in the world has made it known publicly that he intends to bequeath his enormous wealth to charity, rather than passing them on to his children. While he paid for their education, for the most part, I think the kids have been independent financially. A while back, there was a documentary about the relatives of the wealthy folks in the Western World who, some are struggling to make ends meet. But their parents are not interested in helping them out, rather dubbing them the members of the "Lucky S, club" Buffett has clearly stated that his children will not inherit any significant portion of his largesse.

What do you think? Granted, he is at liberty to do what he wants to do with his money, but really, does it really make sense to provide just enough for your kids to get by, with the lion share bequeathed to charity?

Me, I no think so. Family first!

Aloy.Emeka:
Most people that come home from abroad are retirees. Most of them receive social security from US. I have an uncle like that, they returned in 2006.

Assuming there are 20 couples that returned home in your village because that is where they usually reside. If each couple receive about $3k per month both from social security benefits, 401k and their children, do you know what it means in the economy of that village?. That means about $60K  new funds are pumped into the village per month and it will also mean that the woman selling akara by the road side will have increase in her sales; the auto mechanics will get more jobs; the plumbers, electricians etc will notice a wage difference. Guys, it's more beneficial than harmful. Come home.

Even with the plummeting value of stocks on Wall Street, and 3k a month in social security? Dude, where in America do you live in?

Woodlawn, MD, is credited as the city with the most Nigerians in America, that is when you factor in the size of other cities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlawn,_Prince_George%27s_County,_Maryland

It's also common in Ibibio land, that a man, according to the tradition of the land, can't claim ownership of his child if he/she was a product of an illicit relationship. It may have been watered down with modernism, but there are still consequences for the man to pay in that regard.

slimfine:
why would anyone compare a MD in Nigeria vs Cab driver in UK?

that is to show you how low nigeria economy has become

I highly doubt the economy has gone so bad in Nigeria that one may assume that a cab driver in UK is better off than an MD in Nigeria. No comparison at all. People sometimes neglect to, when factoring in the 'quality of life' to ask about personal happiness. Would you assume that the cab driver, who is struggling to make ends meet is happier than the MD in Nigeria, who is happy to be in the profession that he went to school for, instead of eking a living doing menial job abroad. Think about it.

Kobojunkie:
A dollar is worth more in Nigerian than in America? 

Absolutely. One dollar in America cant get me a value meal at Mickey Dees? but it's equivalent in Nigeria (120 Naira) can get me a solid eba with egusi soup at "Food is Ready." Stop being sentimental abut the worth of the dollar in America and its equivalency with Naira in Nigeria.

diasporian:
@Kobo

These people who live below $1 a day, may end up eating and living a more happy life than people in the west who live on $100 a day.

that people live on $1 a day in Nigeria - say 120 Naira - does not necessarily interprete to "abuject poverty" which you are dwelling upon here - don't you get it?

In the so called rural places, 120Naira is a lot of money, beleive it or not, they can sustain their lifes happily without needing to resort to empty and bufonery life styles like in the west - which obviously you look upon and use as a yardstick to measure the poverty indices or index in Nigeria.

Gbam!. 120 Naira is of greater value in Nigeria than 1 dollar in the USA.