Fast forward to 2013. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data.

Another I told you so moment.

Welcome to "1984" - George Orwell


NETICASH

neticash: It's always amazing how we Nigerian's get so carried away when we hear such news. Why do you think Google is interested in Abuja?or Why do you think US govt wants access to  all googles search records.  Well, just know that Google would be able to build user patterns down to your President, that is if your/our president users a computer. They'll be able to trace and log every bit of info coming out of Nigeria, and develop powerful user analysis of Nigerians, they'll always know who you're buying from, who your not buying from, who Nigerians are defrauding, who is carrying out what search, (e.g are they searching for guns, drugs, etc and what IP address is doing the searching) and don't be suprised that they'll even know what the govt intends to buy before the govt even makes it public.

Let's always look at the bigger picture, not only the financial benefits, does any one know what the rope-a-dope is? Well, that was Muhammad Ali's style of fighting, he will always show you the left hand, but that's not the one's he really going to knock you out with. It's the right hand.

So basically what I'm trying to say is that, LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

We should not allow Google to do this. Instead, the Nigerian govt should empower young entrepreneurs (Like seun, et al) with the financial backing of the banks to embark on such projects. What does it really take to take a city wireless. I've designed Global VPN's for major multinationals in the UK, so I should know, not much at all

A country must never contract out  their technology infrastructure to foreigners in the name of charity. Otherwise, be rest assured, at the flick of a switch they'll be listening to your presidents' telephone conversation.


Have you ever wondered why the Foreign Press heard of Nigerian coups well before we Nigerians did? FOOD FOR THOUGHT hey

Fast Forward 2012

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-knew-camera-car-software-could-capture-online-data-7792533.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150606/Google-deliberately-stole-information-executives-covered-years.html

I told you so.

Hi Guys, please check out these threads.

www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-4617.0.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-1648.0.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-5372.0.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-1982.0.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-50674.0.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/board-16.3200.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/board-24/sort-views/start-320.html
www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-2715.0.html

NETICASH

The service is still on. Just register to access it.

NETICASH Mngt

Africanboy,

Do you want to target the whole of Nigeria with this "wonderful" idea. NETICASH can help you access Nigerians as you can set your prices in the local currency (and get paid in $, £) and your Nigerian based customers can participate fully through the local banks. And if you can make the prices low enough and you can target the 5% of 130m Nigerians IN Nigeria. Swell, that will be a lot of profit for you.


Give us a go, let's help you make money.

NETICASH

www.neticash.com

Delinka, thanks for the information, but you know it's not like we wouldn't have done all the necessary research on what potential competitors or otherwise are offering into the market. I was just trying to humour you. The main point is that if the 20 banks do not give interswitch the backing/support it really needs to get off the ground, the whole idea will be another whitewash. There are a lot of fine details I will not go into here, but first contact and experience with interswitch was unbelievable and it still is and until they can get the philosophy of the whole epayment space right, the whole thing will just collapse under the complaints of the masses.

You see, a service like interswitch needs to be very thorough, open and transparent to the people in order that trust is attained at the highest levels. They need to feed the market with weekly if not daily updates of the progress they are making along the lines of the services they are offering. It is only then that the public will be confident enough to take up "DEBIT CARDS" that are plugged straight into their bank accounts.

You see I've heard a lot of people say that they use the debit cards, that they work, etc etc. YES the debit card works, that's not the point.

The point is whether the customer acquisition rate justifies their business model in the short term, bottomline how many transactions have they processed to date and does it justify the business model, and what are the projections. Let them go public with their successes and difficulties.

I have seen VISA's history in figures from their humble beginnings ( I'm also proud to have seen the introduction of the service into the UK market so many years ago, when Barclays Bank (UK) was the only bank brave enough to take up the service then with the product Barclays VISA) and it makes very interesting reading and they need to adopt a very tight and friendly marketing strategy that will win the consumers confidence. They also need to take into consideration the literacy levels of the nation as a whole. How many customers in Nigeria are bankable and what percentage of those will take up debit cards and if they do take up the debit cards where can they use them, will the current Nigerian infrastructure permit the widespread usage?


There are so many issues the banks need to address before any payment "switching" service like interswitch can make the desired progress. And also focus is very important, you cannot be a jack of all in the name of trying to prevent other PSP's from joining the payment space. No

You will actually be doing yourself a great disservice. So, Kudos to the consortium of banks that put it together, they definitely have something good going, but it stands the risk of collapsing under it's own weight if the right stratgey is not adopted ASAP. You need to get the service delivery right first, reduce the number of complaints, speed up the card issuing process and many more that I will not go into here.

Thanks


NETICASH

Kazey,

Hey what can I say? You don't understand the online payment concept and it's benefits at all. But anyway you're the boss and that's why it's a free world, the freedom of choice is the greatest thing we have as people. We have the liberty to choose. So keep on keeping on and we'll see you soon.

As per the Interswitch infrastructure on ground, it's a good thing. However, only time will tell. And delinka, do you know the customer acquistion rate for interswitch and how many transactions are processed on their network per day if any? Can you help with that at all? If you do please let us know it'll be of great help. Thanks

And also remember, the payment space can have as many players as can be accommodated, so,

WATCH this space!!!!!!!

Thanks

NETICASH (Go to NETICASH mobile from your handset, www.neticash.com)

Then you've completely missed the point and benefits of online payment. How do you think we pay our credit card bills out here in the UK. Of course some walk right in to the bank to pay their credit card bills or alternatively we use online banking.

Now the same applies to Nigerians, they can load their account by paying directly into our UBA account via online banking (provided they have a UBA account) or they can walk in and make the payment like the rest of the world do when they want to pay their bills.

So what is new? absolutely nothing (especially where logistics is concerned in Nigeria), other than the fact that our customers can load their account once, then go spend it at the numerous sites that will be accepting NETICASH in the very near future.

When you're ready we'll be here, but where will you be?

NETICASH (Nigeria's Number one online payment system, try it from your Mobile as well) NETICASH over Wap/GPRS

Well, I have no further comments for you. why don't you let us worry about boosting your sales at nairahost with a NETICASH plugin.

Or what do you say

NETICASH

Kazey, I think you need to go do some more research, and for your information Dell computers is not successful today because of door-to-door marketing but rather good investment strategy and management team that took them to IPO stage at the right time, it's that simple. And I will not go into any details. Go and buy Micheal Dell's book to find out more, Go and buy book's on PAYPAL, Microsoft, etc so as to understand what it takes to become a giant in business. (Americans embrace ideas and everybody benefits along the way, but Nigerians tend to tear down ideas and that's why we're where we are today).

Please let's discuss how we can move forward as a people rather than go down the route you're taking us.

All we want to do is encourage more Nigerians to partake in the ecommerce space and you can now do that effectively from Nigeria using NETICASH as a payment or money collecting tool from your website.

So visit NETICASH and join the many that are already enjoying our services and we'll take it from there.

Thanks

NETICASH

Afam,

You Said,

This idea of people coming out and promising everything only to fail to deliver is becoming too common that it is embarassing.

.

Well you've just said it, most of the time, the reason they are unable to deliver is because they are not turning over enough to stay in business for long or they don't have a good business model in the first place or it could be a combination of other factors. I think you really need to have a think about my comments and look into the facts before you pass comments of your own.

However, my point is that a good payment system boosts a businesses income  ten fold. Why? because their customers are able to pay instantly rather than worry about the logistics of a cumbersome mode of payment?

I also do not dispute that there are Nigerian online businesses doing well (like yours), but the question is how many generate their businesses from online visits to their site, (practically none and I mean that), they all still rely on hard graft "door-to-door" marketing.

So please Try NETICASH first before you pass any judgement , we can help boost your revenue which will ensure at least that the Nigerian government gets more revenue from you in taxes, right.

All NETICASH wants to do for you is boost that bottomline, so that we can all benefit at the end of the day.

Thanks and always read between the lines.


NETICASH

Hi,

I came across another website that's meant to be about online payment in Nigeria
(www.nigeriaonlinepayment.com) not too sure what they are trying to achieve but check it out.

NETICASH

Exactly, but low revenue is not what you want otherwise you won't be around for too long (which is what is happening to Nigerian online businesses). In order to boost your revenue you need to take on NETICASH. With the UBA infrastructure behind us and the fact that Nigerians can always get their friends abroad to make a payment on their behalf using NETICASH, you can just sit back and let you customer take control of your service themselves.

Give it a try!!!!

NETICASH

Kazey,

Well, need I say more, WHY because your comments have answered the question on everyone's mind.

Interswitch is way better although I think their business model sucks, besides that I still prefer the bank deposit concept.

Did you read what you wrote above? (1) You said the interswitch model sucks!!!! I wouldn't even say that, because we don't even know what their business model is anyway and (2) You said you preferred the bank deposit concept, but this is how NETICASH works anyway. You deposit money into your NETICASH account via any of the UBA or FCMB branches in Nigeria and Lloyds TBS in the UK and PAYPAL from anywhere else in the world, then go to any site that accepts NETICASH as a mode of payment and use it.

As regards financial viability- most Nigerian online businesses, that is, businesses that are solely based on online patronage, not clicks and mortar businesses with shop fronts. e.g Yahoo, whogobuy, nigeria.com, nigeriaworld.com etc and also those that are not dependent on clickthrough revenue, always find it dificcult to thrive without a proper payment engine behind it.


And as per the marketing article: WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!!!!. Upon full integration and testing with the banks you will be the first to hear about it.

I'm going to try as much as possible to address your comments with utmost precision, but first I will want you to go and read the biography of PAYPAL  and ebay before you ask me anything about what I know about ebay or ecommerce.

I will also implore you to engage yourself with some EMV statistics, like what did the like's of VISA, Mastercard, etc turnover last year, what is their average growth rate year on year, what is their daily, monthly or yearly customer acquisition rate  and how does it translate into cash for the companies.( You see, I will not go down the path which you are heading with you, because I do not think it's worth the time). These are the sort of stats that we use to gauge the industry and that's what the likes of VISA use to assess their market as well. They will then further break the above stats down into regions and countries in order to gauge the value they are getting from those regions or country's in order to determine which are the risky, profitable or unprofitable ones. Look theres really no time for this here. So,  go to the US library and get the stats, it'll help you a great deal

So basically, what I am try to tell you is that without a good payment service for the Nigerian Market, successful Nigerian based ecommerce sites will be few and far between, because they can't collect payments from their customer's seamlessly. That's all.


NETICASH

Hi Guys,

This topic will forever be a contentious one. NETICASH an online payment service launched it's services in September of 2006 as posted on nairaland (see https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3813.32.html#msg218923) and we are making remarkable progress, subscription rate is growing at the rate of 10% per month and our projections for 2007 are quite remarkable. However we need budding Nigerian business who want to sell online to add to our growth figures. NETICASH is a Global online payment service that allows Nigerians across the world to transact business online in the major currencies of the world.

What does this mean?

It means that a Nigerian based business using NETICASH can now advertise their products online in the local currency (Naira), but get paid in the major currencies of the world (£,$ and EURO) without the need to worry about get a credit card terminal. Basically, a london based NETICASH account will be denominated in their own currency (£), a US based NETICASH account will be denominated in dollars and so on. However when they now want to buy from a Nigerian based Merchant their currency is converted real time during the transaction, just like any other credit card transaction on the internet. This inadvertently opens up a whole new market to Nigerians that the likes of Interswitch et al cannot at the moment. The money collected on your behalf is then remitted to your bank account in your local currency (Naira).

NETICASH account holders can load their account at Lloyds TSB bank in the UK, and all the branches of FCMB and UBA nationwide in Nigeria.

Merchants are charged a minimal setup and transaction fees compared to that which prevails in the market today.

NETICASH is the best online payment solution for Nigeria yet and we can prove it.  And guess what, you can perform all your transactions from the comfort of your mobile handset as well i.e. transfer funds, pay merchants, buy recharge PINs, etc ( a first for Nigeria in its own right)

I will advise you to give it a try.

NETICASH

www.neticash.com

HAYWHY, We'd just like to apologise for whatever you might have experienced, but we'd like you to know that our service has been fully operational since we had our formal launch in September '05 and whatever you might have been experiencing while buying the PIns was not down to NETICASH but the actual provider of the service SWAP Associates Nigeria.

You see, when the Recharge PIN's are sold out, and you try to buy one, you will get the message "your payment was not successful" regardless of whether there are funds in your account or not.

So this is what happened and we are continually working with our partners so that service delivery can be 100% by educating them on how the payment service works, so that they can keep their stock levels up.

So any questions, send us an email.

Alternatively, if it's about the PINs send an email to info@swap-ng.com


Thanks

NETICASH

Ok, well as that side of the service is being offerred by SWAP ASSOCIATES Nigeria. You would need to wait until their site comes back online as they are the providers of the recharge PIN service on behalf of all the networks in Nigeria. Please do not hesitate at all to let us know what you think of our service.

Thanks

NETICASH

Hi, but how can your payment be succesful when you have not got any money in your NETICASH account. We are not giving away free recharge PINs you know.

NETICASH

Walemuse,

Thanks, your comments are much appreciated as are the many other congratulatory messages we have received via email from some of our users. From our daily subscription rate we are actually on target to become NIGERIA's first fully subscribed online payment service provider ahead of any Nigerian financial institution come December 06 and we are very proud of that. There are also a lot of firsts on their way. So watch this space!

However on the issue of marketing, for NETICASH, our current MO (Modus Operandi) is very strategic. And as the Nigerian community begins to warm to the NETICASH idea you will begin to see more of our marketing strategy unfold. The Nigerian community is not a very receptive one when it comes to Nigerian owned and operated businesses, so NETICASH needs to tread very carefully on the marketing front. Nigerians always seems to prefer to patronise "foreign" products abd services prefering not to "prosper" the Nigerian CEO. And until that menatlity is totally diminished within our society then we all will not get anywhere trust me.

Check out this scenario: Bill gates starts his business, he business thrives, he creates millionaires and he's still creating them every year. So until we begin to understand that "what goes round comes round" and that we need to support one another directly or otherwise, you and I will not get anywhere, and I mean what I'm saying. Look around you, how many Nigerians in our father's generation today are really comfortable, as in have some sizable income from the largesse of their times to fall back on. None (except the few who had the foresight and the obvious ones who ?, you know what!). Do you know why? Well, I say because they never live for their children, they never invested in each other, they never took their childrens future into account when they where in Largesse. But guess what! the same thing is repeating itself in our generation. And may God help us. THE DAY NIGERIANS START TO PATRONISE ONE ANOTHER IN BUSINESS NO MATTER HOW BAD THE SERVICE IS THAT DAY WE WOULD HAVE OPENED A NEW LEAF. MAY GOD HELP OUR GENERATION

So we have taken the NIGERIAN mentality on board and incorporated it into our business model. So in order that we are still here serving Nigerians 50 years from now, we prefer to manage our marketing because it will not really make any difference to the "NIGERIAN" whether we flash or not. They will still bad mouth the service before they have even used the it.

Once again thanks and may we continue the progress

Cheers

NETICASH

NETICASH is Nigeria's only online payment option at the moment, so I will advice everyone to get on board as we prepare for "take off into a future of trouble free online payment amongst Nigerians"

Read my post https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3813.32.html#msg218923


Thanks

NETICASH

ashric,

You can recharge your boyfriends phone using NETICASH. All you need to do is open an account online, load your account either by paying directly into our bank account or by using PAYPAL( this is the best option for US based customers). Your NETICASH account will be credited as soon as the funds are received. You can then go to the NETICASH website and buy whatever brand of recharge PIN you want by clicking on the PURCHASE NOW button and it will be delivered directly to the recipients mobile phone in Nigeria or to an email address of your choice. View the payment interface http://www.swap-ng.com/buyonline.html

You will be buying the PINs in Naira but will pay the dollar equivalent. Exchange rate is open market exchange rate.

So go to www.neticash.com to register and begin to enjoy the benefits of the service.

NETICASH

In september, NETICASH launched a very simple and straightforward online payment service that works on the principles of tried and tested pre-paid technologies. However it just seems to me that for some strange reasons we (NIGERIANS) don't seem to understand the principles of ecommerce at all or maybe we just don't want to bother reading and understanding what it takes to build  a successful online business.

Here the link to the initial posting. https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=2873.msg97359#msg97359. Please read through and let us know what your comments are.

Later, I started another thread, asking the question, "Why are Nigerians yet to make a financial/Business success of the Internet? " but contibutions weren't forthcoming at all and on ready this thread the reason seems so obvious cos some of the contributions have answered my questions.


You see there can't be any successful online business without a VERY VERY good online payment service behind it. Online payment services facilitate seamless safe and secure transactions between buyers and sellers and until we NIGERIANS can begin to picture how this will benefit them then there is no way forward for Nigerian owned online businesses. Unless you want to run your site on contributions or donations from the public, in time you will have to shut up shop or the site will die a natural death. If you want examples, I will give them to you.

Actually, (in 1998 a friend of mine was offered 1million pounds by a wealthy Nigerian to buy his very unique domain, but guess what, because it was the height of the dotcom mania, he turned down the offer, is he doing anything fantastic with the site today. NOPE) so I know what I am talking about cos I see it all the time.

Take Alex Tew for instance, I was watching BBC news the morning he did his press release on www.milliondollarhomepage.com, a few months later, he's a millionaire before our very own eyes. Yes it's unbelivevable, but true, this was only possible because he had PAYPAL as the payment service provider. At some point PAYPAL thought he was a fraudster and they froze his account, but later released it when they found out it was legit. So Alex made a cool 1million doallrs and PAYPAL walks away with 3.4% of that as transaction charge, not bad at all is it. SO this too could be you, but you have to be original with your ideas, think of something that every Nigerian would want to buy online, then get in touch with NETICASH, we collect the funds for you and you can manage your account online realtime. WhoGo Buy will only "maintain" if people are not transacting business but just having "chitter chatter" and it'll be  a waste. I mean we already have NIARALANDand NIGERIAWORLD, abi!


Can anyone name any NIGERIAN owned website that is financial viable, just name one. I'm not talking of successful Brick and Mortar businesses, I'm talking about Clicks and Mortar businesses. Business that make most of their revenue from online transactions. There aren't any.

Why do we think these sites are successful?

[list]
[li]Alibaba.com[/li]
[li]ebay.com[/li]
[li]amazon.com[/li]
[li]jungle.com[/li]
[/list]
The list is endless. In ecommerce there is no point bringing buyers and sellers together, if there is no medium of exchange. And in todays world it's not about physical contact. It's more about the world being a Global village, making money while you are asleep.

And this is only possible when you have a solid payment engine attached to your service, and I tell you NETICASH has the solution for you and is looking for such serious online businesses who have done their research properly. Online busineses who think they have a solution that  they can offer particularly, to Nigerians abroad. It is easy for NETICASH to attract Nigerian customers abroad because there is already a solid rule of Law in place and the risk of fraud is reduced because of the existing regulations that we follow. So if you have something to sell to us NIGERIANS abroad go ahead send us an email with details of your website and register as a merchant and you can start trading immediately.

If you need more information please feel free to visit us at www.neticash.com and join the trend. NETICASH  is two years old, however our service was formerly launched to the public in September 2005 and rest assured we are here to stay.

We have recently taken up the services of FCMB, First City Monument Bank to allow our customers to Load their accounts with ease alongside our existing Bank STB/UBA.


So guys, you cannot have a "whogobuy.com" without a way for buyers and sellers to transact business online. Does anyone know the eBay, Billpoint, Yahoo PayDirect, , etc story. If you don't know that means you have to measure your comments about ecommerce. WHY? because the bottom line is that ebays' success is based on the fact that they have a payment service provider attached to their service. PAYPAL which they bought a few years ago after starting their own, Billpoint, which they found could not compete with PAYPAL before they then decided to acquire PAYPAL. The acquisition of PAYPAL ensured that they maintained their dominance in the online auctions space. To Read more on this there are books on amazon.com,  on eBay and PAYPAL.

And it's funny, I was shocked to see,  Nigerian fraudsters mentioned alongside the Russian Mafia, as PAYPAL was loosing money to these guys to the tune of almost 100million dollars, all from credit card fraud. But as you can see they still came out on top, with 100's of millions of dollars from invetsors who could see the potential PAYPAL was bringing to the table.



So guys,  "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BUY or SELL TODAY" NETICASH is Nigeria's number 1  fully functional payment service provider, but you have to trust us as we perfect our solution. No bank in Nigeria today has what we have as a solution so,
we'll like to welcome you on board as our subscriber base is starting stretch from sokoto to bauchi to kano to Rivers to Akure and very soon we'll be on the "MOON"(if you know what I mean )


NETICASH - "A New Way of Life"


www.neticash.com  & www.neticash.net

Would this be representive of most Nigerians and does this include text messages?

Thanks

NETICASH

Hi Guys, I'd like to know how much you spend monthly on airtime and what does that amount to on a yearly basis. Are you getting value for money or do you think the NETWORKS (MTN, GLO, Vmobile and Mtel) could do better? Would you like to get more out of your service providers than you are currently getting?

share your experience!

NETICASH

Guys give Austin a Chance, but he/we must all learn from our mistakes. This is always the bane of our problems.

Read this https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-6546.0.html#msg204452.

We have to begin to believe in each other and most importantly, be patriotic in our approach to Nigeria and be strategic in our delivery of anything we're doing. That's how the Westerners do it. So why can't we learn from them, just like the japanese did.(They make the best cars now don't they).

SO.......................it's up to us NOW. What legacy are we going to leave for the next generation? I know we weren't left anything.

Enjoy your day

Well, you see. I'm going to talk football for a second.

Let's take a look at the Nigeria Ivory coast Match. You see Europeans (including those that emigrated to the US who now make up the most of the US today) are the best strategists in the world and that is why we africans remain where we are today.
Look at the goal Ivory Coast scored against us simple and strategic, one man up-front (Drogba), waited for the Nigerian defense to fall asleep, then nicked the goal, No fancy football, pure strategy. but the Nigerian/African Coaches by virtue of their background never play strategic football. We always want to play an exhibition (Okocha style) match, that never wins trophies. Look at Togo, no strategy at all, and this is the bane of our continent.

Before I go on, I'll also want to take you back to World cup '94, I can never forget that match against Argentina where Austin Eguavon was right full back. He comitted a foul around the right fullback position around the 18 yard box, and before you said jack the Argentines had placed the ball, taken a quick freekick and scored before the Nigerian Team could even organise a wall. In actual fact they were still talking amongst themselves when that goal was scored.

2006: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast : A similar occurence, so what did we learn from 1994, Absolutely nothing.

What is my point? Europeans will always capitalise on our weakenesses because they know we always get too carried away in the moment or to put it simply we "fall out of concentration" too easily. Same happens in government, the big companies come from the US promise a lot of fancy things to the person in charge, and he sells his soul afterwards without even thinking of the consequenses. Who actually benefits fropm this deal, the US or Nigeria?

You see from time, the Europeans had always sourced us out, and that was why they were able to colonize and enslave us. And what is happening today in Africa still stinks of this same strategy against us. And unfortunately, until we can realize this we ain't going nowhere.


Hear this, Nigeria was given debt relief, but at the same time granted more loans by the worlds financial institutions, who gains here, Nigeria. Hmmmm I don't think so.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that they have us cornered because there is no one brave enough to take us to our promised land and they will always play on that.

I mean they call Nigeria the most corrupt nation in the world, yet most of the stolen funds are in their banks, and they don't want to release them. Why? Can you imagine what would happen to their economies if you suddenly pull out say 50 billion dollars in cash. The country's fiscal structure will almost collapse.



SO GUYS ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, AS MUCH AS THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE YOUR/OUR INTEREST AT HEART, WHO POCKETS MOST OF THE MONEY, AND IF THEY ARE OFFERING IT FREE, JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE.

Well, in my opinion we do not have anyone who can represent Nigeria thus far. Lets join the discussion on

www.nigerianpresident.com

Choose your president today

It's always amazing how we Nigerian's get so carried away when we hear such news. Why do you think Google is interested in Abuja?or Why do you think US govt wants access to  all googles search records.  Well, just know that Google would be able to build user patterns down to your President, that is if your/our president users a computer. They'll be able to trace and log every bit of info coming out of Nigeria, and develop powerful user analysis of Nigerians, they'll always know who you're buying from, who your not buying from, who Nigerians are defrauding, who is carrying out what search, (e.g are they searching for guns, drugs, etc and what IP address is doing the searching) and don't be suprised that they'll even know what the govt intends to buy before the govt even makes it public.

Let's always look at the bigger picture, not only the financial benefits, does any one know what the rope-a-dope is? Well, that was Muhammad Ali's style of fighting, he will always show you the left hand, but that's not the one's he really going to knock you out with. It's the right hand.

So basically what I'm trying to say is that, LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

We should not allow Google to do this. Instead, the Nigerian govt should empower young entrepreneurs (Like seun, et al) with the financial backing of the banks to embark on such projects. What does it really take to take a city wireless. I've designed Global VPN's for major multinationals in the UK, so I should know, not much at all

A country must never contract out  their technology infrastructure to foreigners in the name of charity. Otherwise, be rest assured, at the flick of a switch they'll be listening to your presidents' telephone conversation.


Have you ever wondered why the Foreign Press heard of Nigerian coups well before we Nigerians did? FOOD FOR THOUGHT hey

Hi Mazi,

Well said. I really appreciate the  understanding in the tone of your comments.  I will now go on to suggest that the government first needs to embark on a re-education or reorientation programme that will sensitize and re-educate Nigerians. Programmes that will help us realise who we are as a people, programmes that will dispell this NORTH-SOUTH divide palava, programmes that will unite us as a people. Programmes like "WAI", that will encourage patriotism and discipline and they must be real projects not conduits for embezzlement of funds (this has been the problem in the past).

The programmes must be uniting not dividing, and must teach us that whether you are a farmer or teacher or pepper seller or engineer or HARVARD graduate, the number one thing is that you are Nigerian. YES, I know that the prejudices will be there, but there must always be that uniting factor, that camaraderie that can always unite us in times like these.

Without a successful implementation of these programmes, all else is a waste of time. It'll be like wanting to build a house without a foundation.

Whatever the government is doing (NEEDS or SEEDS) must be visible and inviting to Nigerian entrepreneurs both at home and abroad, then we'll be better equiped to suggest or recommend what will be good for our economy. Right now there's no blue print to work from. And I do not think either of us can come up with blueprints.

We can make recommendations, but that's all and there'll be plenty of that.

In my next post I will try to make my recommendations, but I'll leave you with this document for NOW: reference http://www.fundforpeace.org/media/speeches/lyman01.php

[center]Nigeria's Economic Prospects:
an International Perspective 
Princton Lyman
presented at a US-Nigeria Investment Conference
Abuja, Nigeria
September 2004  [/center]



Problems of infrastructure -- power especially, but still also telecommunications, roads, and railroads -- make Nigeria increasingly less competitive in a globalizing economy. Above all, as pointed out earlier, poverty remains the overriding fact of life for most Nigerians.

Then there is the state of justice. To reduce corruption, achieve transparency, and strengthen accountability, there must be justice. Nigeria's once proud system of justice, in particular the judiciary, has lost much of its lustre. That feeds the skepticism about the anti-corruption drive as well as the prospects for personal security. Restoring the independence and capacity of the judiciary would also restore confidence to Nigerian and international business that Nigeria is a predictable investment environment in which commercial and investor rights are protected, and disputes are resolved in a fair and unbiased manner. Perhaps this is an area that Nigeria's strong bar association and legal community can take on as their cause.

THE INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

But I am not going to go any further into detail on the economy. One thing I know, from years of involvement in Nigeria: there is nothing that foreigners -- even from the Council on Foreign Relations -- can tell Nigeria about the economy, and what needs to be done that Nigerians do not already know full well. The problems are of long standing, the prescriptions are almost obvious, above all there are scores of Nigerians -- in government, the private sector, the universities, and the media -- who have analyzed these issues and understand exactly what steps are necessary. The purpose of the Council's project is thus not to come up with new formulas, or offer some new source of profound advice. Our purpose is to encourage Nigeria on its own path of reform and development, and to provide a bridge to the international community about what is happening here and what the international community can do to support those efforts.

Perceptions of reform

With that in mind, let me turn not so much to what perceptions are here in Nigeria about the state of reform and the prospects of success, but those in the international community, as best as I can discern. I will not speak about the perspectives of the International Financial Institutions -- the IMF and the World Bank. They speak for themselves, and you have just seen in the media commentary, rather favourable I would note, from the head of the IMF mission, Mr. Menachem Katz.

Rather I want to reflect on more general opinion, but opinion that influences the reaction of governments and the private sector. First of all, let me emphasize the positive. There has been considerable admiration and great expectations from the economic team assembled by President Obasanjo in his second term. This admiration was furthered by the frank assessment of the economy produced early in the administration and the practical, step by step plan for reform that the team prepared. That plan is now, as noted, embodied in NEEDS. Nigeria*s signature to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative was also welcomed along with the initial steps to bring transparency to the oil sector. The other achievements, noted above, have also been well received.

But the skepticism that is present within Nigeria is mirrored in many parts of the international community. And for all the same reasons: the disappointments in the past, the still imperfect implementation of reforms, worry over continued corruption, and the lack of supporting infrastructure. There is also incomplete understanding of how the system really works in Nigeria. The reality of the federal structure is not all that apparent abroad, namely that much of whether Nigeria succeeds or not rests not with the federal government but with the state and local governments. International knowledge of what is happening on those levels is spotty and incomplete. Most of the reports on those levels are of political infighting, election irregularities, violence, and again corruption. Governors and local governments that are making significant progress and serving their constituents well are rarely reported. But whether the overall record is good or bad, the truth is that Nigeria will succeed or fail largely on the basis of performance at those levels.

As that fact becomes better recognized, I would expect greater international attention to the role that state and local governments are playing. I note the report of a recent seminar here in Abuja on budget and budgeting at the state level. The need for greater transparency, oversight, and accountability was stressed as was the role of civil society and the media. I would stress too the need for much more investment in agriculture, with clear understandings of the responsibilities at all levels of government for this sector. The African Union has on more than one occasion pledged that African nations will devote no less than ten per cent of their budgets to this sector. Yet few countries have actually achieved that target. Nigeria must do so.

Power shortages and similar shortcomings in infrastructure are another serious source of concern and a long term one. Nigeria has for far too long allowed its power sector to be badly managed. As a result, Nigeria today, with a population of perhaps 130 million people, produces little more than ten per cent of the power produced in South Africa with forty million people. The World Bank recently estimated that the power shortfall in Nigeria adds 16 per cent to the cost of production here. In an increasingly globalized economy, that almost puts Nigeria out of the running in many sectors. Already a flood of consumer goods from Asia is challenging domestic production and leading to the shutdown of key industries. The government projects a doubling of power generation over the next several years, but even if that is achieved it is not necessarily enough. The question is, with admitted reform and increased power projections on the books, can Nigeria truly move fast enough, with enough will and unity of purpose, to overcome this handicap in time? Or will Nigeria fall ever more behind?

Security

There is another great concern in the international community. The level of violence, whether religious, ethnic, political or communal, seems to be rising and in some areas almost out of control. Perhaps most disturbing are reports of militias, some even organized and armed by political leaders, terrorizing communities, enforcing one political elite or ethnic group's will on others, committing in some cases large scale violence. The linkage of these militias with corrupt practices, with oil bunkering in the delta but also with other sources of illicit support elsewhere, suggests the very structure of the state is becoming vulnerable.

From abroad, it may be too easy to exaggerate the significance of this violence. But it is not an exaggeration to say that these reports set off alarm bells in the international community.

Not long ago, a report was issued by an international agency that monitors piracy, stating that the Gulf of Guinea was the most dangerous area of piracy in the world today.

As soon as that report was issued, I began receiving calls from businessmen, media and others as to whether this report, along with earlier reports of internal violence, portended a break-up of Nigeria altogether. Indeed the fear that Nigeria may well be in danger of collapse is not far from the minds of some distant observers.

I hasten to add that I do not share that fear. Nigeria has a better sense of its national identity and an understanding of the incentives for unity than many countries, a sense that can transcend the divisions in Nigerian society. As one Nigerian friend said to me recently, "Nigerians have a way of transforming impossible obstacles into something else." Nevertheless, the levels of violence, and the seeming loss of government control over law and order, indeed the participation of some parts of government in the undermining of that order, are ominous. Left to continue they could undermine the reality of a stable Nigerian state even while its formal structure remains. Naturally, the specter of violence does nothing to encourage foreign investors.

The Institutionalisation of Reform

Finally, there is concern over the future of reforms. How much will they be institutionalized? How much can be expected in the remaining years of the Obasanjo administration? How much are they dependent upon one administration rather than a commitment from all political parties? Primary among these reforms, in the minds of the international community, is increased transparency and sound management of Nigeria's oil and gas proceeds. That is the sine qua non of credibility and respect within the international community. Without real progress in that direction, few will have faith in Nigeria's economic future.

Looking ahead to what we all hope will be a better managed and far more widely acceptable election process in 2007, will economic policy be debated substantively, differences debated frankly, and a direction made clear by whichever party emerges as victor as to the path of reform and essential investment? Here both civil society and political leaders bear a heavy responsibility. The election process itself will be a bell weather. People are looking for substantial improvements. There is a direct relationship between the degree of transparency and credibility of the political process and perceptions of the economic viability of a country like Nigeria. Especially in the age of NEPAD and the expectations generated by African leaders in adopting that program, the progress of democracy and development cannot be separated in the minds of the international community, and I would guess in the minds of Nigerians as well.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

I have spoken mostly of what is happening here and how it is perceived, correctly or imperfectly abroad. But I want to turn to the responsibilities of the international community. After all, one of the purposes of the Council on Foreign Relations project is to bring Nigeria's progress and promise to the attention of the international community and to encourage an appropriate response.

In that regard, I do not think we in the international community have done enough, either in understanding Nigeria's situation or in responding to its needs. First of all there is a glib feeling that Nigeria is at its base, a rich country. A recent study of West Africa's oil reserves estimated that Nigeria would earn more than $110 billion from oil over the coming decade, with additional earnings from natural gas. That is an impressive figure. But it translates into less than $1,000 per person in that period or less than $100 per capita annually. It is impressive in its total, and if it used rightly can make an enormous difference, but alone that will not transform Nigeria from its present status as alas one of the poorest countries of the world.

Second, and especially with oil prices at nearly record highs, there is little support for debt relief even though Nigeria's debt is a significant drag on its budget and a source of discontent.

Third, although there is tremendous appreciation for what Nigeria has done and continues to do on behalf of peace in the region, and with commitment of Nigerian peacekeepers not only in West Africa but now in Sudan, there is deep resistance within some quarters for cooperation with Nigerian security forces. This arises from human rights violations by those forces in responding to domestic violence. Those violations are serious, but by not being prepared to join in helping to improve security -- including the commitment to practices that protect human rights --we blind ourselves to the seriousness of the law and order situation within Nigeria.

Finally, we have to do more to encourage foreign direct investment. For that purpose, I salute the Corporate Council on Africa, not only for the conference we are attending this week but for a dedicated long term commitment to that objective.

What is then possible to improve this situation?

Nothing of course is more important than what is done here, by Nigeria and Nigerians. I don't have to tell this audience that. The reform and the development programs must be carried forward with even greater promise of results. For their part, the private sector, civil society, and the media, need to go beyond skepticism to concrete action. That involves supporting the reforms that are in process, acknowledging those that are succeeding, and advocating for those that need to be done or done better, especially those that would begin to impact directly on the lives of the people. That will help to lift the deep mood of skepticism and pessimism that pervades much of society, a mood that can be self-fulfilling, and replacing it with a determination to succeed.

For the international community I would like to see a more formal pact in support of Nigeria. It is not yet realistic to get agreement on substantial debt relief for Nigeria for all the reasons I have mentioned. It is too early in the reform process, and still too much skepticism that must be overcome. But I would like to see agreement on a clear roadmap. A roadmap that lays out the measures of reform, especially of transparency, that are expected, with an agreement that within a fixed period of time and when those measure are in place, serious debt relief will be undertaken. I see that not just for the relief from debt payments, but as a sign of support and encouragement to the reform process. This is one objective that we have advocated and will continue to advocate.

Second, we need to encourage a much deeper engagement with Nigeria, and thereby engender a much deeper understanding of what is happening here, what is at stake, and what we can do together. I am saddened by the long hiatus in our cooperation in the field of higher education, where once there were interchanges across our country and yours, between the best of Nigerian universities and ours. I am glad that American foundations -- Rockefeller, Carnegie, Mac Arthur and Ford -- are once again taking up this endeavor.

Third, there needs to be a broader and deeper official engagement with Nigeria. One step in this direction has been the appointment of an absolutely splendid American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell. He has a long history with this country and is a man of great understanding and commitment. I mourn, however, the decision some years ago by my government, to close our consulate in Kaduna. Not only does this place a hardship on many Nigerians seeking visas to the United States which now must be obtained in Lagos, it deprives us of a presence in the northern part of the country. We lack such presence in the east and in the delta as well. We need dialogue and understanding with all parts of Nigeria, especially in an age where religious tensions and misunderstandings are so prominent, here and in the world at large.

To pursue these objectives, we at the Council on Foreign Relations will continue to provide a forum for Nigerian officials and distinguished visitors in New York and Washington, where these issues can be frankly discussed with leaders in politics, business and finance. We will also continue our dialogue here in Nigeria, extending it to more states and with broader audiences.

I am especially pleased on this trip to have with me two very distinguished members of the Council on Foreign Relations:

Walter Russell Mead, one of the most recognized and distinguished writers on American foreign policy today, and Pauline Baker, President of the Fund for Peace and a long time friend and scholar on Nigeria. I am grateful that they took time from their very busy schedules to be here.

Conclusion

I always say when I return from a visit to Nigeria that it was fun. People stare and say, "But how so with so many problems there?" And I reply that there is something wonderful, something special in the spirit of Nigeria, in that of Nigerians, that offers friendship, that gives hope, that includes a healthy dose of laughter, a dynamism that in the face of all the challenges, leaves one with faith in the future of this great country. This trip is no exception. I thank you all for this opportunity.


Thanks

NETICASH

PrepaidNG,

Are you trying to say that Interswitch is better than VISA/MASTERCARD, a global institution in itself. The pioneers of EMV standards across the world?? Have you heard of the VISA business school? I'm not sure I'm reading you right O.

Have you heard of CHIP & PIN?? This technology was pioneered in France by VISA in the late '90's. I don't think Interswitch was "born" then O. It's now being deployed across the Globe on all card infrastrucures.

So pls let's try and put thing's in perspective, VISA/MASTERCARD are age old, tried and tested institutions, let's give credit where it is due. No system is 100%, believe that. When a system becomes a target of fraudsters they will always try.

So let's not get too carried away here, there's absolutely no comparison and no one should tout their payment service as better than VISA or Mastercard.

Thanks


NETICASH

www.neticash.com - your trusted online payment service for Nigerians

Mazi,

I'm definitely not out of point, I chose to answer the topic from that particular perspective, because I know that we Nigerians, myself inclusive are sometimes very unrealistic as to what can or cannot be achieved in the current political landscape called Nigeria. This is my own way of addressing the topic and it should be respected and also for your information I have worked with Nigerians in Nigeria, I have employed Nigerians (seasoned Graduates at that) in Nigeria and paid good wages at that, but what did I get back in return. (Of course my employees were doing me a favour by working for me right!!!!)

Look, to buttress my point on perception, I posted this reply on January 22, 2006 and on January 24, 2006. Nigeriaworld carried a perfect example of how the Nigerian banks had not taken care of the issue of perception before they decided to take on MASTERCARD as a service. Read this topic: Foreign Firms Reject E-payment From Nigeria at https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-5770.0.html It says it all.

I still maintain that a realistic perception of what is attainable in Nigeria is where we all need to start from we need to work from the ground up. You and I and all those who have contributed to this topic are all right. We all have the ideas, but we need to address the issues that make our ideas short lived. That's all I'm trying to say.

Nigeria is a great place, but we have very deep rooted problems that we need to address. If an employee of a company can think that he is doing that company a favour by working for it, then there is a problem. So I will rather start the discourse from here.


How do we perceive ourselves and how can that help us build good businesses and good business leaders. If we do not address this then all the discussion on projects et al, will be a flash in the pan.

I await your comments

Thanks

NETICASH

Hi Guys,

You can read my comments at https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-5372.0.html

CEO
www.neticash.com