₦airaland Forum

coogar:
nigerians have defrauded the system and they have decided to cut their losses by asking people to go and pay cash elsewhere.
if you are persistent, they simply ask you to bring your card to their counter at the airport and pay right there.
i don't blame them. . . . . i blame the unscrupulous nigerians who have made the venture a business.

I am not saying your are wrong, but some how, some unscrupulous Nigerians may have done certain untold things to BA as per using their flight but I get worried when companies like BA with know discriminating records carry out a blanket policy roll over without providing the necessary reasons for doing so. I am not saying BA should issue a notice of warning to every tom and harry regarding policy choice of the company, however, I think it will do BA no harm to put up a clarification to that effect on their website. Like someone already told me, intending passengers from Pakistan also face similar discriminating measures.

Miss EZ:
I dont think they refuse credit card from Nigerians cos i always fly BA, but like every other international airline, you cannot use a credit card to book your flight from Nigeria. In order words if your point of origin is Nigeria, you have to pay cash at the airlines booking office. As far as i know, delta/klm, BA all follow this procedure, reason being that credit/debit cards are not a huge part of the way we transact business in the country. If you buy a round trip ticket on any of these flights from a different origination point outside Nigeria, they will not refuse your card. Atleast this has always been my experience

Yea, that was my logical conclusion, but then I asked myself the question, why would my place of orgin as per my flight departure be the main determinant to me using my Debit Card issued in the UK by a top notch bank with global reach? I mean its a VISA card that was used by someone I know whose payment was declined and I thought, but VISA and Mastreo cards are used widely in Nigeria.

If I were to book my hotel reservation in any of the top notch hotels in Abuja or Lagos, my VISA card is accepted, so why not BA, KLM and their likes?

warrior01:
the more reason why fuel subsidy should go

very stupid conclusion indeed!

Need I ask when these GDPs' were documented? Pre-2008 or Post 2008 ? In any case, yes Nigeria still has a lot to do and we need to get that 42million active Nigerian youths to begin chunking out 'brains work' of positive energy and not bombs

paniki:
^^^^^

From your numbers it means that "non-whites" make up 15% of the UK population and whites make up the balance of 85%. With that it means that whites should theoretically be responsible for 85% of crimes since they make up 85% of the population and "non-whites" should account for 15% of the crimes. So if it's true as you stated that "80% of sex offenders in uk are white english and eastern european" then it means that the remaining 20% is committed by "non-whites"

Conclusion: 15% of the "non-white" UK population commits 20% of sex offences which makes them disproportionately higher than their white counterparts

utterly stupid for you to abuse statistics the way you have done right here! utter nonsense of your analysis, and if this is the way you truly go about your analysis in real life, it's a pity, very poor I would say!

BAGHDAD — The Obama administration is moving ahead with the sale of nearly $11 billion worth of arms and training for the Iraqi military despite concerns that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is seeking to consolidate authority, create a one-party Shiite-dominated state and abandon the American-backed power-sharing government.






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The military aid, including advanced fighter jets and battle tanks, is meant to help the Iraqi government protect its borders and rebuild a military that before the 1991 Persian Gulf war was one of the largest in the world; it was disbanded in 2003 after the United States invasion.

But the sales of the weapons — some of which have already been delivered — are moving ahead even though Mr. Maliki has failed to carry out an agreement that would have limited his ability to marginalize the Sunnis and turn the military into a sectarian force. While the United States is eager to beef up Iraq’s military, at least in part as a hedge against Iranian influence, there are also fears that the move could backfire if the Baghdad government ultimately aligns more closely with the Shiite theocracy in Tehran than with Washington.

United States diplomats, including Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, have expressed concern about the military relationship with Iraq. Some have even said it could have political ramifications for the Obama administration if not properly managed. There is also growing concern that Mr. Maliki’s apparent efforts to marginalize the country’s Sunni minority could set off a civil war.

“The optics of this are terrible,” said Kenneth M. Pollack, an expert on national security issues at the Brookings Institution in Washington and a critic of the administration’s Iraq policy.

The program to arm the military is being led by the United States Embassy here, which through its Office of Security Cooperation serves as a broker between the Iraqi government and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Among the big-ticket items being sold to Iraq are F-16 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, cannons and armored personnel carriers. The Iraqis have also received body armor, helmets, ammunition trailers and sport utility vehicles, which critics say can be used by domestic security services to help Mr. Maliki consolidate power.

“The purpose of these arrangements is to assist the Iraqis’ ability to defend their sovereignty against foreign security threats,” said Capt. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman in Washington.

But Iraqi politicians and analysts, while acknowledging that the American military withdrawal had left Iraq’s borders, and airspace, vulnerable, said there were many reasons for concern.

Despite pronouncements from American and Iraqi officials that the Iraqi military is a nonsectarian force, they said, it had evolved into a hodgepodge of Shiite militias more interested in marginalizing the Sunnis than in protecting the country’s sovereignty. Across the country, they said, Shiite flags — not Iraq’s national flag — fluttered from tanks and military vehicles, evidence, many said, of the troops’ sectarian allegiances.

“It is very risky to arm a sectarian army,” said Rafe al-Essawi, the country’s finance minister and a leading Sunni politician. “It is very risky with all the sacrifices we’ve made, with all the budget to be spent, with all the support of America — at the end of the day, the result will be a formal militia army.”

Mr. Essawi said that he was concerned about how the weapons would be used if political tension led to a renewed tide of sectarian violence. Some Iraqis and analysts said they believed that the weapons could give Mr. Maliki a significant advantage in preventing several Sunni provinces from declaring autonomy from the central government.

“Washington took the decision to build up Iraq as a counterweight to Iran through close military cooperation and the sale of major weapon systems,” said Joost Hiltermann, the International Crisis Group’s deputy program director for the Middle East. “Maliki has shown a troubling inclination toward enhancing his control over the country’s institutions without accepting any significant checks and balances.”

Uncertainty over Mr. Maliki’s intentions, and with that the wisdom of the weapons sale, began to emerge even before the last American combat forces withdrew 11 days ago. Mr. Maliki moved against his Sunni rivals, arresting hundreds of former Baath Party members on charges that they were involved in a coup plot. Then security forces under Mr. Maliki’s control sought to arrest the country’s Sunni vice president, who fled to the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the north. In addition, Mr. Maliki threatened to release damning information on other politicians.

With these actions plunging the country into a political crisis, a few days later, Mr. Maliki said the country would be turned into “rivers of blood” if the predominantly Sunni provinces sought more autonomy.

This was not a completely unforeseen turn of events. Over the summer, the Americans told high-ranking Iraqi officials that the United States did not want an ongoing military relationship with a country that marginalized its minorities and ruled by force.

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Michael S. Schmidt reported from Baghdad, and Eric Schmitt from Washington.








A version of this article appeared in print on December 29, 2011, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: U.S. Selling Arms To Iraq as Worry On Maliki Grows.

source:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/world/middleeast/us-military-sales-to-iraq-raise-concerns.html?_r=1

[quote author=baby-boy link=topic=833993.msg9855000#msg9855000 date=1325150421]You mean Billing Address?[/quote]nope, not 'billing address' but your nationality!

sauer:

yea! I know you are thinking upsidedown. I said British with Nigerian Nationality, meaning if you are a Nigerian granted British citizenship, you are British but not necessarily English, Scotish, Irish or Walsh! , hmmmmm get it now

Guk:
There is no point in making a mountain out of a molehill. Its simply a precautionary measure and its not restricted to BA alone.

A few days ago, i tried to pay for the purchase of a software in India using a Barclays Debit card but becos i put Nigeria as the location where the software will be used, it gave me this message: "Due to legal restrictions, we cannot accept registrations from residents of nigeria"

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

Pakistanis experience same worldwide too

If I may add, this is some what different from the BA issue. Software usage in certain parts of the world have legal issues that would sometimes prevent the user from using it in certain parts of the world. It is not because you were going to use it in Nigeria, somehow it may be due to legislation by the Indian Government to protect their intellectual property right mainly because Nigeria and other countries may not have signed a declaration that would protect patents and rights so obtained in India and so enforce them when violated.

dayorx:
why do people always come on this forum to talk trash, i just tried to book a flight on BA now and all the said was to bring the card used to purchase the ticket to the airport to check in, as far as i know KLM does the same, even if u book train tickets u go to the train station to print the ticket with the credit or debit card u used to purchase the ticket online, abeg make the person wey talk dis rubbish park well jo!!
people should stop yarning rubbish and who said thomas cook wont book u a holiday if uve got your cash and the correct visa to come back to the uk ,,,abeg jo

Disgruntled element. Why not attempt to book a flight on BA.com and see the result fro yourself when you select your nationality. FYI, this issue has been verified and the necessary steps is being taken to address the relevant concerns with BA, and if need be, legal action may follow.

Any 'slate' and 'chalk' in the house?

Okay, DEM P, say:
"I, T, it",
"I , F , if", , now repeat after me, come on DEM, "I, T, , "

Vicjustice:
Absolutely wrong, they accept Credit Cards by/from Nigerians, but they may not accept it if it is associated with Nigeria. The problem is not with the Nigerians as a people, but with Nigeria as a country; and yet, the people are to blame for the ill reputation of the country.
   Point of correction: It's not a "Rasist Attitude", it is a just course to protect themselves from Nigerian scammers. Not just the BA, most international company do not accept Credit Cards associated with Nigeria. I like that

Agree with your submission, but why not attempt booking a flight on BA online and get to the stage where you have to choose your nationality and see if they would allow you to proceed if your choice is "Nigeria" under nationality.

Not surprised, but can someone tell Nigeria airport officials that they should stop asking inending passengers for "something for christmas"

denzel2009:
Lol, you don't get it!

Naija boys use other people's cards to buy one way trips to and from Naija. They do one way using different cards cos they know they can be caught when coming back using the same card. Moreso, it's about the timing, they carefully plan it knowing that the owner might not notice or report in the space of 2 weeks.

Okay, not sure about this, but I would have thought the Advanced Passenger Information processing system in place would mean using a different name to purchase your flight and checking in with a different name on your passport would catch you out?

Yes , I know someone can help pay for your flight, but then how would they get your CC or DB security code to pay for the flight?

denzel2009:
Some bad Nigerians have wounded them badly that is why.

That was my first thought, but if your card issuer is based in the US, or UK you sure bet that fleecing a company like BA with a dodgy CC or DB would send you down the spiral fall of Brixton prisons!

biolabee:
strange ,,  they accept luggage payments with my VISA card

But booking flight with your C/D card, you get to the stage where they ask you your nationality, and you get the feedback, sorry we do not accept card payments from travelers from Nigeria.

I thought it was a one off server side error, but on my journey back to the UK, I also met someone else who complained of the same experience!

When did you use your card to make the payment?

Strange this one! Why on earth does British Airways refuse processing Credit/Debit Card payment when the intending traveller indicates that S/He is a Nigerian?

Regardless of whether the card was issued in UK, US or in Nigeria, or that your place of residence as indicated on the card is out side of Nigeria, once you attempt to book  your  flight online and you are asked your nationality, indicating that you are a Nigerian, and you will be declined further preocessing and  asked to go pay at the nearest travel agent with CASH!

N:B, I  do not use BA but this happened to a colleague who by the way is British with Nigerian nationality.

phar897:
@Omo_Tier1

Merry Xmas my brother even though its in arrears, was looking for you at the other end before I finally got here. Hope you're doing very well.

Thanks, wish you a more fruitfull and rewarding 2012. Back to the oldey London, christmas was fun in Nigeria, !!!

justwise:
I think the days of freebies are over, some people appeal for anything because its free to appeal, some dodgy lawyers encourage their clients to appeal any decision just to make money at of it. Now people have to think long and hard before appealing.

Fair enough some people appeal for the sake of it being free, but considering the high visas fees charged and the shabby way UKBA handles visas application, i think asking applicant to pay additional money to appeal decisions is insane! Soon they would ask us to start paying for immigration bordet officials at the ports of entry

This new policy is absolute madness! Imagine this;
1.Send my appeal to FT on average 7working days.

2. FT send my appeal to the post who refused the application - 30 to 90days for review by ECM

3. ECM uphold's decision -which is ever so- sends notice through ECO, and then forwards bundle to FT- 14days on average

4. FT fix date for appeal-average 3weeks to 4months

5. FT Approves appeal, determination sent out -4weeks-
6. Post to spend 8weeks to approve visas,

MADNESS IN SIMPLICITY

justwise:
Its really not fair, £140 for an oral appeal is way too much, if one wins the appeal will they refund the appeal money? I really hope so.

I think the policy exempts some visas categories and for others you can only recover 40% of cost if you win which smacks of robbery in itself!

Basically,since appellant now 'buy' their appeal, wouldn't it be natural justice for them to also have a say on how long it should take for their appeal to be decided? Why should I pay the sums £80 or £140 and still get my appeal waiting several months before determination?

The digitally unsigned e-diot called beaf is spewing rubbish again! He thinks referencing wikipedia would lend credit to his inglorious and lack of debt on the matter afore discussed!

Beaf! We know better,

just wondering, shldn't such a major change in policy require parliamentary approval? Was there any ?

Secondly, aint they trying to push immigration solicitors out of job? Why would one bother seeking a solicitor when the cost of solicitor plus appeal fees would be enough to make new application or relocate to a different country entirely! But in all, justice and fairness get battered ! Shame on the UK!

Thanks justwise for puting the update up.

What a shame that Justice is now being sold/bought! Where then is fairness? They charge near premium visas fees, always failing to live upto standards when perusing supporting documents submitted by applicants and now they want applicants to pay for much of their negligence!

Ken Clarke must be suffering from partial dementia!

@strangest,
Sorry your explanation does not cut it! Her use of that phrase 'manhood' is completely misplaced in the connotation of her sentence.

Why can't she use simple words that conveys her message without ambiguity?

Please, the 'olodos' of Nairaland should stop misinforming people that planes fly on kerosense! They DO NOT FLY ON KEROSINE! I will leave it at that.

@topic, NCAA has already began move on this issue. Very serious issue!

All aircraft engines have GRADED fuel the OEM/Cert Authority specify to be used on engine type and at certain specification content.

Beside, the real issue here as someone already pointed out is the alleged DIVERSION of what is ment for public consumption to private entities!

Again, why will a single company be given the POWER to import just about anything into this country? How will competition trive?

^^explains the reach of your understanding of how China operates!

The title maybe misleading but if you have been following comments by top military brass of Russia and China in the past few weeks on Iran, then you would know that the prof may just be speaking the mind of the Chinese government!

sometimes people just talk! Have you done your research to know who this Prof is, His rank in the Chinese establishment?

Shameful how most US based Nigerians on NL seems to have been brainwashed in thinking the US is the beginning and End of humanity!

The US can go to hell with their stinky man lover culture! The libral brainwashed Nigerian numpties resident there that think likewise about man-lover relationship as the US can join them there!

We do not do man lover here in Nigeria! Any man or woman lover caught when this bill becomes law will face the full weight of the law! Nonsense!!

In democracy, the majority carries the day, and on this matter 99.9% of Nigerians are against man or woman lover relationship. The US and her citizenry should respect the wishes of Nigeria and her citizenry, or what is democracy afterall

jason123:
This tinubu guy has mortgaged the SW to his family!

If the crumbs of good and high standard roads, healthcare facilities, schools had fallen from PDP stable when they hijack SW and Edo like Tinubu has done, I guess SW wouldn't have spat at PDP!

I was in Akaw sometime this year and I could not believe the massive under development in Akaw! The onitsha-Akaw link was so bad that I saw a man walking on the road with mud upto his heels!

Obi should cover his head in shame. He should go and learn how to construct standard road from Edo, Lagos, Rivers and Akaw-Ibom! The roads I saw was a joke, I mean big time joke!

Watching the same Obi advocate subsidy removal on NTA few days ago, I was ashamed of him!

wirinet:
In absolute terms the 2012 budget is less than the 2011 budget. The 2012 budget is only 6% more than the 2011 budget but the inflation rate is around 9% and the exchange rate will likely depreciate further to about N170 - N180 to the dollar.

Meanwhile oil export is projected to increase and the oil bench mark has also increased from $65 to $75.

I tell you, the more one looks at the budget in relative terms with present and projected economic indices,the more depressing it gets!

Maybe the office of budgeting, economic planning, statistics and finance are working with different figures than we know off!

What an iota of truth!Beaf thinks He is an intellectual mount zoin

To those who say the budgetary allocations does not matter much, I guess you have little or no insight into how 'business angels' and OPS go about their investment decisions.

The budgetary allocation is as much as important to the organized private sector as much as the implementation of the budget is to the ordinaty citizenry.

By allocation nearly 20% of the budget to Security, a sum far higher than that of works, education combined, this government is sending a very wrong signal to the markets that she does not know what her priorities are.

Beside, spending such a huge amount of money on security with vast majority going towards payment for hard and softwares bought of self from other economies, that is a real waste! As both Iraq and Afghanistan war have proven, combatting terrorism is more of local intelligence gathering using crude techniques than deploying hi-tech gadgets.

If my memory serves me right, the SFG claimed (albeit an attempt to rubbish ASUU's image and curry public sympathy )ASUU was requesting the FG pay her a whooping N106bn for allowances and other expenses, assuming the FG settles to pay half of that amount, so what's left of the budget for Education

I think Sam Omatseye's article on Ngozie's lack of  'economic domestication' is now ever so true with this budget.

With depressing budget like this, I doubt if Nigeria will ever achieve the vision 20:20:20 or attain the BRINC status!

@the budgdt speech, of course GEJ knew the budget was empty hence the reason He never bothered breaking down the figures to Nigerians and explaining how those figures will be expended.

When one listen or watch budget presentation in the UK parliament by the chancelloe ex-chq. you see the government hammering out figures on projects and programmes for the parliamentary years -5years, hence telling the citizenry where their money will be and how it will be spent. THE CASE OF NIGERIA IS ALWAYS DIFFERENT. The never tell you during budget presentation, claiming the details are in the budget but by the time the house delibrating on the budget, sums/figures either get jacked up or are missing entirely!

GEJ should tell us what HE will be spending nearly N1tn security budget on. Are buying 205 Chinese fighter jets enmasss again? Or are we going to order 12 fridgets ,

this one nah real bizness for our Aba boys oh! Dem go flood market with RVP pants like dem do Obama own

Hmmmm will it be in July? Make I start to gather those 1pound coins, GUNNERS 4 LIFE !!

oyinema:
Thanks my brother. I am planning to include the mortgage documents. Does the mortgage documents have to be originals? I am worried about them not returning it. Will bank statements be enough or do I need to include I and my partner's payslips? Do I need my own bank statements as well even though we are only using OH's saving account? It shows me making payments to him on a regular basis as that's our savings account.

Sorry for all the questions. I want to get this right the first time as the opportunity may never present itself again.

please do not include the original morgage documents just photocopy. But I would think any other document that can link you to that address like utility bills would do.

As for your financial statement, you use both but please include them but seperately under the index of documents and state what they are ment for in your letter of introduction.