₦airaland Forum

vchykp:
You make me laff


so after reading the story, you felt it was true and decided to get yourself into this mess by re-posting..?

There's no mess here.

Only self-appointed monitors full of themselves thinking they can intimidate anybody whose thinking they disagree with.

It is nothing new at all. Like I shared from other cases, there are things that can lead to having sex with the wrong person by mistake.

So, if you don’t believe it your choice but to think you are shaming anybody with your disagreeing is just mumuness feeling funky.

darlenese:
when u get married I pray ur wife will stumble and fall on every available dic, k all in the name of a mistake, yeah strange this happen, by bleeping a strange dic, k by mistake.


u are defending this nonsense Co. ck and bull story because it was created by u. create more accounts to defend ur trash.

You lot think it is everybody you can railroad with your unicolor outlook. Everything you doubt has to be fake. It takes a fake person to think everybody else is.

poshestmina:
She was too tired not to differentiate her husband from someone else but not too tired to open legs behind?
There is no way in the world this is going to happen .

So the husband's friend has the same smell, voice, kissing pattern, same touch, same moan, same size below, same height? Humour me please!!!

Mtchewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.BE REALISTIC!

With examples of other cases you are still screaming about reality. This thread just shows some commenters as inexposed.

vchykp:
i bet you.. OP never saw this coming, if he had seen it, he wont have tried this with Nlanders.. hahaha.. catching fun





OP please dont make this niggas insult you, you caused it, your topic says "Is it possible to have sex by mistake?".. with a question mark(meaning u are not even sure of the story).. and now you are arguing the authencity of the story as if u want to force us to believe what even you dont believe.




you guys should pls take it easy on him, he wont try it again.

I am immune to insults from the likes I have seen on this thread. You forget, it takes 2. If the woman made a mistake, we don't know the man's angle.

If I wanted to sell the story, I would have changed the title. However, that is how the person titled it.

darlenese:
I hate being quoted by kids

I cannot laugh where I am but seriously, this is funny.

With all your experience, you never know that strange things happen. On the scale of strangeness this one is easily explainable.

If you are the owner of a startup, you are definitely a risk-taker. The danger here is that you may become comfortable with taking a risk that you can sometimes ignore smart and simple ways to minimise the impact of any potential failure. In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency highlights seven ways to reduce startup risks. Applying this will lessen the chances of your business failing.

Diversify your income

You must not depend on one source of income as a business man. The reason for having multiple sources is to cushion the effect of business failure.

Save more money

When you build a business, there is nothing more comforting than having a savings account. This will come handy when times are tough. Importantly, you should never go on a spending spree especially when your business is booming.

Do a market research

You must never start a business without doing a market research. This is will give you an idea of your target users/audience as well as determine the sustainability of your product.

Business forecast

You do not need superpowers to make a business forecast. There are basic things you can predict including when you are going to run out of cash, periods when turnover will slow and when you have to cut cost. If you cannot do this, you can employ an expert.

Work hard

As an entrepreneur, you have to work round-the-clock. Despite this, you have to ensure that you do not only work hard but work smarter. In addition, you must find a work-life balance to prevent entrepreneurial burnout.

Insure against risks

As a startup, the last thing you will think of is insurance. This is because you are probably bootstrapping to run your enterprise. Regardless, you should still insure your properties in case the business fails. It will prevent you from losing everything.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-ways-minimise-startup-risks/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

There are many aspects of flying and some ‘quirks’ and little secrets of flying that you might have never thought of. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 interesting flight secrets revealed.

No Sharing

Pilots are typically not allowed to share foods with each other to avoid potential contamination being shared between both pilots. This is because it will be very bad if both pilots got sick or suffer food poisoning from the shared food at the same time. Airlines don’t like to risk both pilots being incapacitated at the same time, so they typical don’t allow pilots share their foods in the plane.

Mobile Electronic Devices Don’t Exactly Interfere With the Plane

You’re usually asked to switch off your mobile electronic devices while in the plane because it interfere with the pilot’s ability to get the information he needs, if too many devices are running at the same time. The interference of hundreds of mobile electronic devices can cause pilots to miss a signal or communication from air traffic control. This phenomenon is similar to when you’re having problems connecting your mobile device at a stadium because too many devices are running in the same place at the same time, or when you find that your internet connection is faster at night and slower in the day when more people are connected to it.

Peeling Paint

If the paint of an airplane is peeling, it’s safety at that point is questionable. This is because one cause of peeling paint or paint chips on the body of airplanes is leaking hydraulic fluid, which is extremely caustic and strips paints.

Dimming The Lights

The interior lights of an airplane are dimmed before landing, even in the middle of the day, to let the passengers eyes adjust to the light outside, so in case passengers have to immediately evacuate the plane, their eyes can easily adjust to suddenly being outside. Dimming the interior lights therefore makes it easier for passengers to see their surroundings and escape safely, if there is a need to.

Pilots Are Actually Quite Powerful

The airplane captain has similar power to a ship captain. The commanding pilot can order any trouble-making passenger to be handcuffed and handed to the police after landing, to be formally arrested. The commanding pilot can also write fines and even take the will of a dying passenger.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-interesting-flight-secrets-revealed/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

ifyalways:
Can you please stop mentioning me to your fake arse thread. Thank you.

BF and GF, rapist trying to save his head with whatever lifeline available to him and you are lame enough to compare that with husband/wife relationship? Psfffff please.

I thought you and your followers were claiming it is not possible. You know in marriage, there cannot be relatively new married couples. Every couple is just instantly blessed with perfect knowledge. Once you are married there is nothing to learn.

Moreso, in this world mistakes or errors don't happen.

And if you don’t want to be mentioned in any thread, just don't post. Abi somebody made you the section's prefect?

Yet another case http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/898081-Man-Accidentally-Has-Sex-With-Wrong-Woman-Charged-With-Rape

People here just following Ifyalways like they cannot think.

Another reported case http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4786686/Man-says-accidentally-sex-girlfriend-s-roommate.html

darlenese:
this is super stooorrrryy
a life of strife and sorrow...


we are nothing but pencils in the hands of the creator...



back to your coc.k and bull story , it is impossible for Frank to have a room to himself and a bed for him alone, ask people who have travelled for funeral, almost every room, bed and floor must be occupied by relatives, next time be more realistic in your story telling .

secondly, as a wife, u should know ur husbands smell, body size, penis size, or u want to tell us frank and ur husband share the same attributes. yeye fowl

Not a very smart submission from someone trying to prove intelligence. So, every funeral ceremony has hosts and guests packed like sardines in rooms.

airex:
Its a lie. Not possible not to know ones spouse

You people all forming super-alert. In a dark room, a tired wife + the expectation that the husband was the one in bed, anything could have happened especially if the man got her aroused from sleep.

The Sallah festival is a popular Muslim festival that brings Muslims around the world together in celebration. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 interesting facts about the Sallah festival.

Eid al-Adha is Another Name for Eid-ul-Kabir

The Sallah festival is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, Isma’il (Ishmail) as an act of submission to God’s (Allah) command. The festival is popularly known as Eid-el-Kabir, and is also called Eid-al-Adha. In English, the Sallah festival name translates to the ‘Festival of the Sacrifice’ or the ‘Sacrifice Feast’.

The Calendar Date

In the Islamic lunar calendar, the Sallah festival typically falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for two days.

It Marks the Climax of Hajj or Pilgrimage

The Sallah festival is such a significant one because the Day of Sacrifice marks the climax of Hajj or Pilgrimage, which is the fifth pillar of Islam. During the festival, rams are slaughtered all over the world to honour Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son for Allah. Celebrations usually continue for about three to five days after the festival day, with visitations to friends, families and recreational sites, as well as with the exchange of pleasantries saying ‘Eid Mubarak’.

Sacrifice of their Best Halal

Muslim faithfuls and their families sacrifice their best halal (that is, an acceptable domestic animal, usually a cow, camel, goat, sheep or ram, depending on the region and what the family can afford) as a symbol of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son to Allah. The sacrificed animals have to meet certain age and quality standards to be considered acceptable and permissible sacrifices.

Demonstration of the Charitable Practice Among the Muslim Community

To demonstrate the charitable practice among the Muslim community, efforts are made to ensure that during Eid-el-Kabir no impoverished person is denied the opportunity to partake in the sacrificial feast. The sacrificed animals are preferably divided into three parts of which one third of the meat is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, another third is retained for the family, and the last third is given to the poor and needy. It has been recorded that in Saudi Arabia, the meat from the slaughtered rams of each pilgrim is packaged and conveyed to the needy across borders of the world.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-interesting-facts-sallah-festival-eid-ul-kabir/

A major challenge that almost every tourist visiting an unfamiliar destination encounter is finding or locating a good restaurant to eat especially when hunger has already set in. To find the best tastes in a new town, follow these tips shared by Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, to know whom to ask and where to look.

Take advantage of the Internet

With the popularity of smartphones, you're likely to have the Internet connection. Using your phone, you can search for places to eat, read reviews and look up menus. This is perhaps the easiest way to go if you do not want to ask a local.

Ask the locals

If you really want to get on the best places to eat, you should simply ask the locals. They can easily recommend the best and most reliable places to eat. So, don't be afraid to ask locals on the street. And of course, people will be happy to disclose where to eat.

Check out your surroundings

In this case, you have to look for the restaurant yourself. So, how can you be sure the random restaurant you select is a nice place to eat? One of the best signs is a full parking lot. If others are queuing in to eat, chances are the food is good.

Get a guide

As soon as you know what city you are visiting, you should start researching restaurants. Better still, you should ask a couple of friends who can get you a guide or indigene that will take you around. From your research, you will already have restaurants in mind. You will have to rely on your tour guide to give a pass mark to your selected restaurants.

Use social media

Millions of people use social networking, like Facebook or Twitter, on a regular basis to keep up with family and friends, so use it to your advantage and ask anyone who's visited your destination before to comment on their favourite restaurants. It is easier this way.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/great-hacks-selecting-restaurant-travelling

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

By Samuel Onimpa Alfred

It is not uncommon to hear Nigerians especially political office holders make a case for community policing. Many believe that the Nigerian Police force cannot effectively maintain law and order with the current method of policing.

Community policing, according to Wikipedia, is a strategy of policing that focuses on police, building ties and working closely with members of the community. State policing and community policing are often used interchangeably. They technically mean the same thing. The United Kingdom does not have states-like delineations like the United States of America but they both have the same kind of police structure.

Politicians will try to placate Nigerians by saying the establishment of community policing would not take away the powers of the National police. Some even support their assertion by stating that community policing is widespread in parts of the world.

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on the 4th of July, 2017 said the Federal Government would soon announce a new policy on community policing for better service delivery. He disclosed this at the presentation and launch of a book ‘Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria’ in Abuja. Professor Osinbajo said that sitting down in Abuja to police other remote parts of the country was not practicable any longer. “For us to continue this old way of policing our country, I don’t think it can work and it is not working. We have to look at other parts of the world, how they are doing it, “he said.

As at August 2017, only 10 out of the 195 countries in the world practice community policing. They are Brazil, United Kingdom, United States of America, India, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.

There are many rankings that rate the effectiveness of Police forces globally. Police forces globally are judged based on some parameters. There are some statistics that speak for some of the more efficient police forces in the world. The parameters used to measure the progress of a police force is in their ability to tackle crime, their resources and efficiency, public protection and perception, their ability to protect vulnerable people, implementation of neighbourhood policing, fewest cops per 100,000 population, fewest shots fired by them in a year and fewest people beaten, shot and killed, fairness and local priorities etc.

After going through various rankings comprehensively, some countries consistently in the top rankings are Japan, France, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, China, Holland, Iceland, Germany and Austria. Of these countries, only the UK, USA, Australia and Germany practice community policing. Most rankings tend to agree that France is the most well policed country in the world. France does not practice community policing. Of the top ten countries that practice community policing, only three of them are not economic heavyweights.

Nigeria has more than 170 million people with a police force of 370,000. Our police per 100,000 people are about 217. This is one of the lowest in the world compared to other countries. We should be more concerned about making the police force attractive by increasing the number of well-motivated policemen. Apart from recruiting more policemen to the force, there is need to train them sufficiently. However, even those in the service are not well catered for. Community policing will require special training for the police force as they will now have more streamlined duties.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, while delivering a speech on a bill for an act to establish the Nigeria police reform trust fund and for other related matters said that “What is required to run the force excluding major capital projects like arms and ammunition, purchase of new vehicles, gun boats, helicopters and other technological needs is conservatively put at N14.132, 532,142,242. In 2017 budget, only N36.1billion was allocated to the Police for both capital and overhead costs. This is a far cry from the N1.13 trillion conservatively estimated. This difference is alarming and has sounded the loud trumpet that the regular budgetary allocation to run the police is sharply inadequate and requires urgent measure to address, if the Force must be effective and responsive to the security needs of Nigerians in a complex and dynamic policing space” That statement coming from the Senior Police Chief says it all. We need to adequately fund the police for better operations.

In a nation were public perceptions about the police leaves a lot to be desired, how will community policing work effectively? In foreign countries like the UK, it is a common occurrence to see citizens interact freely with police officers. In the UK, the policemen are genuinely concerned about the welfare of those within their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, that cannot be said of some of the Policemen in Nigeria. Sordid tales of ill treatment and poor police response to emergencies is widespread. Visiting the average police station in Nigeria is one of mixed feelings. Whether you are reporting a case or giving useful information to the police, one is usually sceptical. Little wonder that there has been a rise in cases of jungle justice lately. The police have to improve its public image.

A clamp down on corrupt police officers that are giving the force a bad name should be a priority also. Bad elements are projecting the Police wrongly and they should not only be dismissed but tried for the offence’s committed.

Imagine what will happen if a state government owes policemen for months as is the case currently with civil servants in most states. Remember, they have guns in their hands! As it stands, Nigeria is not ready for state policing. We are far from it because as a nation, we are yet to attain economic, political and social maturity.

The Nigerian police force as currently constituted, is in need of reforms but changing the structure to accommodate state or community policing will be counter-productive. The police force is an institution that is always meant to be non-partisan at all times. Ruling out political interference is almost impossible as their source of funding will come from state resources.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/making-case-non-adoption-community-policing-nigeria/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Nice one. Their third win http://www.opinions.ng/nigerias-dtigress-wins-afrobasket-3rd-time/

ifyalways:
All these fake writers with only sex, sex themed stories should head to the sexuality section where they'll meet their target audience.

No one wants to write about how to engage in a healthy courtship, deal with pregnancy, home keeping, and other positive stuff. Everywhere it's weird and abnormal sex sex bang bang. Shior

Take it easy madam, we did not write it but it was shared with us and we think it is something people can learn from.

I definitely have learnt from it personally.

Have you considered that the lady in question was tired and had no reason to think somebody else was in the room meant for them as a couple?

Unless you are telling us you never made a mistake from fatigue or wrong interpretation before, try to take it easy. Of course, it is likely not to be a mistake this grave but a mistake is a mistake.

Whoever is disturbing the section with sex stories you can complain about. Definitely, I post in sections related to the topic of a post.

I didn’t know it wasn’t my husband. It happened after a ceremony in his home town. My husband’s friend travelled with us to the village for the final burial of my husband’s grandmother. The party was held till very late in the night. People went to sleep one after the other.

My husband told me he was going in to sleep and then l told him I will join him as soon as I was done.

I had to stay behind with a few women to wash the dishes. We finished by 11:45pm.

I thought it was my husband that was in the room, I just went in and slept under the duvet, that was how one thing led to the other and it happened.

It was when I woke up to ease my self in the morning that I realised my husband slept in the sitting room.

Who have I been with all night? I went on the tip of my toes to confirm. Behold, It was Frank my husband’s friend.

I felt a cold chill ran down my spine. My legs became heavy, I wished the world should come to an end. Frank was fast asleep when I came in, I quickly picked my things and left the room.

Now I am confused, I don’t know what to do. Why didn’t Frank tell me that I was in the wrong bed? What should I do? Should I tell my husband?

Should I confront Frank? Or should I live with this guilt for the rest of my life?

What should I do?

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/possible-sex-mistake/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Nigerian cuisine consists of delicious and mouthwatering dishes from the many ethnic groups in Nigeria. Nigerian cuisines typically involve the use of spices and herbs with palm oil or groundnut oil to make varieties of deliciously flavoured foods, often spiced with chilli peppers. However, there are some of our mouth-watering Nigerian foods that actually have foreign origins. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 Nigerian foods with foreign origins.

Jollof Rice

All Nigerians are probably very familiar with the ‘Jollof wars’ by now and though which country’s Jollof rice is the best remains a topic of passionate debate, there is one interesting fact about Jollof rice that might be unknown by many – Jollof rice is actually of foreign origin. The origins of Jollof rice can be traced to the Senegambian region that was ruled by the Jolof empire.

Fried Rice

This probably wouldn’t come as a shock to many but Fried rice is another food with foreign origin that has been adopted by Nigerians to become one of the popular Nigerian cuisines. The exact origins of fried rice has actually been lost to history but it is believed to be of Chinese origin, invented sometime within the Sui Dynasty (589 – 618 AD), in the city of Yangzhou in the eastern Jiangsu province.

Coconut Rice

Over time, this dish has become a beloved dish of many seeking something different from the conventional white rice. Coconut rice is typically prepared by soaking white rice in coconut milk or cooking it with coconut flakes. Though coconut rice is found in many cultures of the world, it is believed to have its origins in the South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America regions.

Corn Soup

This is locally referred to as ‘Omi Ukpopka’ and is a common food of the Afemai people in northern Edo state. Though the Afemai’s people’s version of the meal is exclusive to them, the origin of meal ‘corn soup’ can actually be traced to the Native Americans. Corn soup was a popular dish of the Native Americans mainly due to the fact that corn was a staple crop for many Native American tribes. Asides the Nigerian ‘Omi Ukpoka’, there are other variations of the corn soup which include: creamed corn soup, sweet corn soup, corn crab soup, Chinese sweet corn soup, dried Indian corn soup, Mexican corn soup and Tibetan style corn soup.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-nigerian-foods-foreign-origin/

Lagos…it is the city of possibilities. From careers to aspirations and even love, there are endless opportunities. When it comes to the living situation, however, the pickings are slim. 90% of the time, residents are forced to go for tiny apartments which they will have to share with 3 roommates and still pay too much money for.

Basically, those looking to move to the city have to keep it at the back of their mind that living in a tiny apartment is one of the sacrifices they would be making, as chances are that they will have to trade a comfortable life in spacious houses with multiple bedrooms, closets and a garage for small apartments. We at Jumia Travel believe that the good still outweighs the bad as Lagos is indeed the greatest city in the country…but then, sometimes it is hard not to ignore these few hiccups:

There is little or no room to place things

Collecting Nigerian literature books may be a great idea, but you may want to give that up if you are looking to live in a Lagos apartment. Most of the flats in the city now have very tiny rooms that make it hard for you to own a lot of stuff as there is little or no room to place or store what you already own.

Your apartment gets really messy, really fast

You don’t have to be very active to get the whole apartment messy and cluttered. Even if you are a neat-freak or you have OCD, you still find that your apartment just break down after a short while or it just looks crowded all the time. It is not your fault really; it is just that the ratio of stuff to space is way uneven.

Entertaining guests is truly challenging

At some point, you will want to invite people to your apartment, either for game night or just for chill, but at the thought of having to squeeze them in your apartment, you find yourself giving up. For most of the apartments, having more than three guests at a time can be a nightmare as getting up or moving around can only make sense if it is for completely necessary reasons. This is a reason why most Lagosians eat out a lot, especially when they have group lunches or hangouts.

Doing laundry becomes an ordeal

Doing laundry in a Lagos apartment can be an ordeal. First, you may not even have space to install a washing machine, and even when you give up on the idea, the bathroom may be too small for a thorough hand wash. Again, where to hang the clothes after washing is also a dilemma. You are eventually forced to come up with an award-winning strategy or you take your clothes to the Laundromat or ask a dry cleaner to render their services.

Cooking becomes a chore

For some reasons, the kitchens are usually the smallest rooms in Lagos apartments and tenants can barely fit in to make a meal. And even when the meal is prepared successfully, cleaning up (washing plates, mopping the floor) proves so difficult to manage in the small space that it most time takes away the joy of the meal. The tiny kitchens are super discouraging for a lot of people really and they just resort to eating from mama-puts or local restaurants.

You can’t hide within the space

Sometimes you have family or friends visiting and you just want to take a minute to yourself alone. Lagos tiny apartments do not make room for such as the space is so small and you are forced to notice the other person’s every activity. Even in situations where you have had a fight and need space from each other, it is almost impossible to stay clear of each other. The tiny apartment ensures you cannot stay mad at each other and you have no other option but to kiss and makeup.


source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-struggles-owning-tiny-lagos-apartment/

By Abel B.S. Gaiya

Has anyone actually stopped to consider the logical incoherence of the Arewa youths – or rather, ‘quasi-Arewa’ youths, since it is unknown the actual popularity of the Kaduna declaration and its ideological underlings among northern youths – on the present issues of restructuring and secession?

On the one hand, they vexingly mandate Igbos to leave the north and the regions to go their separate ways. Yet, they oppose propositions of political and fiscal restructuring and devolution of powers – an arrangement which would be, in essence, similar in effect, as the political, economic and fiscal effects of separation. Why is there such a wide and clear intellectual gap here?

It does seem like on the secession issue, they are led by their emotions – take the negative-emotional tone and derogatory language used in the joint press release of the Kaduna declaration, for instance –, with northern pride dominating – take Prof. Abdullahi Ango’s substantive allusion to a past when the rest of the country was being fed from the fruits of the North’s agro-economic labour, and anti-Igbo sentiments prevailing – again, as observed in the same press release. All these psychological elements produce myopia and clouds analysis and realism over the probable fiscal and economic consequences on the North.

Nonetheless, there is an importance nuance apparent here. While separation would lead to a preservation of the North’s national dominance/power, albeit as a singular national entity, restructuring within the same Nigeria would amount to a reduction in the North’s national dominance/power. This is, perhaps, where the problem lies. When separation is considered by the Q-Northern youths, the prospect of Northern dominion of Nigeria – or, whatever it would be called – seems alluring and overshadows economic concerns; but when restructuring is considered, the prospect of a decline in Northern dominion comes to the fore (and the absence of power advantages leaves open the reality of economic disadvantage), hence the opposition to this approach.

‘Restructuring’ is admittedly a complex issue. This, it could be argued, is for the reason that its motivations are multiple. The present Nigerian contraption is argued to marginalize specific ethnic groups – or, more publicly-claimed, Igbos – by preventing their political participation through public office-holding –; this calls for ‘soft restructuring’ such as the kind called for when multiple political actors and commentators, including ex-president Obasanjo and Ohanaeze youths, propose an Igbo presidency in 2019 or 2023. Power is too centralized within the federal government, and there is need for devolution of powers to the sub-national level. Some propose a return to the regional federalism of the immediate post-independence period; hence there need

The key to schematizing the reduction of the Northern barrier to restructuring is to break ‘restructuring’ apart, analyse its qualitative differentiation, assess the motivational backing behind each proposed element, consider the elements and motivations opposed by the North – and reasons for such opposition –, and then design restructure proposals which take these intricacies into account and ameliorates Northern concerns. The rest is left to political and media tact in bringing Northern votes to such a package.

For instance, since the northern opposition to fiscal federalism is based on an economic logic (i.e. the unviability of Northern governments and economies in the absence of federal allocations), a fiscal restructure proposal needs to include tangible proposals on Northern substantive development and, perhaps, an incremental – rather than wholesale – approach to fiscal restructuring that is quantitatively linked to the developmental plans. This is likely the key reason why some Northern leaders, who were members of the 2014 national conference, called on the federal government to vote more resources for exploration of oil in the North – i.e. in order to reduce the fiscal inequality between the North and the oil producing regions.

Some may argue that the purpose of fiscal restructuring is itself to facilitate development of each region by conditioning/pressurizing developmental orientation given the elimination of federal fiscal dependence. This misses the point. While this is the purpose of fiscal restructuring, the Northern barrier/veto to achieving this could be intractable, and hence this may be necessary to realize the dream. Additionally, the developmental idealism of fiscal federalism may be too abstract and idealistic when applied to the post-restructure transition process. By this it is meant that in the event of a switch to fiscal federalism, there is an inequality of initial conditions such that states which do not possess the institutional, structural, political, human, physical and financial resource, cultural, economic, and social prerequisites for development would find development post-restructuring very difficult; hence fiscal federalism is unappealing to many states (not only in the North, as the Ebonyi state governor indicates for Ebonyi). Without some forms of amelioration of these fears, these states would not support fiscal federalism.

These developmental proposals as part of the restructure package could be made as pre-restructure developmental conditions to prepare states for the implementation of fiscal federalism, or even executed simultaneously with the implementation – perhaps, again, with restructuring being mechanically/automatically incremental (e.g. with the derivation formula changing over time, with both an autonomous/independent change component and a developmentally-dependent change component).

The alternative to this strategy of ‘Northern-compensatory lure’ is to continue pressuring the North to capitulate without the tactful amelioration of its concerns – for instance, Charles Ogbu argues that confrontation with the alternative of a referendum on Biafra could pressure the North to allow for a restructured Nigeria. Matters are more complicated than this. It does seem that the combination of strong Northern opposition to restructuring and opposition of the Northern political elites to secession would make any seeming capitulation towards even a referendum lead to an emergence of militaristic oppression of pro-referendum voices and sentiments as a reaction to referendum pressures rather than restructure-capitulation, at least initially.

The chosen non-aggression path taken by the pro-Biafrans makes repression viable, but the extensive reach of the Biafran ideology and the existence of a not-too-far breaking point at which non-aggression turns armed conflict to breed systemic instability and sharp rise in war likelihood, make repression a very blunt tool which would make the users cut themselves eventually. The last thing most Northern elite wants is another civil war.

Hence, when the option of repression becomes unviable for the North – plus, other regional actors would press the North to attend to restructuring as a solution to ameliorate the intractable Biafran secessionist agitations – then Charles Ogbu’s proposition becomes manifest. Yet, I predict that rather than follow the 2014 confab report – which the northern elders actually think is representationally illegitimate –, more North-friendly restructure conditions would be presented by Northern leaders themselves. The North could even propose, and stubbornly insist on, a new and more proportionally-representative constitutional conference.

Therefore, a combination of tangible, though not excessive, Northern-compensatory proposals attached to the restructure package (to ease the North’s opposition), simultaneous pressure placed on the North – for instance, by ambiguously signalling some agreement with a referendum proposition to foster the likely capitulation of the North (and even making Northern leaders face more strongly the reality of intensifying Biafran agitations) –, as well as practical politicking with Northern elders and youths, could be the optimal strategy for achieving the passage and implementation of a restructure package. This would frankly be difficult, but not impossible to achieve, given proactive coordination of this strategy. Hence I am not as pessimistic as Ochereome Nnanna who believes that the Northern opposition is intractable; he even goes as far as claiming that it is almost impossible to effect restructuring and devolution of powers under our democratic order whereby the North has veto power – only the military can achieve this, given the elimination of democratic constraints to implementation.

Handling the Northern youths requires a complementary strategy. Youths’ agitations could undermine the above strategy used for the Northern elites. For instance, if the Northern youths perceive its leadership as capitulating to under-appealing propositions, threats or physical attacks could be launched against, say, Igbos in the North. As ex-president Goodluck Jonathan perceives, this risk of Northern physical violence against Igbos is getting realer and less abstract – even with an allusion to the sentimental conditions preceding the Rwandan genocide. This would lead to greater instability, initiate reprisal attacks in the South East, boost the migration of Igbos from the North, and accelerate subscriptions to the Biafran narrative, and raise the appeal of secession relative to that of restructuring.

Perhaps the Northern-compensatory component can also include an ambitious and clear Northern development plan (aimed particularly at youth unemployment and poverty), complemented by corresponding fiscal commitment, and corresponding institutional propositions (which intensively involves the participation of the Northern youths directly and/or indirectly, to reasonable degrees) for the implementation of this plan. The aim is to calm the youths’ fears over developmental disadvantage. They must be engaged dynamically and intensively, and won over, no matter how incrementally, to the feasibility of their development given the proposed plans.

There would naturally be dissenters against this seeming Northern preferential treatment. Therefore, such a pre-restructure accelerated developmental plan (to enable the lagging states catch up to the economic- and fiscal-leading states) may be proposed for selected states which lag the most, based on some objective criteria. This would, in itself, trigger a very politically-charged debate; but it seems we have no viable alternative strategies.

Nevertheless, rather than give out free money – which is what the pro-restructure voices argue is the problem with the current fiscal arrangement that prevents developmentalism –, very specific plans and institutional arrangements (e.g. specialized and high bureaucratic-capacity-laden regional developmental bodies to coordinate implementation of the development plans, having very strict controls against ineffectiveness, inefficiency and corruption – for instance, by having regionally-operating civil society as members of governing and/or supervisory committees, using Random Audit Programs to monitor the projects executed by these regional bodies, and so on), as well as having an automatically/mechanistically incrementally-adjusting revenue allocation formula tending towards full fiscal federalism, so that there is simultaneous pressure to develop IGR and ability (in the developmental plan provision) to do so.

I have only assessed the economic restructuring strand of the ‘restructure’ mandate. The Northern opposition to political and administrative restructuring may even be more difficult to overcome. The reason is crucial. The North takes any attempt at rearranging representational distribution away from its present advantages, not only simply as a disadvantage to it in terms of power, but as a disadvantage in terms of its rights. This value justification runs deeper than what is conventionally perceived among political commentaries. I myself noticed this nuance from Malam Tanko Yakassai, a Northern elder statesman and one of the founders of the Arewa Consultative Forum. He explains that when it comes to talks of restructuring, it is immediately taken as a way of diminishing the North’s rightful representative powers. The North suspects political and administrative restructuring proposals to be aimed at depriving the North of population-proportional representation at the National Assembly (political power), and of state-count-proportional revenue allocation (fiscal benefits). Therefore, contrary to the typical explanation that the North’s opposition to restructuring is to preserve its power and fiscal rents based on greed and parasitism, the motivation seems deeper – based on sincere beliefs of natural Northern rights.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/analyzing-northern-opposition-restructuring/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

They are probably discussing this http://www.opinions.ng/analyzing-northern-opposition-restructuring/ and other related issues.

At the early stages of business development, free publicity can be a such a saving grace for start-ups, helping them save cost and drive sustainability, while giving the business much needed public exposure at the same time. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 ways to publicize your business for free.

Take Advantage of Free Guest Blogging Communities

You can write and publish guest posts on well-trafficked sites in your niche, and take advantage of free guest blogging communities and use them as a good starting point for publicity. Try to refrain from making the article you intend to guest post too promotional, but make it clear enough for anyone who reads to come away knowing one or two vital things about your business.

Join Forums Relevant to Your Company’s Niche

Join these forums, join their conversations and offer useful and insightful answers to questions asked. Try to be as active as you can on these forums so that you can use the platform to give your business good and needed exposure.

Volunteer Your Company Leaders for Interviews

Try to leverage on some of your media or online contacts to get as many free interviews as you can for your company leaders. The interviews should of course be on subjects related to your company’s niche. This might be a bit difficult to get at the get-go (well, no one actually said it will be easy), but if you remain persistent, your efforts will eventually pay off. It’s really all about networking, building relationships and leveraging on that to get what you need.

Put Your Products or Services on Online Marketplaces or Classified Advertisement Sites

Take advantage of popular online marketplaces or classified advertisements sites related to your company’s niche, and sell your products, as well as market your business there. If it’s a hotel you’re running, you can consider putting your hotel up on popular hotel booking sites like Jumia Travel, to help market your business and increase exposure for it. Of course, these online marketplaces or booking portals collect some commission for this, but it is nothing compared to what you will spend on publicity and advertisement. You can also consider listing your business in business directories and local business listings.

Be Active on Social Media

There’s really no better way to get free marketing for your business than through social media. You need to actively put out interesting, unique and viral-worthy content that can help you build a large following and get more exposure for your business. You can also ask friends, family and even employees to regularly re-post your content. Constantly engage with your followers, answer their questions and solicit their feedback. Embrace social media as a tool for marketing your business, and dedicate time to build on it to get some much needed exposure for your business. Occasionally, you can also hold contests and give one or two things away to your followers. People love free things and this can easily help you with free word-of-mouth marketing, because people are bound to talk about it.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-ways-publicize-business-free/

By Abdussalam Amoo

​The new cut off mark for entry into tertiary institutions announced on Tuesday by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has become a topic of discourse. According to news reports, JAMB and the Vice Chancellors of all Nigerian universities agreed that 120 should be the cut off mark for entrants into universities. For polytechnics and other institutions, it the mark was pegged at 100 minimum.

It has been difficult for many of us understanding the rationale behind the resolution reached by the authorities. For me, I had thought hypothetically that it was another attempt to increase the chances of admission for those from educationally disadvantaged areas in the country. We are not unfamiliar with situations where standards were lowered for admission into unity schools for certain students based on their states of origin.

Perhaps, it was because many candidates performed below expectation in the exams. Most of those I know-of score above 250 marks. But this was an entirely computer-based exam written by many candidates who were perhaps seeing a computer for the first time. Maybe our assumptions were wrong. It would be nice if JAMB could be giving the public a breakdown of candidates’ performance as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) do every year to help us understand the extent of candidates’ performances in the exams.

However, I learnt that the reason behind resorting to such a low mark was for the sake of ‘equity’. An official present at the meeting pointed out that JAMB lamented situations whereby universities would publicly declare 200, for instance, as cut off mark but would still consider the candidate of one highly placed person who scored lower than that for admission but would deny the son of a nobody admission even when that one scored above the required mark. It was added that JAMB gave each university the free will to determine whichever cut off mark it prefers while ensuring that it does not accept anyone who scores lower than that.

The case of universities admitting those who scored below the cut off point is not new. This is not related to the exceptional cases of educationally disadvantaged areas or catchment areas. I am aware of a private university in Ogun State admitted a student who scored 150 to study Mass Communication despite publicly announcing 180 as its cut off mark. Money doeth it all, some would say. The situation is applicable in many public universities too for those who ‘know the way’. JAMB has promised to check such.

No matter how low JAMB pegs its cut off mark, universities like the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ibadan (UI) expectedly would not lower their standard for admissions. The two schools have been particularly known for setting the pace. It would be recalled that when JAMB pegged the cut off at 180 over the decades, it was UNILAG which first insisted on 200 as its cut off mark for all courses before some of its contemporaries followed suit years later. It was also the university which first adopted the notion of taking in only those who make it their first choice dubbing it the ‘university of first choice’. The admission screening procedure used in the UI for years and was what the Federal Government instructed universities to adopt last year.

Back to the issue at hand, leaving universities to determine their cut off marks not lower than the proposed 120 marks leaves certain implications. First, it would would worsen the decay in our education system. There are likely to be more university products who cannot favorably compete with their counterparts elsewhere. What do we expect from beneficiaries of mediocrity other than being mediocre? Only the exceptional ones may make a name for themselves.

Also, the situation would put certain universities on the watch. Future employers would care about which university one graduated from, more than ever. Prior to this new development, we have had cases where graduates were being discriminated against on account of the part of the country they earned their degrees. It would just get worse since obviously there is the likelihood that most of the universities to follow the lowered standard in the cut off point would do so in consideration of the indigenes of the said part.

Equally, the notion of superiority of one university over another would be much more pronounced. You can’t compare a graduate who gained admission on the basis of higher merit with that which did on lower merit. This may seem petty but may just lead to some stereotype about certain class of students from certain sets of universities.

We should not forget that a major reason behind the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is the call for improved standard of education. We shouldn’t expect things to get better in our education system if we continue to place low premium on academic excellence. No matter the eventual amount of funding or the extent of the provision of facilities for learning and research in our universities, the requirements of entry for prospective students still count.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/implications-lowered-jamb-cut-off-marks-education-system/

By Jessica Philips

For a number of working individuals, enrolling to study once again could be no less than a nightmare. However, one way to study while still maintaining some flexibility in daily life is taking online classes. But, to make the most of this opportunity and finding the experience as rich as possible, you must need to know what practice you should apply and what mistakes to avoid.

Online education comes to provide each individual an equal opportunity to study at their own convenience of time and location. Though many students don’t know the pitfalls of this medium of education and at times lands in difficult situations.

So, let’s take a look at some of the common steps you can take, to make the most out of online education and finish your studies on a higher note.

Choose the Right Institute

Commonly, this is the biggest issue student face when they enroll in an online program. There are several schools that are presently offering numerous courses to study at your own pace. But, students must probe which pick one of them would be the most beneficial for them. Additionally, considering the fact, you would be still making a reasonable investment, you should make sure you’re able to get a reasonable return.

When choosing a particular colleges or university, just make sure that they are accredited by independent agencies that guarantee and recognizes the quality of qualification. Enabling you to apply with complete confidence or even instantly buy a degree from an accredited college, based on your current work experience. You could even take benefit of online education portals that could help you search from a diverse range of courses, providing the right skills, knowledge, and expertise in your particular field. Many of these portals include services like career counseling and job placements. Perfect to assist you in laying down the foundation for a successful career ahead.

Keep a Focus to Your Studies

Online education programs are designed to provide students with the flexibility to work at their own pace. Enrolled in an online program makes you responsible to track your own performance and carry out assignments on time. So, setting a scheduled time for your study related activities will give you the utmost benefit.

There are several tools online that could help you schedule your study time better. Calendly, Doodle, Google Calendar, Meet by sunrise etc. are some of the apps that can help you schedule your time easy. Such apps assist you in writing assignments on time, preparing for a test and enabling you to stay with the pace of study. Ultimately, making things easier for your academic success.

Make Use of the ELearning Opportunity

The internet is now offering a variety of resources to help you get the most of your education. Several tools and apps like Evernote, JSTOR, Quizlet could assist you in writing your notes down in an easy way and help you learn in an interesting manner.

Additionally, you could also make use of online search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo that help you connect with the right sources when you are searching for comprehensive resources to widen your knowledge base and supply you with the right information on a particularly challenging topic.

Collaborate With Others

Online learning gives you the right opportunity to collaborate with your fellow students, just like you do in a traditional classroom. Online institutes help you interact with other students across the globe, through message boards and other means that can assist them to work with several students and teachers to overcome their problems by quick means.

Tools like Dropbox and Google Drive offer collaboration opportunity online, while platform such as join.me gives you a chance to share screens with other and discuss your issues with one other. Being an online student, who should never miss an opportunity to communicate with others on the same platform and overcome issues related to a course more quickly than conventional means!

Though online education offers you exceptional opportunity to fulfill your academic credential needs through flexible means. You must make sure to utilize these useful tools and techniques. Additionally, avoiding issues to be well on your way to success in school and leading your way to a promising career path.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/can-make-online-education/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The population of Lagos is growing as people stream into the state from different parts of Nigeria and the world. Hence, you will always find a newbie or a Johnny Just Come (JJC). The reason for this is that Lagos is the most commercially viable state in the country and this status comes with a plethora of challenges. One of which is finding your way around the city and this can be difficult if you just arrived the city. To help make it easier for you to move around Lagos with ease, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency highlights some travel hacks for the newbie. These tips will prevent you from going berserk.

Leave home as early as possible

The only way to beat Lagos traffic is to leave home early. For example, if you have an appointment for 9 am, you should leave home 5 or 6 am. This will prevent you from getting stuck in traffic.

Carry all necessary car documents

You should always have the photocopies of all your car documents in your car to prevent any delay on the road. Although the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) have the right to stop anyone on the highway, you can beat them by presenting all your documents.

Don’t allow the yellow bus drivers to get on your nerves

The yellow bus drivers believe they are the king of the road. As such, they drive recklessly. If you do not ignore them, they can get you angry and before you know it you may engage in fisticuffs with them. Just ignore them. It is not worth it.

Do not be shy to ask for direction

If you do not want to get lost, just confidently and boldly ask for direction. A person who asks for direction can never get lost.

Obey traffic rules

To prevent the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials from pouncing on you, you should obey traffic rules.

Never argue with a policeman

The policeman in Nigeria feels he is always right since he is carrying a gun. As a newbie in Lagos, do not argue with a gun-toting police man because you may risk getting shot. You should even be more conscious of this tip at night.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/lagos-travel-hacks-newbie/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Traveling is stressful. However, the behaviour of some fellow passengers can make your experience quite unpleasant. Hence, it is important for every passenger to be aware of some of the things you should not do on a flight. As such, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares some of these things.

Don’t walk around barefoot

There is nothing wrong with removing your shoes while sitting. However, it is a turn off when you walk around barefooted. So, no matter the distance of where you are going, always ensure you wear your shoes.

Recline your seat

As a passenger, you should be considerate of other passengers by not reclining your seat no matter how uncomfortable you are. But if it is absolutely necessary, you should inform the person behind you.

Badmouth our country

Quite a number of Nigerians are in the habit of badmouthing the country. Try as much as possible not to do this especially when you are on an international flight. Be patriotic and defend your country!

Letting your kids run around

Parents should be attentive to their kids and prevent them from playing around. Most people understand your kids will scream and cry. But, allowing them to play around disturbing others is unacceptable.

Don’t wear shorts

If you can, try to wear clothing that covers your skin. No one is interested in you showing off your skin.

Don’t turn off the air vent over your seat

If the air blowing makes you cold, it is advisable to wear a sweatshirt rather than turning off the vent. You should know that you are not the only passenger.

[b]source: [/b]http://www.opinions.ng/six-things-nigerians-not-flight/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Business success typically requires hard-work, commitment and dedication. However, there are a couple of secrets, the knowledge of which can help significantly drive business success. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 best-kept secrets of business success.

Have a Worst-to-Best Scale

The best way to avoid bad business decisions is to first recognize them, and one of the best ways to do this is by evaluating your business on a worst-to-best scale. Once you are able to recognize bad business decisions, it will be easier to eschew them, then identify the best options for your business and pursue them, which can significantly help to drive business success.

Create Visual Reminders of Long-Term Goals

When trying to achieve business success, it’s easy to get ‘caught up in the daily grind’ and do things that are familiar, rather than things required for growth and profitability. Having visual reminders of your long-term goals can really help to create ‘tangible reminders’ that can help to keep your business focused on growth and profitability. It will help to serve as a constant reminder of your goals and help to keep you on track to achieving them.

Welcome Honest Feedback and Criticism

Over time, this has become less of a secret to most people, however, it is still a vital factor for business success. Feedback and criticism are good because they both help you realize the faults or failures in your business or business offerings. It important to learn how to effectively process criticism by receiving, assessing and letting go of hateful or negative criticism, and evaluating and acting upon constructive criticism. In addition, you should ensure that you solicit feedback from your target audience, open all channels of communication to receive this feedback and be gracious when receiving feedback. This way, people, especially your target audience, are more likely to be supportive of your business venture.

Pay Attention To Your Intuition

A number of successful business people, Warren Buffet for example, have credited their intuition for helping them make some of their toughest business decisions. Intuition is in fact real, and it is not very wise to ignore it as a business person. If something about a business decision doesn’t sit well with you, then it is probably defective. Intuition comes from deep within your subconscious and is derived from previous life experiences; it’s more or less your true self speaking, which is why it is usually not wise to ignore it.


source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-best-kept-secrets-business-success/

By Tijjani Abdulsalam

There are three possible scenarios that follow every football match a team plays and these are, of course, win, lose or draw. There are some instances however when the wishful thinker in you imagines a fourth scenario: where both teams could win. A scenario where both teams could walk away with three points apiece, or each with a trophy-or whatever it is that is at stake-shared equally for all their efforts. But this is what it is: a mere wish. Sunday’s EPL match of the week fits perfectly into this last category we just painted

For Spurs it was a terrible anticlimax. It can be hurtful to dominate possession and control a game for long periods, yet end up with nothing. It was a typical Spurs performance you would expect nothing less. Sleek distribution and transition from defence to attack, great positioning, fantastic ball work up front and a little hardness and steel especially from the midfield bloc of Dembele-Wanyama when the going gets tough against an opponent. It was an evening in which Spurs could hardly have done any better, except of course, in goalkeeping. They dug deep when they had to, attacked and counter-attacked, created chances, carved out openings, crossed and shot, hit the bar all to one outcome: nothing. In all fairness, not many matches would require this level of performance to be won.

If there is one thing expected of Champions starting their title defence off on the wrong footing, it is to make a statement of intent. The Blues clash with Spurs, and the eventual hard-fought triumph, was such a statement. It wasn’t a typical Blues performance, being pushed back for long periods of time and trailing in possession and other statistics by a wide margin. But whatever the Blues lacked in possession they made up for with their intelligent off-the-ball movement, close marking, excellent positioning, limiting of spaces and ruthless efficiency up front when the chance presented itself.

It is still early days yet and both teams would face sterner tests that would stretch the depths of their squads over the course of the season, especially with continental football on the horizon. Situations would arise where a team would have to go above board and play near-perfect football to prevail, as with Spurs. Or one would be forced to dig deep, adjust to opposition and effectively utilize individual brilliance to prevail, as did Chelsea. Either one is the mark of champions … and potential champions.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/chelsea-vs-spurs-mark-champions-potential-champions/

cc: lalasticlalal mynd44

The Yorubas are one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are mainly found in the South-Western part of the country. They are popular for two things-education and culture. In this case, we want to focus on the later which is culture.

Although almost all ethnic groups in Nigeria are culturally conscious, that of the Yorubas is a notch higher. Hence as a traveller to states such as Osun, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti; you are expected to know or be aware of some cultural rules which you cannot find in a book. You are taught from your childhood. In order not to fall foul of these unwritten cultural rules, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares some of these rules.

Greeting is a must

It is an 'abomination' if you walk past a Yoruba man or woman without greeting. It is even worse when you know them and you still do not greet. They will perceive you as uncultured, disrespectful and lacking home training.

Give elders items with your left hand

You must have observed that some people frown their faces or do not accept an item from the giver if you offer it with your left hand. This is one of the ways to indirectly 'offend' a Yoruba person. Even among your peers, you should not give items with your left hand. Always use your right hand.

Don't call your sister/brother by their name

For the Yorubas, even if the age difference is just a year, you must add a prefix like aunt or uncle. It is even more unacceptable if you call someone way older than you by their name. The person will just ignore or be lackadaisical.

Leave when parents have a visitor (s)

If you do not want to get into trouble with your parents especially your mum, you should leave when they have visitors. They do not want you to eavesdrop. If you decide to stay, the reward is a dirty slap from your mum!

Always eat your meat last

We do not know the source of this rule but when dining with a Yoruba family, you should always eat your meat last.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-unwritten-cultural-rules-yorubas/