₦airaland Forum

@Labiyemmy

I have a few questions for you regarding the maps you have.

1. Does it have street level information - house addresses?
2. Can you burn the map on a DVD in the same format as a Navteq DVD?
3. Do you have the ability to update the maps with new roads. In other words, can you physically collect the data using GIS equipments?
4. Are you taking steps to protect your maps (copyrights)?
5. Lastly, do you know someone by the name Ir***i?

I understand if you can't answer some of the questions in a public forum.

Thanks!

Kudos to Kehinde Adeyemi for this proves that Nigerians currently in Nigeria have the educational wherewithal to compete at an international level. We need more people like Kehinde to show Nigeria’s intellectual ability so that, maybe one day, developed countries can out-source lucrative software related jobs to Nigeria.

I also agree with the posters that said he has not broken any record.  This is not an attack on Kehinde but on the journalist reporting the story. I get my Nigerian related news from news aggregators online but I don’t even bother clicking on most of the links due to the fallacies in their titles. I wonder if most of these news outlets have editors; and if they do, did they ever bother taking English Language while in school?

Seun, have you thought of enabling or incorporating PMs, assuming the feature is present in your forum software, for each user? I ask because it will go a very long way in fostering a better experience for your users here on Nairaland. I’m sure there are quite a number of people that wants to communicate something private to another user but would rather not publically disclose their email address or phone number. As this is a public forum, I like to keep my identity anonymous.

Here’s my veiled attempt at a business case for taking on the extra cost. Allowing people to send messages to users’ PMs ensures that they log on to your site to communicate which generates more traffic – more traffic equals more revenue

What do you think fellow Nairalanders?

EDIT: It looks like the feature existed sometime ago.

Carlosein:
Tamedo is right.

Tamedo is right but only to the extent that it applies to nickel-based batteries due to memory contained therein. Look up “memory effect” or “lazy battery effect.” With regards to newer laptops with lithium-based batteries, Tamedo is wrong.

Lithium-based batteries, like the ones used in newer laptops, do not contain any memory and as a result should be charged more frequently rather than being deep-discharged. Reducing heat to the battery should be the primary concern and not the actual charging/discharging cycle.

Also, due to the fact that lithium-based batteries are inherently unsafe, it is mandated that they include safety features before being sold commercially. One of the safety features is a “thermal interrupt” that protects against overcharging and overcurrent.

In other words, you cannot literally overcharge a lithium-based battery but keeping it plugged-in will generate heat which will have an adverse effect on the longevity of the battery.

Bottom-line: DO NOT keep your newer (lithium-based battery) laptop permanently plugged in.

How to prolong lithium-based batteries

Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.

Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.

Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.

Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)

Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.

If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

Jovie:
I need help deciding between electronic engineering and computer engineering.

I would say Electrical Engineering but you should take as many programming electives as you can. In today’s world, it is very hard to get by in EE without knowing how to program except if you work at the component level.

Disclaimer: My advice is based on working in the US. The Nigerian market may treat EEs differently.

unite4real:
I am getting more confused here. i would like to know which of the two you would choose if the options are placed side by side, ie premium wheel car and an alloy wheel car

There's no reason to get confused; read my previous post. But here’s the hierarchy with number 1 being the most desired:
1. Premium wheels which is most likely made of alloy
2. Alloy wheels
3. Steel wheel with plastic covers

To answer your question directly, if both cars are the same year, model, mileage and have the same options, get the one with the premium wheels because the original owner paid extra for it.

Unfortunately, in order to cut cost, some people have to go but the question is, how many? Also, the number of laid off workers can be reduced by finding alternatives means of reducing cost like having the workers take a furlough (unpaid leave). Also, only people that have seen the banks’ books can comment on the right number of people to lay-off; however, the banks not announcing any other cost cutting measure makes me believe that they have no other plan.

I’m a realist, and I understand enough of how business works to know that at times drastic measures are needed. However, in a country like Nigeria, such measures are a little harder to swallow because there is no welfare system in place. The welfare of the citizens of a country solely rests with the government and one cannot blame the business executives for ensuring the survival of their (shareholder’s) company except the executives found wanting. Here's a quick calculation for you, if the average pay of the laid off employees is $1M per year, sacking 3500 people will save the bank $3.5 billion off the books per year.

The government needs to find a solution to the power problem so that the manufacturing sector can, at least, have a shot at competing with imported goods. The manufacturing sector is the only sector big enough to absorb most of the unemployed in Nigeria.

Also, Sanusi did not cause the problem and if he had just turned a blind eye, sooner or later, things will implode. Remember, "a stitch in time save nine." May God help us all!

Premium wheels just mean that you pay more (premium) for them. In other words, like someone said earlier, you can have a standard wheel from a manufacturer but when they add chrome to those wheels, they charge you a premium for it. Usually, premium wheels will be bigger than the standard wheels but doesn’t have to be.

To give you a better context, when you want to buy a brand new car, you have the choice of adding more options than what comes standard on the car. If you want, one of the options can be a premium wheel, which they will charge you extra for.

The short definition is a wheel that doesn’t come standard on the car. The word “standard” in the context of cars means – things included in the base price.

If you understand what I’ve said so far, then you would see that an alloy wheel could also be a premium wheel. Example – 17 inches standard wheel but you have the option of upgrading it to a 20 inches alloy wheel, which you have to pay an extra $4,000 premium for.

Alloy is just a mixture of metals.

Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience!

I tried to read most of the post but….

Here’s my take on some of the conjectures and misinformation I’ve read so far:

[list]
[li]War simulations – if you know anything about the US military, you would know that these simulations are perfectly normal and is carried out in most problematic geographic areas of the world. Every type of agency that has to respond to emergency situations have some sort of drill. Even at my company, we have fire drills once a month that involves triggering the fire alarm by the fire dept and everybody is expected to congregate outside the building so that they can be accounted for.[/li]
[li]Why is it needed? Well, you don’t want to be caught with your pants down. A perfect example was during 9/11, the police and firefighters that responded had trouble communicating with each other over the radio because they came from different geographic areas. Basically, they where communicating over different channels, using different codes, the communication infrastructure got overwhelmed. By doing drills in different geographic areas, you lessen the chances that a problem unique to that area might turn into a real problem if war actually happens.[/li]
[li] Prediction of Nigeria breaking up – the CIA has collects facts on every single country and has strategy worked out that are updated periodically. It is called planing ahead! All you need to do is look at Nigeria in her current state, and it is not hard to come to the same conclusion.[/li]
[li] US can’t act because of China – Sure, China is holding a lot of US debt but that’s only half the story. The Chinese need the Americans to consume their exports because China derives their growth from exporting. Why do you think the trade deficit with the US is so large? The Chinese don’t have the capacity to consume their products. What do you think will happen when the US stops importing Chinese products? Both countries will become destabilized. The US will have problems because people won’t be able to find what they need, at least initially, and the Chinese will have to close most of their factories. You have to realize that the relationship between both countries is a symbiotic one.
[/li]

[li]Moreover, the Chinese has an unsaid policy of shying away from international politics. When was the last time the Chinese contributed an army to a peace keeping mission? On the other hand, they do have the capacity to lunch a cross-continental attack.[/li]

[li] Why is the US concerned – they have a strategic interest in seeing Nigeria succeed. What interest? Oil. There’s a little bit of moral-type interest also especially for the British.[/li]

[li] China vs. US – US is the only super power in the world after the collapse of USSR. I don’t think most of you know that China is still a developing nation. It has a lot of potential but like I said potential.  The purchasing power of the US is almost twice that of China.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html?countryName=United%20States&countryCode=us&regionCode=na&rank=2#us

[/li]
[li] I guess it is human nature to try to deflect or blame others for one’s personal problem. Rather than dissecting whatever was said, why not try to reflect inward and try to see if there's some truth to what was said?[/li]

[/list]

thejonny09:
Please any idea on were one can get a better training on PLC Programming in Nigeria? Were I work our PLC panel programme sometimes malfuction and none of the engineers and technicians know anythink about it including the IT guys. The company normally subscribe for the programme to be corrected or reprogrammed abroad and sometimes those guys fly in. Any idea were I can learn this stuff in Nigeria?

Here’s a website that should get you off and running but be cognizant of the different manufacturers out there and their ladder logics.

http://www.plcdev.com/

AjanleKoko:
Tunde Oyewole.
Mind you, it's not about Nigeria. It's more about the guy.

Cool, I see his profile at Olajide Oyewole & Co.

Thanks!

AjanleKoko:
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". - Arthur C. Clarke "Profiles of The Future" 1961 (Clarke's third law)

Hmmm, akika:-)

PS: I'm assuming akika means "well said" and hopefully not "oje". Great quote!

If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
-Confucius

I can’t really say which is more challenging since I really can't substantively compare both. But I can say without a doubt that to become a doctor is more grueling and demanding. Also, all “doctors” are not created equal.

Doctors               ($128,000- $219,000)  – 4 years premed + 4 years med school + 3 residency
General surgeon ($212,000 - $437,000)   - 4 years premed + 4 years med school + 5 residency
Neurosurgeon    ($277,000 – $709,000)  - 4 years premed + 4 years med school + 6 residency
Heart surgeon    ($227,000 – $650,000)  - 4 years premed + 4 years med school + ~9 residency


To be honest, I think being a general practitioner (regular doctors) is not that prestigious and it is reflected in how much they get paid. Here’s a little secret, not all doctors are well off. Their six-figure salary might seem a lot but not when considering the amount of hours they put in. In other words, their pay rates are not that impressive.

Further, depending on the kind of electrical engineering work you do, it could definitely be a life long learning process. As someone who has worked on things considered “black magic” in the engineering world, I can tell you electrical engineering problems are as difficult as they come. However, you don’t need the same amount of schooling as doctors to solve a problem, you just have to be very smart and have a very good foundation to build on. Your success in engineering mainly depends on your understanding of the theoretical fundamental principles and how you can extrapolate them to explain and create real world solutions…easier said than done. Another thing, studying engineering only teaches you the building blocks you need to solve a real life problem.

I think both professions are needed because a country can't become developed without engineers and without doctors, all the engineers will die at a very young age before developing anything substantial.

Salaried jobs can be a modern form of slavery but it all depends on how much you’re getting paid for the work you’re doing and under what conditions. For example, if you hawk pure water and you make a sale of $10k per month, you can’t expect to be paid $15k per month. At the end of the day, for a business to succeed, the numbers have to add up. Go to China sweatshops to see what modern day slavery looks like.

Now, if your complaints are that the daily average wage of a typical Nigerian is not enough to survive on, that’s a different issue entirely and the solution will depend on whether exploitation is taking place or the workers are too low skilled.

On the issue of entrepreneurship, I think it is a great idea that people who are business inclined should give a shot at running their own business as long as they have an idea and the necessary tools to help them succeed. Keep in mind that everybody can’t be a chief; somebody has to be the consumer. Also, working for someone is a great way to acquire specialized knowledge that you might need to run your future business. Or better yet, it might expose you to business opportunities that might otherwise be obscured from you.

I think the reality with Nigeria is that the government provides majority of the employment to people and there is no way they, the govt, have the capacity to absorb the all the unemployed. Further, govt mostly spends money and not make money. They make money from taxes and getting a percentage of exported natural resources.

The only way that the standard of living can improve is by empowering the private sector, especially the entrepreneurs. The govt needs to help by providing small business workshops, loans, and incentives to start ones own business. The truth is that over 95% of those businesses will fail within the first 5 years; however, some of the ones that will succeed that turn out to be the Google of tomorrow.

Assuming arguendo that kidnapping is more rampant in some geographic area of the country, how long do you think it will take the criminal elements in other geographic areas to take notice? Do you think criminals are motivated by morals or easy access to make millions?

This might sound cold, especially if the kidnapped person is a loved one, stop paying the ransom! I know it is easier said than done and I’m probably sure that if my family member is kidnapped, I’ll probably pay. But not paying is the only way to discourage the easy access to millions of naira.

Why do you think that the American government adopted the policy of not negotiating with kidnappers? To think of it, kidnapping seems a lot easier than robbing a bank or a house!

A lawyer cannot lie outright due to running afoul of his professional responsibilities.

For example, if I was representing a client that’s on trial for murder and he was caught at the murder scene with the weapon in his hand, do you think I should just throw in the towel?

What you have to understand is that a defense lawyer cannot prove the prosecutor’s case. It is up to the prosecutor to explain the circumstantial evidence found on my client and it is my sworn duty as a defense attorney to create reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors or try to get the evidence thrown out. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are adversaries with divergent ultimate goals.

You have to understand that if everybody including the prosecutor and the defense attorneys plays their part zealously, on average, the truth will prevail.

Here in the US, if your client confesses to you, you cannot put him on the stand knowing that he will perjure himself. The best thing you can do is to explain to your client from the outset about the ground rules and tell him to keep his incriminating statements to himself.

The forgoing reasons are why I can never practice criminal or family law, because in real life, the good guys don’t always win and even if they win, they still hurt.

Hi Ajanlekoko,
Do you happen to know the name of the professional you talked out being an engineer/lawyer? I hope I can find his profile online to see exactly what his background is. I know it is relatively easy to move into the business world with an engineering background especially if you get an MBA but moving to a legal field in Nigeria seems more difficult. Over here, the fact that you need a first degree before you're addmitted to a law school makes such path somewhat apparent.

Here’s a completely different career move that might seem very strange to most practitioners working in Nigeria. I was an Electrical Engineer and after about 10 years in the profession, I switched to become an attorney. Unlike most engineers I know, I had a very interesting highly technical job which I love. I was a principal engineer for a very big company (~100k employees) that built RF sensors.

So why my switch to law? I have always believed on not resting on one’s laurels and looking for new ways to challenge myself. In most countries with a developed patent system, only people with the right technical background can become a patent attorney due to the technical nature of the patents you deal with. It is highly common to have someone with a phd in physics, chemistry or biology become a patent attorney.

Being a Patent Attorney is probably not a marketable field in Nigeria – yet. Hopefully, we will become civilized enough that intellectual property rights will be enforced because until then, foreign direct investment (FDI) will only trickle into the country.

To those thinking, “Why would you need an engineering background to an attorney?” Here’s an example of a claim that you might be expected to write or dissect. I just copied this from an application online:

A radar device, comprising:
a plurality of sequentially switchable transmitting antennas having mutually different transmission beam directions configured to radiate a radio wave;
a plurality of receiving antennas configured to receive signals reflected from a target, with reference to the radio wave radiated from the plurality of transmitting antennas; and
an azimuthal direction detection device configured to detect an azimuthal direction of the target on the basis of a phase difference or an amplitude difference between the signals received with the plurality of receiving antennas,
wherein the azimuthal direction detection device includes a decision device configured to determine the azimuthal direction of the target from the phase difference between the signals received with the plural receiving antennas, and configured to decide that the detected azimuthal direction of the target is true when it substantially coincides with the azimuthal direction obtained with radio waves from the transmitting antennas having the transmission beam whose azimuthal direction approximates to the detected azimuthal direction of the target.

I’ll bite…I’ll feed you trolls just this time! To those of you just playing along, I apologize.

It amazing how shallow-minded individuals can’t embrace what makes us different and actually use it to their advantage. In the US, minorities claim discrimination, racism, racial profiling over why they’re not successful or treated differently. They find it unbelievable when I tell them that the exact same issue exists in most African counties except we have a different name for it – tribalism.

I’m sure it’s all you closed-minded ignorant sh*t heads that will be the first to complain about some white person not according you the respect you deserve. How do you think the whites regard us Africans especially when they know that you are a Nigerian? You think they really give a rat ass what geographic area of Nigeria you’re from? To them, we all are crooks who shouldn’t be trusted for sh*t.

Yet, instead of you people figuring out, at the very least, how we got here and what we can do about it…you’re busy tribalising bad behavior! There are bad people among us who will rather take the easy way out but it has nothing to with where you’re from!

Do you know how many times my colleagues approached me about receiving 419-type email?

It’s funny when I see you shallow-minded people trying to prove that you’re better than the next person. Even if you are, what does that make you – a local champion? To all you local champions out there keep in mind that “In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king”!

Half-educated ignorant fools that’s not worth the number of bytes that this post is taking up in storage!

[quote author=Busy_body link=topic=229968.msg3500249#msg3500249 date=1235326140]^^^ You put jazz for mouth Bunch of rude boors [/quote]I guess the jazz is not working on you I need to go have a talk with the baba!!!

Isn’t “rude boor” redundant?

I assume a 3rd class is very bad…what’s that on a 4.0 or 5.0 scale?

There are a few ways around it.

Get a job: the first job is usually the hardest because after years of experience, most employers will not ask you how well you did in school.
Back to school: you might have to do prep work to get accepted.
Start a business: your success or failure totally depends on YOU.

Give up: as long as you’re breathing and in good health, this shouldn’t be an option. Even when you get a thousand doors slammed in your face; your luck might be walking through the 1001th door.

In life there are no guaranties. Just because you get a first class doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful in life…you could just end up living a mediocre life. All schooling does is increasing your chance of success.

The most important thing in life is to do your best in whatever you do.

You claim that your bike runs on alternative fuel energy and you try to provide some info.
The info you provided is too basic (primary school level); even a simple Google search would have turned up more info than you provided.

Let me ask you very specific questions:
1. What kind of battery are you using? Voltage, startup current (crank)?
a. Give me the name of the manufacturer and model number.
b. How big is it?
2. You said you’re working on a system to recharge the battery when in motion. In order words, you’re working on an alternator. How do you intend to power the alternator?
a. Is this were the wind comes in? Have you developed a perpetual machine?
3. How does wind figure into all of this? How do you convert the wind into energy?
4. How is what you’ve developed different from a toy car running on batteries?
5. You claim to get up to 160KPH. Is that just on batteries? How much power does your battery have?
a. What kind of gearing is on your bike?
b. What’s the final drive ratio?
c. How long did it take you to get up to speed?
6. The wheels and tires look custom. Who are the manufacturers?
7. You must have some sort of suspension? What type?
8. What’s the weight of your bike?
9. Finally, what’s the horsepower of your bike?

Please answer my questions in specific details not with just generalities.

My man, I know you’re full of shit but I just feel like playing along. There’s nothing wrong with having a dream or even just building a model or prototype, you have to start somewhere. The most important thing is that if you can get your mind working, it’s only a matter of time before you make a difference.

But the very first thing you need to do before you can build any machine is to understand the fundamentals. You don’t necessary have to learn it from school but you have to learn it.

Although, I wouldn’t go as far as the OP but I can kind of relate.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with dating a poor girl but keep an eye out to see if she’s money hungry. The same goes for a rich girl dating a rich guy. I also don’t equate being poor with laziness, there are poor (middle class) people that work very hard for the little they have.

Money hungry people always want to dine on your dime. There’s nothing more of a turn off than a girl that doesn’t even attempt to pay for anything. The truth is that I won’t let her pay even if she wants to just because. Although, there are times you have to look past her shortcomings, at least in the interim.

Money is just a material possession and you can lose it all through no fault of your own. But you have to screen your significant other to make sure they won’t be your downfall through greed.

Also, I think you need to be very cautious with kids from rich parents. They generally tend not to know the value of money and take everything for granted. I would be more worried about dating a girl from a rich family that has nothing going on for her personally.

I think the most likely people to make it in life are people from humble beginnings. Rich kids tend to squander or mismanage their parents’ money once the parents die. Also with most Nigerian pseudo-rich people, they tend to live beyond their means…and usually go broke before they die. Be careful what you ask for.

Also, guys share part of the blame…we like to floss too much. Nigerians are generally flashy but I guess that’s why we’re not oyinbos. I know I’m guilty…although level pass level.

I agree with some of the posters that said this is the only way for the guy to blow the whistle. There’s nothing wrong in blowing the whistle on dishonest people. It’s now up to journalist or EFCC to take that info and see if they can make anything out of it or determine that the OP is just delusional,

I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the allegations are true or they have some elements of truth to them. I don't see how any sophisticated investor can invest in the Nigerian market when most of their books are cooked. But I guess there comes a time when the benefits outweigh the risks…especially with the kind of returns people are getting a couple of years ago.

I understand that some foreign companies cook their books also or at least perform some borderline legal “creative accounting” but at least you can be rest assured that you can get some information about the publicly traded ones except of course you’re Madoff.

I truly hope the financial sector doesn’t collapse because Nigeria’s future depends on it.

Full article from a military website
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/mavni-fact-sheet.pdf


MILITARY ACCESSIONS VITAL TO NATIONAL INTEREST (MAVNI) RECRUITMENT PILOT

The Secretary of Defense authorized the military services to recruit certain legal aliens whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest. Those holding critical skills – physicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural backgrounds – would be eligible. To
determine its value in enhancing military readiness, the limited pilot program will recruit up to 1,000 people, and will continue for a period of up to 12 months.


ELIGIBILITY
1. The applicant must be in one of the following categories at time of enlistment
a. asylee, refugee, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or
b. nonimmigrant categories E, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, TC, TD, TN, U, or V
2. The applicant must have been in valid status in one of those categories for at least two years immediately prior to the enlistment date, but it does not have to be the same category as the one held on the date of enlistment; and
3. An applicant who may be eligible on the basis of a nonimmigrant category at time of enlistment (see 1b above) must not have had any single absence from the United States of more than 90 days during the two year period immediately preceding the date of enlistment.

Health Care Professionals
• Applicants must fill medical specialties where the service has a shortfall
• Applicants must meet all qualification criteria required for their medical specialty, and the criteria for foreign-trained DoD medical personnel recruited under other authorities
• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English
• Applicants must commit to at least 3 years of active duty, or six years in the Selected Reserve Enlisted Individuals with Special Language and Culture Backgrounds
• Applicants must possess specific language and culture capabilities in a language critical to DoD
• Applicants must demonstrate a language proficiency
• Applicants must meet all existing enlistment eligibility criteria
• Applicants must enlist for at least 4 years of active duty
(Services may add additional requirements)

Languages
• Albanian
• Amharic
• Arabic
• Azerbaijani
• Bengali
• Burmese
• Cambodian-Khmer
• Chinese
• Czech
• Hausa
• Hindi
• Hungarian
• Igbo
• Indonesian
• Korean
• Kurdish
• Lao
• Malay
• Malayalam
• Moro
• Nepalese
• Persian [Dari &
Farsi]
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Pushtu (aka Pashto)
• Russian
• Sindhi
• Sinhalese
• Somali
• Swahili
• Tamil
• Turkish
• Turkmen
• Urdu
• Yoruba

BACKGROUND
Non-citizens have served in the military since the Revolutionary War. The Lodge Act of 1950 permitted non-citizen Eastern Europeans to enlist between 1950 and 1959. Additionally, the United States officially began recruiting Filipino nationals into the Navy in the late 1940s, when it signed the Military Bases Agreement of 1947 allowing U.S. military bases in the Philippines. In total, over 35,000 Filipinos enlisted in the Navy through the program between 1952 and 1991.

Today, about 29,000 non-citizens serve in uniform, and about 8,000 legal permanent resident aliens (green card holders) enlist each year. Law ensures that the sacrifice of non-citizens during a time of national need is met with an opportunity for early citizenship, to recognize their contribution and
sacrifice.

In fact, today's service members are eligible for expedited citizenship under a July 2002 Executive Order, and the military services have worked closely with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to streamline citizenship processing for service members. Since Sept. 11, 2001,
nearly 43,000 members of the Armed Forces have attained their citizenship while serving this nation.

The army is looking for a lot more people than just those of Igbo decent. Here's a complete list which include Hausas and Yorubas among others:

• Albanian
• Amharic
• Arabic
• Azerbaijani
• Bengali
• Burmese
• Cambodian-Khmer
• Chinese
• Czech
• Hausa
• Hindi
• Hungarian
• Igbo
• Indonesian
• Korean
• Kurdish
• Lao
• Malay
• Malayalam
• Moro
• Nepalese
• Persian [Dari &
Farsi]
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Pushtu (aka Pashto)
• Russian
• Sindhi
• Sinhalese
• Somali
• Swahili
• Tamil
• Turkish
• Turkmen
• Urdu
• Yoruba

This is an open forum and as such everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I'm not an R&B guy, especially R&B from Nigerians but the negative comments reminded me of this video. Banky, I'm sure you don't need me to tell you to keep doing what you do.

[flash=425,344]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LFBNbDzBs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0[/flash]

At least for most of us English is not our first language; “English” came to us on a boat. On a side note, the Nigerians that I went to law school with always get an additional extra hour on their exams because they claim English is not their first language. I think that's BS considering that they already have a law degree from Nigeria.

What I do find appalling is when mistakes are made in the Newspapers, at least on their websites; don’t they have editors? Typographical and punctuation errors are somewhat excusable depending on who your audience is. When your audience is in a formal setting you have to put your best foot forward and any errors, especially in written form, is perceived as unprofessional or laziness.

Everybody makes mistakes. It’s even worse when you hear Americans, me included, speak in a non-professional setting.

The names on the terror list has nothing to do with your name being a Muslim name or not. Names are not just added arbitrarily but are added when your name triggers one or more “filters”. What triggers the filters are kept secret but I can assure you that telecommunications serves as one of the inputs.

Someone mentioned the American embassy being responsible for lost business in America to China. People buy “stuff” from China not because of their “lax immigration” policy but due to their lower cost. An even American company buys most of their product from China. Have you seen the latest trade deficit figure America has with China?

I also find it funny that people are asking for a refund after their “application” has been processed. Weren’t you aware of the non-refund policy before you applied? Also, who is supposed to pay for the processing of your documents; the American taxpayers?

I would wager a bet that there’s more to the story of the OP.