Bobby

Pig farming or piggery is one of the lucrative types of livestock farming anyone can start in Nigeria, its meat can be found in most Nigerian market and meat stores. The era when people consider pig as inappropriate for human consumption is long gone as it is now largely consumed by many people. This kind of farming does not require much capital to start and is a profitable business too. If you want to start pig farming business in Nigeria, please don’t hesitate, start making your money now but after you must understand what is required of you from this article. • It is improper to start a pig farm without knowing anything about it that is why is its necessary to, first of all, get the basic training on what pig farming entails either by enrolling yourself in an entrepreneurship training or work on a pig farm for a while, this will help you get the answers to the questions you may have later and also give you an insight into the secrets of successful piggery. • Decide on the specie(s) of pigs you will go for including the scale of your operation, whether it will be small or large, this will enable you to plan yourself very well and also get the necessary facilities needed in place before commencing on this kind of farming business. • The scale of your operation will help you to get a suitable land, but no that whether you are going into small-scale operation or large scale operation that you need a land that is sizable enough so that it will give the pig enough space to graze comfortably unless you are farming just to serve as a source of meat to your family. • It is better to start a pig farm when they are young, because younger ones are easier to control and adapt than the older ones, and consider checking on their health first before buying them as you wouldn’t want spending money on vaccines and other medications. Also know that as a new starter, it is better to buy few piglets at first so that you can able to know how to manage and monitor them well. • Feeds for pigs is not really a major concern because they are highly omnivores as they mostly feed on grasses (plants) and animals, therefore consider planting grasses around but within the area of your farm. The grasses will attract others small animals too which will all serve as a food source to the pig and in addition to this they also eat vegetable and fruits, so you may like to scout for fruit sellers around your locality to be collecting the peels of the fruits they sell to complements their food nutrition and diet. • Make sure that the essential things they need are ready, like building standard pens large enough to accommodate your pigs when they will start increasing, it will also serve as a source of shelter and protect them from harsh weather conditions as well. Consider the drainage systems to avoid bad odours and contamination from stagnant water. Also make sure that is a proper means of feeding, water supply and sanitation. • According to the scale of business operation, employ workers who will be helping or assisting you in some cases, as you cannot be the jack of all trade, you can start with very few at first and then increase their number as the pigs and profits increases. Pig farming is more profitable than you can imagine, you should know that its meat is not the only source of income; the skin can be used also in the production of a diverse range of leather materials. And in as much they are heavy eaters they pay you back in folds, how? They give birth multiple times like 2 or 3 times in a year, and at each stage can bear 8-12 piglets, which means that for every pig you will be expecting 15-25 piglets in a year.

In almost every home in the rural areas in Nigeria, there is an orange tree and of all the fruits available in Nigeria too, orange is the commonest. Not only is it nutritious and contains lots of vitamins and minerals it is readily available at all seasons though it might be a little pricey sometimes. Orange is an all season fruits but grows abundantly during late April, early May and December, many farmers tend to venture into it or in some cases complement it with other farming activities. Going into the agricultural business of planting oranges is good but it’s better to have the knowledge of the necessary requirements that will make you succeed; such things like the best soil type, the climate conditions and more as are discussed below: • You can start small and then advance later; you can purchase a plot of land which can accommodate about 40 to 50 orange trees. In selecting a land, there are other things you have to consider, is the farm accessible by vehicles? if it is not so, it will be difficult for you to transport your goods to the market or buyers to come to your farm. • There is no need to worry about if the climate is good or not, oranges are tropical fruits and can grow well in most parts of the country just make sure that the land (soil) has a normal pH value of 6.0 to 7.0 and that it is fertile enough, though you can increase its fertility by adding manure and fertilizers. Oranges are best planted in loamy soil so that water can easily be drained down into the deep roots and can get absorbed as well. • One thing is to apply fertilizers to plants and another thing is to know when to apply it and the suitable one for such crop. To get a better outcome, try and know what essential nutrients like minerals that an orange tree needs to grow and develop well. This will make you channel your idea on the type of fertilizer to use so that you will supply the plants with the needed nutrients to avoid malnutrition. • It is vital that you know how to grow an orange from seed and the necessary things it needs, growing of oranges are best carried out during the raining season because it needs enough water to grow well and avoid the plants from dying as well. You can also make use of an irrigation system to supply enough water that the plant needs. • Try as much as possible to space the orange tree well so that it can receive adequate sunlight, air and more that will make it grow effectively. In most cases, the spaces or the meter each tree is away from the other depends on the type of soil used as well as the method for its cultivation. • Oranges, just like any other plants are affected by some diseases and pests, such diseases include rotting of the roots, gummosis and others, and some of the pests are snail, citrus leafminer and thrips, blackfly etc. Having this in mind will help you be on the lookout for such diseases and pests so that you can effectively treat it, control and manage them on time without much damage to the fruit tree. For anyone who wants to indulge in this profitable farming business should know that patience is greatly required because it is a perennial crop and needs adequate skills in the maintenance and cultivating of such fruits.Also, know that oranges can start producing fruits within the first year of its cultivation but in small quantity, and as the year progresses it produces much fruits per tree which make oranges farming quite lucrative.

Fish farming is a not a new thing anymore in Nigeria, most farmers and entrepreneurs have found such business as a better source of income and have strived to widen it to accommodate many kinds of fish species, but among all the fishes the most popular and commonly sought after is the catfish followed by tilapia. People most times go for catfish farming because it is one of the most suitable fishes that do well and is easier to farm in Nigeria considering the climate and weather. • Starting catfish farming business in Nigeria is good but is far better when you know the primary and essential things required for the success of the farming operation. Catfish farming might seem easy but it needs adequate attention and knowledge, so the initial thing you have to do when this business pops up in your mind is how to get the best training on catfish farming so that you wouldn’t do things the wrong way. • Consider how you will like to run the business, but in most cases starting on a smaller scale is better as it will help you to easily manage the business well and wouldn’t lose much when the business is at risk, you can then expand it later when you must have learnt your lessons and correct your mistakes. • Choose the species of catfish but after you must have made the necessary research which includes knowing what kind of catfish the markets around your farm needs, try and meet hotels and restaurants that might need constant supplies of catfishes before concluding on which to embark on. You are going into such business to make money so knowing what your target markets needs are paramount. • Find a suitable land that will accommodate your farming business, you can buy if you have enough money or you can rent and buy one later when you start making enough profit. But it is very important to know if there is any catfish farmer in that area so that you won’t be competing with anyone especially those who have made a name in such business. • Building a fish pond is not what you can do yourself, even if you can, you still need others to assist you, but it is very important that you employ the services of skilled labourers who will build it according to your design while you supervise their work. Consider the depth and size of the pond as well to avoid overcrowding the fishes or fishes escaping due to the shallowness of the pond and build it in partitions with a flattop. • Stock the pond with healthy and quality fingerling depending on the species you are going for, and try to find out the diseases that are associated with such fishes and how to control and prevent it. Put into consideration also their feeding, water supply source and management. Almost everyone wants to venture into catfish fish farming to start making profits, it is not a bad idea at all but you must know that fishes need exceptional care and management from what they eat, to quality water, temperature and all other things they need to survive and grow healthier and bigger.

Rice farming is one of the most lucrative agriculture businesses one can embark on given the current state of the economy. Among the many practical agriculture business ideas for entrepreneurs, rice farming is among the most profitable. The demand for rice is ever-present and steadily increasing. Rice is the most consumed staple food item in many countries, including Thailand, China, Indonesia, and Nigeria. A recently conducted study has shown that Nigeria consumes about 5.5 million tons of rice annually. Of this quantity, only 3.6 million tons are produced locally. The remaining 1.9 million tons are imported into the country. Rice produces one of the highest yields when compared to other agricultural products. With the right planting conditions in place, you could harvest about 100 bags of rice from one acre of land. HOW TO START RICE FARMING To begin farming, you will need to buy (or lease) a flat land composed of a good amount of clay and organic matter (loamy soil). The land should not be acidic and should have good water retention capacity. Also to keep up the nutrient of the farmland, legumes should be planted on the land after the rice planting season. A common practice among people who wish to embark on rice farming is to approach land owners and ask for their permission to farm on their land. Also, some state governments map out some acres of land to encourage farmers. You should visit your state Ministry of Agriculture and find out what programs they have in place to support rice farmers. SOURCE FOR THE BEST RICE SEEDLINGS It is necessary to look for the best variety of rice seedlings for planting. This will go a long was to hasten the growth period of the rice plants and increase their resistance to diseases and pest attack. The variety of seed chosen should depend on the type and condition of the farmland. Some common varieties of rice seedling recommended by the Institute of Agricultural and Research Training are; Faro 38 (IRAT 133), FARO 39 (IRAT 144), FARO 45 (ITA 257), FARO 46 (ITA 150). SEED PLANTING Rice farming requires plenty of water. Unless you have plans to irrigate your farm, you should consider planting during the rainy season. Before planting the seeds, you should till the land either manually or using tractors (depending on the scale of production). There are two possible ways you can plant rice. · You can prepare a nursery bed and plant the rice seedlings in a nursery until they germinate. To do this, you must solarize the soil of the nursery before planting. Soil solarization involves heating the soil by covering it with a transparent polyethylene to control soil borne diseases. After 3 to 4 weeks you can now transplant the germinated rice from the nursery to the farmland. · Another way is to plant the seeds directly in the tilled land. However, you should note that rice germinated in a nursery tends to have higher yield and resistance to disease as compared to rice planted directly on the farm. After planting, all that is left is to care for and protect your rice plants using standard farming practices such as weeding, and application of fertilizers. HARVESTING After about 4-6 months from planting (depending on variety), the rice will be ready for harvest. You recognize this when the rice plants change color from green to a straw-like color. It is best to start harvesting as soon as they reach maturity to avoid birds or pest destruction. Harvesting could be done mechanically with the use of machines, or by manual labor (depending on the size of the farm). Rice farming is one aspect of agriculture you can start with any amount of money you have. It is advisable people start small and expand when they have gotten enough experience. When you are ready to expand your scale of production, you will need 2 things: money and a business plan. WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN Writing a detailed business plan for your rice farm will help you determine the potentials of the business, cost of land and machinery, amount of labor and utilities that the farm will need, etc. A business plan will help you stay focused on the business goals, and can even be used to entice prospective investors. SOURCE FOR FINANCE No business survives without capital. To encourage increased participation in agriculture among young people, the government introduces several incentives in the form of loans and grants. www.nextnaijaentrepreneur.com/rice-farming/

Farming in Nigeria has taken a dramatic turn to a better direction in recent years, creating jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurs who dare to go into farming business. Millionaires are currently being made every year through farming in Nigeria and there is certainly no end to the prospects of creating more wealth through farming in the coming years. There are good reasons why farming in Nigeria is doing very well. Understanding these reasons will help you (no matter where you come from) to think seriously about setting up farm in Nigeria. 1) There is no any other African country where Farming is as viable as it is in Nigeria in terms of productivity and profitability. 2) There is no other country where farmers are more advantaged as they are in Nigeria as regards demands for the produce. Take a look at my top five reasons why you must start Farming in Nigeria now. Why Farming In Nigeria? (1) Nigeria has a huge population of over 200 million people, twice more than the populations of Zimbabwe and South Africa combined. The entire population of Nigeria depends on staple foods produced from farms and other farm produces for their daily meals and sustenance. More than 80 percent of Nigerians buy their farm produce from the market. (2) Nigeria has large expanses of fertile farmlands laying fallow across the nation. Nigerian land area when measured in sq km is about 910,770. The land area of any country is the country’s total area, excluding areas that are considered to be water bodies. So, Nigeria has one of the biggest expanse of Land in Africa of which 70 percent is available for farming. (3) Nigerian Government is seriously turning its attention to promoting farming in Nigeria to help boost food productions in the country and minimize food importation. The government is willing to assist any would be farming entrepreneur/investors with the necessary supports and logistics. (4) Nigerians boasts the highest purchasing power in Africa, far more than any other indigenous Africans. We buy things here and we pay cash. Talk about parties, Nigeria is the most merriment people on earth. The food used for parties and merriment in Nigeria can feed four other African countries. (5) By the time Nigeria attain its full capacity utilization is agriculture, farming will become great foreign currency earner more than the oil. The implication is that Nigerian farmers will be able to earn in Naira and in Dollars as well as other foreign currencies. List of Lucrative Farming in Nigeria The prospect for farming in Nigeria is so high that only a fool will ignore it. Having said that, let’s take a closer look at some of the types of Farming that does very well in Nigeria. 1. Rice Farming Nigeria has one of the world’s highest Rice consumption stat. Rice is by far one of the most popular staple food among Nigerians. Almost every family eats rice daily in Nigeria. In 2011 alone, Nigeria spent N991billion on rice importation and the rice we import is said to be nothing less than 10 years old in storage. That means we spent billions buying rice that has since lost its nutritional values. Any entrepreneur who goes into rice farming and get it right is sure to be smiling to the bank. A bag of rice is currently sold for N13,000 to N16,000 depending on the quality. A farmer who is able to invest in large scale rice production in Nigeria and able to produce 100,000 Bags of processed Rice in a year, sell at wholesale price of about N10,000 per bag, he will be making 10,000 x 100,000 = N1,000,000,000 ($3million) You can achieve the above figures conveniently with less than five hundred and fifty million Naira ($1.5 Million) capital investment. I am currently looking for who to partner with in this. If you have the cash, I have the logistics and good planning to achieve this result. Serious investors only! 2. Cassava Farming The popularity of cassava as the major source of food for Nigerians dates back to ages. Between Garri and Rice, it is hard to tell which one is the most popular food in Nigeria. Both are the most consumed food staples among the citizen. I think if one is the King the other should be the Queen. A bag of Garri costs almost the same as a bag of rice. Apart from garri, there are countless of other food stuffs that are processed from Cassava in Nigeria. The introduction of the high yield species of Cassava has made it possible for Nigerian cassava farmers to produce more cassava per plot. Nearly every land in Nigeria is good for growing Cassava and 1 Acre, when properly planted and managed can produce thousands of Naira worth of cassava in a year! 3. Plantain Plantation One thing I like about Plantain is that when planted once, it keeps producing year in year out for eternity. Like Rice and Garri, Plantain is widely consumed in Nigeria. Any food that is popular in Nigeria is always a huge income earner due to the population of the country. I really haven’t seen Farmers in Nigeria taking advantage of the opportunity in Plantain Farming to create wealth for themselves. Plantain is highly priced in Nigeria and is always in high demand all year round. Fry it, Boil it, Roast it — it will never get angry with you, that’s how liberal Plantain is. I can tell you, Millions of Naira is currently lying fallow untapped in this sector of Farming in Nigeria. 4. Poultry Farming Everyone knows how profitable poultry farming is, it doesn’t need much introduction. Yet, it is still not fully tapped. What we currently have is few badly managed, scantily equipped poultry farms here and there. I’m yet to see a full fledged, high tech poultry farm except Obasanjo Farm. Entrepreneur who is able to fire up serious investment into this sector will have huge profit to contend with. The reason is because Nigerians eat chicken more than snakes does and 70% of our consumption still based on importation. The egg is yet another goldmine! 5. Pineapple Farming Money is sweet, everything sweet is money, and Pineapple is sweet. Ask any Australian Farmer and he will tell you how huge the income in Pineapple farming is in their country. Any juice maker that doesn’t have Pineapple flavor variety in his product line is not yet in business. That tells you how popular Pineapple is, not only in Nigeria but worldwide. Nigeria seems to have better soil for Pineapple Farming than Australia where Farmers are making it big in the business. A Pineapple sells in Mile-12 market in Lagos for about N200. If you are able to harvest one million in a year, you will earn at least N80 x 1,000,000 = N80,000,000 6. Beans Farming A bag of Beans cost twice more than a bag of Rice and Garri. The Northern Nigerians are making it big in Beans Farming, supplying almost all over Nigeria and beyond. But one thing is that, this same Beans also can do very well in the South East, South West, and South South Nigeria soils. So why only the North? 7. Catfish Farming Catfish Business is really hyping in Nigeria right now but how many are really getting it right? Get it right and you’re in money. A single Catfish sells for N700 in Restaurants and about N400 in open market. 8. Goat Rearing Its only in the North that goat is reared in commercial quantity. I don’t know why we are so looking down on farm investment in the South even though there are millions to be made in this business. Why would you chose to sell used shoes in Oshodi and make few thousands of Naira every year when you could engage in productive farming business and make millions of Naira? In The USA and Australia, Farmers are among the Richest people – Get involved in professional goat rearing and make money for yourself. A full grown goat sells for between N15,000 to N40,000 9. Snail Farming I see Snail Farming really picking up in Nigeria very soon — but if you don’t hurry up, others will make all the money before you realize what you are missing. The potential in this business for you is about N50,000,000 Annual revenue. 10. Maize Farming You will never know the profit in Maize Farming in Nigeria until you try it. One thing I like about maize is that everything happens fast. It takes less than Four months between planting and harvesting. Get involved in any of these farming business in Nigeria today and you will never regret it. Drop us a comment if you are in support of farming business in Nigeria.

THE relationship between Nigeria and Britain is highly conflicted. Nigeria was a British colony and a British creation. This would suggest the development of a cordial relationship between the two countries as a result of shared history. However, some Nigerians insist Nigeria should never have existed and blame Britain for conducting a forced marriage of different nationalities in the creation of Nigeria. Others blame Britain for what became of Nigeria, insisting the central problematic of the country is the product of deliberate British design. Nigeria did not have to fight for independence from Britain. When Southern Nigeria asked for independence, Northern Nigeria balked. The British themselves readily relinquished their hold on Nigeria in the independence era. The climate and people of Nigeria were not sufficiently attractive to the British. Therefore, a settler British community did not develop in Nigeria as happened in Kenya or Zimbabwe. But when Britain granted independence to Nigeria, power was delivered to the North, the very region that was reticent about independence, and not to the South, the region that demanded it. When the new Tafawa Balewa government blundered by agreeing to an Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact soon after independence, which meant the British military could maintain a presence in Kano, Nigerian students protested and the government had to back down. The message was clear: Britain had to be kept at arm’s-length. Nevertheless, Britain remained the preferred choice of the Nigerian elite for shopping, schooling and for going on holidays. No sooner had Nigeria settled into the status of a former British colony than it felt the enticements of another imperialist: the United States of America. The United States was Anglophone, which meant Nigerians were ready importers of the American dream, culture and values. However, the United States supported apartheid and black oppression in Southern Africa. It was also going through race-riots and demands by African Americans for equality. Nigeria’s resultant love-hate relationship with super-power United States further complicated its residual post-colonial relationship with Britain. Soon, the inheritance of the British parliamentary system of government was jettisoned for the American presidential model. At the same time, the superstructure remained British, including the judicial system, the civil service structure and the educational system. Oil diplomacy Anglo-Nigerian relations centred on Nigeria’s oil and on the activities of Shell and British Petroleum. This was again conflicted, as a result of the pollution and environmental damage created by the oil companies in the oil-producing states. Not surprising, the citizens of Nigeria’s South-South viewed Britain and the oil-companies with animosity and suspicion. Nevertheless, Nigeria-British relations were cemented at the official level during the civil war, when Britain betted on the federal government winning the war and provided assistance against the secessionist state of Biafra. But the “thank-you” for that support was soon attenuated by lingering differences over the liberation struggles in southern Africa. Nigeria was granted honorary status as a frontline state in that struggle because of its strident support for the African National Congress, ANC, of South Africa and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, MPLA. Britain, on the other hand, backed apartheid South Africa and the UNITA rebels of Angola. When Murtala Mohammed was assassinated in a failed coup attempt in 1976, Britain was accused of attempting to restore Yakubu Gowon to power from his exile in Britain. The refusal of the British government to extradite Gowon for trial in Nigeria further seemed to validate this allegation. The animosity between Nigeria and Britain came to a head when Mohammed’s successor, Olusegun Obasanjo, nationalised British Petroleum assets in 1979. This was in retaliation for British supply of oil to apartheid South Africa. It was also designed to put pressure on Britain during the process of negotiating the independence of Zimbabwe at the Lancaster House Conference in London. In 1984, the Muhammadu Buhari regime was fingered in a failed attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko, a former Nigerian minister in the Second Republic who was then in exile in London, and to bundle him back to Nigeria in a crate. The two governments engaged in a shouting match that witnessed the recall of their respective High Commissioners. Much later, when Nigeria’s Sani Abacha ordered the judicial murder of the Ogoni writer and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa along with eight others in 1995, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth. Money laundering British meddlesomeness in Nigerian affairs reared its head again much later when Prime-Minister David Cameron chided Nigeria for passing a law against homosexuals. He threatened that this would make Nigeria ineligible for future British economic assistance. Cameron also berated Nigerian leaders for the mismanagement of the country’s resources, insisting that “lack of accountability and transparency is a big problem in Nigerian oil and gas industry.” However, Cameron conveniently turned a blind eye to the fact that money stolen from Nigeria often ends up in Britain. In a series of articles, the Financial Times of London revealed that much of the money stolen by corrupt soldier-politicians of Nigeria’s past military regimes ended up in British banks. It revealed that: “Banks in London played a key role in enabling former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha to launder more than $4bn (£2.76bn) looted from the country during his four-and-a-half-year rule. The trail has led to accounts at London offices of 15 banks.” The British have imposed no sanctions on these banks for laundering “lucrative” stolen money. They are not even that enthusiastic about facilitating the return of the monies to Nigeria. Rowan Bosworth-Davies, a former Fraud Squad officer, is quoted as saying that a lot of people in the City of London are convinced that if proper legislation is enforced to facilitate the recovery and return of stolen money: “It will be bad for UK Plc.” Consular affairs The nerve-centre of Nigerian-British relations has been at the consular level. With millions of Nigerians living in Britain, the British attitude towards them has often been hostile. Britain is now a multiracial society, not by design, but as a side-effect of its colonial heritage. Because of its history as the major colonial power, a number of the citizens of Britain’s former colonies landed on its doorstep. Among them, Nigerians have been quite prominent. It is now variously estimated that the number of Nigerins living in Britain are in excess of 2 million. The British have not been able to determine how to handle this foreign influx. As a matter of fact, on the far right of the political spectrum, there have been those like Enoch Powell who are inclined to send them packing all the way back home. The situation gets worse with every downturn in the economic situation in Britain when foreigners (Nigerians included) are made scapegoats. They are accused of taking jobs from Britons, even though they principally do the jobs Britons refuse to do. They are also accused of exploiting Britain’s generous social security system. Those caught residing in the country illegally are subject to racial abuses and physical assaults as they are forcibly deported. According to the London Guardian, these assaults range from “handcuffs-bruised wrists to swollen faces and fractured wrists and ankles. Visa bond British high-handedness in addressing the nagging issue of immigration came to a head under David Cameron, when it appeared that his Conservative Party was being outflanked on the right at bye-elections by the anti-immigrant United Kingdom Independence Party, UKIP. With economic stagnation and government austerity measures resulting in widespread public resentment, Prime-Minister David Cameron felt the need to scapegoat illegal aliens. In order to court UKIP supporters; the same people he had once referred to as closet racists, Cameron floated an outrageous policy which would require “high risk” Nigerian visitors to Britain to deposit a bond of £3,000 before they could be granted a visa. The bond would then be forfeited to the British government if the Nigerian overstayed his/her visit. This discriminatory scheme would not be applicable to Nigerians alone, but also to British visa applicants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The devious reach for right-wing populism behind the proposal became evident when trucks were deployed to London’s ethnically diverse areas with the message that illegal immigrants should “go home or face arrest.” There were reports that the visa bond proposal came from the British Intelligence Service (MI6) and Scotland Yard (the British Police Headquarters), worried that even applications for student visas were likely to be used to import terrorists to Britain. The visa bond was then also intended to flag intending terrorists that they would be targets of intelligence surveillance and scrutiny while registered at British educational institutions. Nigerians were considered high-risk in this regard given the example of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, a Nigerian and former student of University College London, who tried to blow up an American plane in December 2009. Another Nigerian-born Briton and student, Michael Adebolajo, recently hacked a British soldier to death on the streets of London. In the racial stereotyping that ensued, Nigeria became blacklisted unofficially as a terrorist nation. Backtrack The visa bond proposal opened a can of worms. Nigerians were outraged at being labelled “high-risk” visitors to Britain. The British position was deemed disingenuous. If it were not to be seen as a general slur on Nigerians, why would the British give people considered high-risk visas at all? The Nigerian legislature already readied retaliatory plans. One member said: “We would even raise the stake beyond the £3,000 they are asking Nigerians to pay as bond. We are looking at £5,000 as visa bond for UK citizens visiting Nigeria.” In the end, economic commonsense prevailed. Figures from Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment showed that trade between the two countries increased nearly five-fold from £1.42 billion in 2010 to £7.02 billion in 2012, with the value of Nigerian imports of British goods doubling at the time. Within the context of economic stagnation in Britain, it did not seem wise after all to jeopardise this. Conclusion Nigeria’s relationship with Britain is enigmatic. While the affinity for Britain remains, given the lingual connection and the colonial heritage, Nigerians are increasingly less enamoured of the British. The situation has not been helped by the feeling that the British relate to Nigerians on sufferance and would rather fewer Nigerians came to Britain. This feeling cannot but be heightened in the era of Brexit, when the British are developing greater animosity for immigrants and foreigners. The feeling in Nigeria is that there is deep-seated British disregard for Nigeria and Nigerians. No special relationship has developed between Britain and its former colony of Nigeria. Today, Nigeria is neither a friend nor a foe of Britain. Both countries regard one another with a high degree of suspicion and mistrust. By Femi Aribisala Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/britain-nigerias-evil-stepmother/

On the 2019 general elections, Hoy also noted that the foreign countries were concerned over the threat of peace ahead of the conduct of the general elections. Foreign Countries under the European Union (EU) have expressed concerns over the conduct of the 2019 elections considering the rising cases of killings and violence in some parts of Nigeria, notably Plateau, Benue and Taraba states. Sir Sean Hoy, the Ireland Ambassador to Nigeria, made this known in Yenagoa on Wednesday during a call on the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah, at the Government House. He said that although cases of violence cannot be ruled out anywhere in the world, the recent cases of killings and violence in some parts of Nigeria are worrisome. "The international communities, particularly the European Union, are concerned about the killings in the country and also the President of Nigeria has shown concern. I was pleased that President Muhammad Buhari visit Plateau state," he said. "We agreed that there would always be violence in the world. But it is our responsibility, as leaders, to do what we can to reduce it and to look at the causes of violence. If it is poverty or it insecurity, we need to find ways to resolve it. "I think most Nigerians live peacefully. And when such peace is threatened, it is very bad. Now we are seeing insecurity and other conflicts. And we think those are caused by bandits. "I don't believe that the peace-loving people of Nigeria are involved in the violence along ethnic and religious grounds. And it is very important that leaders preach peace because Nigerians are peaceful people and have lived together for a long time. Now that Nigerians are being threatened by negative Forces, that is where all of us, including world leaders, the Nigerian people and communities, have to come together and preach peace. "If people resist violence, it will not succeed, no matter who forced it. On the issue of politicians' involvement in killings and violence, we don't have evidence but also we are members of the international community and can't comment." On the 2019 general elections, Hoy also noted that the foreign countries were concerned over the threat of peace ahead of the conduct of the general elections. "Our concern is for the election to be free and fair and for voters and the Nigerian people to accept the result. Our job is to make the election to be free and fair. And for the people to accept it and the possibility of violence will be reduced," he said. "But if politicians do not accept the result and communities do not accept the result, them we have a situation on our hands. Our role is to provide credible monitoring. We would have to monitor and offer assistance to reduce violence. It is important that Nigeria shows example to other African countries with the condition of 2019 election." Speaking, Jonah said the Restoration Administration, as Seriake Dickson's government is called, declared zero tolerance on crime and criminality early on. "You know that the fundamental objectives and directive principle of state policy as stated in the constitution demands that the purpose of government is for security and welfare of the people," he said. "And if you are in government, you must take the security and welfare of the people seriously. Even at the United Nations level, when we're talking of security we emphasise human security and it involves access to education, health, welfare and all that makes man move on. We have moved from MDGs to SDGs and all these are directed at the developing countries for obvious reasons and in Bayelsa state."

Today in Farnborough Airshow, United Kingdom, UK, the Federal Government unveiled the name for the national carrier that would be launched at the end of 2018. The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika unveilded the name; ‘Nigeria Air’, and the Deputy Director, Media and Public Affairs of the ministry, James Odaudu, said government came up with the name after it engaged over 400,000 people on social media. Reacting to the new of the unveiling, Nigerians took to social media to express their stance. As it is for any topic, many people hailed president Muhammadu Buhari for the effort, while some predicted that the National carrier may not work out like others before it

A new life in a new country – is it possible? Nigerians in Australia provide information that it’s more than possible! If you are a skilled specialist or an international student, you can always rely on Australia as your home. In this article, you will find out top 7 tips for starting a new life! 1. Assess your professional skills If you are a student, then you can try to find out universities in Australia that will grant you the education you need. Do not forget that you can also access scholarships to study there. A larger number of immigrants in Australia go there as skilled workers. You can also be one of these skilled workers. It certainly improves their professional work pool. What does it mean for you? If you are a skilled worker and can provide any proof for your skills, then you are more than welcome to apply for work visa in Australia. 2. Learn about life in Australia A lot of Nigerians in diaspora of Australia consider this country as a relatively easy place to settle in. Immigrants find Australia as one of the countries where people can easily settle in within 6 or 12 months. Nevertheless, how quickly you acclimatize in Australia depends on variety of factors. Nevertheless, one thing you will need for certain to adapt to living in Australia. This one thing is the English language. Even if it’s your native tongue, you will still need to pass tests for the proficiency in this language. Still, you will always find people who can help you. 3. Get Started Living in Australia as a migrant from Nigeria will provide you with great opportunities. Still, when you get to Australia, you will need to get a Tax File Number. It’s necessary if you need to receive income in the country. You will need to call the Australian Taxation Office where the tax officers will explain to you how to obtain this number. You will also need to register with Medicare. It will provide you with basic medical services which are subsidized by the government of Australia. 4. Open a Bank Account It doesn’t matter if you are just a student in Australia or specialist who came to Australia for work. You may start choosing from different banks that are open in Australia. Do not forget, that your wage will be directed to your personal account. Still, you can also try some side job for cash in Australia. At the same time, do not forget that it might be illegal. It’s almost impossible to live in Australia without bank account. If you don’t have a bank account, then you will be cut out from a lot of services in Australia. It’s highly unadvised to do this. 5. Register with Centrelink What is Centrelink you might ask? It’s a government agency that provides a great variety of services to the community. You will find out that settling with this agency will make your life in Australia much easier. 6. Choose one of the Cities in Australia Before going to Australia, it’s better to find out more about the cities of Australia and especially about the city where you plan to stay. The cost of living can be drastically different in terms of the city where you prefer to live. Of course, living in big cities, like Sydney is very attractive, but the cost of living there is very high. 7. Choose job or university before you go to Australia Australia is a country where you will need a lot of money from the very beginning to survive. Therefore, you will need to create a firm basis before going to Australia. It’s better that you first start from the choosing of the university or job to apply. When you get a confirmation letter from the university or employer, you can start packing your luggage. At the same time, do not forget about the amount of money that you need for your first months of staying there. In any case, you must take enough money. Nigerians in Australia The Nigerian population in Australia has been increasing rapidly since 2011. The population of Nigerians in this country doubled since 2006. The vast majority of Nigerians in Australia are skilled and educated specialists. According to the Australia Census, 82.4% of Nigerian-originated Australians possess high non-school qualification. The most rapid source of migrants from Nigeria come from the student's group. Nigerian said to be one of the top 10 sources of international students in Australia. The most popular specializations for Nigerians in Australia is engineering. About 33% of Australian Nigerians live in Sydney, about 25% live in Melbourne. Living in Australia has a lot of benefits for Nigerians. At the same time, it provides a lot of challenges. One of the first challenges that you may bump into is prices. You shouldn’t forget that life in Australia isn’t cheap at all. You will not survive there if you are not a hard worker. What you really need to think about going to Australia is your first steps there. It’s highly advised to find a job or university in Australia from Nigeria. Still, Nigerian diaspora will help fellow Nigerians anyway. So, you can always ask them for help.