NIGERIA: ETTEH SHOULD GO.

The sessions in the Nigerian House of Representatives, this week had been very rowdy. This is because of the disagreement between members, on whether the speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs. Patricia Etteh should preside over deliberation on the panel report on the N628 million contract scam.

The report had stated that due process was not followed by Mrs. Etteh in the award of the contract for the renovation of her official residence and that of other principal members of the House of Representatives. The contract was also found to have been inflated.







Since this scandal became public knowledge their have been calls for Mrs. Etteh to step aside by some members of the House of Representatives. However, Mrs. Etteh seems to prefer to cling on to power despite the fact that her effectiveness if she continues to stay on as speaker of the House of Representatives is in doubt.

Mrs. Etteh is an average Nigerian politician, never knowing when to bow out. An average Nigerian politician wants to hold on to power at all cost ability to govern is not an important consideration. They just want to be there. One question I have for Mrs. Etteh is how does she think that she can still lead the Nigerian House of Representatives after all that has happened?

Leadership is about being able to inspire people. Mrs. Etteh have disappointed many people most especially those that supported her nomination as the speaker of the House of Representatives. In fact, some of Mrs. Etteh’s supporters are now vigorously opposed to her remaining speaker of the House of Representatives. Therefore, her ability to command the respect of other members of the House of Representatives has been highly compromised.

Mrs. Etteh should resign and further investigations should be conducted on the scam. For example, one of the reasons given by her supporters on why she should stay on, as the speaker of the House of Representatives is that they claim Mrs. Etteh did not benefit financially or in any other way in the contract scam. I am yet to be convinced. If the contract was inflated then who collected the surplus?

I will like to know for example who were the shareholders of the companies that handled the contract as at the time of the contract award and their relationship to Mrs. Etteh. If Mrs. Etteh did not benefit who did?

What Mrs. Etteh must understand is that resigning, as the speaker of the House of Representatives does not mean she has agreed that she benefited in the scam. It will only reduce the tension in the House of Representatives. It is a necessary sacrifice that Mrs. Etteh must make for peace to rain in the House of Representatives.

However, the rowdy sessions in the House of Representatives this week did not end without a major incident. A member of the House of Representatives Dr. Aminu Safana slumped and died during a rowdy session on Wednesday. Before his death, Dr. Aminu Safana was the chairman of the House on Health.

Perhaps if Mrs. Etteh had stepped down earlier we would have been saved this incident. However, all these are open to speculation now. May his soul rest in peace. I hope Mrs. Etteh and her colleagues have learnt their lessons.

The members of the House of Representatives should do the right thing when they reconvene next week. They must realize that their credibility is at stake. They need a new leadership. They need a fresh start. If Mrs. Etteh refuses to go, then she should be forced out.

NIGERIA: ADADA STATE

Ndi Igbo of Nigeria have for the past few years called for the creation of one more state in south east Nigeria to balance the power equation. South Eastern Nigeria (populated mostly by Ndi Igbo) is currently made up of five states (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States). Adada State is one of the states currently being considered to complete the number of states in the south eastern Nigeria to six, which is the regional average of states in Nigeria.

However, what prompted this blog is the claim by the chairperson of the committee promoting the realization of Adada state that Adada is economically viable.







I will beg to disagree. As far as I am concerned, very few states in Nigeria are viable. Apart from the oil, producing states and may be Lagos state the rest of the states in Nigeria are only parasitic States. If Ndi Igbo will tell themselves the truth the main reason for the call for one more state in the south east is for Ndi Igbo to get more share of the nation’s oil wealth.

However, the question I will like to ask Ndi Igbo is were is the wealth coming from? Are we asking for a greater share of our wealth or the wealth of the Niger Delta? Asking for one more state in the south east by Ndi Igbo is like an endorsement of the injustice currently taking place in the Niger Delta.

He who asks for equity must go with clean hands. If Ndi Igbo are complaining of the injustices against them by the Nigerian state then they must not be seen as encouraging injustice against another group.

What Nigeria needs is resource control. Let every state control every aspect of the resources in their territory. That is the only way we will know which Nigerian states are economically viable. As long as the present regime were federal allocations are disbursed to states with no bearing on the productivity of the state continue Nigeria will remain a one commodity economy.

Ndi Igbo should ask for a fairer formula for resource allocation that is based on indices like internally generated revenue, contribution to GDP and other indices that encourage productivity rather than using indices like land mass and population that promotes laziness.
Adada state will create more burdens for Nigeria; new politicians will have to be elected to mismanage the resources of the state. Therefore, as you can see Adada state will create one more pipeline for the siphoning of the wealth of Nigeria by corrupt and ineffective politicians.

Ndi Igbo may finally get the state they want but they must be told that the problems of Nigeria or Ndi Igbo for that matter cannot and will not be solves by concentrating on resources sharing but by resources creation. I wish Adada state and Ndi Igbo all the best.

NIGERIA: THE FOREX TRADING SEASON

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A scan through any of the major Nigerian news dailies would reveal quite a number of ads inviting readers to attend an online forex trading seminar. According to these ads one can make between $5,000 and $10,000 in a month or between $100 and $500 in a day from online forex trading. The seminar fee ranges between N5, 000 and N120,000 and always promises to teach you all you need to know about forex trading. But how true are all these claims?






A few years ago these Nigerian dailies were awash with ads on all sorts seminars on different money making opportunities on the internet. The opportunities range from making hundreds of dollars daily reading emails to making thousands of dollars selling information on the internet. In fact some ads went as far as claiming that all Nigerians need to know to become internet millionaires is how to move the mouse. However, some of these ads are no more. It seems that this is the season for online forex trading.

The online forex trading opportunity is real, there is no doubt about it. So also is the reading email and selling information opportunities, they are all real. However, the problem is that in their bid to make money the organizers of these seminars do not paint the true online forex trading picture. They advertise these forex trading opportunities as if it is an all comers affair.

How true is it that one can make up to $300 a day from online forex trading? The first of many questions that Nigerians should ask is how much does one need to invest before making $300 in just a day from online forex trading. To the best of my knowledge return on investment is calculated percentage wise. So how much will a Nigerian have to invest in online forex trading in order to make $300? So as you can see some pieces are missing.

How many Nigerians can invest N10 million into online forex trading in order to make $300 some days?

Secondly, even if an average Nigerian can make up to $300 per day from online forex trading, is it possible to do this day after day, month after month in a year? I could imagine that the thoughts that come to the mind of some Nigerians when they read these ads is that if they could make $300 per day then by the end of the first month they would have made about $3,600 from forex trading. Any body that is conversant with business knows that it has its ups and downs; online forex trading is not an exception.






Thirdly, even if it is possible for an average Nigerian to make $300 day after day from online forex trading, is it as easy as one is made to believe? I have been to online opportunity seminars were almost half the attendees do not know how to use a computer. The big question is, how can some one who does not know how to use a computer make money trading forex online? So before attending any one of those seminars, first find out what you need to know so that you don’t waste your money on a wild goose chase.

Do not attend the seminar without researching about forex trading first on the internet. In fact the only reason to go for an online forex trading seminar is if after going through the tons of information online about forex trading, you still have some unanswered questions. In such a situation, write down the questions and take it with you to the seminar venue.

The only advantage that attending the seminar gives you, is the experience, contacts and the network you create. I must warn that some of your resource persons have not traded forex for one day. They just attended an online forex trading seminar for one or two days and off they go teaching others.

In the past couple of weeks I have been researching on this online forex trading subject and in the next couple of days and weeks I will be revealing the truth about online forex trading. However, the worst thing you will do to yourself, is to doubt that you can make money from forex trading.

The aim of this write up is not to deny the universal truth, that forex trading is a very lucrative and as a result very risky investment opportunity, but to separate the fact from the fiction.

NIGERIA: MYTHS ABOUT ONLINE FOREX TRADING

A lot of wrong impressions have been created about online forex trading in Nigeria by some overzealous promoters of online forex trading. These promoters make some outrageous claims about the reward of trading in forex online. A comparative analysis of promotions about online forex trading in Nigerian dailies shows that they claim that one can make between $100 and $600 daily from online forex trading. This is obviously more than the monthly take home pay of a lot of Nigerians.




It is easy to see why a lot of Nigerians are ready to do what ever is necessary to improve their livelihood. A number of unsuspecting Nigerians have lost their money in the online forex trading gold rush. Most often the loss is not because the online forex trading opportunity is false, but as a result of the outcome not meeting the often hyped expectations.

These promotions have also painted online forex trading in bad light. Some Nigerians now see it as a get rich quick scheme. Others see it as an extension of the dreaded yahoo yahoo business. The fact is that forex trading is a real investment opportunity just like the stocks and commodities markets. Only the intelligent survive in these markets. To survive in the online forex market you need to be intelligent, persistent, and patient.

A successful online trader should also be aware of international politics and how it affects currency value. If all you watch is home movies don’t even think about forex trading. Online forex trading is for the well informed. Forex trading is neither for the poor nor the faint hearted.

Below are some myths currently flying around in Nigeria about online forex trading. In each case an attempt is made to counter such myths and to paint the true picture about the online forex opportunity.

YOU CAN MAKE UPTO $500 PER DAY IN ONLINE FOREX TRADING

This claim is bound to attract a lot of attention, especially in a country like Nigeria where poverty is king. The sponsors of these forex trading seminars know this that is why it is usually the headline. No doubt about it one can make $500 in a day from online forex trading, just like in the stock market or even in selling mobile phones.






What is however false, is that one can make this amount day after day all year round. Also any investor that knows his onions should be able to ask one simple question. How much do I need to invest in other to make $500 in a day? Investments are evaluated on the basis of the percentage return on investment. For example does it mean that no matter the amount of money I invest (even $250) I will still be able to make $500. If you invest $250 today and make $500 the next day you would have made a 100% return on your investment. If you do this consistently every day for a month (assuming 26 working days) you would have made $13,000 (1.6 million naira) from your initial $250 investment. This adds up to a 5100% return on investment. Staggering I hear you say.

These online forex trading promoters mix up information. Yes you can make $500 in a day from forex trading but you will have to invest a substantial amount of money.

One can make between 50% to up to 800% return on investment in a year from online forex trading. Your return on investment in the forex market depends on your guts, discipline, dedication (by always being up to date through reading) and foresight.

ONLINE FOREX TRADING IS A POVERTY ALLEVIATION SCHEME

Online forex trading is not for the poor. To really make money on the short term in the forex market you need to have some real money to throw around. Having a reasonable amount of money gives leverage. For example you can open an account with a minimum of a $100 on some online forex trading platforms, but what happens if the market goes against you and your account falls below the minimum to say $95. You stand a chance of loosing some or even all of your money.

Having enough money helps manage your risks. You can sit and wait until the right time to sell. You simply set your target and wait. It is recommended that an individual should not even think about online forex trading except he has about 250,000 naira to set aside full time for trading on forex online. In addition it is recommended by some online forex trading experts that you should not trade with more than 10% of your forex account.

For example if you want to bid 15,000 naira each on 2 different currency pairs, that gives a total of 30,000 naira. It is recommended that you have at least 300,000 naira. So as you can see you need a deep pocket to really break into online forex trading. Do not use your last card to attend a seminar hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel. Save money and study and one day you might be able to play in the online forex trading market.

ONLINE FOREX TRADING IS FOR EVERYBODY

Online forex trading is not for the poor neither is it for the faint hearted. It is important at this point to define who a poor man is so that you do not get me wrong. My definition of a poor man is a man with a savings of less than 400,000 naira. If you can also sell your assets worth more than 400,000 naira without considerably affecting your life style then you are not poor.

To make it in online forex trading market you must be disciplined, result oriented, self motivated, intelligent, persistent and patient. You must have a strong belief in your self and on your platform. You also need lots of guts and a reasonable amount of money.

ONLINE FOREX TRADING IS RISK FREE

Online forex trading is very rewarding. In fact it is one of the most rewarding investment opportunities in this planet. As a result online forex trading is very risky. It is one of the most risky ventures online.

Online forex trading like any other investment opportunity comes with its risks. It even comes with a higher amount of risk. So do not be deceived.

YOU CAN LEARN ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ONLINE FOREX TRADING IN A FEW DAYS SEMINAR

You cannot have a full grasp of online forex trading by simply attending a one to three day seminar. In fact you have no business attending one of those online forex trading seminars until you have exhausted all the information on the internet. The only good reason to attend an online forex trading seminar is the network that you build. You must study hard, open a demo account and test your understanding before even investing a dime.





ONLINE FOREX TRADING IS A FRAUD

It is equally wrong to claim that the online forex trading opportunity is a fraud. This investment opportunity is real all you have to do is to do a detailed study of the online forex trading opportunity. Open a demo account and try to understand the platform before investing real cash. Good luck.

These are some of the myths about online forex trading, I will add more in the future. You can also include yours via the comment page.

NIGERIA: ONLINE FOREX TRADING STEPS

Online forex trading is a real investment opportunity for Nigerians. It is a very rewarding, but risky venture. However, to succeed in the online forex trading you must be patient, study and practice with a demo account before investing real money.






There 3 steps to success

1---------- Study at
baby pips

2-----------Practice with a demo account at
marketiva or/and
gft forex

3----------Open an online forex trading account when you are confident enough.

To succeed in online forex trading from Nigeria, you will require a PC, an internet connection and not less than 250,000 Naira. You may also need a means of identification like an international passport or driver’s license. This you will need to open a domiciliary account in one of the Nigerian banks.

Being a Nigerian you may be asked for a little bit more. Good luck.

BEFORE ATTENDING AN ONLINE FOREX TRADING SEMINAR

Do not waste your time and money attending online forex trading seminars. There are a lot of information online about the subject. Simply type “online forex trading” in your google search and you will be amazed at the number of results that come your way.






Do a thorough research about online forex trading, find out the meaning of key words like: ---pips, charts, e-gold, demo account, forex account, domiciliary account, trade signals, forex scams, trade, etc. As you search new keywords will come, search for those as well.

Go to babypips you are likely to find all you require as a beginner in online forex trading. You can also visit websites like

gft forex
marketiva

These two websites are online forex trading platforms. You can open a forex account; you can also learn about online forex trading in general or simply open a demo account and see how the platforms work and master it.

The only reason for attending an online forex trading seminar is if you are still confused or you still have a few questions to ask. Simply attend the seminar so that the experts will put you true. You may not even go to the seminar, simply dial the numbers and ask for consultation or a one on one meeting.

Ask vital questions to be sure that the person on the other line is conversant with the online forex trading only when you are satisfied should you attend any seminar.

To make it in online forex trading you must study continuously; never believe that attending a 2 day seminar will make you an online forex trading expert.