<p>Yes, the winters here are ridiculously brutal, and very long (starts snowing mid-November, and you won't see positive degree's regularly till mid-march) as well......but EVENTUALLY it becomes close to bearable......so i've been told that is... </p>
<p>For those who are in Nigeria (or Lagos more specifically), what is the media saying about the pipeline explosion today, and how many people were actually killed??</p>
<p>gosh, I'm just back home [8pm] from church, work, etc...and i read this surprising news on this thread! anyway, things like this shouldn't surprise any nigerian anymore. all hell has broken loose [hyperbolic statement]...but i've gathered from online sources: Lagos Police Commissioner estimated 150 - 200 dead, but you know how scarce information is in Nigeria [when AIT was reprimanded for broadcasting correct info about the october plane crash: may their souls rest in peace] and we love to conceal facts..anyway, many bodies have also been drowned so we really do not know. but this is a disaster, but does the government really care. nigerians stealing fuel in their own country!</p>
<p>
[quote=]
One cannot imagine how oil-rich Nigeria became the chaotic country it is. The proportion of people living in severe poverty has increased despite decades of profitable oil production. Its experience confirms the dictum that in poor countries oil money never reaches the poor; it is looted before that happens.
[/quote]
---William Woodruff, p. 276, A Concise History of the Modern World, London, 2005.</p>
<p>jrock, I just got off Wesleyan's waitlist. I am not sure if I am going to attend. The financial aid must be high before I go there. Welcome Okocha.</p>
<p>I heard about the explosion in the news yesterday. About 200 people died according to the Lagos commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Adebayo. There were no survivors (so they say. As Jrock said, "we love to conceal facts"). But you have to ask yourself this question: What pushed those people to try to filch that oil? It appears that things are so dire in Nigeria that people would do anything if they thought that it would give them a fighting chance, to feed their families at least. Really, doing something as dangerous as that in a sane mind is an indication that something is desparately wrong with the states of the lives of many in this country.</p>
<p>And, right now, I can't help but feel sorry for Channels TV (the channel that aired the explosion sight). If I remember correctly, AIT got in trouble for showing the body parts of the victims. Well, Channels displayed charred heads and limbs. Let's see whether government hypocracy will rear it head again.</p>
<p>Sefago, congrats on getting into Wesleyan. We're keeping our fingers crossed for your finaid!!!</p>
<p>Ukay, I haven't heard anything from Princeton yet. I guess I'll have to call the admissions office. I think that they don't give notifications by e-mail. Can't say that I'm excited though! And, sorry about Mt Holyoke. It could still work out. You could call the finaid office and explain your situation to them. Who knows? They could revise your award.</p>
<p>Millions of nigerians live in poverty and suffering untold. We don't know how many we are. We don't know how many die or are born each day. We know not how many are unemployed...and the central government looks on: "ignore the problem, forget reality, pretend things are fine: WE ARE LIVING IN UTOPIA!" meanwhile, CHAOS RULZ!!!!</p>
<p>KUDOS to the media for doing their job. Freedom of speech doesn't exist in Nigeria at the moment. Say the slightest thing about the presidency or govt's inefficiency and you may get hanged for it! we all complain bitterly to our wives, husbands and children in the comfort of our living room armchairs. We the people have no real say; no power at all. </p>
<p>great news!! sefago!! so what's your decision. if you were to get the aid you needed from wes, would you attend?</p>
<p>yeah, switch, you have to call pton, or wait for the letter whatever it is:) i just love them.</p>
<p>This is very un-Nigerian of you guys: keeping quiet for two full days. Is something wrong?</p>
<p>Well, for those of you that were wondering, the government said that the fuel scarcity in Abuja could be attributed to a spat between the NNPC and the Lagos distributors over how payments should be made to the distributors. The bone of contention (ignore the cliche) was whether the payments should be made in a single installment or twice over the span of a year. Sounds simple enough!! (didn't stop us from suffering for three days, though)</p>
<p>Welcome to Nigeria :)</p>
<p>Haha, switch. i dread the day, or rather, look forward to the day I will tread upon nigerian soil....i hope we're not up in arms before we decide how best to govern ourselves. </p>
<p>revolution [towards positive change and development] cannot and shall never begin from the top [govt], it has to start with the gatemen, drivers, and "house girls" to the urban yuppies. we need REAL leadership...we are facing a severe leadership crisis at the moment.</p>
<p>but anyway, waiting for the day!</p>
<p>"revolution [towards positive change and development] cannot and shall never begin from the top [govt], it has to start with the gatemen, drivers, and "house girls" to the urban yuppies."</p>
<p>Jrock as romantic as that sounds it doesnt seem feasible in this day and age. Nigerians dont seem to love the country or wanto change for the better. I shall continue to pray that revolution should begin from within and come out, for if it doesnt happen that way it cant be sustained. or can it?</p>
<p>no, it can't. it has to begin from the very home. but i don't see how that is to happen if the leadership cannot provide and sustain a vision of a better tomorrow, and the need to industrialize and develop; overall a better standard of living for all nigerians. in our hearts, we all have dreams and hopes of what nigeria should be...we complain a lot, but how do we go about change?? effort without direction is wasted....</p>
<p>other isssues barred, i'm very passionate about the government. i don't see how we can foster growth if we don't sort out once and for all the conditions of our unity and establish how best we can govern ourselves to suit our purposes and dreams of "self-determination". let's take a leaf from the histories of Yugoslavia, the UK, the US....</p>
<p>....this great CHASM that also exists in our educational system is a huge problem. what are all the govt majors from uni doing? they should be the ones in politics. the rot has eaten too deep. take the aviation ministry/industry for example....where do we go from here? but there are more than enough people who, if given the opportunity, can put things right in an amazingly short period of time. take the banking industry for example [btw, that's nIgeria's only significant home industry!], and see the improvements made....</p>
<p>"suffering breeds character, character breeds faith, and in the end, faith will not disappoint. we must never surrender...[NIGERIA] will get better and better...keep hope alive! keep hope alive!! KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!!..."</p>
<p>--the words [except "nigeria"] of Jesse Jackson during his speech for nomination as presidential candidate.</p>
<p>suffering brings out the best in us. even beyond this so-called "good life", nigeria's still home....and despite all its problems, chaos and corruption, I still LOVE it.</p>
<p>switch>>> wats up? i guess i worked it out with Mt Holyoke so I guess am attending.
2) I did not like it when i saw that this thread had been pushed to the 3rd page so i wld try and continue posting even if it is "bump" hehe
3) hope everyone is doing great . is funny dat during e semester we post more than holidays ... am guilty of dat too...ma reading time..lol</p>
<p>Wow. I haven't been on this thread for awhile. Time to backtrack. I'm off to Princeton! :D Congrats to everyone and hope they're happy!!! </p>
<p>Nigeria, Nigeria, oh Nigeria. There are so many different aspects of the controversy that I'm not knowledgable about to debate. I shall start my research. :D</p>
<p>Ukay, I concur. How did you guys (okay, ignore the fact that I also culpable) manage to let one of the most vibrant threads sink into near oblivion? Eh? Where are all of you? My excuse is that since I never say any activity on the thread, I just didn't bother. Time to stand up and do something. Okay, to get the conversation rolling: Does everyone know where he or she is going now?</p>
<p>I'm definitely going to Amherst. How about the rest of you?</p>
<p>Ukay, congrats on Mt Holyoke.</p>
<p>Welcome back bookfreak. Congrats on getting into Princeton.</p>
<p>Please post!!!</p>
<p>Its been a long time I have been here. Went on a mini vacation.
Well as it is now I am 99.99% sure that I am going to Columbia. Getting accepted off the waiting list of Princeton seems pretty unlikely. Anyone else?</p>
<p>Afrikaan, shouldn't Princeton have sent their waitlist replies by now? Have you heard anything?</p>
<p>I met Sly today. Do you want to send any regards to him? He was in your class wasn't he?</p>
<p>Yeah, Sly sat right in front of me. Was this in Abuja? Did he introduce himself as Sly? Well just tell him to go an learn how to swim.</p>
<p>And I havent heard from Princeton. Princeton said they'll be in touch with me anytime between May 1st and June 30th, but I am guessing since I havent gotten anything then its a lost cause.</p>
<p>Yes, in Abuja. Sly got into MIT (in case you were wondering)!!! He did introduce himself as Sly. I met him last two years during the Shell Quiz Competition if I remember correctly and again today! Small world! I tried to convince him to join the forum but he was a bit lukewarm about it.</p>
<p>yeah I knew he got into MIT. We had planned to room together-but I guess Ill just be going to see him over the breaks or sumthing. Yes indeed its a small world. And technology, makes it even smaller.</p>
<p>Ukay, I thought that you said that you would post. </p>
<p>How are your I-20s coming along?</p>