Credit cards

Besides the make believe of Hollywood and behind the facade of incredible infrastructures here is the harsh realities of the financial system on which the economy of the country runs. It is easier to get consumed by the credit management than getting a driver's licence.

For the benefit of people back home who assumed -quite wrongly that milk and honey flow on the streets of America; they don't. Most people are permanently on credit card- life -support. Credit cards are small plastic cards with different security features that extends a line of credit – or a temporary loan – any time a consumer uses it to make a purchase.

If the loan or charge is paid back within a specified grace period – usually between 25 and 30 days – then you don’t have to pay anything above and beyond the amount you initially charged; it amounts to a short-term, interest-free loan.

However, if you are unable or unwilling to pay your full balance in that time, you will owe interest on your purchases – money charged in addition to the amount you already owe. That’s one way card issuers earn money in exchange for making these temporary loans.

Credit card interest is generally charged as a percentage of what you owe each month. The percentage of interest you’ll owe each year is your annual percentage rate, commonly referred to as your APR.

Americans and that includes those already marked for deportation by the incoming administration spent $695m on Christmas gifts some days ago, and a large chunk of that will be on the famous credit cards.

In the hand of the financially undisciplined, the card could wreck your credit record and put you where the system wants you-perpetual economic doom.If however you rein your appetite for spontaneous shopping and pay your bills before it is or when due, the benefits of the credit card is just enourmous. Will this work back home? Before I left, no. Now? Ask Mrs Adeosun.

As for the folks who are home on holiday from here and spending to impress in Nigeria should better be reminded that debt is like diabetes; you can only control it by insulin and diet, once you have it. You have it.

Introducing...

Quite surprisingly, a lot of Americans do not know that Nigeria is not a continent, most of them also think that all black with my kind of accent are from Nigeria. In other words, Nigeria is more popular than Africa here. This ignorance would have escaped the headlines if they have not added the word ‘'recession’ to the growing popular vocabulary at home. Now, Americans think Trump is synonymous with change and that Buhari is just a change agent. Can you imagine.

Anyway, as a way of introduction,Nigeria is located in western part of Africa and at 173 million,  we are about half of American population. We have below our 923,678sq km geographical land area enough mineral resources to fend for the entire earth leaving India and China out! Before the Northern and Southern protectorates were merged preparatory to independence,coal was discovered and mining started in earnest.  After independence, crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity and we did not fritter these resources away as neo-colonialism would want us to believe.

We resuscitated Julius Berger in Germany without them begging for it, brought them home and build few bridges here and there at an un-related costs . We equipped and trained our military for coup when there are no wars to fight. In order for the riches to go round, we adopted bi-camera expensive and expansive system of governance. We legislated free education by quota system, won a Nobel laureate and politicized the most critical sector of nation building.

Even though we are about the same size as Texas, we are made up of thirty something states that would have been viable if the western world have paid reparations for our labour lost in their homeland during slavery. Arguably, our greatest asset is still our incredible manpower- our leaders, in terms of their skills set in “everything” and our people in terms of docility. And of course, we liberalize downstream religion and instantly became the closest to God in terms of need and not deeds.

I suspect you, readers, are no longer following me. Just like my American colleagues at work, that I have been trying to lecture on our situation are beginning to look at me in consternation and total disbelief. I don't get.

Dodgy affairs

I love dogs.  This has nothing to do with their anatomy nor with my state of origin. It was not love at first sight either. It is a bit complicated.I will explain.

When I was growing up, dogs were used as sacrificial offering to the deity and later consumed by human (It is rather ironical how deities never benefit from sacrifices offered to them). My contact with them was hopelessly limited to seeing them tied down with their destinies staring them in the eyes. It was cruelty at a primeval level to canine that are fiercely loyal and extremely friendly to man.

Each time I had this experience, I always felt I owe these domesticated animals the duty of liberation. Technology and the gospel however came and relieved me of what would have been a daunting responsibility. The use of dogs as sacrifices have since reduced as deities have upgraded their taste buds and no longer hunger after rare steaks!

I tried to show my love and attention for dogs in Nigeria as a friend and neighbour gave me a puppy of rare breed. My family fell in love with the tiny specie and named him Oscar. Just as we were getting to know one another; he fell ill and Nigeria health delivery system failed us and Oscar died. My friends suspected foul play but I know nothing about its death. Anyway, I promised my kids another opportunity of having a pet when we get to a saner clime.

Saner clime however has its challenges. Health care delivery for both human and animals is top notch here, so also is the attendant costs. Forget Obamacare. The fact of the matter is that dogs don't eat left overs here, and are also not expected to fend for themselves as they do in my town! As at my last calculations, it is cheaper raising a kid than having a dog as pet.

So, my love for dogs remains intact but suspended.

Vacant flats in Baltimore

Choice flats of 2/3 bedroom to let in N.Gilmore, Baltimore. USA