Rex Tillerson's first diplomatic trip to Africa will be one he'll never forget. The (former) U.S. Secretary of State's 5-country tour of East and West Africa was some sort of an emotional rollercoster. After his trip to Ethiopia and Djibouti, he fell sick in Kenya. He then had to cut his trip short by one day. His last stop was Nigeria on Monday after his visit to Chad.
PHOTOS: President @MBuhari this afternoon met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the State House. 🇳🇬 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Vha6HHtS5P
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 12, 2018
The next day after his African trip, Rex Tillerson was publicly dumped on Twitter by American President Donald Trump.
Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
According to reports, prior to his visit to Nigeria, Rex criticised Russia and since President Trump is known to have a soft spot for Russia, the reports come as no surprise.
Nigerians reacted
Coincidence? We think not.
Someone said that our unemployment rate in Nigeria is so high that US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson visited Nigeria and was affected by it. Funny, but it has an element of truth!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) March 13, 2018
Rex Tillerson's village people are wicked. He has been fired just after leaving Nigeria. He missed destiny by a day. We would have adopted him, given him a nameless Asiwaju or Otunba kinda political portfolio in Abuja, and worshipped him with zero expectations of accountability.
— Pius Adesanmi (@pius_adesanmi) March 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/MrKonkrete/status/973549070060064768
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So Rex Tillerson is on official assignment in Nigeria & hears he was fired? You cannot even make this stuff up
— 20.10.2020 (@I_Am_Ilemona) March 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/yemibamgbose/status/973544335072411648
https://twitter.com/DeclanIfeanyi/status/973614552612069376
US Secretary of state, Rex Tillerson SACKED! I hope our brother Rochas didn’t put up a Statue for the man when he came into nigeria?
— Oku (@oku_yungx) March 13, 2018
The Donald is cold man. He just sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the midst of all the coverage and attention he is garnering from our mediocre media outlets in Nigeria.
— Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai (@B_ELRUFAI) March 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/SweetShantel/status/973646449245343745
A day after visiting Buhari, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson gets fired.
This 11th plague is weightier on Nigeria than all the other 10 that happened in Egypt put together
— Jude C. Ndukwe ANIPR (@stjudendukwe) March 13, 2018
President Jacob Zuma visited Buhari and was forced to Resign.
Rex Tillerson American Sec of State visited Buhari while on transit home got fired.
Something is wrong? - @Hope For Nigeria— Nnalove (@Nnalove) March 13, 2018
Read more reactions here. Read on for other interesting topics on social media this week.
Let's talk about the ₦100 notes in circulation
This week, Nigerians on social media decided to discuss the menace that is ₦100 notes. If you're in Nigeria, you already know the condition of the ₦100 notes in your possession. Some Nigerians are calling on the government to do something about it.
There has been an unwelcomed scarcity of neat #100NairaNotes in the country as we speak
I must say this is not helping small scale businesses
— Demola (@DemolaExpoze) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/misterboboskie/status/973933081613742080
https://twitter.com/Yommie_Scream/status/973935955668275200
#100NairaNotes not rags. @cenbank should look into this. #DMPN pic.twitter.com/8swVIDuLFH
— Ibe (@maziibe_) March 14, 2018
Funny memes
https://twitter.com/DONHALOGEN/status/973940553040715776
Before and after they use one of these #100NairaNotes to swear for you. #DMPN pic.twitter.com/lixJHWwNH8
— Ibe (@maziibe_) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/973938854100074497
Whenever Awolowo sees #100NairaNotes that's neat in Nigeria! pic.twitter.com/wdhtukngrS
— MrWhistle (@WhistleTalks) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/ShawttyNatt/status/973938161880616960
When u give Okada man that worn-out #100NairaNotes everyone has rejected and he accepts it. pic.twitter.com/XkPShlR6Du
— Ezigbo (@Nkezigbo) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/973935515039862786
Other reactions
https://twitter.com/DONHALOGEN/status/973936987639046144
Is it that they stopped printing #100NairaNotes so it can be easier when stealing money with Ghana must go bags? pic.twitter.com/46LtOpe5yD
— MrWhistle (@WhistleTalks) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/iSlimfit/status/973954821328949248
Read more here.
From Nigeria to the world
This week, Nigerian developer Christian Nwamba, popularly known as Codebeast unvieled his book on JavaScript titled TypeScript 2.x for Angular Developers.
#Grateful. I’m officially a published author. Thank you @ladyleet and @unicodeveloper
Cc @PacktPub pic.twitter.com/DuGgJPZ9za
— Christian Nwamba (@codebeast) March 13, 2018
He got a lot of love from his fellow Nigerian developers and members of the Nigerian tech community. Here's a few of their reactions.
Just coped @codebeast 's Typescript 2.x for Angular Developers book!!! Can't wait to dig in 😊
Get it here: https://t.co/PNf6VkuYft pic.twitter.com/nj18BimKhD
— Ire Aderinokun (@ireaderinokun) March 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/markessien/status/973518435018854400
CONGRATS @codebeast on the release of your book. Huge win. ✊🏾
— osarumen (@skweird) March 13, 2018
You've not seen anything yet. That my mentor is now an author 🙌🙌. He keeps mans on his toes mehn. pic.twitter.com/6SzfuZJ1ls
— Chidiebube Amos (@bubeamos) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/ted_lade/status/973253011005898753
Y'all get in here. As you know. Tech is the new oil. So this our 'Otedola' of Tech has come out With a way by which you can own your own 'filling station' of tech!!!! Congrats @codebeast pic.twitter.com/1lSnuZ0ljY
— Nonso Ozoemena (@ozoemena_nonso) March 12, 2018
We’re literally shaking right now! Congrats @codebeast on your new book 🍾 🥂 🌊 pic.twitter.com/TqRDY7an8e
— Flutterwave (@theflutterwave) March 13, 2018
Software developer, JS evangelist, all round great guy and now...a published author!!! Congrats @codebeast. pic.twitter.com/5CFvhNo3Wj
— Mustapha Garba (@musti_ag) March 13, 2018
I remember a few years ago, reading programming books: the Head First series, the For Dummies series, The Beginners Guide series. Fast forward a few years later @codebeast, a Nigerian developer wrote a book on JavaScript. #ToTheWorld 🚀🚀🚀🔥🔥
— John Oke (@thejohnoke) March 12, 2018
My friend and brother, @codebeast is now a published author. This gladdens my heart. This has always been the dream. African engineers pushing the bounds of what's possible. Well done chief. pic.twitter.com/nadCkl6EYG
— Uncle Celestine (@cyberomin) March 13, 2018
On my next trip to SF, I’ll just order 1000 copies of @codebeast’s Typescript book. 🤔🤔🤔
Nigerian Immigration Official: Oga, Wetin you bring come? 😉
Me: Dollar or Naira I do not have, but what I do have I give. In the name of JavaScript, rise up & code 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/fDguN64bsK
— Odogwu Machalla (@unicodeveloper) March 13, 2018
Congratulations Codebeast.
Land Use Charge Part 2
If you recall, in last week's roundup, I reported that the Lagos State government increased the charges on commercial properties in the state and the social media backlash it got. In fresh reports, yesterday, the Lagos State govenmrnt apparently heeded to Lagosians' pleas and reduced the charges by 50%.
According to Mr Akinyemi Ashade, Lagos state’s Commissioner for Finance, "the government has also reduced the charges for Owner-occupier with third party including industries and manufacturing concerns by 25%, while tax credits has been given for LUC charges already paid in addition to introduction of instalment payment system"
Breaking News: Lagos State Government has reduced Land Use Charge...... details later
— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) March 15, 2018
Here's how Lagosians reacted.
Not impressed
Lagos has NOT reduced its Land Use Charge. It has reduced the amount by which it increased its Land Use Charge.
People are still required to pay more than they used to.
— 20.10.2020 (@I_Am_Ilemona) March 15, 2018
Shebi I told you these lagosians don't have sense. So because Ambode reduced your Land Use Charge from N4m to N2m they are clapping.
They don't know Ambode is a classic con man...
Yeye
— Solakuti.com (@Solakutidotcom) March 15, 2018
Land Use Charge: NBA rejects Lagos State Government 50 percent reduction, says it is unacceptable.
— Nairametrics (@Nairametrics) March 15, 2018
Dear Lagos State Government, @followlasg
Your proposed Land Use Charge is an act of insensitivity, which is aimed @ increasing the burden of already impoverished lagosians.
Plz be informed that your recent reduction is unacceptable,because all we demand for is total cancellation pic.twitter.com/qYpndiWIqN— Citz. Temitope Oguntosin™ (@coguntosin) March 15, 2018
If you people allow yourselves to be fooled by this LASG reduction in that land use charge, then you deserve your govt. How can the govt make an arbitrary valuation and charge you based on that. Like that 580+ million valuation for a house in Omole
— Ben Oluwaseun (@SeunEsq) March 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/Femi_Dapson/status/974494797221322758
Other reactions
Now that the Lagos state has reduced the land use charge, where are the people that said the government didn’t increase it?
Lesson: Not everything should be defended, sometimes, silence is better.— Sola (@Advsola) March 15, 2018
Lagos State.. Land use charge na wa o
— Remi (@BoWeEzY) March 16, 2018
Lagos state land use charge is not friendly. Please do something our governor with you good office. God bless this state.
— DANIEL NESI (@daronbread) March 15, 2018
Land use charge.. Landlord that collect 300000/ year is here fighting government for asking 20000...#I stand with Lagos state government
— Isaacwemmy Wemmy (@IsaacwemmyW) March 15, 2018
Read on here.
