Nigeria to launch satellite.

**Stuart C** · 07-11-2006, 12:09

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/07/satellite_2009/

Apparently, the Nigerians have commissioned a UK company to build a satellite (and ground infrastructure) for monitoring disasters.

Imagine the emails..

"Dear Sirs

My country has given me money to contract out the construction of a satellite. The original contractor I hired has been killed, and I have this money. Please send me your details, and I give you 25%" and so on.

**Chris** · 07-11-2006, 12:28

I can assure you that this investment is 100% risky free and there is no danger to you or to your company. However due to the confidential nature of this business I would request you do not discuss it with anyone. If you should wish to enter into this business with us, we will require you to send us your banking details, telephone and fax numbers.

**Graham M** · 07-11-2006, 12:33

**Maggy J** · 07-11-2006, 13:04

Here we go bash Nigerians as being all scam artists...And yes I regard myself as technically being Nigerian by dint of birth.

Remember a gret deal of these scams are run by white english males masquerading as Nigerians.

**Chris** · 07-11-2006, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Here we go bash Nigerians as being all scam artists...And yes I regard myself as technically being Nigerian by dint of birth.

Remember a gret deal of these scams are run by white english males masquerading as Nigerians.

Oh come on ... 419 scams are the country's most famous export at the moment, it's hardly surprising if they come in for a little ribbing over it. Email scams are indeed a worldwide phenomenon but let's not forget they are named after a specific chapter of Nigerian law which makes them illegal in that country.

You should check out the information at sites like 419eater.com. Yes, there are English people (of all colours) involved in this sort of crime, but a heulluva lot of these emails are traceable back to Nigeria.

**Maggy J** · 07-11-2006, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

Oh come on ... 419 scams are the country's most famous export at the moment, it's hardly surprising if they come in for a little ribbing over it. Email scams are indeed a worldwide phenomenon but let's not forget they are named after a specific chapter of Nigerian law which makes them illegal in that country.

You should check out the information at sites like 419eater.com. Yes, there are English people (of all colours) involved in this sort of crime, but a heulluva lot of these emails are traceable back to Nigeria.

However it is still not fair to label EVERYTHING that Nigerians do as illegal and belittle everything that they do as a country just because of a scummy minority.After all do you like all England football supporters(and Brits in general) constantly being labelled football hooligans.

**Chris** · 07-11-2006, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

However it is still not fair to label EVERYTHING that Nigerians do as illegal and belittle everything that they do as a country just because of a scummy minority.After all do you like all England football supporters(and Brits in general) constantly being labelled football hooligans.

National stereotypes have been around forever and will continue to be so.

**Maggy J** · 07-11-2006, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

National stereotypes have been around forever and will continue to be so.

Well I'm protesting on behalf of my fellow Nigerians.Why not concentrate on the story about the satellite rather than drag in all this unrelated inuendo?

Bender · 07-11-2006, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Well I'm protesting on behalf of my fellow Nigerians.Why not concentrate on the story about the satellite rather than drag in all this unrelated inuendo?

According to most Americans (and likely, a whole bunch of other foreigners!), us Brits all speak like Hugh Grant and drink Earl Grey all day - we know it isn't true and have a giggle about it. Why are you being so touchy about it? It's just a giggle.... and WHY did you bring colour into it? No one had said ANYTHING about colour! You seem to be very over-defensive to the point you are on the verge of being aggressive about it. Just chill out. This isn't a personal attack on you nor 'your people' as you seem to have put it... Be careful what you say. Someone might see you as encroaching on their human rights to free speech and 'having a laugh'. See - even I will mock 'my people'.

**Maggy J** · 07-11-2006, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

According to most Americas, us Brits all speak like Hugh Grant and drink Earl Grey all day - we know it isn't true and have a giggle about it. Why are you being so touchy about it? It's just a giggle.... and WHY did you bring colour into it? No one had said ANYTHING about colour! You seem to be very over-defensive to the point you are on the verge of being aggressive about it. Just chill out. This isn't a personal attack on you nor 'your people' as you seem to have put it... Be careful what you say. Someone might see you as encroaching on their human rights to free speech and 'having a laugh'. See - even I will mock 'my people'.

YOU are the one whom has mentioned colour NOT me.I was mentioning about national drubbing like the joke that all Irish are thick.

If you are wondering I'm white,British but born in the former British colony of Nigeria

**Chris** · 07-11-2006, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

YOU are the one whom has mentioned colour NOT me.I was mentioning about national drubbing like the joke that all Irish are thick.

If you are wondering I'm white,British but born in the former British colony of Nigeria

You didn't say black, Incog, but your post above in which you said:

Quote:

Remember a gret deal of these scams are run by white english males masquerading as Nigerians.

(emphasis mine) did kind of imply that you were thinking along racial rather than simply national lines.

Bender · 07-11-2006, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

YOU are the one whom has mentioned colour NOT me.I was mentioning about national drubbing like the joke that all Irish are thick.

If you are wondering I'm white,British but born in the former British colony of Nigeria

Well thanks for that, but no, I wasn't wondering. And you DID mention colour by informing us that some scams are run by 'white English males'. Does colour make a difference? I didn't think it did, but obviously some people in the world need to slip it in. And although I don't deny some scams are run by 'white English males masquerading as Nigerians', the same can be said of people from many, many countries, origins, creed and language throughout the world. The point was that Nigeria is very well known for scams, and less so for sending satellites into space. Just simmer down.

**Stuart C** · 07-11-2006, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

However it is still not fair to label EVERYTHING that Nigerians do as illegal and belittle everything that they do as a country just because of a scummy minority.After all do you like all England football supporters(and Brits in general) constantly being labelled football hooligans.

Incog, it was not my intention to belittle all nigerian dealings. I did attempt to introduce a little humour with my last remark. Apologies if I caused any offence.

However, the Artlcle does make for interesting reading, and is proof that the UK, while we don't have a space program as such, is extremely active in space.

**Maggy J** · 07-11-2006, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Incog, it was not my intention to belittle all nigerian dealings. I did attempt to introduce a little humour with my last remark. Apologies if I caused any offence.

However, the Artlcle does make for interesting reading, and is proof that the UK, while we don't have a space program as such, is extremely active in space.

I apologise if I misrepresented what I was saying BUT it seems that whenever Nigeria is mentioned as doing anything that benifits the world or Africa she is err put down somewhat all due to a very small minority of nigerians and psuedo nigerians.

As Stuart says the article is interesting and all the parties concerned need applauding for their efforts..

**Chris** · 07-11-2006, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I apologise if I misrepresented what I was saying BUT it seems that whenever Nigeria is mentioned as doing anything that benifits the world or Africa she is err put down somewhat all due to a very small minority of nigerians and psuedo nigerians.

As Stuart says the article is interesting and all the parties concerned need applauding for their efforts..

Indeed they do, Nigeria should be proud of its involvement in a worthy cause.

The UK involvement in this is encouraging too and is a reflection of British Government policy on space for many decades now. We don't contribute to the glamorous but extremely expensive manned exploration of space but have instead concentrated on becoming world experts at unmanned probe and satellite technology. I believe even NASA buys technology from British companies now - IIRC their next solar observing satellite will have British optics.