Nigerians are known across the globe as great
entrepreneurs whose business concerns keep them on the move always. From
the sub-Sahara Africa to the cold regions of Eastern Europe through
Asia, the Caribbean to the Amazon enclaves of South Americas and North
America, Nigerians are renowned for their energy and drive. Despite this
celebrated quality, sometimes these travels are needless and the
energy wrongly dissipated especially that some people have taken
pleasure in denting the country’s image other compatriots have spent
time trying to make smell like rose.
Many of those who have no business leaving the shores of this country usually gain entry into other countries through the back door, beating the host country’s immigration checks. Little wonder, the country has in recent times witnessed a high deportation of its nationals from other countries. While it is right for people to search for greener pastures anywhere they find them, it is condemnable that people should break the laws, refuse to pay the necessary fees to the host countries, thus causing the nation some considerable damage by their activities. It is a known fact that once in another country, some Nigerians indulge in some unscrupulous activities and illegalities frowned at by nations where they have journeyed to.
Britain, one of the choice destinations, is now taking steps to checkmate the excesses of visitors. According to reports, Nigerians and citizens of Ghana, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will henceforth pay a bond worth 3,000 pounds before being granted entry into the country. The objective of this bond regime, the Home Secretary Theresa May, said “Is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.”
This applies to holders of six-month visas, who are considered the most vulnerable to breaking immigration laws. After testing the law on this category of people, it is also billed to apply to holders of student visas, work permits as well as to people from countries considered “low risk.” The bond will be returned to those who don’t overstay their visit beyond the approved time.
It is not difficult to understand how Nigerians feature prominently in this group. In 2012 alone, at least 101,000 Nigerians were granted six months visa to the United Kingdom. When tallied with the fact that some of those people flouted immigration laws of that nation, the outcry against the perceived discrimination by the British government by some people becomes unwarranted. President Goodluck Jonathan obviously aware of the frequent and needless visits to the UK by some highly-placed government officials to cavort while abandoning their duties, banned such officials from travelling to the UK.
This directive by the British government should be a call to duty to all Nigerians. Indeed, it is time to harness our efforts and resources to build our country. The purposes for which Nigerians travel to other countries can be achieved if we develop our infrastructure. In health, sport, tourism, entertainment, education and other fields of human endeavour, Nigerians are said to be leading lights where ever they find themselves. We should put our diaspora resources together with the domestic human capital to build a strong and virile country that we can all be proud of.
Unless we take this path, Nigerians should brace up for more indignities. With economic crises ravaging many European countries, they are more likely to vent their anger on migrants, especially those from sub-Sahara Africa. And with a well-documented culture of abuse of privileges, Nigerians will be a ready target for these nations seeking to prune down the number of people who gain entry into their countries.
Source: PM News
Many of those who have no business leaving the shores of this country usually gain entry into other countries through the back door, beating the host country’s immigration checks. Little wonder, the country has in recent times witnessed a high deportation of its nationals from other countries. While it is right for people to search for greener pastures anywhere they find them, it is condemnable that people should break the laws, refuse to pay the necessary fees to the host countries, thus causing the nation some considerable damage by their activities. It is a known fact that once in another country, some Nigerians indulge in some unscrupulous activities and illegalities frowned at by nations where they have journeyed to.
Britain, one of the choice destinations, is now taking steps to checkmate the excesses of visitors. According to reports, Nigerians and citizens of Ghana, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will henceforth pay a bond worth 3,000 pounds before being granted entry into the country. The objective of this bond regime, the Home Secretary Theresa May, said “Is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.”
This applies to holders of six-month visas, who are considered the most vulnerable to breaking immigration laws. After testing the law on this category of people, it is also billed to apply to holders of student visas, work permits as well as to people from countries considered “low risk.” The bond will be returned to those who don’t overstay their visit beyond the approved time.
It is not difficult to understand how Nigerians feature prominently in this group. In 2012 alone, at least 101,000 Nigerians were granted six months visa to the United Kingdom. When tallied with the fact that some of those people flouted immigration laws of that nation, the outcry against the perceived discrimination by the British government by some people becomes unwarranted. President Goodluck Jonathan obviously aware of the frequent and needless visits to the UK by some highly-placed government officials to cavort while abandoning their duties, banned such officials from travelling to the UK.
This directive by the British government should be a call to duty to all Nigerians. Indeed, it is time to harness our efforts and resources to build our country. The purposes for which Nigerians travel to other countries can be achieved if we develop our infrastructure. In health, sport, tourism, entertainment, education and other fields of human endeavour, Nigerians are said to be leading lights where ever they find themselves. We should put our diaspora resources together with the domestic human capital to build a strong and virile country that we can all be proud of.
Unless we take this path, Nigerians should brace up for more indignities. With economic crises ravaging many European countries, they are more likely to vent their anger on migrants, especially those from sub-Sahara Africa. And with a well-documented culture of abuse of privileges, Nigerians will be a ready target for these nations seeking to prune down the number of people who gain entry into their countries.
Source: PM News
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