Showing posts with label immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigration. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

3,690 Nigerians Among 1.4Million Illegal Immigrants in US Expulsion

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified approximately 1.5 million “illegal immigrants” for deportation.

The deportations come as President Donald Trump enforces his crackdown on illegal immigration.

A document obtained by Fox News from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) states that, as of 24 November 2024, 1,445,549 non-citizens were on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.

Nigeria ranked second in Africa with 3,690 individuals on the list, following Somalia with 4,090. Ghana was third with 3,228.

Mexico had the highest number of deportees, with 252,044 individuals identified for removal.

The US government urged countries to accept the return of their nationals, warning that a lack of cooperation could hinder deportations.

“The U.S. Government requests foreign governments to verify citizenship, issue travel documents promptly, and accept the return of their nationals,” the document states.

It further warns that failure to comply may result in countries being designated as uncooperative.

Before his re-election in November, Trump had pledged to prioritise stricter immigration policies.

The US president has repeatedly referred to illegal immigrants as a cause of rising crime rates.

On his first day back in office, Trump signed multiple executive orders, including declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and deploying troops to bolster security.

By Toyibat Ajose, News Central


Friday, December 27, 2024

‘Modern slavery’: Trapped in Iraq, Nigerian women cry out for help

Sometimes when the pain hits, Agnes* has to pause for several seconds to ride out the excruciating wave. It feels like someone has tied a rope to her insides and is pulling and twisting it, the 27-year-old Nigerian domestic worker says, making it hard to bend or stand up straight.

Agnes’s ordeal started in March in the Iraqi city of Basra when her boss raped her at gunpoint. She fell pregnant, and the man then forced her to undergo a painful abortion. It was so difficult, Agnes said, that she could not sit for three days. Since then, the severe abdominal pains won’t go away, and there’s no one to take her to a hospital.“I just want to go home and treat myself, but I can’t do that,” Agnes said on a phone call from Basra, where she is holed up in a hostel belonging to the recruiting firm that hired her from Nigeria last year. “The man has refused to pay my salary. I don’t know if I am pregnant, but I have not seen my menstruation since then. I just want to go home and check myself and see what’s happening inside me,” she added, her voice breaking.

Al Jazeera is not mentioning Agnes’s real name because she fears reprisals from the staff of the so-called recruiting agency. She is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are caught in a transnational labour network that often sees women from Nigeria and other African countries deceived into domestic servitude in Iraqi cities, activists said.

In Nigeria, the women are hired by a ring of local “agents” who sell them a dream of good pay and good conditions abroad. They get the women to agree, process visas and send them off to recruitment firms in Iraq for a commission of about $500 per woman, according to activists familiar with the system.

Once there, the Iraqi firms ask the women, called “shagalas” (meaning “house worker” in Arabic), to sign two-year contracts and assign them to families or labour-intensive institutions like spas, where they are often expected to work more than 20 hours a day for monthly pay of $200 to $250. In many homes, the women are subject to inhumane treatment: They go days without food, are beaten and are not provided living quarters.

Some, like Agnes, also face sexual abuse and rape. Several women told Al Jazeera stories of victims who had faced so much abuse and torture that they ended up dead although these cases have not been independently confirmed.

“It’s a form of modern slavery,” said Damilola Adekola, co-founder of Hopes Haven Foundation, a Nigerian NGO that helps track women in Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries where abuse of African domestic workers is rife. “These Iraqi agents and the families [the women work for] often tell them, ‘We’ve bought you, so you have to work.’ The contracts they sign go against any type of international law because there’s no medical care and they have to work obscene hours.”

These women often lack knowledge of what a normal workplace should be like because the Nigerian recruiters target women from rural communities who are usually uninformed about the dangers, Adekola added. Although some have diplomas, they often don’t know about the realities of post-war Iraq or that Baghdad is not a country. “Once they hear they can get on an airplane, they just jump at the opportunity,” he said.


A chance to ‘hustle’ abroad goes badly

A native of Nigeria’s Ekiti, a small state northeast of the commercial capital, Lagos, Agnes was working as a domestic worker at home when she heard of an opportunity that could take her abroad.

She paid 100,000 naira ($64) to a local recruiting agent, a family friend whom she trusted, believing that she would be able to make much more money to send home to her ailing mother and nine-year-old son.

Soaring inflation in Nigeria has crippled the naira since 2019. The result has been that Nigerians, young and old, are leaving the country to seek better opportunities. According to an Afrobarometer report this month, more than half of the 200 million population indicated they want to leave the country due to economic hardship with most looking at Europe, North America and the Middle East.

For Agnes, domestic work anywhere else and with the promise of pay that was three times what she normally earned, was an answered prayer. She left for Basra from Lagos airport in September 2023 and arrived at the Iraqi recruitment firm she had been “sold” to after a day’s journey.


Once in Iraq, Agnes’s dreams of a comfortable life abroad turned into a nightmare. Her first shock was at the recruitment firm in Iraq. The firm assigned her a first home to work at, but Agnes was badly treated. She wasn’t given food regularly although her boss would force her to work all day, and her phone was seized, she said. When she complained and refused to work, the Iraqi man returned her to the agents, demanding a refund. Angered that she’d caused a loss, two employers from the firm descended on Agnes, she said, hitting her, punching her and smashing her mobile.

“I had to use a bandage on my eye for three days,” Agnes said. In a photo taken days after the beating and seen by Al Jazeera, Agnes’s right cheek is red and swollen. The firm then forced her to go to a second home, which is where she said the rape took place.

Now, Agnes is back in the firm’s hostel, penniless. After the pains in her abdomen rendered her unable to work, she said the boss who raped her abandoned her there and refused to pay six months of her salary.

“If I knew what this country is like, I wouldn’t have come here. If I knew it’s not safe and there is no respect for life, I wouldn’t have come. I just thought I could also come here and hustle. Please help me get out of here,” she pleaded.

Although she has a place to sleep and she, as well as dozens of women at the hostel, get some noodles and rice daily to cook, Agnes is fearful. The agency has refused to send her back to Nigeria, insisting that she has one more year to work on her contract, despite her debilitating pain.

Agnes said she tries not to aggravate staff of the firm to avoid beatings. Several women there have either been beaten or have been locked up for days without food because their bosses complained of their conduct, she said. Al Jazeera is not revealing the name of the company in order to protect the women, but we did seek official responses regarding the firm from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, which is in charge of Iraq’s police. We have not yet received a response.


Trafficking of Africans rife in Middle East

Despite several laws against labour trafficking, the practice is rife in post-war Iraq. The country is both a source and destination country for trafficked victims with an estimated 221,000 people currently in slavery-like conditions, according to a November report from the International Organization of Migration (IOM). Most documented victims are from Iran and Indonesia.

The experiences of African female domestic workers in Iraq are largely undocumented, but the challenges they face have been going on for years. Black people have historically been seen as slaves in the country and still face discrimination today.

In 2011, news reports documented how dozens of Ugandan women were tricked by local agents into believing they would be working on United States army bases when the country was under American occupation after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government. Instead, the women were “sold” to Iraqi firms for about $3,500 and forced to work in dire conditions. Eventually, some escaped with the help of US army staff, but others were never accounted for.

Similar cases of exploitation are being reported across the Middle East, where hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from African and Asian countries are at higher risk of trafficking, according to the IOM.

Under the “kafala” system, which is legal in countries like Lebanon, employers pay for the documentation and travel costs of the foreign workers and use that as leverage to abuse them by confiscating their passports or seizing their pay, reports have shown. The system doesn’t give the worker the right to seek out another employer but does allow employers to transfer contracts to others. Recruitment agencies often use the legal system to employ many workers and then auction the contracts online for huge amounts of money.

It’s unclear to what extent Iraqi authorities investigate agents hiring and “selling” African workers or the individuals who maltreat these women. Authorities however appear to be investigating one case that has garnered widespread attention on Nigerian social media.

Eniola, 28, had, like her counterparts, jumped at the opportunity to earn more money abroad as a domestic worker and arrived in Baghdad in February 2023. However, her boss forced her to work most of the day and allowed her only three to four hours of sleep. When she complained, the woman routinely tortured her with tasers or hit her with an iron rod. She doused her with hot tea or water on several occasions too.

In videos Eniola sent to Al Jazeera, her fingers, which appear to be broken, are bandaged, and scars from burns and wounds dot her body. She found the courage to finally escape in August after more than a year of abuse. Al Jazeera is only using Eniola’s first name to protect her identity.

“She had just beat me when she put some water on the fire and told me to enter the bathroom,” Eniola told Al Jazeera. She feared her boss wanted to pour hot water on her, so she fled. “I don’t know where I got the courage, but I ran outside.”

Bleeding, Eniola ran to groups of locals who, shocked by her wounds, helped her get to a police station where she handed herself in. She was never paid by her boss.

In a statement, Iraq’s interior ministry told Al Jazeera it was not aware of the two women’s cases, but vowed to investigate the matter.

An officer at the country’s Directorate for Residence Affairs in charge of residency violations, and where Eniola has been transferred, told Al Jazeera the abusive boss had been “invited by government agencies for questioning and was bieng investigated”.

On Tuesday, Eniola confirmed she was arraigned in court alongside her former boss, and a years’ worth of salary was handed to her. Eniola, only willing to go home, said she declined to press charges against the Iraqi woman. Authorities plan to force the boss to pay for her ticket home, she said, but it’s unclear when that will happen.

There are several other Nigerian women in detention for various offences: fighting with their bosses, overstaying their residence permits or “taking salaries and running away,” said the Iraqi official, who is not authorised to speak to the press.

Nigerian domestic workers Al Jazeera spoke to however say their Iraqi bosses have been known to take advantage of language barriers and some wrongfully accuse the women of crimes.


Nigeria fails to act quickly, activists say

Activists blamed Nigerian authorities for failing to regulate the industry and allowing groups of women to head to Middle Eastern countries for domestic work without proper documentation or a system to track them. Some reports also accuse staff of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) of taking bribes from local agents and turning a blind eye at airports to clear cases of exploitation.

Al Jazeera put these allegations to the NIS via email. In a statement, the NIS said it would respond to the accusations but did not reply in time for publication.

“Immigration is never a crime, and we are not saying people should not find work abroad, but there should be a government system where these women are registered and taxed, even if it’s a small token,” Adekola of the Hopes Haven Foundation said. The organisation helped alert authorities to Eniola’s and Agnes’s cases.

“With that, the government can monitor the women’s information and work situation. If these employers torturing them know that the ladies are being monitored by their government, they’ll not try what they’re doing to them.”

Officials at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigerian anti-trafficking agency, first sounded the alarm about the exploitative recruitment drives to Iraq in May 2023.

Some rogue agents who take part in recruiting and “selling” the women are known by NAPTIP and are under investigation, an official who had not been authorised to speak to the media and who we are therefore not naming, told Al Jazeera.

Agnes’s and Eniola’s cases are being investigated, the official said but did not give a timeline as to when the women might be repatriated. Nigeria does not have an embassy in Iraq, and the official said the agency was liaising with the Nigerian consulate in Jordan.

In Basra, Agnes is still holed up in her recruitment agency’s hostel, hoping for a way out. She can hardly stand up from her bed, she said. This week, some women arrived freshly from Nigeria and Uganda, and have been sent to their assigned homes to work, she said. The women, Agnes added, were fearful after seeing her condition but were forced to go.

“I just want to go home because I’m not OK,” she said. “I’m barely alive. Please help me get out. I’m too young to die here.”

*Name changed to protect anonymity

By Shola Lawal, Al Jazeera


Woman who ran prostitution ring extradited from Nigeria to Italy

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Nigeria’s passport app with contactless biometric capture set for US, UK, Italy

Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and some of his collaborators recently held talks with officials in the UK to discuss partnership regarding the launch of the biometric passport application system for Nigerians residing in that country and others, which is planned for November 15.

Tunji-Ojo said they had discussions with the UK Home Secretary, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, on the passport project and on ways of strengthening cooperation in the area of data security for the efficient delivery of public services.

The NIS Contactless Biometrics App is set to launch in the UK, Italy, and the United States this Friday, and the service will be made available to the rest of the world on December 1. It had gone live in Canada on November 1.

The contactless system, which enables the remote capture of face and fingerprint biometrics for passport renewal applicants, is delivered by two local companies, Iris Smart Technologies and Newworks, which have been working in collaboration with the NIS.

“In line with our initiative to extend contactless biometrics solution to the UK, having successfully launched in Canada with impressive success rate, I also led senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on an oversight visit to the Nigeria High Commission. This visit reaffirms our support for the attachés working to improve our services to Nigerians abroad,” Tunji-Ojo said in a post on X.

“We discussed mutual goals to strengthen security, efficiency, and service delivery, showing our administration’s dedication to sustainable development through cooperation and shared purpose.”

The NIS, at the time, explained the functionality of the mobile application and how to use it, in an X thread.

Nigerian authorities say the contactless system is part of their efforts to streamline the passport application process for millions of citizens who have always faced challenges renewing their passports both in Nigeria and in different parts of the world.

By Ayang Macdonald, Biometric Update

Friday, August 30, 2024

Nigeria ranks among top 20 for US Green Cards

Nigeria ranks among the top 20 countries globally that received United States permanent residency status visas, known as green cards.

This is contained in BusinessDay reports, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The data revealed that Nigerians received 12,385 PR to migrate into the United States in the period under review.

Comparatively, the data highlighted Mexico and India as the leading sources of new permanent residents.

Together, these two countries accounted for a combined total of 265,784 individuals, which constituted 26 percent of the overall total of new permanent residents.

A further analysis of the data showed that 1,018,349 immigrants globally received their PRs, which included 82,117 green cards issued to African nationals.

The classes of PR visas issued to Nigerians included 7,529 persons who were immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, 818 through family-sponsored preferences, 3,213 through employment-based preferences, 14 through diversity programs, 797 as refugees and asylees, and 14 through other broad classes of admission.

Concerning asylum, Nigeria saw 259 individuals who were granted asylum affirmatively in 2022, a significant increase from 61 in 2013.

In terms of naturalization, Nigeria had 9,545 naturalized persons in 2013, which rose to 14,438 by 2022.

In a similar development, the US Department of State on Thursday announced that it has issued all visas in the Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) category for fiscal year (FY) 2024.

“The State Department, working in close collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is pleased to announce the issuance of all available visas in the Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) category for fiscal year (FY) 2024,” it said.

The development comes as a desire to emigrate surge among Nigerians especially the Youths in what is now known as ‘Japa syndrome’.

Outside the US, the population of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria and other countries has increased significantly in the last four years, according to available data.

By Ogaga Ariemu, Daily Post

Related story: Couple behind popular restaurant face being deported to Nigeria with their three young kids in DAYS


Thursday, August 29, 2024

Nigeria, others lost $6m to stowaways

Nigeria and other countries within the Gulf of Guinea lost $5.9 million to 143 stowaway cases within the region in 2023, according to Africa Risk Compliance Limited.

The firm disclosed this at the maritime security conference organised by the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria and alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria recently in Lagos.

A report, presented by an intelligent analyst with ARC, Vanessa Hayford, underscored the growing challenges and financial impacts of stowaways in the Gulf of Guinea region.

Stowaways are individuals who covertly board vessels without authorisation from the master or other responsible parties.

These individuals hide within the vessel’s structure or cargo to evade detection.

The discovery of stowaways, particularly after the vessel has departed, can lead to costly delays, complex logistical issues, and severe financial implications for the shipping industry.

Hayford explained that in 2021/2022, the International Maritime Organisation reported that there were 345 stowaway incidents in the GoG, involving 892 individuals, costing the maritime industry an estimated $5.9m.

She noted the figure amounted to an average of $17,100 per incident and $6,600 per stowaway.

According to Hayford, these figures highlight the substantial economic burden that stowaway incidents impose on the industry.

“In 2021, the Gulf of Guinea reported 31 stowaway cases, involving 88 individuals. This number slightly decreased in 2022, with 25 incidents and 71 stowaways.

“However, 2023 saw a sharp increase, with 35 incidents involving 143 stowaways. This rise in cases underscores a significant escalation in the challenge of managing stowaway issues in the region,” Hayford declared.

She stated that preliminary data for 2024 indicated a potential improvement, with 14 stowaway cases reported so far, involving 60 individuals.

Hayford added that nine of those cases were detected before departure, which suggested that ports and vessels in the region were becoming more effective at identifying stowaways before vessels set sail.

“Early detection is crucial, as it helps mitigate the logistical and financial impacts associated with stowaways,” she said.

She further emphasised that despite some progress, the data available was not exhaustive, adding that it reflected only reported incidents and may not capture the full extent of the stowaway problem in the Gulf of Guinea.

She maintained that the rise in reported cases highlighted the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to address the growing threat of stowaways.

“Stowaways employ various methods to board vessels, including sneaking on board during cargo operations, posing as stevedores with fake documentation, hiding in containers, bribing port workers, or using small crafts to access vessels at anchor.

“Common hiding spots include empty containers, cargo holds, tanks, and behind false panels, with the rudder being a particularly dangerous location due to its exposure to harsh conditions and lack of necessities,” she concluded.

By Anozie Egole, PUNCH

Related story: 14-Year-Old Stowaway Found At Lagos Airport Was Tired Of Nigeria

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Couple behind popular restaurant face being deported to Nigeria with their three young kids in DAYS

A family from Leigh fear they will be kicked out of the country if they don't raise enough money to pay for new visas. Cynthia and Bright Chinule, who run a popular restaurant in the town, say they have just over two weeks to raise just under £26k or they could be forced to return to Nigeria after six years of building a life in England.

The couple, behind the well known Nigerian restaurant Taste Africana, say they are unable to pay the visa renewal fees for their family-of-five after a sudden roof collapse left them in a financial hole.


Last year they were left 'heartbroken' after the roof of the first building their restaurant was based in suddenly caved in just two months after opening. Luckily, they were able to find a new home just minutes away on Market Street where they have been operating since November 11.

However, according to Bright, the financial knock-on effects means the couple, who have three children, have been unable to keep on top of the rising cost of living, visa fees and things like immigration health surcharge payments, which is a fee paid by migrants who live in the UK for more than six months.

"They've put up the immigration charges, health insurance used to be around £300 per year," explained Bright.

"It's gone all the way up to around £1,800 per person, per year. Think about me who's got a family of five. If I add visa application fees and lawyer fees it brings everything to up to around £26k.

"The visa expires in 12 days so we need to at least put in an application the night before. At this stage we just don't have the money to do that.

"The target is to get enough money to get the whole visa thing fixed to give us some peace of mind. The idea that there is a possibility of being kicked out after six years of work has drained all the peace out of me. It takes a huge toll on you, honestly."

Before opening, Taste Africana was ‘Home Food UK’, an online takeaway operating from Cynthia and Bright’s kitchen at their home on Glebe Street, after the couple moved to the area in 2021 to raise their young family.

A former maths teacher, Cynthia was the first to suggest going into the food sector when she was on maternity leave and realised she wouldn't be able to go back to work as a teaching assistant and look after their children.

She started Home Food UK, which proved a big hit. With two masters degrees and a career in the NHS, Bright also took the leap to support Cynthia in running Taste Africana.

But the family are now facing the possibility of restarting their lives in Nigeria should they fail to submit applications before the deadline after six years of trying to build something in the UK.

Bright said: "In the worst case scenario we will be asked to leave the UK. We're going to be given 60 days to leave if we're lucky.

"Then, where do you start from? Flight tickets are so expensive. I've got a business that I've built here, we can't sell that overnight.

"Are we going to leave it behind and just move? You can't sell a business overnight or sell all the things inside it overnight. Where does that leave you? I can't even think about it.

"The reality kicked in when I realised I've got a little over two weeks left. Miracles can happen but I've tried everything within my capacity and I'm just stuck."

Bright added: "It's a difficult place to be in. It's difficult to be thriving and make some impact and then all of a sudden not being able to move because all these barriers have been placed around you.

"We are currently on the post study visa, so it means I've done a higher education course. I've finished that course and now I've been granted to remain in the country to find my feet, get a job etc.

"That's what I've done essentially. Education alone as an international student costs an arm and a leg and that's all to guarantee some sort of economic stability so you can be productive in the system. All of a sudden your wings are clipped because of your immigration status."

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our visa fees have been informed by the principle that those who use and benefit from the immigration system should contribute towards the cost of operating it, reducing the level of UK taxpayer funding that would otherwise be required.”

The family's Gofundme page can be found here.

By Ramazani Mwamba, Manchester Evening News

Related story: 174 migrants deported from Libya to Nigeria

Top Visa-Free Countries that Nigerians Can Travel To

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

174 migrants deported from Libya to Nigeria

 A total of 174 migrants were deported from Libya to Nigeria on Tuesday with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), according to a Libyan official.

Muhammad Baraida, an assistant for security affairs of the Libyan Illegal Immigration Control Department, told Xinhua that the repatriated migrants were mostly women "who tested positive for infectious and chronic diseases."

The migrants were deported through IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, which facilitates the return of migrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.

Baraida added that the deportation was carried out in coordination with the Nigerian embassy in Libya, noting that Libya has been collaborating with IOM to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of migrants in the country.

Ever since the downfall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for some African migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

According to IOM, the VHR program has helped more than 80,000 migrants return to their home countries voluntarily from Libya since 2015.

Xinhua

Monday, March 18, 2024

Video - Nigeria opens its air and land borders with Niger



Nigeria has decided to reopen its air and land borders with its neighbor, Niger. This decision also involves lifting other sanctions imposed after the military takeover in Niger last year.

CGTN

Monday, February 26, 2024

Students from Nigeria who fled war in Ukraine are being told to leave Europe

Olabisi* was out to get groceries during her post-graduate clinical rotations at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in western Ukraine on the morning of 24 February 2022 when she heard loud bangs. Then came breaking news alerts: Russia was invading Ukraine. She rushed home to pack a few belongings.

“In the course of moving, I lost my certificates and even my passport,” she said.

She headed towards the border between Ukraine and Romania with hundreds of thousands of others. Thankfully, with her Ukrainian ID card, she was allowed passage. From Romania, she travelled by train to the Netherlands, along with other students whose lives had just been uprooted.

Olabisi chose the Netherlands because – like a number of western European countries – it had announced plans to take in people displaced from the Ukraine war, and she had heard it was cheaper and more welcoming than others.

In 2022, the European Union activated a rule called a Temporary Protection Directive, granting those fleeing war a stay for up to two years – until March 4, 2024. In mid 2023, the Netherlands decided that non-Ukrainian citizens or “third world nationals with temporary residence” must leave a year earlier than previously announced. They – most of them students – brought a collective case against the Dutch government insisting that they be allowed to stay the allotted time. The Council of State, the Netherlands’ highest administrative court, agreed.

But now time is running out for Olabisi and those like her. Roughly 2,200 people from different nationalities are said to be affected. (Students interviewed for this story say they prefer their luck in Europe over the option of returning to Nigeria, where they consider the academic system sub-par and prone to interruptions.)

Olabisi is one of an estimated 4,000 Nigerian students who had been studying in Ukraine before the war. The eastern European country had attracted African students, particularly medical students, partly due to the relatively low costs of studying and partly as a product of student exchange programmes dating back to the former Soviet Union’s investment in African countries.

Olabisi and other students say that, to make matters worse, the Nigerian government has not adequately intervened via its embassies to help them.

They say Nigeria has left them in limbo, just as it did with the 1,625 Nigerian students in Ukraine who were finally evacuated to Nigeria in July 2022, four and a half months after the war broke out.
 

Nigerian diplomats missing in action, in Europe?

The Nigerian mission in the Netherlands disputes this. Eniola Ajayi, Nigeria’s ambassador to The Hague, told openDemocracy: “All the reprieve that students got in the Netherlands was due to my efforts… I have helped them as much as is possible within my capacity. This is the truth.”

The embassy claimed the mission housed some “families at the Guest Chalet of [Ajayi’s] Residence until they were able to get alternative accommodation” and cash assistance was given to others. The embassy also mentioned the case of a depressed student who was sent back to Nigeria for medical treatment.

The mission said it had given Nigerian nationals ample notice of the Dutch government’s intentions. To stay beyond the March 2024 deadline, the Dutch government has advised students to either seek asylum if they could prove their lives would be at risk back home, or accept an independent offer of 5,000 euros to return there.

Olabisi does not qualify for asylum as her life is not at risk in Nigeria but she doesn’t want to return to the country she left since she was 17. Now 30, she cannot imagine rebuilding her life again, especially as Nigeria experiences a steep economic decline.
 

Nigerian government, still missing in action

While the Nigerian government backs the return of students who are currently abroad, there is no safety net for those who do so, the students claim.

Wasiu Sidiq, 21, was studying at Lviv National Medical University when the war broke out and he was evacuated. When he returned to Nigeria, he attempted to continue his studies remotely – but stopped when the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria said it would not recognise medical certificates issued for online study.

The government claimed it was providing an option for the evacuated students to continue their education in Nigerian universities instead. The Foreign Affairs Ministry published a call-out on its website asking concerned students to register towards being placed locally – but the website link never worked and no students could register.

Sidiq, frustrated, decided to return to Europe, where he headed for Lisbon and is currently working in customer services for 890 euros a month. He tried to start uni there, but does not speak Portuguese and so has been unable to.

“If I don’t go to work, I cannot eat or pay my rent,” he said. “So I don’t have the time to go to the language class. All of us are just doing that.”

Sidiq claims students have tried to contact the Nigerian embassy in Lisbon for assistance with resettlement and negotiations on residence permits.

“They have not responded to us at all,” he said. “The embassy is not working. I have to leave Portugal to go and renew my passport.”

openDemocracy approached the Nigerian embassy in Lisbon for comment. A consular assistant insisted the embassy could only respond in person, in a physical meeting. Written questions and requests for a virtual meeting were ignored. Repeated requests were also made to Aminu Tanko, head of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and the Abuja office of the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). The latter promised a response that did not come.

Consular failures, according to John Osuntokun, a professor and former Nigerian ambassador to Germany, are largely due to lack of priority.

“It is a large country and there are so many issues waiting for attention and this situation is going to be the least important to them,” he said. “My advice to them will be to come home.”

Osuntokun said standard practice is for complaints from Nigeria’s foreign missions to be relayed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for advice.

Asked if the ministry had received any such requests from the embassy, the foreign ministry spokesperson told openDemocracy: “The ministry has not received any such complaints.”

Two years into the war and with fate hanging in the balance, experts believe there is little the embassies can offer now. “Consular services are not services that provide long-term solutions; they are supposed to provide immediate help and assistance,” said Matthew Ayibakuro, a governance adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Nigeria.

* Name has been changed.

Ope Adetayo, openDemocracy

Related story: Video - Fourth Batch of Nigerian Evacuees Arrives Nigeria

Video - Nigeria's medical council bans certificates issued from Ukrainian universities

Nigerians blocked from volunteering to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia

Monday, February 19, 2024

Nigerian students are no longer interested in studying in the UK, new report finds

Nigerian students are increasingly turning away from pursuing their undergraduate studies in the United Kingdom. Official statistics released last week reveal that the number of applicants from Nigeria has declined by a staggering 46 per cent, more than any other country in the period under review.

According to reports, the notable decrease in applications from Nigerian students is believed to be closely associated with the weakening of the naira and the visa restrictions preventing them from bringing along dependents or close family members to the UK. The report highlighted that Nigerian students had the highest number of dependents brought in by international students as of September 2023.

The Economic Times of India also reported a mirroring trend observed among Indian students who are increasingly losing interest in pursuing their undergraduate studies in the United Kingdom. The report noted that Indian student applications fell by 4 per cent compared to the previous year, amounting to 8,770 applications.

In comparison, Nigerian applications witnessed a sharp decline of 46 per cent, totalling 1,590 applications, more than any other country.

Data from the UK Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) on undergraduate student applicants for the 2024-25 academic year also revealed a 1% decline in UK applicants from a year earlier. However, the overall number of applicants remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

"While today's data shows a decline in applications from mature students, which will be more keenly felt in some subjects such as nursing, we know that these applicants are more likely to apply later in the cycle," Dr. Jo Saxton, Chief Executive at UCAS, said.

"For any students who missed the deadline or are still undecided on their next steps into higher education, they can still apply until June 30, and afterwards directly to Clearing, and plenty of choices still remain. There is a wealth of support, guidance, and tips on the UCAS website to help anyone make informed choices about their futures," she added.

In December 2023, the Rishi Sunak-led government announced a review of the Graduate Route visa, allowing graduates to stay and gain work experience in the UK for at least two years after completing their degree. According to experts, potential changes to the UK's visa policy may reduce the appeal of UK universities to overseas students.

By Victor Oluwole, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Frustrated Nigerians 'flee' abroad in punishing pre-election brain drain

Monday, January 29, 2024

Top Visa-Free Countries that Nigerians Can Travel To

If you're a Nigerian with a strong case of wanderlust, there's a world of destinations where your passport is your golden ticket to adventure.


Let's dive into some of the most enchanting destinations that do not require travellers to go through the hassle of getting a visa.
 

Top Visa-Free Countries
 

Barbados

Barbados, an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, embodies the very essence of Caribbean charm and beauty. This destination is a treasure trove for Nigerian travellers seeking a perfect blend of sun-kissed beaches and culturally rich experiences.


Picture yourself on Crane Beach, where the sand is tinged with a delightful pink hue, and the crystal-clear waters beckon you for a refreshing swim. But this beach is not just about relaxation; it's also a gateway to various exhilarating water sports.


History enthusiasts will find delight in UNESCO-listed Bridgetown and its historic Garrison, providing a fascinating glimpse into the colonial past. Meanwhile, the St. Nicholas Abbey plantation house and rum distillery serve as a testament to Barbados' deep ties to sugarcane and rum production.


And let's not forget the culinary adventure that awaits. From the national dish, Cou-Cou and Flying Fish, to street-side delicacies like fishcakes and pudding and souse, Bajan cuisine offers flavours that are as diverse as they are tantalising.

Some famous personalities from Barbados include singer Rihanna, cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers and NFL player Ramon Harewood of the Baltimore Ravens.
 

Cape Verde

Cape Verde, an archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, beckons Nigerian travellers with its unique blend of African, Brazilian, and Portuguese cultures. The islands themselves offer a kaleidoscope of experiences, from the lunar-like landscapes of Sal to the lush, rugged terrains of Santo Antão.


Sal's Santa Maria Beach, with its powdery white sands and turquoise waters, is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the cultural town of Mindelo on São Vicente is renowned for its vibrant music scene, particularly the morna music, often likened to the blues. Cape Verde's rich history comes alive in Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Santiago Island, providing invaluable insights into the country's colonial past.


Don't miss the chance to savour Cachupa, Cape Verde's national dish, a slow-cooked stew of corn, beans, and fish or meat.
 

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands, a paradisiacal destination in the South Pacific, offer a serene escape for Nigerians seeking a harmonious blend of adventure and tranquillity. Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands, is embraced by a stunning lagoon, inviting snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiasts to explore vibrant coral reefs.


Aitutaki, another gem in the archipelago, is renowned for its breathtaking lagoon and uninhabited islets, perfect for a romantic getaway or a day of exploration. However, these islands are not just about picturesque beaches. The lush trails of the Takitumu Conservation Area provide eco-tourism enthusiasts with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich flora and fauna.


The Cook Islands' culture, deeply rooted in Maori traditions, adds an extra layer of fascination. From spirited drum dances to intricate craftwork, the islands' cultural heritage is vibrant and engaging. Be sure to partake in the traditional umu feast, where food is cooked in an earth oven, offering a unique culinary experience that combines communal spirit with delicious flavours.
 

Kiribati

Kiribati, a sovereign state in Micronesia in the central Pacific Ocean, offers a unique destination for Nigerian travellers seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures. The country's 33 atolls, straddling the equator and the International Date Line, boast pristine beaches and an abundance of marine life, making it an ideal spot for fishing, diving, and snorkelling.


Tarawa, the capital, offers historical insights into World War II battles, with relics and memorials dotting the landscape. For those seeking tranquillity, the outer islands like Abaiang and Tabuaeran offer untouched beauty and an opportunity to experience the traditional I-Kiribati way of life.
 

Montserrat

Montserrat, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, is known as the 'Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,' offering a unique blend of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The Soufrière Hills Volcano is a major attraction, with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory providing a safe vantage point for viewing the still-active volcano.
 

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis, the twin-island nation in the Caribbean, is a captivating destination for Nigerian travellers looking for a rich blend of history, nature, and culture. Saint Kitts boasts breathtaking scenery, including the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a well-preserved fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage site offering panoramic views of the surrounding islands.


Nevis, the smaller of the two islands, charms visitors with its laid-back atmosphere and natural hot springs, a testament to the island’s volcanic origins. For beach enthusiasts, the powdery sands of Frigate Bay and the tranquil Oualie Beach offer idyllic settings for relaxation and water activities.
 

Vanuatu

Vanuatu, an archipelago nation in the South Pacific, is a hidden gem for Nigerian travellers seeking a unique blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty. The islands offer a range of experiences, from the adrenaline-pumping land diving on Pentecost Island, known as the origin of bungee jumping, to the serene blue holes of Espiritu Santo, perfect for swimming and snorkelling.


Tanna Island's Mount Yasur, an accessible active volcano, provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the raw power of nature.
 

Top Visa-on-Arrival Countries: Explore Further

While Nigerians can travel to the above countries without a visa, there are some countries that offer a visa on arrival – a convenient facility that gets you a visa after entering the respective country by providing valid documents.
 

Maldives

Imagine a place where overwater bungalows are your home, and the ocean is your backyard. That's the Maldives for you! This island nation, located in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its luxurious resorts, coral reefs, and crystal-clear waters. As a Nigerian traveller, you'll be captivated by the allure of the Maldives.


The Maldives boasts an enchanting underwater world with some of the best snorkelling and diving spots on the planet. Dive into the depths of the ocean and swim alongside exotic marine life, including colourful corals, manta rays, and even whale sharks.


Maldives offers a visa valid for 30 days.
 

Mauritius

Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean, is a paradise for nature lovers and culture enthusiasts alike. Its diverse landscapes range from pristine beaches and lush forests to dramatic volcanic craters.


One of the most iconic natural attractions is Chamarel's Seven Colored Earths, a geological wonder where sand dunes of seven different colours create a breathtaking sight. For a dose of adventure, hike to the summit of Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy panoramic views of the island.


A Mauritius travel visa for Nigerians is valid for 14 days.
 

Seychelles

Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, is a haven for beach enthusiasts and nature admirers. It's known for its white sandy beaches, granite boulders, and lush tropical forests.


Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue Island is often cited as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, with its unique rock formations and shallow turquoise waters. Nature lovers can explore the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin Island, home to the rare coco de mer palm and the black parrot.


Nigerian travellers can explore Seychelles without a visa for 90 days.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Nigeria to begin passport application automation on January 8, 2024

The minister revealed this during an inspection of facilities of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) alongside the Comptroller General (CG) of the Service, Wura-Ola Adepoju.

Nigerians will now have the convenience of applying and completing their passport application online, eliminating the need for in-person interactions.

The minister had previously announced in December that the Federal Government was actively working towards the complete automation of the passport application system in the country.

During that announcement, the minister stated that the automated application system was "99% done," and it would encompass processes such as uploading passport photos and supporting documents.

What the minister said:

“We are good to go live. We are starting the training and on January 8, the solution will be live and direct for Nigerians to have a good feel, a sweet experience based on the Renewed Hope of Mr President,"

“We have been able to reduce human contact in passport acquisition to the minimum.”


He stressed that this initiative would enhance the country's security architecture by enabling swift detection of fake passport applications and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

As part of this effort, he revealed the deployment of document verification officers across all local government areas in the country. These officers will play a crucial role in meticulously scrutinizing passport applications, ensuring a more secure and reliable application process.

The minister had earlier cleared the backlog of over 200,000 passports awaiting processing within Nigeria.

In a bid to address concerns raised by Nigerians living abroad regarding the slow pace of passport renewal and collection procedures, the Nigerian Government had unveiled plans to establish passport front offices in key cities across the United Kingdom.

This initiative, set to launch in February 2024, would streamline and expedite the passport renewal and collection processes for the Nigerian diaspora, particularly in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Cardiff (Wales).

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider

Related stories: Nigerian passport ranks as one of the worst passports to have in the world

Passport Issuance: Nigeria immigration introduces tracking system

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Nigeria leads as fastest-growing student population in Canada

Nigerians have emerged as Canada's fastest-growing international student population in the first half of 2023. This is according to a recently released report on Nigerian study permit trends in Canada, highlighting growing visa numbers and which provinces Nigerians are studying in.


The report published by ApplyBoard revealed that Nigerian student mobility to Canada is increasing at a momentous rate. According to the report, the Canadian government issued just over 3,000 student visas to Nigerian nationals in 2019. By 2021, that number had doubled, and in 2022, it doubled again. Now, amid record numbers of international students coming to study in Canada, Nigerians have become the country's fastest-growing student population.

Growing Canadian Student Visa Numbers for Nigerian Students

Key findings from the article reveal Nigerians submitted more than 43,000 study permit applications across the first six months of 2023 and appear likely to become Canada's second-largest cohort of inbound students this year.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the 43,000 applications, nearly 18,000 Canadian study permits were issued to Nigerians across the first six months of 2023, more than for any other country of origin but India. Insufficient finances were cited as a refusal reason in 74% of study permit refusals for Nigerians in 2021 and 2022.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly 18,000 Nigerian students came to Canada to study in the first half of 2023. This was more inbound students than any other country excep India.

The report also noted that the study permit approval rates for Nigerians continued to rise across the first six months of 2023, to just under 40% - more than double what approval rates were in 2020.


Another interesting insight from the report showed that Nigerian students are more evenly distributed across Canada than average. Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, each accounted for more than 5% of study permits issued to Nigerians from January to June 2023.

Eight of 10 provinces saw more Nigerian students issued study permits in the first half of 2023 than in the previous year.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across these four regions, Ontario and BC accounted for around 63% of study permits issued to Nigerians in the first six months of 2023.

While Ontario and BC were the top destinations, Nigerian students are far less centralised in those two provinces than average. Nova Scotia's growth is particularly notable, with more than twice as many study permits issued as in full-year 2022. That was the third most behind Ontario and British Columbia.

Given the increasing centralisation of international students at Ontario colleges, the report concludes that the Nigerian student population is an important corridor to maintain the long-term health of Canada's international education sector.

By Victor Oluwole, Business Insider Africa

Related stories: Nigerian immigration to Canada is booming

Nigeria, Canada to strengthen trade investments

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Video - Four stowaways from Nigeria survive 14 days on ship’s rudder before rescue in Brazil

On their 10th day at sea, four Nigerian stowaways crossing the Atlantic in a tiny space above the rudder of a cargo ship ran out of food and drink.

They survived another four days, according to their account, by drinking the seawater crashing just metres below them, before being rescued by the Brazilian federal police in the southeastern port of Vitoria.


Their remarkable, death-defying journey across some 5,600km (3,500 miles) of ocean underlines the risks some migrants are prepared to take for a shot at a better life.

“It was a terrible experience for me,” said 38-year-old Thankgod Opemipo Matthew Yeye, one of the four Nigerians, in an interview at a Sao Paulo church shelter. “On board, it is not easy. I was shaking, so scared. But I’m here.”

Their relief at being rescued soon gave way to surprise.

The four men said they had hoped to reach Europe and were shocked to learn they had in fact landed on the other side of the Atlantic, in Brazil. Two of the men have since been returned to Nigeria upon their request, while Yeye and Roman Ebimene Friday, a 35-year-old from Bayelsa state, has applied for asylum in Brazil.

“I pray the government of Brazil will have pity on me,” said Friday, who had already attempted to flee Nigeria by ship once before but was arrested by authorities there.

Both men said economic hardship, political instability and crime had left them with little option but to abandon their native Nigeria. Africa’s most populous country has longstanding issues of violence and poverty, and kidnappings are endemic.

Yeye, a Pentecostal minister from Lagos State, said his peanut and palm oil farm was destroyed by floods this year, leaving him and his family homeless. He hopes they can now join him in Brazil.

Friday said his journey to Brazil began on June 27, when a fisherman friend rowed him up to the stern of the Liberian-flagged Ken Wave, docked in Lagos, and left him by the rudder.

To his surprise, he found three men already there, waiting for the ship to depart. Friday said he was terrified. He had never met his new shipmates and feared they could toss him into the sea at any moment.

Once the ship was moving, Friday said the four men made every effort not to be discovered by the ship’s crew, who they also worried might offer them a watery grave.

“Maybe if they catch you they will throw you in the water,” he said. “So we taught ourselves never to make a noise.”

Spending two weeks within spitting distance of the Atlantic Ocean was perilous.

To prevent themselves from falling into the water, Friday said the men rigged up a net around the rudder and tied themselves to it with a rope. When he looked down, he said, he could see “big fish like whales and sharks”. Due to the cramped conditions and the noise of the engine, sleep was rare and risky. “I was very happy when we got rescued,” he said.

Father Paolo Parise, a priest at the Sao Paulo shelter, said he had come across other cases of stowaways, but never one so dangerous. Their journey paid testament to the lengths people go in search of a new start, he said. “People do unimaginable and deeply dangerous things.”

Reuters

Related story: 3 Stowaways Travel from Nigeria to Canary Islands on Ship's rudder for 11 days

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Peter Obi supports the Japa movement

Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential poll, Mr Peter Obi has endorsed Nigerians fleeing the country for greener pastures abroad, “JAPA”, saying it will benefit Nigeria’s fortunes in the future.


The former Anambra governor who gained massive support from Nigerians, especially on Social media in the just concluded electioneering campaign for being “a prudent and incorrupt politician”, stated that today’s brain drain will be Nigeria’s brain gain tomorrow.

Ex-governor Obi, in a series of tweets, Thursday, supported Bill Gate’s opinion on the migration wave hitting Nigeria, noting in the tweet that “Nigerians leaving the country will be critical in the building of the New Nigeria”.

“I read and agree with Bill Gates’s recent comment on the ‘japa syndrome, where, according to reports, he stated that the recent surge of Nigerian professionals leaving the country for greener pastures is good and healthy for our country.”

Obi noted that “I have always preached and maintained this same position that ‘Our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow’.”

“Nigerians leaving the country may look like a loss today, but when we start doing the right things and taking the governance of our nation more seriously, the knowledge and resources from them will be critical in the building of the New Nigeria, as it happened in China, India, Ireland and other developing countries,” Peter Obi noted.

Peter Obi’s comments are coming on the heels of a clarification by the British Envoy to Nigeria on the UK visa policy believed to be targeted at Nigerian students who depart the country in droves with their families.


By Idowu Bankole, Vanguard

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2,998 nurses leave Nigeria for UK

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has deplored poaching of professionals by rich nations such as the United Kingdom (UK) from poor countries, saying the development was becoming “out of control.”

The submission comes as Nigeria lost 2,998 trained nurses in 2021-2022 to British National Health Service (NHS).

ICN’s Chief Executive, Howard Catton, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “My sense is that the situation currently is out of control.

“We have intense recruitment taking place mainly driven by six or seven high-income countries but with recruitment from countries which are some of the weakest and most vulnerable which can ill-afford to lose their nurses.”

According to a report first published by Daily Mail UK, the ICN said six or seven high-income countries are driving “intense recruitment” from places that “can ill-afford to lose their nurses.”

India and the Philippines account for the lion’s share of recruits for the period under review. But a fifth came from ‘red listed’ countries, where the NHS is banned from actively poaching nurses. They were Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal and Pakistan.

The data, from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council, cover the period before Britain struck a special deal with Nepal to allow the NHS to recruit nurses from the country.

Ghana is one of the worst hit, with hospitals warning that their workforce had been slashed as staff rushed to fill NHS posts they found on social media.

Statistics from NHS England, which have 112,000 vacancies, suggest that approximately two-thirds of the increase in staff hired since 2019 were trained abroad.

Latest NHS, England data show that the service is recruiting more nurses abroad than ever before, with 44,000 joining the organisation since 2019, compared to the 22,000UK-trained attendants.

Most recruits were from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Ghana.
IN a related development, The British government has committed £2 million to strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, noted that the Nigerian health system, like many countries in the global south, has been beset with challenges in having a resilient infrastructure that is able to provide quality health services, promote health and prevent diseases.

He submitted that a well-skilled, motivated and adequate health workforce is critical to ending preventable deaths and building resilience against global threats.

The envoy said the UK International Development funding aligns with the Nigerian health workforce strategic plan geared at assisting the country to upskill its workers and improve health outcomes in the long run.

World Health Organisation’s (WHO) two-year HRH project aims to support government at national and sub-national levels, as well as regulatory bodies, professional associations and other key stakeholders to develop transformative strategies for scaling up the quantity and quality of health workers, including competency-based curricula development and reviews.

Montgomery said the UK provided the multi-million Pound to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in three African countries, namely Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana to enhance resilience against global health challenges

Consequently, WHO has commended UK’s Department of Health and Social Care for a fresh funding commitment to help Nigeria develop its health staff in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The global health body noted that the £2 million grant would assist Nigeria in optimising performance, quality and impact of its health workforce through evidence-informed policies and strategies over a two-year period.

It would help to align investment in HRH with the current and future needs of the population and health systems; strengthen the capacity of institutions, including regulatory bodies, for effective public policy stewardship, leadership and governance, optimise health workers’ retention, equitable distribution and performance, and strengthen the management of health workforce data for monitoring and accountability. The project would also implement interventions in Nigeria.

The project is to draw on the technical capacity of WHO to strengthen health systems, including experience of implementing similar projects with appreciable results in the past. Implementation at sub-national levels with a focus on six states of Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos will build on the presence and technical support being provided to state governments through the 37 WHO sub-national offices in Nigeria.

WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said that the strength of every health system reflects the capacity and adequacy of its health workforce necessary to deliver quality services to address population health needs.

For a resilient and effective health system, he said Nigeria must have adequate numbers of health workers, who are fit for purpose, motivated to perform, and equitably distributed across sub-national levels to enhance equity in access to their services by the population in need.

By Chukwuma Muanya and Nkechi Onyedika Ugoeze, Reuters

Related stories: Over 10,000 doctors left Nigeria for UK in last 7 yrs

How Nigeria can stop doctors’ brain drain – NMA chairman

 





Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Election-related visa restrictions imposed on citizens of Nigeria

The United States has imposed entry restrictions on more Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during the African nation's 2023 election cycle, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday.

"These individuals have been involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process," Blinken said in a statement.

Additional details were not provided.

The action is the latest in a series of visa restrictions imposed on Nigerian individuals in recent years.

Nigeria's election tribunal this month was to begin hearing opposition petitions challenging president-elect Bola Tinubu's victory in the disputed February presidential vote, court records showed.

Tinubu, from the ruling All Progressives Congress party, defeated his closest rivals Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party and the Labour Party's Peter Obi, who have alleged fraud and have launched a court challenge.

Atiku and Obi want the tribunal to invalidate Tinubu's victory, arguing that the vote was fraught with irregularities, among other criticisms. Tinubu, who is set to be sworn in on May 29, says he won fairly and wants the petitions dismissed.

There have been numerous legal challenges to the outcome of previous Nigerian presidential elections but none has succeeded.

By Doina Chiacu, Reuters



Wednesday, November 30, 2022

2 Stowaways from Nigeria on Ship's rudder to be deported from Spain

Two of three stowaways who were rescued in Spain's Canary Islands after enduring 11 days on the rudder of a fuel tanker from Nigeria have been returned to the ship with the aim of deporting them.


The third person, who suffered hypothermia and dehydration during the voyage, has not yet been released from hospital on Gran Canaria, a local government spokesperson said. Under Spanish law, any stowaway who does not seek asylum must be returned by the operator of the ship to the port where the journey originated, a police spokesman told Reuters.

In a photograph on Twitter by the Spanish coast guard on Monday, the three stowaways are shown hunkered on the rudder under the hull, just above the waterline of the Alithini II.

The 183-metre ship, sailing under a Maltese flag, arrived in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria after setting out from Lagos in Nigeria on Nov. 17 and navigating up the West African coast, according to Marine Traffic.

The ship's captain confirmed to the Red Cross that it had sailed from Nigeria 11 days earlier.


A Canary Islands police spokesperson said it was up to the ship's operator to take care of the stowaways, provide them with temporary accommodation and return them to their origin as soon as possible.

The migrants should, at the least, have been informed of their right to ask for political asylum and should have been questioned before being returned to the ship, said Helena Maleno, director of the migration non-governmental organisation, Walking Borders. "The conditions of the journey are already an indication that something very serious may be behind it because the photos are incredible. We have never seen conditions like this where they have arrived alive," Maleno said.

She added: "These people have to be in a state of shock. They need a couple of days to recover and from there they can explain what they were running from to have made that decision."

Alithini II, owned by Gardenia Shiptrade SA, is managed by Athens-based Astra Ship Management, according to public shipping database Equasis.

Astra Ship Management did not respond to multiple calls from Reuters seeking comment. The Spanish government's representative on the Canary Islands didn't immediately respond to a query on whether the migrants should have been informed of their rights.

The coast guard said the migrants were rescued by a coast guard vessel at about 7 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Monday.

The stowaways were treated for moderate dehydration and hypothermia, the Canary Islands emergency services and the Red Cross said. The third migrant, who was in a more serious state, had to be taken to a different hospital on the island.

The Spanish-owned Canary Islands are a popular but dangerous gateway for African migrants attempting to reach Europe. Since 2014, 2,976 migrants have died or are missing after attempting to cross from Africa to the archipelago by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Reuters, by Emma Pinedo

Related stories: 3 Men travel from Nigeria to Canary Islands on Ship's rudder

14-Year-Old Stowaway Found At Lagos Airport Was Tired Of Nigeria

Nigerian Boko Haram victim deported from Iceland


Tuesday, November 29, 2022

3 Stowaways Travel from Nigeria to Canary Islands on Ship's rudder for 11 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three stowaways travelling for 11 days on a ship’s rudder were rescued by the Spanish coastguard and hospitalised in the Canary Islands, Spanish authorities have said.


The large ship had departed from Lagos, Nigeria on November 17, according to ship-tracking website Marine Traffic, and the men were rescued on Monday.

Found on the Alithini II oil tanker at the Las Palmas port, the men appeared to have symptoms of dehydration and hypothermia and were transferred to hospitals on the island for medical attention, Spain’s Salvamento Marítimo said.

Throughout the journey, at least three migrants and refugees had been hanging onto the narrow metallic rudder, with their feet dangling just a few feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

In a photograph Spain’s coastguard distributed on Twitter on Monday, the three men are seen perched on the rudder of the oil tanker.

The coastguard said they rescued the stowaways after the tanker had docked.

Though extremely dangerous, it is not the first time stowaways have been found travelling on the rudder of commercial ships to the Canary Islands, which is located around 97km (60 miles) off the coast of Morocco.

In late 2020, Spanish authorities identified six others travelling from Nigeria on the rudders of two tankers.

One of those who arrived in 2020 was a 14-year-old boy who narrated his harrowing two-week journey to the Spanish daily El Pais.

He described how the stowaways had to take turns sleeping because there was enough space for only one person to lie down at a time; how there was a fight and he was nearly thrown off the rudder; how they got cold and wet and it would take hours to dry off; how his urine turned green after drinking seawater.

In a tweet, migration adviser to the Canary Islands, Txema Santana, warned that the most recent arrivals “won’t be the last” and that “stowaways don’t always have the same luck”.

The migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands is one of the most dangerous in the world.

In September, Santana estimated that about 1,000 migrants and refugees had died or disappeared trying to reach the Spanish archipelago this year.

As of November 15, nearly 15,000 migrants and refugees have made it to the Canary Islands by sea this year, down 18 percent from the same time in 2021, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry. Most make the long journey from West Africa on small rafts, a growing number of which are inflatable.

Al Jazeera

Related stories:  2 Stowaways from Nigeria on Ship's rudder to be deported from Spain

14-Year-Old Stowaway Found At Lagos Airport Was Tired Of Nigeria

Stressed out middle class Nigerians want out of Nigeria

Frustrated Nigerians 'flee' abroad in punishing pre-election brain drain

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Mother loses appeal in custody case, Ontario court sends her three children to Nigeria

An Ontario appeal court has sent three children back to Nigeria and the custody of their father, rejecting their mother’s arguments that she could not get a fair shake in that country because of patriarchal attitudes and anti-gay prejudice.

The case of Olubukola Ajayi and Eyitope Ajayi is one of a growing number of disputes in Canada that set concerns about international child abduction against arguments about unfairness and discrimination in foreign jurisdictions.

Ms. Ajayi argued in court that she was justified in bringing their three young children to Canada without the father’s consent last November, because of discrimination, abuse (which Mr. Ajayi denies committing), patriarchal attitudes and the influence of her ex-husband’s family in Nigeria.

She asked the Ontario Superior Court to assume jurisdiction for the couple’s parenting issues and grant her sole decision-making authority over the children.

On the same day, Mr. Ajayi asked a Nigerian court to dissolve the marriage.

In Nigeria, homosexual acts may be punished with jail sentences. Mr. Ajayi made reference in a court document filed in Nigeria to Ms. Ajayi being linked to the LGBTQ community. That forced Ontario judges, in an initial ruling and an appeal, to grapple with how Nigeria’s legal system operates, and determine whether its courts would put the children first.

“I ran here just for a fair shot at protecting my rights as their mom,” Ms. Ajayi, who trained as a lawyer in Nigeria, said in an interview. Both she and her ex-husband are dual citizens of Canada and Nigeria, as are the children; Ms. Ajayi travelled to Canada to give birth to the children here.

But the courts here, she said, “did not understand how being a man in Nigeria gives all this extra privilege and power. I had never planned to alienate my children from their father and his family. But I knew that that’s what they wanted to do to me in Nigeria.”

Paul Riley, a lawyer for the father, said the decision showed that Ontario courts will stand up to child abduction.

“I think what the decision shows this week is that Canada is not going to embrace those who involve themselves in child abduction. You are not going to leave your country and then wrap yourselves in the warm embrace of the Ontario judicial system.”

Canada is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which sets out the legal rules for returning children to their home jurisdiction. But Nigeria is not a member of the convention, and Ontario law provides that the province’s courts may take jurisdiction in such a case where it is satisfied that the foreign country does not put children’s best interests first.

A two-woman, one-male panel of Ontario’s Divisional Court released a written ruling this week explaining why they had upheld Family Court Justice Tracy Engelking’s decision to reject jurisdiction in the case. Having taken the children without consent, Ms. Ajayi needed to show they would suffer serious harm if returned to Nigeria, Justice Elizabeth Sheard, Justice Katherine Swinton and Justice David Aston said.

The judges said they accepted Justice Engelking’s ruling from May that Ms. Ajayi had failed to do so. Justice Engelking found that Ms. Ajayi had only ever said she might be asexual, and that Mr. Ajayi himself had testified in Ontario that he supports gay rights. An expert in Nigerian law testified that none of this would be a factor in determining the children’s best interests in a Nigerian court.

Justice Engelking also ruled the children were not at risk of harm with their father, noting that Ms. Ajayi had left the two older children in their father’s care for an extended period when she came to Canada to give birth. As for the father’s family’s influence, Justice Engelking pointed out that Ms. Ajayi’s mother is a superior court judge in Nigeria.

The children are now back in Nigeria. Ms. Ajayi said she will not return to Nigeria but her lawyers will fight in that country for primary custody for her, “and to have them returned back to me.” If they do not succeed, they will ask for video call access and holidays with Ms. Ajayi in Ottawa.

Nicholas Bala, a professor specializing in family law at Queen’s University, said that more mobile societies have produced growing numbers of international family law disputes.

“In the absence of persuasive evidence of abuse or discrimination, it’s appropriate to send these cases back to the country of origin – which also has the effect of telling people that Canada is not going to become a haven for child abduction,” he said.

He said it is also a “question of balance.” In some countries, politics may wrongly enter family-law disputes. “I think the court was satisfied that Nigeria in 2022 is not one of those countries.”

Ms. Ajayi’s lawyer Valerie Akujobi said it’s a challenge when Canadian courts have to make determinations based in part on attitudes and sentiments in a foreign jurisdiction.

“The court does try to strike the right balance; in this case, we just felt that certain aspects had been perhaps lost in translation.”

By Sean Fine

The Globe and Mail