Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. 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, January 10, 2025

How Nigeria’s biggest city became the world’s hottest winter party destination

 

It’s a world of endless parties and sleepless nights. A relentless celebration that turns West Africa – and especially Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos – into one of the hottest destinations on the continent, if not the planet, right in the middle of winter.

Detty December is a magical time between December and early January when diaspora communities and tourists flock to Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa for an unforgettable experience filled with flavourful food, soulful African music and sunshine.

Beach parties, festivals and top-tier performances fuel the energy, while fashion takes center stage, with everyone dressing to impress.

Nearly two-thirds of Nigeria’s population is under 25, according to the United Nations Population Fund, making this one of the world’s youngest countries.

Internationally renowned Afrobeats performers and foreign artists make surprise appearances. DJs take to the streets, blasting powerful beats from consoles mounted atop bright yellow minibuses.

At times it’s all-consuming. Good luck getting hair salon appointments, affordable air tickets or navigating Lagos’ already notorious traffic when the party crowds are in town.

Detty December (“detty” is a playful corruption of “dirty”) is a triumphant celebration of culture, music and good vibes that has evolved in recent years during the traditional holidays influx of diaspora returnees, which heightened in 2018 when Ghana ran a launched a successful “Year of Return” campaign actively encouraging people to visit their ancestral homelands.

It’s gathered pace over the past five years, gaining an international reputation, as IJGBs (“I Just Got Backs”) and their friends arrive in batches, eager to unwind and blow off steam after the fast-paced, hard-working year they’ve had overseas.

For many in the vast Nigerian diaspora, it is a deeply personal homecoming, a chance to reconnect with their heritage, traditions and families while immersing themselves in the lively energy of Nigerian life.


‘Everyone is on a vibe of happiness’

Cynthia Eniola Oyeneyin, who moved from Nigeria to the UK at the age of nine, is a Detty December regular. Despite living abroad for most of her life, she returns to Nigeria every year to reunite with family and friends.

“It’s always important for me to go back to my roots and to go back to my culture,” she says. “Nigeria, for me, will always be home, so when I go back, I’m happiest. And mainly because, especially in December, everyone is on a vibe of happiness.”

Many locals also look forward to joining the party.

“I also look forward to attending Christmas parties and family Christmas gatherings which is a cultural thing in Nigeria where we cook and host each other and it’s always a good time,” says Ademidun Akindele. “This December was really good. Lagos is extremely populated during this time of the year but I can’t complain because it’s good for the economy and it’s amazing to see people.”



What makes the Nigerian Detty December unique?


For starters, Nigeria’s entertainment scene is buzzing during Detty December, offering an abundance of performances headlined by some of the biggest Afrobeats stars, like Burna BoyWizkidAyra Starr and Tems.

Festivals such as the Calabar Carnival in Cross River State, referred to as “Africa’s biggest street party,” and the Flytime Fest music festival in Lagos provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences, drawing massive crowds eager to immerse themselves in the culture.

Many events are organized by Cultur FM, an influential brand that boasts a large global presence and serves as a unique platform celebrating the richness of African music. It aims to spotlight the often-overlooked talent in the genre, shifting focus from Western DJs who have embraced these sounds to the African artists and DJs who define them.

During the latest Detty December, Cultur FM staged a series of creative events in Lagos. Collaborating with brands like Air Peace, Pepsi Nigeria and Hennessy Nigeria on gatherings that celebrated African pride while connecting deeply with local communities.



‘Back where it all started’

“We wanted to go back to where it all started,” a Cultur FM founder told CNN Travel. He didn’t want his name revealed in line with the organization’s brand anonymity.

“It was essential to involve local people and celebrate the vibrant creativity of these streets.”

He said the standout from the 2024 lineup was an unforgettable block party in Surulere, the iconic Lagos neighborhood that birthed music legends like Wizkid and Oxlade.

Departing from the typical glitzy beach club scene, this free community event aimed to honor its roots. DJ booths were set up on yellow mini-buses, Oxlade delivered an electrifying performance, and brands distributed free merchandise and drinks.

As Detty December gains prominence each year, so does Cultur FM’s influence. The group plans to expand into Ghana and South Africa, continuing to disrupt the music scene, inspire pride in African heritage and connect the diaspora with its roots.

But it’s not just the events — FOMO (fear of missing out) is real!

Lagos during Detty December is bustling with energy, and even if you’re not there, social media feeds will be packed with pictures and videos of people’s highlight reels from their vacations.

From glamorous weddings — because, lest we forget, December is peak wedding season in Nigeria — to house parties, beach day parties and long-awaited family reunions, there’s never a dull moment.

For most tourists and the Nigerian diaspora, the trip feels worth every penny. The favorable currency conversion for travelers from countries such as the UK, the US and Canada makes luxury experiences and indulgences more accessible.

This affordability, combined with the promise of unforgettable memories, makes it hard to resist hopping on a plane for the ultimate holiday. And that’s not all: Local businesses thrive during this period, with vendors, restaurants, and hotels reaping the rewards, in turn providing a boost to the Nigerian economy.


“One of the things I’ve observed the most is the positive economic impact this December has on Nigeria,” says Cynthia. “People are coming to Nigeria to have fun and pumping money into the economy, bringing in more jobs for, you know, the less fortunate as well, and it’s so beautiful to watch.”

Of course, no good thing comes without challenges. While Detty December feels like a haven of fun, there are certainly drawbacks. Flights to Lagos from the UK, US, and Canada become expensive, especially during this period, prompting IJGBs and frequent visitors to book within the first three months of the year to avoid sky-high costs.

Additionally, as an emerging market, Nigeria’s infrastructure often struggles to handle the influx of visitors during Detty December, leading to severe traffic jams that are a nightmare to navigate.

“Lagos is already populated, but come December, you know most people in the diaspora come to Nigeria,” says Ademidun. “This year, I even noticed more people who aren’t even of Nigerian heritage coming into the country to participate in the events, which was interesting, but it just meant everywhere was packed. So, getting a nail appointment, or a hair appointment wasn’t impossible but it was tricky. There is also a lot of traffic, which we expected but traffic jams are a major hindrance of enjoyment.”

Ademidun’s experience highlights the strain on everyday life during Detty December. But beyond the inconvenience, there’s a deeper issue at play – the impact the celebration has on locals.

Many would like to experience the festivities in full but are met with soaring prices driven up by tourists with deep pockets. This effectively excludes some from enjoying simple pleasures like food, events, beach clubs, and getaways in their own country.

Despite these challenges, Detty December has elevated Nigeria’s global profile, drawing visitors eager to immerse themselves in the festivities. The rich culture, nonstop entertainment, and viral #DettyDecember posts have transformed the country into an even more sought-after vacation destination.

Beyond the partying, it serves as a stage for cultural exports, from authentic traditional cuisine to Afrobeats and the resurgence of Y2K fashion, infused with fashions inspired by Nigeria’s “Nollywood” movie scene, turning every moment of Detty December into a celebration of Nigeria’s cultural richness.

Detty December is no ordinary festive season, it’s a movement that unites people from all walks of life in a celebration of African excellence. It places West Africa in the spotlight and as Lagos shines brightly for the world to see, it’s evident that this isn’t merely a homecoming for the diaspora or a festive holiday destination — it’s an ode to Nigeria’s unyielding spirit and its ever-growing influence on the global cultural stage.

By Ayanda Ntuli
, CNN

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Video - Nigerian returnees lead campaigns to curb irregular migration



Survivors of dangerous journeys to Europe are sharing their experiences to warn others of the risks, including torture, inhumane treatment, and near-death encounters.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Video - Nigerian authorities caution citizens against traveling to Australia amid rising hate crimes



Nigerian authorities have issued a warning to citizens against traveling to Australia due to increasing reports of verbal abuse and discrimination targeting foreigners. The advisory follows Australia’s travel warning to its citizens concerning escalating security concerns in Nigeria.

Friday, January 3, 2025

Nigeria issues travel advisory on Australia amid rise in discrimination reports

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cautioned citizens planning to visit Australia to exercise heightened vigilance due to an uptick in reports of harassment and discrimination against foreigners.

In a statement on Tuesday, ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa noted that recent incidents, including antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes, have raised safety concerns for Nigerians in Australia.

This advisory follows global tensions and conflicts that have fueled a surge in hate-related incidents in certain areas of the country.


The warning comes on the heels of a similar advisory from the Australian government, which urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime risks. Areas highlighted as particularly unsafe included states like Adamawa, Borno, Bayelsa, and Delta.

Citing specific examples, the Nigerian ministry referred to a December 2024 incident in Sydney’s suburb of Woollahra, where anti-Israel graffiti and the burning of a car sparked widespread condemnation.

While acknowledging Australia’s reputation for multiculturalism and tolerance, the ministry emphasized the need for Nigerians to remain alert, respect local customs, and take necessary precautions.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Nigerian citizens planning to travel to Australia to consider the prevailing security situation in certain cities. Recent cases of discrimination, harassment, and verbal abuse targeting foreigners, including a disturbing rise in hate crimes, necessitate extra vigilance,” the statement read.

Nigerians encountering or witnessing acts of discrimination were urged to report such incidents to the Nigerian High Commission in Canberra for assistance.

Travelers are encouraged to stay informed about local conditions to ensure their safety and well-being.

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

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Nigeria Ranks Lowest On Maritime Tourism Index

The International Ocean Institute (IOI) has said Nigeria is ranked among the lowest maritime nations on marine tourism index despite possessing over 850km coastline.

The director of IOI Nigeria, Akanbi Williams, stated this while speaking at the 4th edition of Maritime Writes Project (MWP) bootcamp with the theme: “Protecting Heritages in the Blue Economy,” held in Lagos.

He, said that that Nigeria ranks among the bottom three countries on marine tourism index

However, he encouraged MWP 2024 participants to write stories around maritime tourism and deep sea exploration to correct the anomaly.

“At IOI, we have developed a curriculum for ocean literacy to address the problem of sea blindness. Coastal areas and organisms need to be studied as well as the deep sea.

“It is unfortunate that Nigeria isn’t exploiting its potentials in tourism. The nation has some problems which affect its ability to fully explore marine tourism. These include; maritime security and cultural attitudes. If an environment isn’t secured, if it’s not clean and habitable; there will be no attraction for tourists,” he said.

He expressed optimism that with the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria, maritime tourism will be a huge component and the ministry will help in the development of this aspect in conjunction with the security agencies.

According to him, If Nigerians know about the maritime sector in elementary and primary schools, that will better position the nation to harness the multiple opportunities in the sector.

“Most of the 2024 participants are young minds and they have an opportunity to get the correct information about maritime could help them decide to have a future in the industry,” he added.

Also speaking, the President of African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) Nigerian chapter, Funmi Shelika, described MWP 2024 as a laudable event that opens the minds of participants to understand the diverse aspects of the blue economy.

“Participants have learnt so much to help them conceptualise stories that will further promote awareness of the blue economy.

The historical stories of the maritime industry and how it affects our daily activities have been explained by experts in this bootcamp,” she said.

Shelika asserted that there is a future in fish processing, adding that, “It isn’t just a smelling-woman selling fish at the market. The business is more than catching the fish, smoking and selling it. There are other aspects of the trade for participants to explore.”

She equally lamented a decline in fishes across several Nigerian riverine communities resulting from pollution and overfishing. Therefore, she encouraged the Nigerian government to do better to support artisanal fishers and grow small-scale fishing.

“Nigeria isn’t enacting policies and laws for people in coastal communities to enjoy the aquatic assets in their communities. There should be an agreement between the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the communities to preserve the aquatic life and the marine environment,” she argued.

By Yusuf Babalola, Leadership

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 22, 2024

Fees Raised For Nigerian Passports, Diaspora Unchanged

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a new fee regime for the Nigerian Passport.

The new price regime which will take effect on September 1, will not affect those applying for the travel document outside the country.

The NIS says the change in fee was done “to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport”.

A statement by NIS spokesman, Kenneth Udo, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI), said: “Based on the review, 32-page Passport booklet with five-year validity previously charged at thirty-five thousand naira (N35,000.00) will now be fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only; while the 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity which was seventy thousand naira (N70,000.00) will be one hundred thousand naira (N100,000.00) only. However, the fees remain unchanged in the diaspora.”

“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants; it assured Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times”.

TVC News

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, August 13, 2024

Video - Nigerian woman summoned for ripping up husband’s passport

The Nigeria Immigration Service has summoned a woman for questioning after she was filmed apparently tearing up her husband's passport at Lagos airport in a video which has been widely shared on social media.

The woman, identified as Favour Igiebor, was seen shouting at her husband in the video while pieces of the Nigerian passport lay on the floor.

She had returned from Europe alongside her husband and children and landed at the Murtala Mohammed airport where the incident happened in front of dozens of other travellers.

"I tore it," she was heard admitting.

The authorities said in a statement they were looking into the issue.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched formal investigation, following the circulation of a video on social media, showing a female traveler [sic] destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

“The individual involved has been identified as Mrs. Favour Igiebor,” the statement read.

It noted that destroying the country’s passport was a criminal offence, which could be punished by up to a year in prison.

After the video went viral, eliciting numerous comments, Mrs Igiebor released her own video. She did not go into details but said she was suffering.

“Look at my eyes - I do cry a lot. Many people commenting on social media don’t understand what I am going through.

“You have to ask what happened - don’t just look at the action alone. I have my reasons. I have gone through a lot of family issues. I cannot be suffering. I suffered with him.”

She said she had thought of tearing up the passport in Europe but decided that would have caused her husband too many problems.

In the video at the airport, one traveller was heard saying the couple had been having issues throughout the flight.

Some people were also seen consoling the husband and telling him to be calm.

If she were to be charged, she would be the first person to be taken to court for destroying the Nigerian passport.

But in recent months, the country has been getting tough on protecting its national symbols, including a clampdown on the common practice of throwing around the national currency, the naira, at social events.

By Mansur Abubakar, BBC

Friday, June 28, 2024

Ethiopian Airlines Joint Venture Plans In Nigeria Fall Through

Ethiopian Airlines’ ongoing talks to establish a joint venture (JV) airline in Nigeria have come to an end.

However, the airline is continuing to develop its multi-hub strategy in Africa.

“The Nigerian government has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said recently in Dubai. The plan for the proposed airline, to be known as Nigeria Air, was for Nigerian investors to take a 46% stake, with the government holding 5%.

However, Tasew said this setback will not stop the Star Alliance member from developing JVs to establish sister airlines in Africa where Ethiopian Airlines has an equity stake.

“We have been approached by several airlines in Africa for support, and we are evaluating them,” Tasew said. Countries include the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, Togo-based ASKY, in which Ethiopian holds a 40% share, and Malawi Airlines, which was Ethiopian’s first JV, continue to do well. Zambia Airways—in which Ethiopian Airlines holds a 45% share—is also continuing to develop.

Closer to home, at its hub in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Tasew said Ethiopian Airlines is investing in expanding the airport’s international terminal, as well as aircraft parking and other infrastructure. The expansion, however, is now reaching the limit of available airport space. “We have a plan to build a new airport, 40 km [25 mi.] south of Addis. A consultancy, who will design the airport and supervise the construction work, has been selected,” Tasew said. The location of the new airport has been identified.

“We are hiring and training our aviation professionals including pilots and technicians to support the continued growth of the airline,” Tasew said. “We see opportunities, and we are on track with our growth plan Vision 2035.”

Besides a shortage of aircraft, spare parts and constrained capacity, traffic right restrictions are also an issue for the airline, not only within Africa but in other countries, including Europe.

“We want to fly to Munich as well as to Amsterdam, but traffic rights and available slots are an issue,” Ethiopian Airlines Regional Manager in Austria and Eastern Europe Saba Kassaye said.

In June, the carrier added services to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Maun, Botswana, as well as a route to Warsaw. “The preparation work to launch Warsaw and to set up everything necessary took almost one year,” Kassaye said regarding the route development.

Vienna, which launched 10 years ago in Ethiopian’s network, became the connector to Eastern Europe. The logical step now would be to operate double daily services from Addis to Vienna during peak season in the summer and winter. “This could be a reality in maybe two years,” Kassaye said.

Starting in October, the current aircraft on the Addis Ababa-Vienna route will be upgraded from a Boeing 777-200LR and 787-9 to an Airbus A350-900. The aircraft continues from Vienna to Copenhagen four times, as well as to Warsaw three times a week.

Ethiopian Airlines—Africa’s largest carrier—carried 13.9 million passengers in 2023. The airline expects to carry 18 million passengers in 2024.

By Kurt Hofmann, Aviation Week 

Related story: Ethiopian Airlines Announced As Partner For Nigeria Air

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

UAE to lift visa ban on Nigeria says minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that the UAE plans to lift a travel ban on Nigerian citizens imposed in 2022. According to Punch, Keyamo made the announcement during a welcome dinner for delegates at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 80th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai.

Keyamo stated: “The issue of visa has been resolved, just the announcement remains. They want to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. The announcement will be made in a couple of weeks.”

The travel ban was imposed by the UAE due to diplomatic disputes, including issues with visa denials and a face-off with Emirates Airlines, which had suspended flights to the West African country.

President Bola Tinubu had intervened last year to resolve these disputes, and his office claimed to have “secured a landmark deal” with the UAE to lift the ban with immediate effect. However this was later denied by an Emirati official.

Keyamo highlighted the importance of the UAE as a partner to Nigeria, noting the significant investments Nigerians have in the Gulf state.

“Nigerians have a lot of stakes here in the UAE with a lot of investments. What we are doing is to make it easy for millions of Nigerians who have put a lot of pressure on us to ensure that we open up this route again,” he said.

“I was on the same ride with the ruler of Dubai, the minister and the head of Emirates Group and all the top shots of Emirates. That is to tell you how much they value us, and they want Nigeria to see it in that light. They have started to trust us again, and I want to say thank you to them. I will take it from here on,” the minister added.

The official announcement, once made, is expected to rekindle bilateral relations and increase trade and flight connectivity between the two countries. Last month, Emirates Airlines announced that it will resume flights to Nigeria starting 1 October.

Middle East Monitor

Related story: Top Visa-Free Countries that Nigerians Can Travel To

 

Monday, April 22, 2024

Video - Domestic airlines in Nigeria struggle to stay afloat as price of aviation fuel soars



According to industry research, aviation fuel constitutes nearly 60 percent of operational costs for domestic airlines. The price has soared by 109 percent over the past two years, jeopardizing the survival of many of Nigeria's domestic air carriers.

CGTN 

Related story: Nigeria suspends permit of 3 private jet operators

 

 

 

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Video - Woman drives from London to Nigeria in under 3 months




A woman who travelled solo from London to Lagos by road in under three months has been given a hero's welcome in the Nigerian state. The Lagos born, London raised travel influencer - Pelumi Nubi, 29 - began the adventure on January 24 with nothing but her trusted purple Peugeot 107, which she fondly named Lumi. Taking to her Instagram page, she documented the journey which took her across 17 countries including France, Spain, Morocco and Ghana.

Pelumi said she attempted the record-making journey in order to inspire 'solo black female travellers' and show them 'adventures like this are possible'.

Yesterday she arrived in Lagos to a grand homecoming lead by governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who awarded her a brand new house and car on behalf of the state.

In a video posted to her page, the content creator was close to tears as the governor presented her with a brand new ride.

In the same post, she informed fans that her efforts had been crowned with a tourism ambassador role, while the state has also offered to reimburse her travel costs.

She wrote: 'This is getting too much! Lagos my city. Lord how did we get here? Thank You Jesus. Meet the newest brand ambassador of tourism in Lagos state.

'Grateful to His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State Jide Sanwoolu, for the warm reception, generous gift of all expenses on my London to Lagos trip paid for, new car with my customised plate number, a beautiful home in Lagos!

'Truly, God’s blessings overflow! Congratulations to us guys!!!! Lumi now has a sister'.

Before embarking on the months-long journey to Nigeria's largest city Pelumi revealed that she had dyslexia, and that she was determined to see the trip through without having to rely on anyone.

Calling it a 'crazy idea', she shared her excitement at attempting the feat and hoped to show others that 'impossible is just a word'.

She wrote: 'For months, I’ve been chatting with folks who’ve tackled similar adventures. As far as I know, no black woman has made this journey before. But hey, this isn’t about breaking records.

'It’s about showing the world that “impossible” is just a word, especially when you’ve got enough grit and determination. I can’t fully describe my emotions right now but I am just so excited to finally put it out there - no matter the outcome!

Pelumi - who kitted her tiny Peugeot with a sleeping and kitchen space for the trip - has been brimming with emotion since beginning the voyage.

Speaking to CNN Travel shortly afterwards, she said: 'When I crossed into Morocco, I literally broke down crying. And it wasn’t sadness.

'It was just this overwhelming feeling of [realizing] wow, I overcomplicated this process in my head. I really thought it would be more difficult than it was. And it made me wonder what else in my life I was overthinking'.

Pelumi's trip was also spiked with adversity, including multiple breakdowns and a frightening car crash.

On March 26, the travel blogger took to her page to share the aftermath of what appeared to be a front-on collision.

Her beloved Lumi received massive damage to its front side while Pelumi filmed herself laying inside an ambulance and in a hospital bed receiving treatment.

She later explained that the crash occurred in Ivory Coast after a driver allegedly parked his truck in the middle of a highway.

Speaking on the crash she said: 'I am deeply thankful to be alive! This kind [of] incident comes with a deeper appreciation life.

'It also brought me a lot of joy that Lumi is getting fix[ed]. Thank you all once again for your kind wishes'.

Fans learned that she was forced to take time out to 'mend' before resuming the trip, inevitably delaying its completion date.

On another occasion and enroute to her second to last country, Pelumi's car broke down.

In the video, the purple car can be seen still in the middle of a busy major road before a few locals step in to help the influencer move the car.

'This is mad she just stopped working' she said. 'I'm not going to lie this is really stressful'.

She accompanied the post with an uplifting message to herself: 'One minute I am 30 mins away from crossing the borders into my second to final country, and the next, it feels like it might never happen.

'But as usual, giving up is never an option. We must keep pushing through for when we get knocked down 7 times, we rise the 8th'.

Also at the finish line were her parents, who she said were at first were reluctant to let their daughter explore the globe by road.

However she thanked them for their unwavering support. She gushed: 'Daddy! Mummy! I did it!!!! I solo drove from London to Lagos.

'I’ll never forget the look on mummy’s face when I first shared my crazy idea with her a year ago. Oh, the typical African mother reaction!

'Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with the most supportive parents and family. Your approval and encouragement meant everything to me, and I’m forever grateful.

'I’m proud to be your daughter, and I promise to keep making you proud. I love you both so much'.

Upon completing her journey across the continents, she wrote: 'It’s a wrap, everyone! We made it! London to Lagos is officially completed. I had a fantastic night’s sleep, no exaggeration.

'Huge thanks to everyone who came out yesterday. I genuinely appreciate your support and don’t take any of it for granted. Thank you, Lagos. Thank you, Nigeria!'

By Maria Okanrende, Daily Mail

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

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

E-gates to be installed at all international airports in Nigeria

Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior has announced that biometric e-gates are currently being installed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and at the e-border data and control center at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters.


Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, honorable minister of interior, said e-gates will be installed across all five of Nigeria’s international airports, providing Nigerians with streamlined arrival while the e-border system will enhance national security.


As of February 19, four out of the planned 10 gates have been installed at the airport. It is expected that the remaining six gates will be operational before the end of the month.

Dr Tunji-Ojo said the new gates will reduce waiting times for arriving passengers. “With an impressive clearance time of just 30 seconds per individual, the gates are set to establish a new standard for efficiency in airport processing, comparable to global benchmarks.”

They are also designed to enhance national security by providing an additional layer of scrutiny for inbound travelers. “Through advanced biometric scanning and automated flagging systems, the gates will swiftly identify individuals of interest or those on watchlists, bolstering the efforts of the Nigeria Immigration Service to safeguard the nation’s borders,” the minister said.

In total, the nationwide project aims to deliver a total of 40 e-verification gates across multiple airports by the end of the first quarter. These installations will include 10 gates in Abuja, 17 in Lagos, five in Kano and four each in Enugu and Port Harcourt.

By Kylie Bielby, Passenger Terminal Today 

Related story: Video - Aviation sector sees record growth in Nigeria