Guess you are still making plans to leave Nigeria, right? If you haven’t followed japa trends for the past few months, you should read this article. Recently, some countries are closing their doors to Nigerians or becoming unfavourable for smooth migration plans.
Call it Naijaphobia, but foreigners are actually scared or jealous of Nigerians. So perhaps if you were processing your papers to any of these countries, you should stop making those travel plans.
UAE
Topping the list is the United Arab Emirates. Effective October 18, 2022, the UAE recently slammed a visa ban on all Nigerian citizens. This is not new because, in December 2021, United Arab Emirates announced that eight countries, including Nigeria, are banned from entering Dubai.
Even more suspicious is that there are no clear reasons for UAE’s recent ban on Nigerians. All applications forwarded to UAE before and after this period is cancelled or rejected.
South Africa
Let’s face it: South Africa and its incessant xenophobic attacks doesn’t make it a promising place to migrate to. If they aren’t starting violent fights because they claim Nigerians are taking their jobs and women, they are vandalizing the properties of Nigerians because these people have successful businesses.
So think again. South Africa may hold great opportunities for the average Nigerian hustler, but do you want to be that hustler looking over your shoulders every time? The only way to escape xenophobia is to become a citizen of South Africa – I guess.
Libya
The Libya stories of Nigerians are horrifying. Human trafficking in broad daylight; life-threatening travels through the desert, and then the constant deportation. There are cases of many Nigerians who were raped, shot dead, burnt alive, and sold into slavery (yes, it still exists).
Nigeria is a fairer kind of ‘prison’, even if you’re seeing shege every day. At least you won’t be deported or burnt alive for just being a Nigerian.
Ireland
Unless you’re going through a study route, Ireland isn’t a fine option for migrating abroad. Nigerians are often accused of participating in cybercrime and fraud, and these allegations are taken seriously by the Irish police.
When a Nigerian was murdered by the Irish police in 2020 based on allegations like this, racism protests sparked across the county.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is probably the worst location for Nigerians to find themselves. But our daunting countrymen don’t seem to care. Among the hostilities perpetrated by Bangladesh authorities, the commonest are illegal deportation, seizure of goods, and legal cases based on unverified allegations.
If you love your life, don’t travel to Bangladesh – at least until we sort out this whole hostile situation.
China
China is in her one-hundredth zero-COVID lockdown, despite the strict measures and quarantining in the nation. But what’s more annoying is China accusing immigrant Nigerians of spreading the virus.
At some point, Chinese authorities seized the passports of some Nigerians and ordered them out of their homes. That said, China is not the best place to relocate as long as the COVID restrictions persist.
