So
many reactions have plagued the recent proposal by the British government to
force citizens from Nigeria and four other countries to pay a £3,000(N 750,000)
bond to be allowed to enter Britain. In view of this proposal, they will only
get their money back once they leave the country, in a bid to end abuse of the
Visa system. The other countries affected by this proposition include India, Ghana,Pakistan,
Bangladesh and India. In the proposal by
the Home Secretary, Theresa May, the proposal is targeted at nationals of the
countries tagged as “High Risks”. I will be approaching this issue from a
perspective, which might not be so obvious. But before then, let me bring some
other reactions to the same plan. The intention is to make the immigration
system more selective and deter people from overstaying once their visitor’s
visa has expired. There are plans that the Australian style- bond scheme to
also include foreign workers and students.
In a report by Adekunle Adekoya in Vanguard, he observed that the UK visa policy has in reality always
been discriminatory to Nigerians and if you like, nationals of other countries
included. According to him, it started in September 1986 when the Margret
Thatcher administration decided, at the end of a cabinet meeting that in future,
travellers in Nigeria, India, Ghana and Bangladesh and Pakistan will need to
obtain Visa from their own countries before travelling. Before the 1986
decision, nationals of all common wealth nations except Sri lanka did not need
visas to travel to the UK.
On the other hand, the House of Representatives committee
on foreign Affairs slammed the move as “discriminatory and unacceptable”.
Nnenna Elendu – Ukeje, chairman of the committee in a statement said such a
policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. She said that they will take a ‘critical look
at the policy’ as it affects Nigerians and come up with a way forward. The
Minister of foreign affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, said Nigeria “will
do everything within its means to protect its citizens from any harsh policy by
any country.” In a statement issued by the Ministry if Foreign Affairs
on Tuesday, 25th of June, 2013, it was said that the Minister had
already summoned the UK commissioner, Mr Andrew pockock, to formally register
federal governments’ displeasure to the policy. The statement quoted the
minister as describing the policy as “not only discriminatory but also capable
of undermining the commonwealth family”. It added that the proposed policy
would negate the joint commitment signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and
President Goodluck Jonathan, to double the volume of trade of both countries by
2014.
However,
as the twist in the issue continues to develop, the British High commissioner
to Nigeria, Mr Andrew pockock said it was regrettable that the yet- to – be
announced policy was leaked to the media as the modality for implementation had
yet to be worked out, while also assuring the Minister that the views and
concerns of Nigerians would be conveyed to his home government.
While there have been some reverse reactions towards the
plans, the idea has been welcome by backbench Tony MPs, who have been urging
the government to take a tougher line on immigration. The policy also has the backing Lib Dem
Leader, Nick Clegg, who suggested the introduction of bonds in March, though
was proposing the level should be fixed as £1000. Although, Keith Vaz, chairman
of the Home Affairs select committee, said the idea was ‘unworkable’ and ‘impractical’.
Mr Vaz, an ex- foreign Office Minister, claimed it would not deter people from
trying to stay on after their visas
ended and said the targeted countries would be “likely to retaliate”.
It is important to note that a similar plan of £1,000
bond in 2008 amid an outcry from migrant right groups. . Unarguably, this policy if implemented is
going to be a double edged sword. “In perspective, the policy if implemented
will have repercussions on both sides. If dealing with the illegal immigration
is the sole object of the policy, then Nigerians who see the UK as an escape
destination will be affected. On the contrary, Nigeria is a business
destination for many United Kingdom Nations, including those of Nigerian
descent. If Nigeria reciprocates, as government may be required to, business on
both sides will suffer irreparably...” (Adekunle Adekoya,Vanguard).
However, my
heart cry is not even about the effect of this proposal on students, parents,
immigrants etc, but on a lesson that the citizens and government of this nation
are supposed to learn. Not that the things mentioned above are not important,
but just that they are not my main focus. One can hardly blame them, if we want
to be sincere, because no country wants an uncontrolled influx of people, as it
has its own effect on them. My heart cry is that is that this nation should be
made liveable in all ramifications and I want the government of and people of
Nigeria to learn from this insult and do everything possible in their power to
bring back respect to this nation. On various occasions, I have been opportuned
to be around discussions of young people, who just talk about looking for ways
of leaving this country to find greener pastures in various European countries.
Majority of them, always end with statements like “I no go just come back
again, this country too hard...” hence the struggle by many Nigerian future
leaders to find their way out of this country, to go and do menial jobs; going
through different hardships and issues just to get papers.
A
home office official in Britain said the six countries highlighted were those
with “the most significant risk of Abuse”.
“ Last year 296,000 people granted six month visas were from
India, 101,000 from Nigeria, 53,000 from
Pakistan and 14,000 each were from Sri Lanka and Bangledesh”( AFP).
Imagine the figures! Let us learn from this “Insult” (that is what it is to
me), and make this nation an envy for people outside. We can make this country
beautiful enough for people to want to come in and our youths ready to stay and
work. We have very wonderful professional Nigerians working in different places
in European countries, who have refused to come back home, because of better
quality of job terms; we have read in the News of Nigerians making giant
strides in their various endeavours. All this would have been things enjoyed in
this country if things were as good as they ought to be.
This
is my plea! Government, please you can continue your complaints on the
discriminatory policy, but please also focus on making this nation a golden
street that people will want to walk on. For the supposed giant of Africa to be
put to this kind of treatment speaks volumes in few lines. Please Sirs and
Madams, OGAs at the Top, think deeply on this situation, and pick up lessons,
that will kick start a developmental revolutions that will affect all aspect of
this nation. Please! For the government officials that embezzle or that have
embezzled, I want to say that you are part of the reason for this insult. Money
meant for development, were pocketed and used for selfish gains, anyway some
people are at the corner praying for you and God is listening.
Mr. Government and her officials, Nigeria needs steady
power supply, we need good roads, we need employment for our youths, we need
uninterrupted terms in our schools (No strikes), well secured neighbourhoods
and properly equipped security agents. We the citizens of Nigeria need
comfortable houses at affordable rates and policies that will greatly improve
the comfort of the general public. Sincerely sir, if all these things are
provided, we will be the ones making this kind of policy, to control the influx
and nobody will insult us by calling us high risk for contributing illegal
immigrants. I sincerely know that with the way things have gone bad, it will
not take just one day to solve the years of decay, but the process should begin
and the heart of restoration should be in every of the government officials.
The government of South Africa has to make comments regularly regarding the
conditions of a citizen not in government, churches hold prayers for him to
remain alive even though he is more than 90, even death respects his
achievements and have refused to take him...this tells you that being a good
government official pays. Thumbs up Mandela “Madiba”, may you live long for us.
To my fellow citizens, you have every right to want to
leave the country oh, things are not well and we watch in the Television of the
beautiful things happening in the European countries (thanks to the information
flow imbalance). The reasons not to stay are pretty obvious, but again hard
work and integrity pays. I just want to encourage us to stay with one another
and develop this nation, the America, Britain we run to today were built by the
sweats of people. For some, the inputs of some of our forefathers via slave
trade forms the foundation of their development, hence we should stick together
in Unity and develop this nation. I strongly believe that we can make it. I
call on all the children, Youths, aged, Mothers, fathers etc to join the train
of those with the heart to make this nation great, the train is gradually
gaining pace; so please do not left behind. Let us break the barrier of
corruption by first of all not being corrupt, kill ethnicity and tribalism from
the roots, join with adequate information in the electoral processes. The good
people should contest and continue to contest so that this nation enjoys the
beauty that comes when a righteous man rules. Fight corruption with all sense
of sincerity and love for this nation, not a fight tainted with selfish
reasons.
Please let us not wait for the government, if they are
not working let us kick them to the work by taking up their functions to make
sure the citizens are comfortable. You live in a street as a Millionaire and
the street are very bad, why wait for the government, when you can begin the
process. The well to-do could create scholarship platforms for the bright minds
in the society and provide the right environment for their talents to be
horned. Parents should stop encouraging their children that the grasses are
always greener on the other side of the lawn. That is not how it is Oh. Get to
ask questions from those that made it back, some have had to do very obscene
things just to make ends meet, so many of them are even ashamed to say the true
stories of their experiences. Some of those that tried to go through the desert
have lost their lives.
The Richest man in
Africa started and survived the environmental hurdles, Jim Ovia started in the
Delta state environments, Michael Adenuga began Globacom in Nigeria, and the
list continues. Mentioning people that
have survived the stress in this great nation, who have also made it and
respected all over the world will take too much space, hence I still wish to
assert that making it is possible in this nation. I know of the CEO of a
leading communication firm in Victoria Island, who started in school not having
slippers to go to class with but today runs a multi Million naira company in
the communication sector. The good
people still make it, because it’s on their shoulders that the greatness of
this nation that the greatness of this nation lies. It is not a mistake that
the theme for our image transformation agenda is “Nigeria, good people, great
nation”. Our greatness as a nation is hinged on the availability of good people
who have gone beyond any barrier available, from poverty to religion, ethnic
backgrounds etc. Be the great person and not a source of insult to this
country. Greatness even when you are born into it, does not just fall on
someone, it is nurtured.
This matter of £3000, Slammed on visitors from the giant
of African should bring reflections and not only reactions. Let the world just
continue to wait, we are coming! They will not wait for too long, people like
me that love this country sincerely are many.
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