Nigerians Scramble for Ghanaian, Other W’African Nations’ Passports

31 May 2013

Chinedu Eze

Nigerian travellers are now disguising as citizens of other countries in West Africa, especially Ghana, and obtaining their passports which they use to travel to Asia and other parts of the world.
THISDAY learnt that it is mainly Nigerians who travel to China that take the passports of other countries in the region and the reason is because China gives about four weeks visa to Nigerians and do not extend it when it expires, but the country gives up to six months visa to Ghanaians, Senegalese, Guineans and others in the region.

When Nigerian businessmen go to China to buy, manufacture or process goods, four weeks are not always enough and if they leave the country at the expiration of their visa and instruct their agents to arrange and ship their consignments, they usually short-change them and as their goods purchased by the Nigerian is arriving the country, their dubious partners in China would export the same goods to the country and sell it at cheaper price, thus damaging the market for the Nigerian importer.

So for the Nigerians to stay till they are able to get their goods, they need visa that allows them longer time, hence they go for Ghanaian and other countries’ visas.

A top Nigeria Immigration Service official explained to THISDAY that Nigeria is reciprocating the Chinese gesture because visa policy is usually based on reciprocity.

“We give them 14 days visa but we don’t have the enabling machinery to flush them out whenever their visa expires so many Chinese overstay their visa in Nigeria. Some of them even take transit visa and disappear as soon as they arrive in Nigeria.”

The official also said Immigration is supposed to have the machinery to smoke out the Chinese citizens that have overstayed their visa, but decried the attitude of Nigerian government officials who move to protect them in the name of encouraging investors, in spite of the law that says that they should be deported.

“Government officials do not want the law to operate so they intervene in the job of Immigration officials, but the Nigeria Immigration Service used to have investigation and inspection department whose duty is to check those who have over stayed their visa and also patrol the boundaries to stop illegal immigration into the country. But when these Chinese overstay and you want to do your job, these government officials will intervene and may even sack you.”

The Immigration official said the body needs logistics to be able to effectively carry out its responsibility, including patrol vehicles at the borders, communication equipment and others.
“In the 1980s Nigeria Immigration Service was patrolling the nation’s borders and preventing people of other countries from gaining entry. Today, the Boko Haram menace would have been checked if Immigration is adequately equipped. Now, these Chinese are having easy run in Nigeria because government is protecting them and those menial jobs that should be done by Nigerians are being taken over by the Chinese who are now flooding into the country.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigerians-scramble-for-ghanaian-other-w-african-nations-passports/149002/

Naija 2 smart. They give naija 4weeks stay, naija give them 2 weeks stay. Finally buy ghana passport go collect 6 months.

Who be the mugu? Where will the chinese get passport to get 6months stay in naija?

Nonsense thread.
It's just a way of beating the tough chinese trade system.
It's no big deal.
Btw,they were other w.african countries mentioned,so it is not as if there is anything special about ghana.

solomon111: Nonsense thread.
It's just a way of beating the tough chinese trade system.
It's no big deal.
Btw,they were other w.african countries mentioned,so it is not as if there is anything special about ghana.

LOL no wonder your country is so fvcked up! citizens of nigeria are illegally acquiring passports of other countries and you see nothing wrong with that,huh? chei, nigeria we hail oooh. so why are you guys deporting nigerians and chadians? why don't you allow them to live in your country? incredible stuff! any one who thinks fraudulently acquring the passport of another country is no big deal needs to get his head examined! only criminals see nothing wrong with such a heinous act, which has far-reaching security implications.

Conquistador:

LOL no wonder your country is so fvcked up! citizens of nigeria are illegally acquiring passports of other countries and you see nothing wrong with that,huh? chei, nigeria we hail oooh. so why are you guys deporting nigerians and chadians? why don't you allow them to live in your country? incredible stuff! any one who thinks fraudulently acquring the passport of another country is no big deal needs to get his head examined! only criminals see nothing wrong with such a heinous act, which has far-reaching security implications.

That country must be very cheap to give out their passport anyhow to Nigerians.

This is no news, Ghanaians has been using Nigerian passports for ages.

30% Ghanaians working in US with Nigerian passport: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=183605


Some Ghanaians working in the USA arrived with Nigerian passports: http://www.ngex.com/news/public/newsinfo.php?nid=8930

Ricky_Ross: This is no news, Ghanaians has been using Nigerian passports for ages.

30% Ghanaians working in US with Nigerian passport: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=183605


Some Ghanaians working in the USA arrived with Nigerian passports: http://www.ngex.com/news/public/newsinfo.php?nid=8930

Thank you
Some criminal I saw on CNN the other day claiming To be Nigerian had a typical Ghanaian accent and I was just so furious and screamed at my TV screen at the Ghanaian 419er helping to tarnish our image

mekaboy:

That country must be very cheap to give out their passport anyhow to Nigerians.

the last time I went to get anew passport at the passport office in Accra, it was biometric. I had my finger prints captured and other details. I was very pleased, and said to myself... 'thank God, those nigerians who come into our country and get Ghanaian passports go hier wein this time. because the process was such that I didn't see how any non-Ghanaian can get a Ghanaian passport this time. Apart from having your finger prints taken, you are scrutinized separately by immigration and BNI officials.

so, honestly I am very surprised nigerian can still have access to Ghanaian passports through the back door. I suspect it is the old passport. for the new passport, you just have to go to the passport office personally to have your photo taken and finger printed. it can't be done in any other way.

but you know nigerians are such criminally minded can forge anything, right?

K4: the last time I went to get anew passport at the passport office in Accra, it was biometric. I had my finger prints captured and other details. I was very pleased, and said to myself... 'thank God, those nigerians who come into our country and get Ghanaian passports go hier wein this time. because the process was such that I didn't see how any non-Ghanaian can get a Ghanaian passport this time. Apart from having your finger prints taken, you are scrutinized separately by immigration and BNI officials.

so, honestly I am very surprised nigerian can still have access to Ghanaian passports through the back door. I suspect it is the old passport. for the new passport, you just have to go to the passport office personally to have your photo taken and finger printed. it can't be done in any other way.

but you know nigerians are such criminally minded can forge anything, right?

Put on the light, I can't see......

In the 80's early 90's a lot Ghanaians use Nigerian passport to travel overseas, and that includes a lot of there footballers. So, what are they ( Ghanaians) whining about ?

mekaboy: Naija 2 smart. They give naija 4weeks stay, naija give them 2 weeks stay. Finally buy ghana passport go collect 6 months.

Who be the mugu? Where will the chinese get passport to get 6months stay in naija?

they will go for Korea N or S even Japan

This is not a surprise. There have been many cases of Nigerians pretending to be Ghanaians overseas. I do not blame them, i blame our corrupt officials who take bribes for such agreements. They are the ones who should be dealt with severally. Am sick and tired of our corrupt officials who do anything for money.