₦airaland Forum

This thread is actually making me remember the roaring 90's. Between 1990-1998, a lot of young Nigerians left for Europe and North America. Quite a number of my secondary school colleagues and juniors travelled out after writing their last SSCE Paper. Travelling out was the in thing those days and the desire to live in Europe and America among youths in the country has not really waned.  The words 'Deport' and 'Deportation' have always been in my mental vocabulary since I was 13 years old. As I grew up in Nigeria, I always heard stories of how one Tayo, Kehinde, Idris or Emeka was deported from Spain, Jand or Belgium. What I'm trying to say is that people on this forum should not be scared about the word 'Deportation'. Nigerians are facing different challenges in Europe and America. The other day, I read about the plight of Nigerians in Malaysia and I was almost crying. As much as I don't support illegal migration or people overstaying their visas, I am not going to condemn anyone who has no status in the western world.

People will always get deported and there is nothing we can do about it. Countries have their laws and they have to enact them. However, many Nigerians are at the root of the problems they are going through themselves. How can somebody without papers start driving a car all around the streets of London or New Jersey ? You know you don't have papers and you keep claiming benefits with different false names ? The Benefits database has now been linked with the Home Office database in Britain, so there is no way to circumvent that route again.  You know you don't have papers and you're engaged in crime and defrauding other people Why won't you get caught and deported? Then some very evil Nigerians start selling drugs and eventually get busted  If you check properly, you will find out that many Nigerians who get deported have a criminal record.  Why can't our people find something productive to do pending the time when they can sort out themselves and get their papers? There are a lot of things to do and keeping a low profile is very good. I have seen illegal immigrants who own houses and food shops in Britain especially among the Asian Community. The Asians are not snitching on one another and they know how to cover their tracks. Why do Nigerians love antagonizing one another in the Western World? God help us.

Besides, all threads that highlight the problems Nigerians face abroad should be driving Nigerian youths to really addressing the issue of bad leadership in Nigeria.  If it means really working for a honest person to become Nigeria's President, so be it.  I know the time is coming when Nigerians will travel home to organize protests, register to vote and actually contest for posts as low as Councillors in their Home states or States where they grew up.  Until then, keep developing yourself anywhere you are either legally or without a status. Cheers.

Living in Europe and North America without papers is like mortgaging your future. There is no need to blame anyone here for travelling out of the country. Living in the western world for some years exposes you to a lot of things. You will be able to see how things are done properly and living in an organized society will rub off on you. Nigerians in Europe and America do not generally look out for each other. So you will also learn to strive and forage on your own. The painful thing is that most Nigerians who unfortunately get deported do not utilize the skills they have acquired abroad when they find themselves back in Nigeria [ That is is they had not been wasting their time engaging in fraud, aimless clubbing, and criminal activities while in Europe and America ]. Many Africans in Europe are living without papers and some of them have managed to turn their lives around dramatically. These success stories about undocumented migrants are mostly ignored by the Western Media. My advice to Nigerians abroad without papers is to find a way to work [ The nature of the job does not matter ], save up [ even though you might need to live like a Spartan ] and return to Nigeria. There are a lot of things you can achieve in your country. Don't give the law enforcement officers a chance to embarrass you in the long run. Thanks.

I'm not against having Beach Parties and all that, but I believe we can do something better that will gain the respect of the public and the Government.  How about us pulling resources together [ Both Financial and Material ] and working on projects that will help Nigerians live a better life? I know we have very intelligent and resourceful people on this site  who really desire a change in Nigeria I know some of us are wealthy while others are Managers and top shots in different establishments all over the world.  Nairaland is growing everyday and we can take advantage of the Nairaland population to make an impact in Nigeria. We can decide to organise a press conference in Lagos, get a spacious venue and invite Coach Samson Siasia for an open interview and discussion about the future of Nigerian Football. Guys like Honeric1 and Jarus can handle this program. Nairaland members can also contribute some money and print flyers and hand bills that will be distributed all over Nigeria. This leaflets will aim to inspire Nigerians to vote wisely and for the right candidates during the 2011 elections. With Nairaland's logo and brand on the leaflets, we will gain the respect of the public.

There is so much we can do besides partying  We are the future of Nigeria. Nairaland is a brand that Seun has ingeniously created. If every Nairaland member contributes 100 Naira, do you know that we can renovate some secondary schools to an extent or organise a quarterly Soccer Competition in Nigeria for Secondary School Students? My people, are you feeling me? Let me go and grab some food. I'll be back.

How much are cleaners at our Airports paid sef? That's where we should start from when looking at this problem of infrastructural decay. When cleaners are not paid living wages, where is the motivation for them to be dedicated to their jobs? I am sure there is a company that supplies cleaners to our Airports and someone is smiling to the bank while the cleaners are paid poorly. Some people are benefiting from the rot at our Airports. They don't want things to change and they will fight against innovation and the need to do things correctly. While Nigeria has horrible leaders, the citizens themselves are not that different from their leaders. In Nigeria, you see people with Masters Degrees not being able to Manage a Supermarket or Small business effectively not to talk of managing the country or doing well in political posts. God help Nigeria.

I will be spending this Christmas in England with my friends. We are organising a party for all of us [ both married and single ] in our tight clique. Cheers.

I really feel for Governor Oshiomhole. He is the Governor of my Father's State- Edo State. It is not easy losing your wife when you're managing a state like Edo State.  May the soul of his wife rest in perfect peace. Amen.

They should invest the money realised from the sale of the jets into the development of the country. I won't be happy if the money is diverted into the pockets and bank accounts of our looter-leaders If the FG is selling 3 Presidential jets, how many jets does the presidency really have? How many jets does the office of the British Prime Minister have? Most of our leaders are hard hearted goons. God help us

@buzugee

In England, the English Defence League also targets immigrants, especially Muslims. Racism is still alive in Europe, and it should not be blamed on the Nordic countries alone.  I have come across people from Norway and Sweden and they are not discriminatory like the British and the French. The standard of living in Sweden is better than that of Britain. I know a Swedish guy [ Swedish Father, English Mother ] that comes to London to work for a month and quickly goes back to live in Sweden for 3 months. He told me that though the British Pound is stronger than the Krona, the living standard in Sweden is higher and better than that of Britain. He has a big house in Stockholm and his woman and children live in Sweden.  As long as you're not European originally, you will always have racial issues. However, be rest assured that the long arm of the law is always dealing with racists and hate crimes.

I still maintain that the Home Office is a death trap for the careers of British politicians. It is a very sensitive office and you need to know what happened to David Blunkett and Miss Smith. Besides, the time has come for Nigerians in diaspora to seek for ways on how to influence change in Nigeria. Cheers.

I am enjoying this thread  All I want to say is that the Lib-Con Government will lose out in the long run with its fresh immigration rules. Knee Jerk reactions and rules are counter-productive and the effects of their implementation will only be felt several years down the line.  I won't advise Nigerians to come and school in the UK for now. They should go to Sweden and Norway for their education or head to the USA or Canada.  British education is not the same as it used to be. I've met some graduates from British Universities and they are very shallow. Their line of reasoning is only limited to what they studied in school. The Nordic Countries ( Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland ) are very practical and technically efficient than the UK when it comes to education. The standard of living in these countries is better than that of Britain.

Besides, politicians always want to impress their people as soon as they are handed power. The Home Office has always been a death trap for its Secretaries. This is where Theresa May has to watch it  One thing I know is that Non EU migrants are better than EU migrants intellectually. Cheers.

When will we start appreciating good things? With all the billions they are making, what impact have Dangote and Otedola made on Nigerians? Please leave Bill Gates alone. Hmn.

So this thread is still alive ? Anyway, I've got some few more things to chip in. No one should be condemned for moving abroad and no one should regret staying back in Nigeria. It all boils down to our individual choices and preferences. Everyone to his or her own destiny   However, I believe one of the reasons why some Nigerians are finding it hard abroad is the issue of 'legal status'. Too many Nigerians are wasting precious time trying to legalize themselves in inhospitable environments abroad. I've seen people who spent 14 years in the UK to get their papers and by the time they are legal, they are in their late 40's or early 50's [ Depends on the age they entered Britain ]. It would have been better if they had managed to save up some money and returned to Nigeria to start up a business that is built around their natural abilities. The worst thing Britain or America will do to them is to ban them from re-entering for some years [ That is is if they they don't know how to get back to Naija safely without any problem ].

Living abroad opens our eyes to many business opportunities and how to do things properly. However, how many Nigerians are taking down notes and storing ideas in their memories with the aim of coming back to Nigeria to implement these ideas? I will be very happy if a Nigerian in Britain or Germany can take the time to learn plumbing or roofing, gather and purchase the necessary equipment, develop a business plan, save some money, buy a van and return to Nigeria to start a professional plumbing or roofing company. Do you know how much this guy will make in Nigeria? He might even start a plumbing academy for Nigerian youths and make some money from it while getting workers for his company and expanding. There are a lot of things to learn in Europe and America which can be replicated in Nigeria by those of us who are determined and focused. Artisans in Nigeria are not professional through and through. And why does everyone want to live in Lagos? People can also live in Ibadan, Akure, Abeokuta or Oshogbo. It all has to do with your drive and business plan. In 1999, I worked as a correspondent with a soft sell magazine in Lagos. The publishers of the Magazine were in their early 30's then and had never travelled out of Nigeria. They were really educated and talented. One of them [ He is very popular so I won't tell you his name ] told me that the Publishing Company he and his friend owned was worth 9 Million Naira [ That was in 1999 ].

May God give us wisdom to do the right thing. Amen.

@buzugee

I am fine o. I have just been busy lately and I only read threads on Nairaland without commenting. I decided to be active on this thread because threads like these interest me

I am not making any assumptions here, Nairalanders. I am a researcher and I also take the time to observe people a lot. Infact, North Africans are finding it tough in the UK [ despite their white skin ]. It is not only Nigerians that are struggling abroad. I have always asked myself some questions: Why did celebrities like D'banj, Don Jazzy, Mandy Ojugbana etc return to Nigeria? Would Don Jazzy and Dapo Oyebanji have become so rich if they had stayed back in Britain? I am not saying some Nigerians are not prospering in Europe and North America. However, what is the percentage? I was talking with a Moroccan chap who had spent 20 years in Britain. He came in illegally and somehow got his papers through marriage [ when it was that easy ]. However, this guy [ he's in his late 40's ] told me he has not fulfilled his deep desires.  He keeps flying to Morocco for holidays constantly. That is a white looking African man talking not to talk of black Africans

Some Nigerians are moving back home quietly. These are the ones that are in their 30's and early 40's. For some others, it is too late and they have to stay permanently abroad. We all have our destinies but I have come to realize that the Western World is not really for the African. If you're abroad and you do not have a legal status, you need to save up and come back home [ If you are not married and have no kids ]. Asia has liberated itself and Africa's turn is coming. Things are changing in Nigeria though it is a very slow process. Don't go back to Nigeria when your childhood friends have cornered the opportunities for themselves. Even if you want to stay abroad, develop an interest in Nigeria.  The Singaporeans and the Chinese have shown us the way. May God grant us all wisdom. Cheers.

People need to ask themselves these question:

Have I really achieved my dreams abroad?

The bitter truth is that 85% of Nigerians who moved abroad [ including the ones born in Europe and North America ] are not finding things easy. A good number of them have come to realize that though they have solid infrastructure all around them and have access to food and good healthcare, they are not really fulfilled. They can't boast of having quality savings in their bank account and only live on their wages. Though most Nigerians in Europe and America have access to a lot of opportunities, only about 25% are making good use of them. No one would love to come and wash his or her dirty linen on Nairaland. However, we all know where the shoe pinches us

On the other hand, a few Nigerians are doing well in their spheres of influence . These are the ones that are entrepreneurs or are in the academia or are brilliant professionals. I have also observed that many Nigerians abroad are not interested in acquiring technical skills in Plumbing, Electricals and wiring, roofing, painting etc. Artisans make a lot of money abroad but many Nigerians are ignorant of these technical careers.  The issue of having 'legal status' is hampering the progress of many Nigerians abroad and we are generally not supportive of one another  

Are you fulfilling your dreams abroad?

Sir Alan Sugar himself has skeletons in his cupboard I am so sure if a solid investigation is carried out into how he made his money, some funny stories will crop up here and there. Fraud should not be limited to Nigerians alone. I agree that there are Fraudulent Nigerians on the web who want to make money by deceitful letters and promises. However, Asians and Europeans are also into Fraud. The biggest fraudsters on earth are not Nigerians. I am so sure that the biggest fraudsters on earth are Westerners. Who got us into this financial crisis? Is it not due to greed on the part of Western bankers? Do you know how many White British benefit cheats are caught daily by the UK Government? I have come to believe that there is something to this tagging of the black man as being fraudulent all the time. I am not absolving Nigeria from the menace of the Yahoo Boys, but let the saintly man who is squeeky clean cast the first stone God dey o.