Why more countries deny Nigerians visa, by George Onmonya Daniel
A few days ago my friend Hassan Gimba, the publisher of
Neptune Prime Newspaper, a columnist with Blueprint Newspaper for the past decade, a reputable family
man and a fine journalist wrote that he was denied VISA
to Switzerland. In response, I told him that if Nigeria is a
serious country, no one would deny him a visa which Mr
Hassan Gimba agreed.
Read Dr Hassan Gimba’s reaction: And what’s so special about Switzerland, anyway
Nigeria is not a serious country and that’s why the
embassies treat us anyhow. Once your country is this
poor, where over 60 million young people are jobless,
any country would deny you visa. Recently I learned that
even Ethiopia has changed its visa policy now that
Nigerians on transit via Addis Ababa must get a
transit visa before they are allowed into their country.
We keep losing our respect daily. Even those who can afford
to travel on holidays to some of these Western countries are turned down. It is coming to the level now that countries that have nothing are treating us as people with leprosy.
Now I know some of you would like to blame Nigerians in the diaspora for some of the problems, I tell you that you are wrong. Once your economy is bad, as bad as Nigeria, you are automatically on the red list of any country. If not for the treaty we have as ECOWAS even Ghana here would start clamping down on our people.
If someone else is denied a visa I wouldn’t be complaining because there are procedures for these things, but my friend Hassan Gimba is qualified, I am sure he would have met all the requirements, a major one of which is showing you have enough money to finance your trip.
I don’t have much to say, but I am sure you guys have
input on this one.
George Onmonya Daniel is a political affairs analyst and the publisher of NEWS ISSUES Magazine.
Click link to watch the reading of “And what’s so special about Switzerland, anyway?, by Hassan Gimba.
