Chidera Abaratu, PBA Journalism MenteeBy Chidera Abaratu, Journalism Mentee
Most Nigerians travel abroad without considering the implications that come with it. Don’t get it twisted, travelling abroad is beautiful until it’s not. It’s an added advantage because it will help your future endeavours and open many doors of opportunities for you.
As a student in the diaspora, I can tell you assuredly that the living conditions of some people, especially Nigerians abroad are deplorable.
Relocating to other countries gives you a better experience and makes you see things from a different perspective. Truthfully, living abroad is not as easy as some Nigerians assume it to be.
Those who travel without stable finance, or any form of sponsorship from families, schools, or companies are seen and treated with disregard in some of these foreign countries.
To make matters worse, some Nigerians especially young women and girls are lured into prostitution by fake travel agencies with the promise of a better life. Upon arrival, their passports get confiscated by these sponsors who make payback through prostitution or other criminal activities.
Also, the costs of living abroad are so high that life is difficult for these Nigerians, and they become armed robbery or drug traffickers to survive.
A story by THISDAYLIVE three years ago shows that Nigerians in Ghana are being stereotyped and treated with spite. They expressed outrage at the harsh treatment they receive and have urged the authorities of both nations to step in to ensure justice and fairness.
Recently, Vanguard reported a similar happening in Cyprus.
The Nigerian Diaspora Youth Ambassador (NDYA) has urged the federal government of Nigeria to intervene over the mistreatment of Nigerians in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He emphasised how Nigerians are deported and harassed daily for no apparent reason.
While interviewing a Nigerian student in Cyprus, she narrated an incident where a Nigerian student was arrested and detained for two months just because she was a Nigerian. According to her, the student didn’t have a residence permit because it was expensive and she wasn’t getting help from the school. She was later bailed by the church and placed under amnesty watch. The young lady is not done with all the payments, which is unfair.
A Cameroonian hairdresser narrated how most ladies in the diaspora, especially Nigerian ladies willingly or forcefully go into prostitution to make ends meet or quick money.
A Nigerian in Instanbul described one of the many experiences of racial discrimination she had in the country. According to her, once she went to get food and was first in line, but kept being ignored because she was black and a Nigerian.
Another Nigerian in the diaspora, Ben said he hadn’t had bad experiences living abroad considering he is light-skinned but gets extra scrutiny because he has a Nigerian Passport.
Most Nigerians in the diaspora struggle with cultural shock in a country like the UK, where women have equal rights with men rights unlike in Africa generally. Zita, a Nigerian living in the UK speaking on cultural shock said that the way of life in Nigeria is different in the UK. And she is struggled trying to adjust especially in the area of socialization.
In Dubai, women are respected, and the security systems are top-notch with CCTV cameras at designated points. In general, the country is one of the safest places to live in with little to no crime.
Notwithstanding the above development, racism is still experienced in the UK and Dubai. According to Teni, living in the UK, “Mostly, some people being racist, like really racist, even to my little cousins.” Nessa, who works in Dubai said she experiences racism at her workplace, especially from ex-pat workers that she works with.
These are unfair experiences which any Nigerian who desires to travel to other countries should be aware of before making the move.
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