Why Nigerians Find It Difficult To Secure UK, US Visas-Wale Michael, Migration Expert
A migration expert, Prince Wale Michael, has revealed why many Nigerians are steadily finding it difficult to secure visas to enter countries like the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), Canada and others.
According to him, many Nigerians, at the point of traveling, do not have clarity of purpose and/or mission for aspiring to travel abroad.
Wale Michael said: “Before traveling abroad, it is fundamental to know your mission and purpose because migration is about destiny and not destination.”
He said this during the week, while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored in Ibadan, Oyo State by Olayinka Agboola.
The expert further said being granted approval to enter a foreign country is a rare privilege and not a right as widely assumed and urgee applicants seeking visa to foreign countries to be cautious and follow laid down procedures in order not to be rejected at the point of entry.
The migration consultant further stated that diverse opportunities abound in the industry to make legitimate wealth, urging the Federal Government to open more opportunities in the migration industry in order to improve the economy of the country.
“The migration industry is not yet matured; it is just coming up. The travels/tour industry is a different ball game entirely.
“Government needs to open more opportunities in the migration industry. People specialize in ticketing, hotel preservation and protocols. It depends on the interest of the individual,” he said.
Michael clarified that a migration expert has different functions and duties to carry out compared to a travelling agent while urging Nigerians to seek better clarification before transacting business with travelling agencies.
He said: “A traveling agent is a representative of airlines, hotels, resorts centers and destination while the migration industry is for a person who wants to move from one place to another sovereign nation permanently.
“When you leave Nigeria to study in Canada, Cyprus, United Kingdom, you are there as a migrant, to live there for a long time, you are not a tourist on a short stay.”
The expert urged the Nigerian government to liberalize the industry and refrain from constituting an obstacle for Nigerians seeking opportunities to travel abroad, saying it is a violation of people’s fundamental right to be denied the opportunity of travelling out.
Michael said: “Every developed nation knows the importance of migration; Canada knows that, for its country to develop, it must allow people to migrate to their country.
“Nigerian government see citizens’ quest to emigrate as unpatriotic. It is disheartening when you deny people the opportunity of travelling abroad to seek greener pastures. There is no fear in losing our competent hands because there is nothing like brain drain but brain gain.
“For every professional leaving the shores of Nigeria, there are about 30 people to replace them because the country is blessed with a competent workforce that cannot be exhausted. You talk of brain drain when there are no competent hands to replace those travelling abroad.”
