AfroTimes Newspaper

Nigerian middle-class heads for exit in droves as problems mount in the country
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ayo Aroloye was holding his newborn son when a power cut plunged the delivery room of the Lagos hospital into darkness.

The 34-year-old had to turn on his phone’s torch so that the doctor who was about to stitch up his wife could see what he was doing.

Even though he earned an above-average salary as a banker, Aroloye saw the traumatic event as a sign that his country was broken.

“The Nigerian dream died in me,” he said.

Like many other Nigerians, Aroloye decided it was time to japa — a word in the Yoruba language that means “to flee.”

After a two-year wait to get visas, he moved with his family to Canada, where he has now been living for four months.

Nigerians, rich and poor, have migrated to greener pastures for decades.

Today, though, anecdotal evidence suggests that among the middle class, the outflow has become a flood, fueled by a slumping currency, worsening insecurity, spiraling inflation and corruption.

Accurate figures for net emigration are hard to come by, and a government agency, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, cautions that while people do leave, some “constantly” return.

But these days, asking an educated Nigerian “What are your japa plans?” is as common as asking about their work or health, according to eight people from different backgrounds.

Not everyone can afford to emigrate, especially to countries that middle- and upper-class Nigerians aim for, like Canada, the U.S., the U.K. or other European countries.

Visas for those countries can be expensive, and authorities often require proof of funds for daily expenses, even after the visa has been paid.

But armed with patience — it can take years to secure the paperwork — and often with financial support from relatives, increasing numbers are heading abroad for work or study.

“Nigerians’ assessment of their personal living conditions and the country’s economic situation have worsened dramatically over the past two years,” the pan-African survey group Afrobarometer survey wrote in August.

With almost 20% inflation in July, many Nigerians can no longer buy items they were once able to afford.

Chuka Okeke is a Lagos-based project manager with a degree in computer science who earns around 650,000 naira (about $1,500) a month.

“Three years ago, I would call myself middle class but now I’m just a privileged poor person,” he said, half-jokingly.

“I’m considering japaing via the study route,” said the 33-year-old father of one. “It’s a whole mess and I didn’t create the mess, so I don’t think I owe the country any loyalty to stay and fix it.”

For Stella Ohemu, a 30-year-old pharmacist living in the capital Abuja and who earns around 110,000 naira a month, life is “a merry-go-round.”

“I’ve been working for three years. I had two jobs at one point, but it still wasn’t enough,” she said, abandoning at least for now her dream of opening her own pharmacy.

She is applying for visas to work in Europe or in the U.S., where she is “sadly open to doing anything.”

Even among those who earn much more, japa is enticing.

Augustine Ugi, a 36-year-old CEO of a software development company based in Lagos, earns “between five and ten million” naira a month and employs more than 50 people.

“I am leaving because I have to sustain what I have built,” said the recent father of twins, who is moving to London but will continue traveling back to Nigeria to maintain his operations.

On top of a sickly economy and ramshackle infrastructure, Nigeria’s rampant insecurity and corruption are also cited by some as reasons why they up sticks.

“A lot of people who are rich in Nigeria tend to be (involved) in things that are illegal … and you’re here trying to follow the law, to be a good citizen, so you get frustrated,” said Emmanuel Jimawo, who arrived in Canada last week on a skilled worker visa.

The 32-year-old, who earned around 180,000 naira a month as a business analyst at a utility company in Benin City, said he already had five interviews since moving, boosting his hopes of a brighter future.

A civil servant in Abuja who asked to be identified only by his first name Victor also cited graft as a factor for leaving.

“They (politicians) are keeping what they have for themselves and it affects everything else,” said the 34-year-old, who earns about the same as Ohemu and is applying for a visa for Canada.

Many young people drew up plans to emigrate after a bloody crackdown in 2020 on protests for better governance.

“We had come out to say ‘no more’ and what we got was indiscriminate killings,” Victor said. “That was when some people realized ‘There are no options here, I’m done.'”

For Aroleye, moving to Canada with his wife and child was “like being born into a new world,” before adding it was still “very painful” to leave.

“Nigeria is where I was born, it’s who I am. But I had to run.”

For the latest news about happenings in the Nigerian community abroad, read the Afrotimes Newspaper

Comment, follow and like us

Alphonso Davies to donate World Cup earnings to charity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies says he will donate his World Cup earnings to charity.

“Canada welcomed me and my family and gave us the opportunity for a better life,” Davies said in a social media post Tuesday. ‘It enabled me to live my dreams. It’s a great honour to play for Canada and I want to give back, so I’ve decided that I will donate this years World Cup earnings to charity.”

The 21-year-old Bayern Munich fullback was born in a Ghanaian refugee camp after his parents fled the civil war in Liberia. The family came to Canada when Davies was five, eventually settling in Edmonton.

Just how much Davies’ take of Canada’s proceeds from the World Cup, which kicks off Nov. 21 in Qatar, has yet to be determined.

Canada Soccer and the men’s national team continue compensation negotiations, dissatisfaction over which caused the players to boycott a planned friendly against Panama in June in Vancouver. They reportedly were asking for an after-tax payment equivalent to 40 per cent of the expected eight-figure payout.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, FIFA provided a total of $791 million to the 32 participating teams, up 40 per cent compared to the 2014 tournament.

Of that, $400 million US was paid out as prize money, ranging from $38 million to the winner, $28 million to the runner-up and $24 million to the third-place team to $8 million to each of the teams eliminated at the group stage.

Each qualified team also received $1.5 million to cover preparation costs, meaning all teams were guaranteed at least $9.5 million each for their participation in the 2018 World Cup.

Qatar marks only Canada’s second trip to the men’s World Cup, following the 1986 tournament in Mexico where Canada exited after losses to France, Hungary and the Soviet Union.

Davies has quickly become the face of the Canadian team, currently ranked fourth in CONCACAF at No. 43 in the world rankings. With a record of 8-2-4, the Canadian men turned heads by topping the final round of World Cup qualifying in the region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Davies, who has 12 goals and 15 assists in 32 appearances for Canada, was sidelined earlier this year after developing symptoms of myocarditis, a mild heart condition, following a bout of COVID-19. The illness kept him out of Canada’s final six World Cup qualifying matches.

Davies returned to action in early April and was named CONCACAF men’s player of the year in 2021 that same month.

The young Canadian signed a contract extension with Bayern in April 2020 that will keep him at the German powerhouse for another two years through June 2025.

Young age, illustrious career

Davies has already won the UEFA Champions League (2020), German league title (2019, ’20 and ’21), DFB Cup (2019 and ’20) DFL Supercup (2020, ’21 and ’22), UEFA Supercup (2020) and FIFA Club World Cup (2020) with Bayern.

Davies was signed by Bayern from the Vancouver Whitecaps in the summer of 2018 in a $22-million transfer deal, an MLS record at the time. He started to train with Bayern that November after the end of the Whitecaps season.

Davies shared his story of coming to Canada at the FIFA Congress in Moscow in June 2018 as part of the joint North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup. Canadian soccer officials credit his powerful presentation for helping push the bid over the finish line.

In March 2021, Davies became a global goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

For the latest news about happenings in the Nigerian community abroad, read the Afrotimes Newspaper.

Comment, follow and like us

Nigerian Truck driver pleads guilty to role in human smuggling attempt at Canadian border crossing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A commercial truck driver has pleaded guilty to his role in attempting to smuggle four people into Canada at a Niagara border crossing.

Richard Akinduro appeared in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to a charge of misrepresenting or withholding material facts under the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act.

The Nigerian native, who has permanent resident status and hopes to become a Canadian citizen, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

“You do need to appreciate that border security in all countries of the world is very important, and perhaps never more important than right now,” Judge Deborah Calderwood told the defendant.

“You’re looking to be a Canadian citizen, and that’s great, but as a Canadian citizen you would want to be afforded the security and protection of what the guards do at the border crossings to make sure you and your children and everybody in your community stays safe.”

Court heard the Akinduro crossed the Peace Bridge into Fort Erie on July 7, 2021 and told Canada Border Services Agency officers he was carrying a load of car parts and building materials.

He told agents he was travelling alone.

He was referred to secondary inspection and officers discovered four Nigerian nationals hiding in the cab of the truck.

The individuals told border officials they had been at a U.S. truck stop, asking truckers to bring them to Canada.

Court was told Akinduro did not receive any financial compensation from the group.

“There was no commerciality,” federal prosecutor Darren Anger told the judge.

The Crown added there was no evidence to suggest the incident was planned or premeditated.

“This was a spontaneous act of probably humanitarian goodwill to help these people,” Anger said.

By not declaring to customs officers that he had four other people in the truck, the defendant violated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

For the latest news about happenings in the Nigerian community abroad, read the Afrotimes Newspaper
Comment, follow and like us



www.afrotimesnews.com