I had a conversation with pansophist, Tenzagent and Gerrard a few days ago about the ease of traveling within the West/developed world and the poor state of the Nigerian passport. As an Immigration lawyer, I help clients to process their documents and give them immigration advice. What got to me is that as a Nigerian, you need to have a certain amount of money just to get a visa... Take the British High Commission for example. You need to show proof of a decent bank account for the pass 6 months in order for them to process your visa. In most embassies, you need to show proof that you have good "ties" to your country. Just think about it. You need to prove that you are very comfortable in order to obtain a visa.

Meanwhile, Freddy based in Ipswich, England, with no money in his account, can travel to Spain or Morocco with only his passport and the total price for a return ticket is 100 pounds . Even better, Pierre the security guard in Marseille, can decide to travel to Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain with only his ID card and the total cost of the trip, if he books on time, would be nothing more than 300 Euros . Meanwhile, Wale, a chartered accountant based in Lagos, would have to have at least N3million in his bank account in order to get a visa and a decent flight ticket to that same Spain . Just think about it. Nigerians are taking for mugs by both our fellow Nigerians and the international community.

As yourself why a British Airways flight ticket from London to Lagos costs about $2000 for a six hour flight while a flight ticket from London to New York is about $600 if you book in advance. A flight ticket from Lagos to London is the same amount as a flight ticket from London to Johannesburg. This is despite the fact that a flight from London to Jo'berg is 10 hours.

So when I see Nigerians brag that all you need is money to enjoy Nigeria. If you need to be rich just to enjoy the basics of life then you live in a third world country. If you need to be very comfortable in order to travel for holiday, then it says a lot about your country.

I dont understand why flight tickets are expensive in Nigeria. A one way flight ticket from Santiago to New york is around 350000 CLP which comes to around 353 USD. You can get tickets within chile itself for equivalent of 10 to 30 USD.

The funny thing is that someone who works the worst minimum wage job in chile can afford to go to the US and he wont need a visa before a Nigerian bank manager who is earning millions of naira every month

Flying virgin or BA from London to Lagos is from £700

One of the reasons for the high cost of flight ticket is high tax.
The exchange rate is part of it too.

Not only do Nigerian need visa to all places, Nigerian passport also needs transit visa.

If Burundi, the poorest nation on earth don't need a transit visa through UK/Schengen, then why Nigerians? This situation is just bad, as in, very bad.

For example nigerian passport don't need a visa to visit Barbados, but it's impossible to visit it since you must transit through the UK, and you must apply for a transit visa first.

lastkingsman:
The zoo is on the path of destruction and nothing can stop it from implosion.

If you haven't secured your Somali visa , please do so ASAP because Somalia (current GDP per Capita = $500) will soon be a paradise compared to Nigeria (current 700$ per Capita, using current CBN exchange rate)

I wonder why Nigerians ain't trooping to places like ivory Coast. Ivory coast is just like Nigeria of the 70's where things actually work.

And with your money, you can give yourself a very comfortable life. It's peaceful, secure, stable electricity, and a currency that doesn't loose value, since it's pegged to the Euro.

Gforce5, I once flew from Warsaw to Tenerife with Ryanair, for less than 50euros. It was a six hours flight. Same flight time it takes from London to Lagos.

Meanwhile, it will be at least 500 pounds for such a trip between Lagos and London. Imagine that

If you combine the economies of all the 23 countries Nigerians don't need a visa to, tiny Belgium that Niger state is bigger than at least twice has a larger economy that all of them.

Yes it's that bad

pansophist:
If you combine the economies of all the 23 countries Nigerians don't need a visa to, tiny Belgium that Niger state is bigger than at least twice has a larger economy that all of them.

Yes it's that bad

U can see that guy laughing

tinz cant improve with such people over here
they do it till they reach the senate like akpabio....laughing carelessly.

i dont believe in any of the parties tho, not even LP.


If they cant allow poor people like me represent them,then 4get it

Anyway, can u help me with 3k?

pansophist:


I wonder why Nigerians ain't trooping to places like ivory Coast. Ivory coast is just like Nigeria of the 70's where things actually work.

And with your money, you can give yourself a very comfortable life. It's peaceful, secure, stable electricity, and a currency that doesn't loose value, since it's pegged to the Euro.

Language barrier, my people (igbo people) get small base for Abidjan sha

The only thing people enjoy about being rich in Nigeria is the exclusivity that comes with it.

You have a range rover and you can't enjoy a ride in your street. If the road isn't bad, it is filled with unnecessary bumps.

It's better to be average in a rich and sabe country than to be rich in Nigeria.

I mean they put such barriers for Nigerian citizens because of the state of the Country and the very high likelihood of Nigerians overstaying their Visas as continues to happen even with the barriers. They know the country is a giant shit hole and its Citizens are desperate to escape for functional 21st Century societies. Even the bankers and M.Ds in Nigeria will give it all up to be Citizens of First world Countries. It makes perfect sense.

Freddy would not overstay his visa and will go back home. The likes of wale were given visa severally in the past and didn’t return hence the scrutiny.

Flight is also cheaper elsewhere because they have air traffic. See flight radar as at now lol. See as Africa empty. Like gerrard usually says poor nations like ours should know their place .

ednut1:
Freddy would not overstay his visa and will go back home. The likes of wale were given visa severally in the past and didn’t return hence the scrutiny.

Flight is also cheaper in elsewhere because they have air traffic. See flight radar as at now lol. See as Africa empty. Like gerrard usually says poor nations like ours should know their place .

Poverty is bad.

Those pictures are a perfect snapshot that Africa is poor. Where is MT who was doing Agbado analysis about how Africans are richer than Europeans?

As I have written here:

Gerrard59:
The strength of the passport helps and for a country to have a strong passport, she must have attained some sort of wealth thereby making her citizens rich/middle class. Yet again, using the Maslow Hierarchy of Need, survival comes first and statistically, most black dominated countries are poor thereby making black people to be the poorest globally of all races. Using that Maslow's rank, you don't expect a poor person to indulge in things like travelling and sightseeing. Na when person don chop belly full, the person go begin dey think of traveling. And for these persons to travel freely without checks here and there, they need a strong passport. But how can the passport be strong when they are poor? Look at the Chinese, when they were poor, they travelled less but now that they are rich, they dominate the tourism market globally that countries dependent on tourism were fearful of the lockdown in China when coronavirus started spreading like wildfire. Same concerns in the higher education industry as most foreign students these days are Chinese (it takes rich people to effortlessly pay tuition fees of >$£30, 000). Another example was when Saudi Arabia revamped her visa rules, she listed China who has tortured more Muslims yet did not include a SINGLE African country including Nigeria which has the highest population of Muslims in Sub-Saharan Africa. In summary, for there to be more black people not necessarily less white people (the advent of Chinese travellers hasn't stopped whites from travelling) travelling, black people have to be rich. When that happens, our passports would be strong, we would achieve the highest point of Maslow's rank and then travel.

Gerrard59:


Again, I have stated this countless times: no one disrespects a rich person, and no country offers visa-free access to a citizen of a poor country. Visa free privileges are hinged on a country's wealth and the citizens' prosperity. The richer a country is and the wealthier her citizens are, the stronger the passport. The strength of the UAE passport has increased simply because she has gotten richer. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/07/united-arab-emirates-ranked-as-having-the-best-passport-in-the-world.html

It is the same way anyone reading this will grant free access of his/her apartment to Dangote instead of me. The belief is that since Dangote is wealthy, he won't constitute a nuisance either as a poor person or a criminal. It does not matter whether I won the Nobel prize, I won't be offered the same privilege as Dangote simply because I don't come from a family as notable as his. Humans are naturally discriminatory.

Visa free privileges are not hinged on racism like some woke people opine, but on wealth. Black people will be respected globally if the vast majority of black-dominated countries become rich. As it is, the wealthiest set of black people are African Americans, but the vast majority of black people are sub-Saharan Africans who happen to be the poorest people globally. Thus, the average black person outside Africa and North America/UK/France is seen as a poor person.
https://www.nairaland.com/5886610/racism-against-blacks-reduce-drastically

This is the problem when a country's immigration laws are lax towards poor countries - all sorts of people get unfettered access. Before 2006/7, Nigeria had visa-free access to Singapore. But after a spate of drug smuggling, the Singaporean gov't cancelled it and imposed strict visa application processes. The result? The kind of Nigerians you would find in Singapore are better behaved, richer, educated and disciplined than those in other parts of South East Asia. The stricter the visa application process of a country is, the more disciplined the Nigerians there are. In the next few years, Nigerians in the UAE will become better behaved citizens than five years ago. Another contrast to Malaysia is Canada. Tighten the borders to get better behaved Nigerians. Loosen it and you would have them create cult gangs.

Everything is economics. As black Africans, we are too poor, and very poor to be arrogant at the same time. That is my annoyance with Nigerian netizens - poor yet proudly arrogant and terribly ignorant. Effects of inhaling generator fumes and sweating at the same time. Bad combo.

With the support for the seizure of private businesses and socialist policies, the poverty will soar. The future get as e.

Gerrard59:
As I have written here:

Everything is economics. As black Africans, we are too poor, and very poor to be arrogant at the same time. That is my annoyance with Nigerian netizens - poor yet proudly arrogant and terribly ignorant. Effects of inhaling generator fumes and sweating at the same time. Bad combo.

With the support for the seizure of private businesses and socialist policies, the poverty will soar. The future get as e.

I do say it that regardless of the means or source of wealth, rich people or well-to-do people are well-behaved and mannered than poor people.

Research even has it that people born with silver spoons are more empathic than people who grew from grass to grace. Once a poor man will tend to act like a goat on large doses of methamphetamine.

The working of the mentality of the rich and poor greatly differs.

You'd expect the poor man to be sound in character, honest, and reputable, however, that's not the case.

The worst form of misbehavior, belligerence, and arrogance is quotidian among poor people. Their sense of grandiosity launches into space.

This doesn't need to be argued. Visiting poor and rich neighborhoods is the answer.

Of course, money is expedient for the maintenance and running of daily affairs. But there are some things that don't require money at all.

You don't need money to talk politely and approach and interact with people in soft tones and coordinated manners. Make your surroundings clean.

The only time poor people tend to behave is when they are in the midst of rich folks or forceful people like them. Their behavior is either to act as a sycophant or ingratiate or pretend to follow.

Their normal behavior is how they interact with their fellow colleagues. What's even mind-blowing is that poor people look down on other poor people. This very sad phenomenon is mostly observed and practiced by women; black women especially.

They ratio you according to your appearance and how much you will gonna spend or throw away. Meanwhile, they have nothing and lack everything from material to immaterial values.

This obnoxiousness is largely witnessed among the black population worldwide. Poor people who should rather shut up and follow the orders of well-refined society will try to bring it down by screaming r@cism, DEI blah blah blah nonsense.
Meanwhile, their murmuring is due to the fact that they can't maintain order, and can't concentrate for long because their mindset has been calibrated to accept chaos.

The stupidest amongst them will always clamor to say "In Nigeria/Africa, you're free to do whatever you like..." because their minds have been configured to accept disorder and depravity as the conventional way of living. And also because they can go scot-free. Yeah. Where there's no law, there's no transgression.

How can someone be poor, dumb, stupid, loud, and arrogant baffles me daily. I don't seem to understand such a state of being.

They are so dumb that they are very proud of their characteristics and can't even fathom if there's any need for change. Definitely, change can't happen because those lost in sentiments will find introspection as migraine-inducing.

Thanks.

I know! Nigerians don't understand that they are being ripped off big time. My last trip to New York from London (2018), my return ticket was about $400. It cost that much because I bought my ticket at the last minute. I didn't even carry my Nigerian passport as I am part of the visa waiver program . I did my ESTA two days before my trip. Meanwhile, Nigerians in Nigeria would go through hell just to get an interview with the U.S. Embassy and there is a high chance that they may be rejected. Once you succeed in acquiring said visa, you are only given 5 years. It was previously 3 years . Yet, you see the so-called "big boys and girls" bragging about acquiring a 5 year visa while their counterparts in Namibia are issued a 10 year visa. S**t, even Indians, Jordanians and Kazaks are issued 10 year U.S. visas. Nigeria is not rated in the international community.

pansophist:
Gforce5, I once flew from Warsaw to Tenerife with Ryanair, for less than 50euros. It was a six hours flight. Same flight time it takes from London to Lagos.

Meanwhile, it will be at least 500 pounds for such a trip between Lagos and London. Imagine that

Yep! I only fly BA if i don't have any other choice. It's a scam. You pay so much just for economy not even premium economy. They need to do something about the tax rate. It shouldn't cost this much for a 6 hour journey.

Jogs1900:
Flying virgin or BA from London to Lagos is from £700

One of the reasons for the high cost of flight ticket is high tax.
The exchange rate is part of it too.

This is my grouse with the average Nigerian. Poor and very arrogant. We make so much noise for no reason. Nigerians looove to overestimate their importance in global affairs/politics.

Gerrard59:
As I have written here:





Everything is economics. As black Africans, we are too poor, and very poor to be arrogant at the same time. That is my annoyance with Nigerian netizens - poor yet proudly arrogant and terribly ignorant. Effects of inhaling generator fumes and sweating at the same time. Bad combo.

With the support for the seizure of private businesses and socialist policies, the poverty will soar. The future get as e.

Kai. Whenever I'm on the plane and I see that, I scratch my head. Africa is really an underdeveloped continent. It pisses me off when I see Nigerians comparing themselves to countries like Brazil, Chile, Turkey or the west. It's just delusions of grandeur. How can Nigerians believe that their country is better than Brazil or Argentina? How?

ednut1:
Freddy would not overstay his visa and will go back home. The likes of wale were given visa severally in the past and didn’t return hence the scrutiny.

Flight is also cheaper in elsewhere because they have air traffic. See flight radar as at now lol. See as Africa empty. Like gerrard usually says poor nations like ours should know their place .

gforce5:
Kai. Whenever I'm on the plane and I see that, I scratch my head. Africa is really an underdeveloped continent. It pisses me off when I see Nigerians comparing themselves to countries like Brazil, Chile, Turkey or the west. It's just delusions of grandeur. How can Nigerians believe that their country is better than Brazil or Argentina? How?

Lol Nigerians even believe that Nigeria is better than Mexico . Things I have seen on nairaland.

Gerrard59:


Poverty is bad.

Those pictures are a perfect snapshot that Africa is poor. Where is MT who was doing Agbado analysis about how Africans are richer than Europeans?

Someone actually did such analysis? That Africans are richer than Europeans?

Gerrard59:
As I have written here:





Everything is economics. As black Africans, we are too poor, and very poor to be arrogant at the same time. That is my annoyance with Nigerian netizens - poor yet proudly arrogant and terribly ignorant. Effects of inhaling generator fumes and sweating at the same time. Bad combo.

With the support for the seizure of private businesses and socialist policies, the poverty will soar. The future get as e.

Naija no dey carry last lol

It's mad bro! We often say that Americans are very ignorant about countries outside the U.S. At least they have an excuse. What's ours? How can you compare Nigeria to Mexico? A country with one of the strongest passports in the world? A country with one of the best transport systems in Latin America?They just assume that Mexico is all about drugs and illegal immigration. Mexicans don't need a visa to Canada for crying out loud. The same Canada that has a very high rejection rate for Nigerian visa applicants . Nigerians are very delusional lol.

tensazangetsu20:


Lol Nigerians even believe that Nigeria is better than Mexico . Things I have seen on nairaland.

Nigerians need a transit visa to travel anywhere. It's messed up. Just look up the visa policies for most countries in the world and you will realize how crap that Nigerian passport is. Most countries require Nigerian passport holders to not only have a visa but also a transit visa.

A few years ago, I was on my way back to Naija from South Korea via Ethihad. My flight arrived very early in the morning (5am) and my connecting flight wasn't until 10pm in the evening. Since I didn't need a transit visa, I just left the airport, lodged at a nearby hotel, and went into town (Abu Dhabi). The other Nigerians from the same flight were stuck in the airport as they didn't have a transit visa . People don't understand how limiting that passport is. They think that everything is about money.

pansophist:
Not only do Nigerian need visa to all places, Nigerian passport also needs transit visa.

If Burundi, the poorest nation on earth don't need a transit visa through UK/Schengen, then why Nigerians? This situation is just bad, as in, very bad.

For example nigerian passport don't need a visa to visit Barbados, but it's impossible to visit it since you must transit through the UK, and you must apply for a transit visa first.

gforce5:
Nigerians need a transit visa to travel anywhere. It's messed up. Just look up the visa policies for most countries in the world and you will realize how crap that Nigerian passport is. Most countries require Nigerian passport holders to not only have a visa but also a transit visa.

A few years ago, I was on my way back to Naija from South Korea via Ethihad. My flight arrived very early in the morning (5am) and my connecting flight wasn't until 10pm in the evening. Since I didn't need a transit visa, I just left the airport, lodged at a nearby hotel, and went into town (Abu Dhabi). The other Nigerians from the same flight were stuck in the airport as they didn't have a transit visa . People don't understand how limiting that passport is. They think that everything is about money.

This thing honestly makes me sad. I'm not affected by it but it pains me really.

If I was born ten years later, I know for sure that the buying power of my family would have reduced so bad, I won't even be able to leave that country.

And many are being born today, without knowing the hardship that awaits them in the future, just due to the accident of birth, which is, to be born a Nigerian.

pansophist:


This thing honestly makes me sad. I'm not affected by it but it pains me really.

If I was born ten years later, I know for sure that the buying power of my family would have reduced so bad, I won't even be able to leave that country.

And many are being born today, without knowing the hardship that awaits them in the future, just due to the accident of birth, which is, to be born a Nigerian.

When I was saying people should avoid procreation if they can't leave Nigeria, I was called a sadist. Now the funny thing is that Nigeria's population is expected to double in the next 30 years. I can't even imagine the unprecedented level of human suffering that will exist then.

https://www.nairaland.com/6079537/cant-escape-africa-please-not

tensazangetsu20:


When I was saying people should avoid procreation if they can't leave Nigeria, I was called a sadist. Now the funny thing is that Nigeria's population is expected to double in the next 30 years. I can't even imagine the unprecedented level of human suffering that will exist then.

https://www.nairaland.com/6079537/cant-escape-africa-please-not

Nigeria's population by 2100 is predicted to overtake China. India recently overtook China as the world most populois country.

China's population is reducing due to joining the league of industrialized nation, while Nigeria's population will keep increasing on an extremely limited resources.

There is a weird correlation between poor countries and high birth rate. The poorer the country, the more children people have, as well as the prevalence of polygamy.

Nigeria is almost passing the time to save itself and prepare for this future.

If there is one thing I'm proud of, it's the fact that I've taken at least 10 of my family members out of Nigeria.

This doesn't include strangers I don't know, for example the Finland thread on nairaland was opened by me far back in 2012, and hundreds have entered Europe through it.

I'm referring to my close relatives. There is no way I'll allow the problem of Nigeria to affect them. I may not be able to change that country, but I can change those closer to me.

Please if you are abroad and know the means to bring your family over please help them. Nigeria's problem right now is beyond the power of an individual. Everyone needs help

gforce5:
Yep! I only fly BA if i don't have any other choice. It's a scam. You pay so much just for economy not even premium economy. They need to do something about the tax rate. It shouldn't cost this much for a 6 hour journey.

I think the high tax rate is from Nigerian government.Ive heard people say that flight ticket is even cheaper in Benin Republic.

Jogs1900:

I think the high tax rate is from Nigerian government.Ive heard people say that flight ticket is even cheaper in Benin Republic.

Yes. You're right. Doing business is very expensive, and the government do everything possible to make life difficult.

I fly often for Cotonou, and as at last year, I bought a direct return flight to Paris for 450euros. You can't get that in Nigeria.

pansophist:


Yes. You're right. Doing business is very expensive, and the government do everything possible to make life difficult.

I fly often for Cotonou, and as at last year, I bought a direct return flight to Paris for 450euros. You can't get that in Nigeria.

I think our government still sees air travel as a luxury.The local flights too are not spared in all these excess taxes.How do you do it from Cotonou and you aren't harrassed by their immigration?I may consider flying from Cotonou.