Typical of immigrants in search of greener pastures, there are examples of Ghanaians who travelled down to Nigeria in search of better opportunities but were confronted by harsher reality for which they never planned.
In light of the challenges confronting most African countries including Nigeria, many immigrants have had slices of story to tell about their reality of living in the country, x-raying their struggle for survival despite obvious socio-economic lapses.
In a feature story entitled “The road to Nigeria… corruption and hope” available on the page 6 of the September 27 publication of Business and Financial Times, Professor Kingsley Larbi recounted his encounters in Nigeria, pinpointing the struggle of an ambitious Ghanian who was greeted by unexpected reality.
Larbi, who left Ghana for Nigeria in 1981, lamented the corruption and extortion perpetrated by officials of the Nigeria’s Immigration Service.
“Larbi recalls the harrowing experience of corruption and bribery at the Seme-Badagry border, where immigration officials demanded money from travellers before granting them clearance. This practice had become so institutionalised that regular travellers and drivers were accustomed to it, though it was deeply unsettling to newcomers like Larbi”, the feature reads in part.
The feature also exemplified a case of economic challenges from which immigrants suffered on daily basis.
This, according to it, was worsened by glaring lack of basic social amenities, as “residents of slums in Lagos were forced to use open fields for convenience.”
“Many Ghanians… travelled to Nigeria in search of economic activities only to find out that the path was fraught with difficulties. Corruption, crime and inadequate living conditions were common, making the pursuit for financial stability incredibly challenging”, the feature adds.
The story also showed the lamentable situation of Ghanians in Nigeria the past who were hit by the economic challenges in the country, making financial freedom pretty difficult for them.
“Like many immigrants, Larbi came to Nigeria in search of economic opportunities. He found work at Coastal Services Nigeria Limited on Apapa Road, Lagos, earning a decent salary of about US$800 per month. Yet, even in his moment of financial stability, Nigeria had more challenges in store for him. a pickpocket robbed him of his entire monthly’s salary, an event that left him devastated”, the feature reads.
Generally, the feature underscores the urgent need to rework Nigeria and make it economically viable.
The Ghanaian immigrant’s experience in Nigeria underscores the significant capacity challenges facing virtually all public agencies in the country. These challenges have transformed Nigeria from a nation where West Africans once flocked in search of prosperity into a cautionary tale of decaying institutions, poverty, and failure.
