Opinion

Japa Vs Visa Scam

Published

3 years ago

September 1, 2023

The recent Sky news investigative report on how some Nigerians who travelled to the United Kingdom with a promise of skilled jobs have become destitute having been deceived by their agents, once again brings to the fore the prevalence of visa scam in Nigeria and the damage they cause, not only to their victims but the nation as a whole. In the report, a particular Nigerian woman narrated how she paid £10,000 to an “agent” for a skilled worker visa on the promise of work in Britain, only to find out upon her arrival in the country about three months ago that the care job promised her did not exist. In a bid to survive, she had become destitute, relying on food from food banks and even sleeping rough. “I’ve always provided for myself. I’m a very hard-working, diligent person. So, for me to be here depending on people to eat, coming to the food bank to get food isn’t ok with me. I do not feel happy about it. “It makes me feel like I’m less of a person. I should be in a position of helping not receiving aid because this is not who I was back in my country.” ‘It makes me feel as though I’m a fool”, she regretted.
Another woman was also deceived by an agent. There in the UK, she has no job, no place to lay her head and now sleeps in a bus and depends on handouts from the food bank to survive. A family in the story; a husband, wife and child, was also in the same precarious situation. “It’s not been easy. I had to sell my car; sell my property, got a loan and took a lot of risk to raise money”, lamented the man.These are familiar stories, right? People quit their jobs, sell their property – houses, cars and others, fold their businesses in order to relocate abroad in search of greener pastures. I recently met a woman in her fifties, who travelled to Abuja from Lagos to undergo a six-month course in an organisation, which she claims will equip her for a care job overseas. At the end of the training, the organisation will help her secure a visa and a care job abroad and off she goes, she boasted.
All efforts to make her realise that at her age she should be needing help instead of the other way round and that if she should invest the money she would spend on “school” fees and other expenses she will incur in the course of the training into a business in Nigeria, it will pay her more, fell on deaf ears. From time immemorial, Nigerians have been relocating to other countries, either in search of greener pastures or for other reasons. And it is within anybody’s right to live in whatever part of the world he chooses to. In present day Nigeria, there are various reasons why people should desire to japa. From the harsh economic realities to unending insecurity and high level of criminalities, to lack of basic amenities and poor infrastructure, to unstable politics and corruption, to unemployment, underemployment and many more. As the schools are about reopening, many parents are having sleepless nights because many schools have increased their school fees.
So, it makes a lot of sense for someone to consider migrating to countries where they are assured of free education, free health care system, good roads, uninterrupted power supply, government’s support after having a baby and better living conditions that will enhance one’s longevity. But must it be at such a high risk? How many Nigerians that want to japa take their time to consider the challenges involved with migration, including legal and logistical obstacles, cultural adjustments, potential language barriers, and even exploitation in some cases? Or you just want to travel because others are doing so and you have been fed with the information that life outside Nigeria is so rosy and that you start plucking money as soon as you step into Europe, America and what have you? And out of desperation, you fall prey to some greedy visa scammers?
But seriously, it is high time the government did something about the issue of visa scamming in Nigeria. Not a few Nigerians have ugly tales to tell about their encounter with these scammers in the process of seeking visas to one country or the other. Some people were made to pay for a primetime appointment, premium lounge or flexi appointment for UK visa booking when in essence, the agent booked a standard appointment which costs less and takes a longer time. Some of these fraudsters pose as scholarship agents promising to guarantee a scholarship to study overseas. They urge potential applicants to pay money in return for support and guidance in filling a form and submitting a successful application and in the end the applicants find out that they have been scammed, no visa, no money. In some cases, the visa that will be issued is fake.
There must be a committed effort to address this challenge. This includes: launching of educational campaigns to inform the public about common visa scams, warning signs, and red flags. Providing information on legitimate visa application processes and requirements through official channels. Promoting official Information Sources. Ensuring that official government websites and embassies provide accurate and up-to-date information on visa processes, requirements, and fees. If a list of authorised visa agencies and consultants that individuals can refer to is maintained and made available to the public, it will go a long way in solving the problem. To achieve this, the government should partner with media outlets to raise awareness about visa scams and educate the public about avoiding such scams. The law enforcement agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police must up their game in dealing with these fraudsters. More efforts should be made in the area of establishing easy-to-access channels for reporting suspected visa scams, encouraging victims to come forward and report incidents to aid in investigations and protecting people who would volunteer information about the scammers.
These anti-crime agencies must ensure that cases of visa fraud were thoroughly investigated and prosecuted and that individuals and groups found guilty of perpetrating visa scams were severely punished in accordance with the law. Online and social media monitoring is a must. The authorities should consider imposing stricter regulations and strict enforcement of licensing requirements for visa consultants, agents, and agencies so as to ensure transparency and ethical conduct. It is also imperative that the government should step up actions aimed at dissuading the citizens from leaving the country in droves. Let the leaders across the three tiers of government play down on amassing public funds for themselves and generations yet unborn and rather use these monies to rebuild the various sectors of our economy so that Nigeria will be a better place to live in. Other countries like India once faced a similar issue of brain drain but were able to conquer it by putting the nation and the people first. The Indian government offered an interest free loan to all medical professors in the diaspora to establish medical facilities in India. Incentives and a conducive working environment were also provided by the government. Today, India is a force to reckon with in the field of medicine.
Who says Nigeria cannot do better if corruption, embezzlement of public funds, crude oil theft are dealt with sincerely? Who says Nigeria, despite the global economic crisis, cannot be better if our leaders can reduce the cost of governance, deny themselves some unnecessary luxuries for the sake of a better future for the nation? Who says Nigeria will not be better if the issues of insecurity, poor government policies, poor power supply which are driving investors away from Nigeria are sincerely addressed. It is also important that Nigerians desiring to travel abroad should make extra efforts to verify the authenticity of visa consultants and agencies before engaging their services so as to avoid stories that touch the heart.

By: Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

2 weeks ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor