Since he came into office for the second term as 47th United States President on January 20,2025,he has not let anyone in doubt about his desire to ‘rid’ the United States of America of those he called strangers who came to benefit and share in the glory of its development.
Though his attitude to migrants and illegal migrants is not strange his grandfather being of German origin , President Donald Trump has made the slogan America for Americans only a reality not slogan.
From imposing trade tariffs on nations he considered profiting from US economy,(though he reverted some to third world and African countries), he has pressed forward in accomplishing his goal.
The American foreign service has not only increased visiting Visa fees to between $190- $265….it has cut it short to maximum three months visas for visitors.
This obviously is part of efforts to reduce both migrant and non migrant visitors to God’s own country.
It is also meant to prevent those visitors coming to work not staying beyond three months at any point in time.
Hence, the decision last week by the United States consulate to impose a professional migrant Visa fee to $100, 000 United States dollars(150million naira) has not come as a surprise but should be a constant reminder that at its stage of development now,Trump in his enlightened racist sentiment believes time has come for America, a country developed by migrants both by the freedom advocates from Europe and slaves brought to work in sugarcane plantations during the slave trade era, are no longer needed to retain America’s glory and its world power status.
Though, the practicality of this remains a conjecture since he has only one term to spend as President.
Yes,many multinationals in America who need cheap labour from Nigeria will pay such humongous money to obtain skilled labour from Nigeria,such skilled workers ended up being grossly underpaid compared to their America colleagues and won’t have the opportunity to fight for their right as such rights have been compromised.
While traveling for Golden fleece is commendable, desperation should be out of it as most end up compromising their career,skill and life thereafter.
Japa Syndrome:
This brings us to the issue of both skilled and unskilled migrants to America and other European countries from Africa and especially from Nigeria that has embraced the ‘Japa’ syndrome in the last couple of years.
According to the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents(NANTA) over 17 million Nigerians travelled abroad between 2023 and 2024 for various reasons.
This figure includes visits, education, health and religious purposes. But according to the body a significant number of these departures are made up of Japa -a term used for those who travelled out and never contemplate returning for a long time.
While on the positive side tours to Nigeria can generate $12 million dollars annually for our tourism industry but the reverse is the case as we could only make $4 million since we travel out more than we receive visitors on tourism to the country.
But then aside from an insignificant who travels for health, leisure and religious purposes , a lot of our youths do so never to return.
But are they getting the benefit of borrowing money this uncertain golden fleece?
The disturbing aspect of the trend among our professionals is that many sold their properties to raise funds to Japa with their children while parents who have spent years sending their children to school also in turn sell their properties to send the same to overseas with the hope of making life better.
But has life really been positive or rosy for most of them except a few.
What wisdom is there in a parent to sell his property gotten over the years of labour to enable the same children he has labored albeit at his or her old age to enable his children to Japa-which today remains a sure uncertainty.
Yes,times are hard for young graduates to get a job but then if parents or even young professionals can raise an average of between N10 to N15 million to travel leaving certainty for uncertainty.
Is it reasonable to leave certainty for uncertainty?
Is N10 million not enough to set up small scale business by such parents or middle age professionals who are tired of small income from their jobs.
Bidemi Adewale,(not real name)a young Nigerian travelled on a friend’s invitation to Canada six months ago after collecting together his savings and borrowed from relatives but on getting to the airport,his friend refused to pick his call.
After hours ,he sauntered to a RCCG church in Toronto for shelter…the church had to raise $600 for him to travel to search for another friend as the Parish in question has harbored enough ‘souls’ stranded in the past.
Femi Daniel, a manager in his 40s also sold his house worth over N50million in Lagos and together with wife and three children Japa to UK and got a six months jobs in a big retail department.
But after six months,he couldn’t get his visa renewed.
Many like him abound in refugee camps in several European countries .
Today, he is in asylum in a refugee camp in Ireland with the children who initially have a home in Nigeria.
Many like the couple who claimed to take such risks for the children ended up putting their life and that of the children in jeopardy.
What life is in there living as a refuge in a foreign country.
While policies being implemented by Trump and some European countries may be termed racist they also have a duty to protect their citizens who of late now embrace jobs considered not good for them but foreigners.
It is a wakeup call on Nigeria and many African countries to stop capital flight with the stolen money kept in foreign countries and use same to establish small or medium scale industries to provide employment for the teeming youths.
A country like Nigeria with a 220 million population made up of 65% youths now has enough mineral resources to tap and provide jobs which is the ultimate reason for desperate youths to embrace Japa.
There has to be conscious efforts by governments at all levels to address gaps in our education to create employment opportunities now that technology has opened a window for discovery of talents.
Strict immigration policies by foreign countries should be used as an avenue to redirect our development focus and tap abundant natural resources which foreign countries came here to exploit and create jobs in their home countries.
Every importation of finished goods and equipment is creating jobs for foreign countries.
In spite of any shortcomings, the birth of Dangote Group and others like him tapping our solid minerals to save importation of Cement and finished Petroleum products is a deliberate incentive to improving our GDP and reducing our imports and ultimately improve our foreign reserves.