WHEN ABROAD, NOW HOME

source:google images.

BY KAY BELLO

‘’Hello, kumusta? (kumusta means ‘’ how are you?’’ in the Philippines).

‘’ Okay Lang.’’ (meaning am okay).

‘’Am Kayode Bello, a Nigerian, I am sure you are a Filipina.’’

‘’ Yes I am, oh! You are a ‘Nigirian’? Hmn!’’

Suddenly, the conversation dims. She may not respond anymore.

Another encounter could be like this:

‘’ Where are you from ?’’

‘’ Am from Nigeria!’’

‘’I heard that some ‘Nigirians’ are doing illegal businesses and taking money from people’s account illegally.’’

‘’ Are you sure they are all Nigerians because some people pretend they are Nigerians, because they are black they may say they are Nigerians’’.

I needed an accommodation badly at a time. I approached a Seminary quite near my school where I presently study at Master’s level, Public Administration. The following came up too:

‘’ There was a Nigerian Priest that brought a Nigerian here, and dumped him. He earlier promised him he would take care of him. Since he dumped him, he never came back,’’ said the woman in charge of the accommodation at the Seminary. To this, I could not respond as I was dumbfounded.

Regarding the fact of going to the Nigerian embassy in the Philippines, it may be discouraging, and that this I learnt other Nigerian embassies too worldwide cultivate similar attitude. However, the Nigerian embassy here had been somehow cooperative and responsive though not without blemishes, but to a large extent, and people could attest to that, they have been living up to expectations compared with previous set of diplomats at the Nigerian Embassy, Manila. I have heard people saying that the Nigerian Embassy in Malaysia is in a sorry state. The Malaysian Embassy came at a time to the Philippines to process new passports, especially the expired ones or ones remaining about six months to expire. Nigerians were crying that they needed their passports due to the fact that the passports haven’t arrived, they needed them for important things at schools, for businesses, travel, etc. Before I left my Filipino abode, about 44 passports had arrived, and that was shortly after Buhari won the presidential election. Maybe kudos to the emergence of the General, and that the Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke, too has started compliance with report of the audit committee on the Nigerian  National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was quite surprising that the Petroleum Minister would refund about 1.48bn, despite her  apparent contempt to the National Assembly to investigate the expenditure of the NNPC. She has been a sacred cow no doubt during the outgoing People’s Democratic Party- led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. To think Nigeria, maybe after a long while, it would be a country that does not condone or abhor corruption, indiscipline, and maybe ‘stealing will now be corruption,’ as it ought to be properly labeled.

Back to the passport issue, there were still remaining passports that haven’t arrived from the Malay region maybe they need special shipment by the Navy – who knows?

Most times, Nigerians abroad prefer to associate with the foreigners, and if they ever gather as an Association abroad,  trust me, it is  either they are  ‘fighting’  at the meeting or discussing  how to organize parties and show off their latest cars, wears or property.

Some Nigerians in the Philippines could be helpful or reliable, and I have received some help from the officials too, but there are lots to be done over time. The attitudes  or dealings of some Nigerians abroad could make the embassies design  ways of dealing with the Nigerians abroad, but notwithstanding Nigerians should always feel at home while abroad, and to me it is symbiotic relationship- the embassy performs its roles accordingly while the Nigerians conduct themselves accordingly. Stories of past ambassadors or consular officers who had mortgaged and ‘sold’ their birthrights and that of others are heart-wrecking. Nigerians are suffering in the Philippines while others enjoy the goodies of the land via sponsorship one way or the other, by governments or private persons.  Don’t be surprised that the repentant Niger-Delta militants are in the Philippines enjoying, living large and making the authorities in the Philippines think all Nigerians are rich. Such affects other Nigerians who rely heavily on some amount from parents or well-wishers. That notion that Nigerians are rich, among other considerations, may have made the Immigration authorities increase the amount of immigration fee or charges, or might have made even school fees higher than necessary. We pay foreign fee as students in the Philippines, but some foreigners are demanding what the fee is being used for. Although one may not conclude that Nigerians only would make the authorities increase the school fees, because there are other nationals in the Philippines such as the Americans, Koreans, Iranians, Turkish, Pakistanis, etc., but the attitude of most of the Niger-Delta Militants is worrisome and the programme itself requires urgent review to determine the success, aims and objectives of its establishment. Nigerians abroad just like me may have escaped poverty level at home, unemployment, ‘UP NEPA’ today and always. They may have gathered all they had, borrowed too and made a risky and hopeful journey. Some may not be able to travel directly to the country of their destination, they may go through the forest, boat over the sea (deaths of those on the Medittarean sea en route Europe are still fresh in our memories). Some may have sold whatever they had. They may have given up on their ‘forsaken’ country. Some travel agents too, just in the name of milkng money out of the unsuspecting Nigerians and risk-takers, give wrong information or better still deceitful information about the Philippines. Don’t get it twisted, the Philippines could be a nice place or vice versa, just as anywhere in the world.

Sex tourists come around in the Philippines, partly due to poverty level, and the fact that Filipinos are attractive, and take care of themselves, such is an attraction itself. In fact, Filipino women (Filipinas) are part of the tourist attraction. My fellow foreigners know better, and the Filipinas are almost everywhere- from Baguio to Manila, from Manila to Bohol, from Bicol to Antipolo, from Antiplolo to Mindanao where the insurgency flourishes like the Nigerian Boko Haram situation and the Syrian-Iraqi ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Levante).

Still on the Niger-Delta programme which gave some repentant ones the opportunity of schooling abroad, the initiative may have stopped the insurgency in the region, but the Niger-Delta  boys around (though there are Niger-Delta girls too, as there are ‘Hausa’ Niger-Delta militants surprisingly, your guess or thought is as mine) spoiling the show  for the ‘poor’,  average or not-too-well-to-do Nigerians here ( though  one might say once  you find your way abroad, you aren’t  poor, just as the locals think too, but it isn’t the case most times. Many peoples’ hopes of better living than where they came from are dashed. In my own case, before venturing into Master’s programme, I volunteered for the Typhoon Yolanda victims in Tacloban, Leyte, Visayas region, Philippines.

The Niger-Delta boys spend anyhow at the clubs and have access to ‘unlimited girls’ around. They have money to pay at their respective schools, they virtually lack nothing, but when they go broke, they become humble or softened like rain-beaten leaves, or like that leaf that responds to external stimulus when touched. I overheard someone saying this is another means of milking money from the Nigerian purse, how Nigerian money may be disappearing through the Niger-Delta initiative. One question is: hope the Niger-Delta repentants are studying or they came to dance ‘Azonto’ or ‘Skelewu’ (one of local forms of dancing? Hope no repentant Niger-Delta militant is reading this? You can contact me if you want to lose that temper. Perhaps if they can extend some help to fellow Nigerians who are suffering one way or the other in the Philippines, they would be quite happy. Some Nigerians’ education has been abruptly terminated when they couldn’t cope with the financial challenges in the Philippines, coupled with the facts that they had to study and not just study but pass as well. They pay for extension of visas at usually exorbitant rates, pay for accommodation at amount even workers may not be able to afford, and usually this is the kind of accommodation available for them, as if the locals had met and had the view that foreigners or Nigerians are rich.

Alas! That is not the case, in fact, the exchange rate between naira and peso (Philippines currency) is worrisome as between the two Third World or developing countries (Nigeria and Philippines). You cannot work in the Philippines as students, though there are categories of foreigners that  are entitled to work, for instance if you marry a Filipina you would be entitled to work based on your stay permit, but this would still come with some clause that may be discouraging to marry Filipinas, one of them might be that of extending your stay regularly just like a tourist would, but a tourist in the Philippines has just two years to keep extending his or her stay in the Philippines, then after such expiration he or she is expected to return to his or her country of nationality. Nigerians may suffer from two ends or face somewhat discrimination: that they are Nigerians and that they are black-skinned. Sorry, that is the norm there, your skin colour or nationality determines a lot: your status, acceptance in the society. These form part of ‘when abroad’, and you may not know beyond that ‘’Telephone Conversation,’’ by Wole Soyinka or ‘’Black Boy’’ by Richard Wright or ‘’Mine Boy,’’ by Peter Abrahams, except you leave your ‘comfort’ country and make a trip here or elsewhere, unlike places like United Kingdom or United States where students are allowed to work, whereas in the Philippines, you pay relatively more with less or no opportunities for work. And when you are done in the Philippines maybe as a student, you are expected to go back to your country of origin. Maybe  the United States of America’s citizens are more welcomed in the Philippines, and have opportunities in some aspects, as Filipinos literally ‘worship ‘ and respect  them (at times unduly), supposedly for one reason:

‘’US Colonialism in the Philippines

Under the treaty of Paris of 1898, the United States acquired the Philippines from Spain for $20million. Senator Jovito R. Salonga noted a number of compelling factors that instigated this decision by the imperial power: [T]he growth of American industrial and commercial strength which increased the pressures for Foreign Trade and Investment; including England, France, Russia, Germany and Japan; the overriding thought that the Philippines would  serve as the American ‘’ gateway to Asiatic markets’’; the presence in key positions of prominent figures who saw in the war with a rare opportunity to establish naval bases in the pacific which would enable the United States to compete with over imperial powers, the widespread belief among Americans in a Senate of mission to accomplish great things in the world as part of America’s ‘’ manifest destiny,’’ and the enthusiasm and pressure that came from the Protestant Churches.’’ ( Jovito R. Salongo, A Background Paper on American Military Bases in the Philippines (1976).

That the United States of America colonized the Philippines for more than three decades is no longer a news. That the US still wields considerable influence on the Philippines is a concern after the latter’s independence from her colonial masters (including Spain for more than 300 years). That the citizens of the stated colonial masters have more opportunities in their former colony is of interest as the Filipinos would love to think American, and act same, as a real Filipino is a decolonized Filipino.

Now home, from mosquitoes at night to flies in the daytime, from the chaos and disorderliness to the state of observing a protest by the students of the University of Ibadan embarked upon on the death of their colleague as such death could have been averted if there had been adequate facilities from rooms to viewing Centres at the halls of residence. The miasma of malodorous smell I left over a year ago still oozes out of the toilets in most halls of residence, darkness still looms, and beckons over the first and the seemingly best University in Nigeria, under Prof. Adewole’s administration of negligence. I learnt the kitchenettes that some fought against its practicality in the face of hunger and tyranny orchestrated by Prof. Adewole and his people months ago now have become show of shame, as it has been reported that the cookers are now malfunctioning. I think our so-called managers and administrators need some floggings for wasting the taxpayers’ money, awarding contracts that are not feasible or long-lasting. The University Medical Centre, christened Jaja Clinic has been known for some lackadaisical attitude on the part of the staff members. In the Philippines, where I study,  to pass through the gate there is a computerized gate-like entrance, mere displaying of your identity card on the screen of the entrance, you would be let in as your photograph and identity are displayed on the screen of the computer with the security officer right in front or beside the gate. Such can be replicated at the University level. Ensure proper identification using such computerization or biometric system. We still rely heavily on the primitive way of doing things, or how can you explain the request for the Jaja Clinic Identity card before treatment or before attending to the patient brought to the Health Centre at a critical state? Ensure the students do biometric and input their data into the computer system, then once anyone shows up for treatment, just on the click of computer buttons, their data would show, not asking, ‘’ where is your Clinic card?’’ To me, it sounds archaic in this 21^st century. You may have the Clinic card, but in the absence of it, it should not stop the treatment of the patients. Cards and computerization card go hand in hand. And the health personnel must be trained in the use of the computers to facilitate delivery of medical care.

Just as I discussed with some fellow Nigerians, it is not that all is bad for Nigeria, or all is well for the Philippines or even the United States of America, but when you speak of basic amenities such as electricity, water, good roads, available and effective internet (wifi), the Philippines and United States of America have got the aforementioned ones, while Nigeria still battles with epileptic electricity, bad roads (with potholes large enough to swallow a ‘Dangote’  trailer). Nigeria can become one of the top twenty economies in the world by the year 2020 (vision 2020), but such feat can be achieved with adequate power supply uninterruptedly, good roads, security and the likes when there is the willingness, dedication, foresight and enabling environment coupled with visionary, selfless leadership. Noteworthy is the fact that there are Nigerians doing great things all over the world, from business to education, from education to inventions from economic sphere to agriculture, and the rest of human endeavours. With these, I love to join fellow Nigerians in projecting a new Nigeria of prosperity for all, God bless Nigeria.

May the soul of the departed rest in perfect peace. 

Kay Bello, a Law Graduate, ex international volunteer, presently pursues Master’s in Public Administration in the Philippines, Asia. +2349095987192 (Nigeria), +639997713101 (Philippines)