Nigerians in Belarus have expressed concern over the ugly experiences they encounter in the hands of home-based Nigerian agents and their foreign counterparts resident in the Republic of Belarus, in their quest to better life beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Community in Belarus (NCB) is an umbrella body established more than a decade ago that binds all Nigerians living, studying, working and doing business in the Republic of Belarus with sole responsibility of protecting, defending the rights of citizens and preserving and promoting the image of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with proper recognition from the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow.

The community, which expressed its worries in a report issued from the Office of its Chairman/President, Dr. Princely Solum Olisa, during the week, lamented at what some Nigerians do to fellow citizens in connivance with some foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Belarus with their registered companies.

The community, while admitting that Belarus has a formidable environment for education advancement and business opportunities, however said that the essence of Nigerians leaving their country of birth for another is to become a better person after spending few years but reverse is the case in the recent times for most Nigerians whom travel and tour agencies deceive, extort millions of naira and thousands of dollars in the name of coming to the European country for tourism and greener pasture.

They noted that upon arrival, most of them are abandoned at Red zone area in the Port of Entry, Minsk International Airport, with no one to account for their purpose of visiting.

NCB explained that most of them will thereafter be deported back home after their arrival and some became lucky enough but will only be granted two weeks visa by the Immigration authority of the Republic from there the receiving agent in Belarus will dump them in a hotel. Sometimes, the travel agents take them round the city and after two or three weeks they returned back to Nigeria empty while some will strive to escape the country through illegal means.

The report read in part: “The sad tales of ugly experience encountered by Nigerians in the hands of home-based Nigerian agents and their foreign counterparts from different nationalities resident in the Republic of Belarus in their quest to better life beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“A popular adage says that ‘when one allows evil to thrive it becomes a norm and if good people keep quiet then it becomes a disaster’.

“It’s very unfortunate, sad and painful to share this ugly story of what Nigerians do to fellow citizens in connivance with some foreign nationals resident in the Republic of Belarus with their registered companies.

“Meanwhile, the Government and People of Republic of Belarus are very good and hospitable people to a large extent with good academic environment, work opportunities in as much as you have good command of Russian language and other untapped business potentials that our men in the business sector can explore in order to create a huge economic impact and labour markets for our citizens who lives here and further strengthen the relationship between the two countries and continents.

“Foregoing, the essence of one leaving his/her country of birth for another is to become a better person after spending few years. But reverse is the case in the recent times for most Nigerians whom travel and tour agencies deceive, extort millions of naira and thousands of dollars in the name of coming to Belarus for tourism and greener pasture and on getting to this place most of them are abandoned at Red zone area in the Port of Entry so to say Minsk International Airport to their fate with no one to account for their purpose of visiting thereby most of them will be deported back home maybe a day or two days after their arrival and some became lucky enough but will only be granted two weeks visa by the Immigration authority of the Republic.

“In the last four months, we as an Executive Council have encountered series of cases more than 70 Nigerians, for example over 20 Nigerians names/contacts withheld invited by TBS company for tourism were dumped in a hotel also name withheld in the Capital City of Minsk with different stories upon the other during our interaction with them we found out they became victims of lies and deceit from these agents and their collaborators.

“Even some went as far as looking for alternative means to enter Russia through Football Fan ID of Euro 2020 but were denied entrance at Moscow International Airport and they ended up being deported back home.

“Fellow compatriots, our day to day encounter in the course of this leadership propelled us to make this public outcry using various platforms to reach out to our people at home and advise them to be very sure of their intentions and purpose of wanting to come to the Republic of Belarus if for study and live they are highly welcome but for other purposes we cannot guarantee them except the person(s) have enough money to spend in terms of tourism and medicals or you can buy a property of certain amount which qualifies you to get their permanent residency.

“Aside that, one should use his/her tongue to count their teeth and be rest assured that the Community leadership is always available and willing to assist our people to do and get things right devoid of parochial interest and self aggrandizement.”

The NCB, which attributed the ugly trend of tourism fraud to lack of Nigeria Consulate Office in the Republic of Belarus, asked the federal government to create an institution to checkmate and monitor agencies’ activities and attend to other matters of national importance.

The group also appealed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Chairperson of NIDCOM; Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa, and the Senator Adamu Bulkachawa-led Senate Committee on Diaspora Affairs to support and restore the hope of Nigerians in Belarus by considering their public request as a matter of urgent attention adding that it has limited power and no resources to shoulder the burden of Nigerian citizens and to fight for their common good.

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