Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has urged Nigerians considering emigration to reconsider, advising them to stay and work toward the nation’s progress amid what he describes as a growing trend of restrictive immigration policies by Western countries.
In a statement posted on his X account (formerly Twitter), Sani addressed recent Canadian immigration policy changes, which ended the 10-year automatic visa issuance for Nigerians and other nationalities, highlighting an increasingly challenging landscape for Africans seeking opportunities abroad.
Sani pointed out that Canada’s policy shift aligns with broader, restrictive immigration measures being adopted across Western nations. He commented, “Canada has ended its ten-year automatic visa to Nigerians and other nationals. Many countries in the West are tightening their entry gates against Africans who want to immigrate, relocate, study, or work.”
The former lawmaker noted that this shift reflects a global pattern where certain nations face fewer barriers than African nations. “The far right are on the rise. They don’t do that to the Saudis, Qataris, Koreans, Chinese or the Japanese. The message is clear: Your country is where you belong,” he observed.
Referencing the popular “Japa” movement—a Nigerian term for mass migration abroad—Sani underscored the risks associated with abandoning one’s homeland for foreign shores that may not be as welcoming. He advised Nigerians to channel their efforts into building a prosperous and self-sustaining nation rather than relying on opportunities elsewhere.
Concluding his message, Sani emphasized the importance of collective action, saying, “We make it better or we continue to face this systemic rejection and institutionalised humiliation.”
