The Nigerian diplomatic and consular efforts need to be more activist in protecting the rights of Nigerians outside our shores. Some of the Teesside University students could use such assistance to secure their respective certificates that were almost earned before they defaulted. The ease with which Nigerians are being subjected to deportation pressures and actual removal should be a basis for negotiations by our diplomats.
The screaming headline of a BBC story on 22 May was to the effect that students from Nigeria at Teesside University have been ordered to leave the UK. Placard carrying students accompanied the story. If one is does not look carefully, only nine students are visible.
But a closer look shows a hand clenched around what could be a placard. In addition, two students – a male and a female – are hiding behind another student, whose placard reads: “INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ALSO HAVE RIGHT[S] RESPECT IT.” It means some of the students are being intimidated and are afraid.
These students were demonstrating against just one of the many universities in the UK that are forcing Nigerian students to return home. However, this developing and worsening situation of throwing students out off their respective courses, and reporting them to the British Home Office for deportation, is not unique to Teesside University. Many UK universities that had benefitted enormously at the height of the “japa” syndrome are now causing the Home Office to deport Nigerian students.