Many Nigerians who travelled abroad
early in the year thinking that the just concluded general elections
may be trailed by violence have started returning to the country…
Punch Newspaper reports that they
began returning to the country after the April 25 rerun in three states
where the April 11 governorship elections were declared inconclusive by
the Independent National Electoral Commission.
began returning to the country after the April 25 rerun in three states
where the April 11 governorship elections were declared inconclusive by
the Independent National Electoral Commission.
One of them, Mrs. Beatrice Adekayero,
who left Nigeria with her three children for the United States on
January 7, 2015, told one of our correspondents on her return to the
country that the fear of violence actually made her husband to relocate
the family abroad. Asked if she engaged in any job while in the US to
sustain the family, the wife of the Ekiti State-based politician said
her husband had made financial provision that took care of the family’s
needs abroad.
who left Nigeria with her three children for the United States on
January 7, 2015, told one of our correspondents on her return to the
country that the fear of violence actually made her husband to relocate
the family abroad. Asked if she engaged in any job while in the US to
sustain the family, the wife of the Ekiti State-based politician said
her husband had made financial provision that took care of the family’s
needs abroad.
Adekayero, however, admitted that the peaceful conduct of the elections necessitated her return.
Another Nigerian, Mrs. Josephine
Anipupo, whose husband owns an auto shop in Apapa area of Lagos State,
returned to the country early in the week. Anipupo said she was
constantly calling home to find out the situation of things.
Anipupo, whose husband owns an auto shop in Apapa area of Lagos State,
returned to the country early in the week. Anipupo said she was
constantly calling home to find out the situation of things.
According to her, she heaved a sigh of relief after the elections.
She said her husband decided to relocate
the family abroad following a report that listed some states where
violence was likely to occur during the polls.
the family abroad following a report that listed some states where
violence was likely to occur during the polls.
Mr. Uche Okondu is a Lagos-based
businessman who also returned on April 2, 2015, a day after the final
result of the presidential election was announced.
businessman who also returned on April 2, 2015, a day after the final
result of the presidential election was announced.
Okondu said he did not need to wait till after the governorship election since the presidential poll was peaceful.
Some commercial cab operators confirmed
to punch at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport in Lagos the return of Nigerians who travelled abroad in the
build-up to the general elections had boosted their business.
to punch at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport in Lagos the return of Nigerians who travelled abroad in the
build-up to the general elections had boosted their business.
One of the motorists, Peter Ola, said,
“It is boom time for us, no doubt. Before the elections, you needed to
come and see how people were running out of the country. When I asked
some of my few customer that period, they told me they were not willing
to die in any election-related crisis. But thank God there’s no serious
crisis. The way many of them sounded, it was as if they saw a vision or
had premonitions that there would be problems.
“It is boom time for us, no doubt. Before the elections, you needed to
come and see how people were running out of the country. When I asked
some of my few customer that period, they told me they were not willing
to die in any election-related crisis. But thank God there’s no serious
crisis. The way many of them sounded, it was as if they saw a vision or
had premonitions that there would be problems.
“I carried one family also who told me
they were on their way to the United States to stay with a family for
the period. As God would have it, I collected their contacts so they
could call me to carry them from the airport on their arrival back to
Lagos. It was last week they returned. They told me they shouldn’t have
travelled. It is like they regretted it. Many more are coming back and
we will gladly receive them back. It’s my business to do that and make
more money.”
they were on their way to the United States to stay with a family for
the period. As God would have it, I collected their contacts so they
could call me to carry them from the airport on their arrival back to
Lagos. It was last week they returned. They told me they shouldn’t have
travelled. It is like they regretted it. Many more are coming back and
we will gladly receive them back. It’s my business to do that and make
more money.”
Another cab operator, who simply
identified himself as Chuks, said he had made more money before, during
and after the election period than all the money he made in the second
half of last year.
identified himself as Chuks, said he had made more money before, during
and after the election period than all the money he made in the second
half of last year.
He said, “In fact, immediately after the
presidential election, people started returning. You know the March 28
election was the major one people thought would lead to crisis, but for
the peace that reigned, some of those who travelled saw no reason to
have done so. But that’s not my problem. It’s been a profitable period
ever since.
presidential election, people started returning. You know the March 28
election was the major one people thought would lead to crisis, but for
the peace that reigned, some of those who travelled saw no reason to
have done so. But that’s not my problem. It’s been a profitable period
ever since.
“I have made much more money during the
election period alone than during the last half of last year. People
really travelled out of the country this year and in the same manner,
they are flocking back. We are happy. I am happy.”
election period alone than during the last half of last year. People
really travelled out of the country this year and in the same manner,
they are flocking back. We are happy. I am happy.”
Before the elections that some apprehensive politicians, many chief
executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy
Nigerians started moving their families out of Nigeria in a bid to avoid
being caught up in violence that might erupt after the general
elections.
executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy
Nigerians started moving their families out of Nigeria in a bid to avoid
being caught up in violence that might erupt after the general
elections.