Despite the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Nigerians are still applying for visas and travelling to the country in large numbers.
According to a worker at the visa processing centre in Lekki, Lagos, the crisis in South Africa has done little to discourage Nigerians from trooping to the country.
The bemused employee expressed surprise at the trend saying that each individual was responsible for his own life.
“I don’t really like what’s going on here but no matter what you’re trying to tell Nigerians to stay back, yet, they’re still applying,” she said.
“People travelling to South Africa are more than people travelling to Schengen and when you keep telling them [the situation], they ignore,” she added.
“To me, if I should see such things, I will not love to go back,” the employee said.
The South African consulate in Lagos has been closed due to protests resulting from the attacks but the employee says even this hasn’t reduced the crowd at the centre.
The attacks on foreigners in SA began about two weeks ago after indigenes of the country blamed the outsiders for rising crime rates and lack of employment.
Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Uche Ajulu-Okekehas said that eight Nigerians have indicated interest in returning home and that the government is currently working to facilitate their return.
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