Students abroad "blocked" subsequent to the solution of economic problems

A sharp decline in oil revenues - the main source of foreign currency of Nigeria - combined with tight fiscal policy of the new government threatened the welfare of Nigerians studying abroad. Many of them were reportedly blocked and there are fears that students may be among the 29,000 Nigerians reportedly targeted for repatriation of the British government.

UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimates there are some 52,000 Nigerian students abroad, including 17,300 in top UK destination. New York-based Institute of International Education reported nearly 8,000 Nigerians studying in the United States.

The number of Nigerian students abroad can be significantly higher, since their numbers in other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa to look reported.

The Nigerian government, with its strategy of developing well educated youth, encourage students to study abroad and facilitates their easy and legal access to money while abroad, although the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Foreign universities used the recent oil boom to organize annual exhibitions in Lagos, capital Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. Human resources experts were sent to encourage Nigerian students to enroll in foreign universities.

Parents in the upper and middle classes were able to gain recognition for their children to universities in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and South Africa, to name a few.

The crisis and its causes

During the recent oil boom in Nigeria, Bonny Light crude oil the country sold more than US $ 100 per barrel. In the United States, however, has already begun production of its own shale oil and gas, leading to a sharp decline in their gas imports.

The US has also become a major exporter of cheap oil and gas in countries like India and China, thereby robbing Nigeria of some of its most lucrative customers. This has led to a decline in the price of Nigerian crude oil to approximately US $ 50.

In the last general elections, Nigeria is facing rampant raiding the reserves of its own political elite. In an attempt to arrest hemorrhage of foreign reserves through money laundering and financial corruption, the newly elected President Muhammad Bukharin pressed on the use of foreign currency.

Central Bank governor ordered a partial freeze all domiciliary accounts in foreign currencies, thus preventing companies and individuals from depositing foreign currency in their accounts. Credit cards naira denomination issued by commercial banks were also disabled.

Impact of austerity measures

The resulting oil glut impacted negatively on social services in Nigeria. With the most stringent rules on exchange became almost impossible for parents or government agencies to support students abroad.

For the first time in the recent history of Nigeria, several thousand citizens who study in various universities around the world are "blocked". They sent a distress call to the Nigerian government for help.

To make matters more complicated, many host countries no longer allow foreign students to take part-time to finance its training costs and life. This is the result of many host countries facing their own economic challenges, leading to higher levels of unemployment among graduates.

Reactions

Students from the Niger Delta are the beneficiaries of the amnesty program instituted by the federal government. This was done in the interest of a peaceful environment for oil production in the region.

Those students who have not received payment for many months and Pastor Reuben Wilson of the Leadership Initiative for Peace and Cultural Development Bukharin urged to assist them. This has led to an instruction from Amnesty Office to transfer funds to these students.

In addition, the Rivers State Governor Unisom Wake has arranged payment of US $ 3.6 million for the settlement of debts of the students in the final year of the state abroad, allowing them to sit their exams. However, the fate of other students remain unresolved.

President of the Association of the federal government defended a doctorate in Russia revealed that "students from Nigeria for a scholarship in Russia and other countries, namely Morocco, Algeria, Cuba, Serbia, Turkey, China and Romania are all blocked."

He said that their scholarship grants have not been paid for the past six months, the excuse is that "the budget has not yet been signed."

Abide Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the House of representative committee on diasporas issues, said that the UK government is making plans to repatriate about 29,000 Nigerians who do not possess the necessary documents resident.

According to reliable sources, stranded Nigerian students may be among those to be repatriated.