The Story
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, who noted that the number of Nigerians applying for visas to the United Kingdom has increased in recent times, has indentified the reasons for the modern day exodus.

What are the reasons?
Laing made the disclosure on Sunday in Abuja during a feature at the News Agency of Nigeria. She highlighted the reasons for the mass emigration to include family connection, language factor, and education. “You know, there is obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends. Secondly, the English language obviously makes it a lot easier", she said. She noted, however, that the UK government was mindful of the situation and was in talks with the Nigerian government over the potential challenges the Exodus might cause.

What challenges?
While expressing her delight that the UK had become an attractive destination for Nigerians, especially students, adding that the UK was ready to welcome talents, Laing noted the potential impact of this on the Nigerian state, including brain-drain, especially in the health sector. "We have labour shortage in the UK at the moment. But we have to balance that because we do not also want to be responsible for a massive brain-drain from Nigeria because you also need talented people", she said.

On the side, Laing explained the UK government's latest refugee program, which involves sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, an initiative that has received widespread criticism. "Like you see in the news, each day, these boats are coming across the channel with migrants from many different countries, and it is a huge, huge problem", Laing explained. "We absolutely recognise there are many genuine refugees from countries like Syria; in Africa, it is mostly Eritrea, South Sudan – the people who are fleeing horrible persecution. SOURCE