MIGRATION LEVEL HEIGHTENS AS GERMANY LAUNCHES VISA APPLICATION FOR NIGERIANS

Anthony Ekpo Bassey

THERE are indications that the migration level of Nigerians to other countries of the world may increase this year as Germany launches Visa application portal for Nigerians and citizens of other countries in the world. 

In a report published by a national daily, Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock was quoted as saying that: "Every year, Germany is short of 400,000 skilled workers, 400,000 clever minds and even more agile hands to keep our country running-in the skilled crafts sector, in the care sector, in tech companies. Our national economy is also in a global competition to attract trainees, apprentices and students. At times like these, we cannot afford to downright put the best off coming here to roll up sleeves because of long paper application forms and even longer waiting periods."

The Foreign Minister further said that: "At times like these, as one of the biggest economies and as a modern country of immigration, we need a national visa process that is state-of-the-art-modern digital and secure."

According to a recent publication on Comparative Migration Studies, since the year 2018, there has been an alarming increase in visa applications from Nigeria to Schengen countries such as Germany, Hungary, Finland and Spain. With the recent announcement of simplifying the visa application process, there are fears that a lot of young people who are desirous of exporting their skills and talents for better pay packages, will be exiting the country.