Many Nigerians see leaving Nigeria as a route to escaping poverty and suffering. All across Nigeria, these Nigerians, mostly young people, line up at embassies with documents, bank statements, and letters of invitation. For many, it’s not just a visa application; it’s a desperate attempt to escape a system that feels like it has failed them.
They sell land. Borrow money. Drain life savings. All in the hope that they will get a visa to study, work, or build a better future abroad.
But many walk away rejected. No explanation. No refund.
According to recent data from LAGO-COLLECTIVE, shared through the BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit, Nigeria tops the chart of African countries losing the most money to European Union visa rejections, over €4.3 million annually, roughly ₦7 billion gone into embassy accounts without returns.
And these aren’t just figures on paper. Behind the billions are real people, students, entrepreneurs, tech talents, health professionals, and entire families, hoping for a new beginning. Instead, they are left with debt, disappointment, and dashed dreams.
Non-refundable visa fees may seem like a small price to pay for some, but to the average applicant, it’s everything. It’s the entire profit from a family farm. The fees from three months of Bolt riding or POS hustle. The money meant for a business idea or school fees.
The pain isn’t just the rejection; it’s the hope, expectation, and stress that goes into sourcing and getting such documents ready.
For development professionals and civic advocates, this report is more than just a statistic it’s a wake-up call.
Imagine if we took that €4.3 million and invested it here in Nigeria.
✍🏾We could set up rural tech hubs, support youth-led startups, and provide real alternatives that don’t involve running away.
That kind of money could:
✔️Train thousands of young people in high-demand digital skills
✔️Support small businesses with grants and mentorship
✔️Improve internet and telecom infrastructure in rural communities
✔️Fund innovation centres in every state capital and local government area
It’s important to note: the desire to travel isn’t wrong. Mobility is a human right. Many people travel for education, connection, or global collaboration. But what’s dangerous is forced migration, where people leave not because they want to, but because they feel they must.
✍🏾And that’s where Nigeria must rethink its priorities.
We have to ask ourselves the tough questions: What kind of country are we building that makes its brightest minds want to flee?
This isn’t just about money lost to embassies. It’s about trust lost in Nigeria’s future. It’s about the frustration of trying and trying, only to be told you don’t qualify abroad and at home.
We must build a country worth staying for.
✔️One where dreams aren’t exported, but nurtured.
✔️Where success doesn’t require a visa stamp.
✔️Where the best of us don’t have to leave to thrive.
Until that happens, the queues will keep getting longer, and the losses, deeper.
Ubong Usoro for Nigeria Magazine
