In a recent social media statement, Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani highlighted Canada’s recent decision to end its ten-year automatic visa for Nigerians and other nationals. The outspoken former lawmaker pointed to a larger trend of Western countries imposing stricter immigration controls specifically on African nationals seeking to immigrate, relocate, study, or work abroad.
Sani’s post, shared on his official handle on X (formerly known as Twitter), reads: “Canada has ended its ten-year automatic visa to Nigerians and other nationals. Many countries in the West are tightening their entry gates against Africans who want to immigrate, relocate, study or work. The far right are on the rise.”
“They don’t do that to the Saudis, Qataris, Koreans, Chinese, or the Japanese,” Sani observed, suggesting that the current visa policies reflect systemic inequality. He urged Nigerians and other Africans to recognize this “institutionalized humiliation” and reconsider their future by focusing on improving their home countries.
“The message is clear,” he continued. “Your country is where you belong. We make it better or we continue to face this systemic rejection and institutionalized humiliation.”