What would you say about earning N2.47 million per month?
It’s not in the dreamland where you are suddenly made the managing director of the NNPC (without any engineering training). Many would sell their mothers to access such opportunities.
Even more appealing is the fact that the offer is for a first job in a foreign land, safe from armed robbers and kidnappers – twin evils that every Nigerian, especially the rich, dread.
The offer was in the United Kingdom (UK), and it wasn’t the proverbial washing of dead bodies as Nigerians of an era when our country was rich derisevely termed foreign jobs. It wasn’t even in the healthcare sector in which there are allegations of racial abuse from infirm elderly whites.
As far as immigrants go, Omolomo, as friends call him, is a prince. Not just because of the first job offer he got – many others get such too – , but in the circumstances of his arrival in the UK in 2014.
For most African migrants, getting a visa to the UK is a major challenge. Getting a berth upon arrival and guidance towards getting a job are the next.
Omolomo cleared all these hurdles with his eyes practically shut. He had married a British citizen in Nigeria, and the family moved ahead of him to the UK. When it was time for him to join them, he easily picked a spouse visa. As for travel, all he needed was money for ticket. His family was there to give him a berth, and he didn’t have to beat about the bush for a job.
A N2.47 million per month warehouse job was a dream job for Omolomo, like other immigrants. But by the time he finished paying bills, there was nothing left.
“Living abroad is very expensive. You hardly save after all bills. Most times, we run into debts; we only survive by credit cards”, he says.
But family and friends in Edo North, Benin City and Lagos are not aware of the entire situation. They have heard of incomes that are stupendous when converted to naira. But they are largely unaware of the bills that are equally stupendous. They are either unaware or simply don’t care for the fact that the income gets finished on location, and pile up demands for support back home.
“I get serious pressure from friends, immediate and extended families almost on a daily basis”, he says.
Despite all the advantages that the UK offers him, Nigeria still counts for Omolomo.
“I always visit Nigeria yearly. I prefer to call Nigeria my holiday base”, he concluded.
It’s in Nigeria that whatever change he saves would, indeed, amount to something.
