A FORMER Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, has said Nigeria’s economy must be strengthened to improve the global rating of the country’s passport.
In an interview with The ICIR on Wednesday, February 15, the erstwhile diplomat stated that Nigeria’s economy has a direct influence on the position of the country’s passport.
Farounbi stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral relations with numerous countries to improve the present status of Nigeria’s passport.
He said, “There was a time Nigerians did not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom (UK). But Nigeria didn’t reciprocate by granting such privilege to citizens of the UK. Eventually the UK government cancelled the privilege.
“We have to rebuild our economy to a considerably high level, in terms of total GDP and per capita income.”
He also pointed at mass migration of Nigerians as another factor affecting the country’s passport.
“A country where almost every citizen wants to ‘Japa’ cannot be given the privilege of entry without a visa.”
Farounbi added: “We must regularly hold joint commissions with other countries where agreement can be reached on such issues as visa-free entry.”
The former diplomat further urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to be good ambassadors and representatives of the country.
“Nigerians must refurbish our national image. Nigerians are projected as drug carriers, fraudsters, ritualists, 4-1-9 fraudsters to the international world and no country would want to grant visa-free entry to such Nigerians.
“Also, no country is ready to admit persons who cannot add value to its country’s economy or increase liabilities. No country wants to admit liabilities. They only want people who will become assets to enter their country,” he added.
The ICIR reported that Nigeria’s passport has been ranked 96th out of 108 countries globally.
According to the report released by the Henley Passport Index, Nigeria’s passport is ranked below those of countries like South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Morocco, Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Chad, Algeria, Burundi and Congo.
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