By Ishola Adeleke and Vera Chinonso Aliyu, YeyeNews.com, September 29, 2021
Following the report that the UK is experiencing a chronic shortage of truck drivers, thousands of their counterparts in Nigeria have besieged the country’s embassy in Lagos to enquire about visa application process, a source inside the British Embassy told YeyeNews.com.
The source informed our reporter that the embassy has received over 40,000 visa applications in the last 48 hours. “The applications are coming fast and furious. We are overwhelmed to say the least. Since the prime minister made the announcement, all hell has been let loose. Now we are moving staff from other departments to the visa processing unit to assist in the process.”
One truck driver in Lagos confirmed to our reporter that he made his application two days ago and has already received an interview date. “I decided to take advantage of this opportunity after my truck was confiscated by security agents for my refusal to pay a bribe. I never wanted to leave but now I just can’t take it anymore. I hope it will be worthwhile”.
“I sometimes drive for over 24hrs to deliver cargoes to another end of the country yet I cannot boast of any meaningful life for myself and family. I work long hours but receive peanuts even after the grave risks we take” an Abuja based truck driver told yeyenews.com.
Meanwhile, an official of the ruling APC in Kano told our reporter that the British invitation to Nigerian truck drivers is a testament to the Buhari government’s great strides in human capital development. “They call themselves developed but they cannot even train truck drivers. Where would the UK had gotten them from if Buhari had not trained them? UK should provide us money let’s give them as many truckers as they want. We have more than enough.”
In a related development, YeyeNews.com has gathered that the Niger State Commissioner of Information has accused the truck drivers protesting in parts of the state of crumbling the Niger State while seeking to run to the UK to improve their economy. “You have blocked this important Bida-Lambata road and refused all entreaties to lift the blockade yet most of you have submitted applications to run to the UK to help their economy. We are not going to allow that. If you don’t vacate this road, we will ensure we do everything in our power to prevent you from leaving this country”, the commissioner was quoted as saying.
However, one of the protesting truck drivers told YeyeNews.com that they are not worried about the threat. “People that patronize UK schools and hospitals after destroying the ones in Nigeria can not come here and threaten us. They are not more patriotic than us.”
