Hours To Nigerian Election, Expatriates Lament

Report By Paul Ukpabio

"Life is tough for us right now," laments Jahmaine, as he looked straight into my face outside a coffee shop at highbrow Almiralty way in Lekki, Lagos.

Jahmaine is one of many expatriates working in Nigeria and has lived here for years.

"Yes, I work in the oil industry but no cash right now!"

Like others, Jahmaines money has been trapped in Nigerian banks and like many Nigerians who are currently groaning under different conditions, Jahmaine confessed to this reporter, that it's been hell for him these past few days as he has not been able to meet a lot of his financial obligations due to the change of Naira and the associated discomfort in getting new naira notes!

Like Jahmaine, Sanjay an Indian who said he works so hard and deserves a weekly cruise in a yatch on the lagoon on weekends, has been forced to remain indoors these past two weeks! Sanjay confessed, "I have not been near a bank in the last 3 weeks. The online transactions have been a big mess and payments for groceries and other personal needs have been a nightmare!"

Sanjay who breezed into the country just a month earlier from holidaying abroad said he wished he had delayed outside the country, and returned after the elections would must have taken place!

Mrs Carole Adeshona an Indian married to a Yoruba man who is also a school teacher at Victoria Island says, the naira change has disorganised 'family affairs' and in her words, "affected even the most comfortable! Some of us have had to rely on money outside the country, to enable us meet our purchase needs here!"

"Even expatriate community is in stress due to no cash, no fuel ..," laments Mr Sriavastava, an Indian management trainer in Lagos. Sriavastava, who usually maintains a gentleman streak, sounded ruffled in voice! 

Asked what he felt about the chaos witnessed around the banks in the past weeks, he simply replied: 

"In one indian movie, an old man following Gandhi became naked in Pension Dept. and officers paid immediately.... But all those doesn't work in real life, only in movie!" 

Asked what each of these expatriates feel about the naira change, they all voiced 'no comments' but wished the country the very best in the upcoming elections.