by  James Lisandro

But again, why would Nigerians give bribe to go to India, a country that is already overpopulated and seeking to receive support to efficiently fight the sting of poverty? I kept asking people what mission in India was and realised that most of them were going for reasons that are related to business, medical attention, IT training and studies and mere visitation.

If not for the risk of extreme overpopulation, I would have advised the Indian government to start organising a special visa lottery program for Nigerians. Yes, the level of desperation with which some of our brethren chase Indian visas has not made me think otherwise.

Not too long ago, I had cause to visit the office of the Indian High Commission at 8A, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos State. I had applied for a visa to the Asian country through their website and was processing my document submission at their premises. Like several other Nigerians, I had expected the experience to be as fair as what is obtainable in other embassies located on the same street but was really proven wrong by the live corrupt happenings that rock the activities of some Indian officials and the Nigerian applicants clustering at the embassy.

I was not the only applicant that was shocked by the encounters. I actually made a couple of friends whose expectations were also proven to be lopsided. Among these were doctors, patients, technical students, university graduates, business persons and sightseers. We all marvelled at the skills of bribery and corruption that were displayed at our rendezvous.

The encounters proved that corruption is fast becoming a fresh element of the Nigerian culture and it seems that Nigerians have taught the Indian officials at the embassy how the game is played. Or maybe the reverse is the case. Now, some of the staffs of the High Commission who either belong to its security unit (as Nigerian military policemen) or the administrative unit (as Indian-born officials) are playing the kickback game better than the Nigerian applicants themselves.

Military policemen with batched names like Lazarus, Linus, ThankGod and Mamudu (without regard for first name or surname) were deployed to maintain order at the embassy. Of these policemen, applicants can vouch for only Mamudu as a man who conducted his duties with fairness and is worthy of some respect. He will only collect something if you give him and after he has helped you. The rest of them were observed as unstable cohorts who receive monies to keep space for applicants that do not arrive at the embassy on time and charge a few thousands from those who desire to sleep outside its premises overnight.

It was also observed that the Indian embassy does not give appointments to applicants. The reason for this unknown hence, the one may be moved to suspect that it is pursuit of some illegitimate goals. Otherwise, why would they remove this feature from their website intentionally? Has the consular not realised how well the unwarranted act is promoting corruption?

Further probes into the affairs of the Indian officials at their Lagos office pointed to the general possession of the spirit of greed worsened by the rumoured misfortune of relatively low salaries. To some of these officials, their stay in Nigeria is probably an opportunity to garner riches and add weight and believe me, they are making that money.

During one of my encounters, I clearly saw a Nigerian lady walk into one of the transparent applicants’ box and slide in something that looked like a bunch of money wrapped in black nylon under the counter, “My brother said I should give you this.” She quickly added. The Indian official received it and smiled. He answered her straightaway and asked just one question, “Medical Assistant?” Immediately, I understood that corruption had crawled from the outer gates into some offices within the Indian embassy. Before then, the same man that attended to her had been frowning at applicants all day long. But, that lady’s approach made him smile and rendered him receptive. This same man had been bouncing a certain applicant for up to four weeks, asking for diverse unnecessary documents and attempting to annoy him. But after receiving the lady’s kickback, he approved the applications of those who witnessed the event. I guess he had been put in the mood.

Later, that lady went outside to share her testimony with one of her friends, “God you are so wonderful. This has been my best experience ever.” She had applied for a business visa for 6months and was granted double entry for the period. That is the power of taking a “gift” with you for strategic persons at the Indian embassy. It was gathered that the same Indian official had bounced several other applicants without explaining why to them. He definitely esteems the benefits of corruption.

It is questionable that the Lagos consular head, in person of Rani Malick, is unaware of these incidents. Or maybe she is aware and simply pretending to be strict.

But again, why would Nigerians give bribe to go to India, a country that is already overpopulated and seeking to receive support to efficiently fight the sting of poverty? I kept asking people what mission in India was and realised that most of them were going for reasons that are related to business, medical attention, IT training and studies and mere visitation. Of course India has built much repute in medicine and IT but this should not make Nigerians arrive at their embassy by 2:00AM in the name of visa application. Yet, several Nigerians sleep on the bench that is outside their embassy, in an area that is usually quiet, dark and possibly open to criminal attack in the night, when they know that official activities will not commenced until 9AM. It was heard that the applicants even pay the military policemen that are working for the embassy 4,000 Naira to sleep outside overnight? Ironically, many of the people would be blaming the Nigeria government for poor leadership in their homes when they too cannot right the wrong that is prevailing at the embassy. If we say that the government is fooling us, are we not also fooling ourselves? Ultimately, I think Nigerians should know that we cannot truly demand from our leaders in government the same values we ignore at the Indian embassy or anywhere else.

Unfortunately, some of the friends I made did not make it through without subscribing to something that involved unofficial transfer of Naira notes in the one-thousand naira denomination. At one point or the other, each one reached their yielding point and gave way to the culture at the Indian embassy. Perhaps, I am really fortune to have a timetable that can accommodate repeated but fruitless visits to the embassy. But I was also determined to not give a dime to anybody in spite of diverse efforts to discourage and delay me.

Some people would refer to what is going on at that embassy as mere public relations. But, in this age of growing population and need for continuous acquisition of skills, I am wondering if there is no difference between corruption and public relations. In fact, I am uncertain whether the occurrences at the Indian embassy in Lagos should be regarded as mere public relations or if they are further evidences that Nigeria has embraced corruption as one of its cultural elements. Perhaps, someone could help me by providing realistic answers to these questions. When I have answers to these questions, I would know the best way to also relate with some of the uniformed policemen that are doing business on the streets of Lagos city.

 

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James Lisandro Jnr is a no-nonsense transformational essayist who hopes to see the betterment of Nigeria on a day that is not too far from today. The faceless man presently lives in Nigeria.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.