The Nation Newspaper

Tag: travellers

  • Five countries with easy work opportunities for travellers

    Five countries with easy work opportunities for travellers

    In today’s global village, the thrill of exploration and cultural immersion has become an integral part of modern living.

    For many, travel is no longer just a pleasure, but a pathway to personal growth, skill-building, and global connection.

    However, the cost of travelling can be a significant hurdle, prompting many to seek out destinations where they can work and fund their adventures.

    The good news is that several countries now offer a range of work opportunities for travellers, from seasonal gigs to professional careers, making it possible to seamlessly combine work and play.

    If you’re eager to embark on a working adventure, here are five countries that welcome foreign workers with open arms and offer a relatively straightforward work visa process:

    1. New Zealand

    It is a stunning country with breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. Its friendly locals and relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal destination for travellers. With its strong economy and high standard of living, New Zealand offers many job opportunities, especially in tourism and agriculture.

    – Average salary: NZD 5,500 per month

    – Employment rate: 78.3% (2024)

    – Cost of living: NZD 3,500 per month

    – Happiness index ranking: 8 (2024)

    – Population: 4.9 million

    – GDP: USD 206 billion

    – Work visa duration: Up to 12 months

    2. Australia

    Australia is a vibrant country that offers a unique blend of urban excitement and outdoor adventure. With its iconic landmarks, stunning beaches, and diverse wildlife, Australia is a popular destination for travellers. But it’s not just the lifestyle that makes Australia attractive its strong economy and high demand for foreign workers make it an ideal place to find employment and fund your travels.

    – Average salary: AUD 6,300 per month

    – Employment rate: 79.2% (2024)

    – Cost of living: AUD 4,200 per month

    – Happiness index ranking: 12 (2024)

    – Population: 25.7 million

    – GDP: USD 1.23 trillion

    – Work visa duration: Up to 24 months

    3. Canada

    Canada is known for its diverse culture, stunning natural beauty, and friendly locals. From the rugged mountains to the vibrant cities, Canada offers a unique experience for travellers. With its strong economy and high demand for foreign workers, Canada is an ideal destination for those looking to combine work and play.

    – Average salary: CAD 5,800 per month

    – Employment rate: 75.6% (2024)

    – Cost of living: CAD 3,800 per month

    – Happiness index ranking: 7 (2024)

    – Population: 38.2 million

    – GDP: USD 1.79 trillion

    – Work visa duration: Up to 24 months

    4. Germany

    Germany is a country with a rich history, vibrant culture, and strong economy, making it an attractive destination for travellers and foreign workers alike. From its iconic landmarks like the Berlin Wall and Neuschwanstein Castle to its world-class museums and festivals, Germany offers a unique experience for those looking to explore European culture. With a high demand for foreign workers in various industries, Germany is an ideal place to find employment and fund your travels.

    – Average salary: EUR 4,500 per month

    – Employment rate: 79.1% (2024)

    – Cost of living: EUR 3,300 per month

    – Happiness index ranking: 17 (2024)

    – Population: 83.2 million

    – GDP: USD 4.24 trillion

    – Work visa duration: Up to 36 months

    5. Singapore

    Singapore is a modern city-state with a thriving economy and high standard of living, making it an attractive destination for foreign workers. From its vibrant neighbourhoods like Chinatown and Little India to its world-class attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore offers a unique blend of Asian and Western cultures. With a high demand for foreign workers in various industries, Singapore is an ideal place to combine work and play.

    – Average salary: SGD 6,500 per month

    – Employment rate: 94.5% (2024)

    – Cost of living: SGD 4,500 per month

    – Happiness index ranking: 26 (2024)

    – Population: 5.69 million

    – GDP: USD 527 billion

    – Work visa duration: Up to 24 months

  • Valentine: BA extends romance to travellers

    As part of this year’s valentine celebration, British Airways has announced attractive return fares to London with offers as low as $169 in Economy Class and $2009 in Business Class.

    The airline says the Valentine incentive is for customers travelling the Lagos – London route or the Abuja – London route.

    According to Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Manager for West Africa, this is meant to spur customers to create new moment and spend time with their loved ones: “In the spirit of the valentine season, British Airways wants to show appreciation to its customers hence these promotional fares. We want them to create new moment as they travel this season and spend time with their loved ones,” he said.

    He explained that the offer, which ends on February 28, 2019 are available for outbound travel between now and March 24, 2019, with a minimum stay of three days and maximum stay of 12 months.

    The international flag carrier in the United Kingdom, recently celebrated a hundred years of operation with style.

  • Army denies abduction of travellers on Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Biu road

    The Nigeria Atmy has denied reports that an unspecified numbers of travellers were abducted along the Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Biu road yesterday. Spokesman of Sector 2, Operation Lafiya Dole, Damaturu, Lt. Njoka Irabor, in a statement made available to journalists in Damaturu today, said the reports by some online media platforms (not The Nation Newspaper) only exist in the imagination of the reporter, just as he maintained that the news is fake and misleading.

    The statement encourages journalist to always cross-check facts with relevant security agencies before going public. The statement reads; “The attention of Headquarters Sector 2, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, was drawn to fake news on Vanguard newspaper website and other social media platforms alleging that suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted unspecified passengers plying Biu-Damaturu road yesterday. This is not true as there is no such incidence in the north east, let alone in the mentioned road.

    “What the medium misconstrued was that, as part of our routine measures to curb the criminal  activities of Boko Haram terrorists  and ensure safety and security of all residents and commuters, troops carry out routine patrols, checks and ambushes. This often necessitated the temporary closure of the roads. What happened in morning of 1st February 2019 was that there was reported suspected movement of Boko Haram  terrorists and the troops swung into action.

    “In order to avoid likely collateral damages, the troops temporarily halted vehicles movement. However, the road was immediately reopened after the routine military operation. Members of the public and the good people of Yobe state, particularly motorist and travelers plying that route, are to discountenance the report and go about their lawful daily activities, as our troops are working round the clock to ensure the protection of lives and property of members of the public, especially on our roads.”

  • Harmattan: NiMet warns air travellers, road users

    Harmattan: NiMet warns air travellers, road users

    NIGERIA Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has advised air travellers, road users and the public to be cautious and avoid the negative effect of adverse weather condition.

    NiMet’s Weather Alert yesterday in Abuja, said the prevailing hazy weather would lead to flight delays and cancellations.

    The agency urged travellers to always show understanding with airlines.

    It advised road users to avoid over speeding, especially in the mornings when horizontal visibility is most impaired.

    “The expected reduction in visibility due to harmattan dust haze will cause cancellation and delay of flights; this is for the safety of air travellers.

    “Thick dust (visibility less than 1000m) is observed over Kano, Potiskum, Gombe, Nguru, Bida, Enugu, Asaba, Uyo, Jos, Minna, Ibadan, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

    “Most parts of the northern cities such as Katsina, Maiduguri, Kano, Gusau, Damaturu, Nguru, Bauchi and Zaria are expected to experience a slight improvement in the horizontal visibilities to 1000m-3000m in the next 24 hours.

    “However the visibility over the north western parts especially Sokoto and Yelwa are expected to remain poor; less than 1000m,” NiMet predicted.

    The agency added that a reduction in visibility is expected over parts of the central cities, such as Abuja, Bida, Lafia, Jos, Makurdi, Lokoja.

    It said that the reduction in visibility would be in thick dust haze condition with visibilities around 1000m or less in the next 12 hours or less.

    NiMet further said that the southern cities, including Owerri, Enugu, Asaba, Ibadan, Lagos, Akure, Owerri and Port Harcourt, would remain under the influence of thick dust haze in the next 24 hours.

  • Two killed as insurgents ambush travellers

    Two persons have been confirmed dead, while three sustained injuries yesterday as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members opened fire on travellers on Damaturu Biu highway, security and military sources have said.

    A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists had buried IEDs along the highway.

    Our correspondent learnt the travellers took off from Damaturu on their way to Biu located 21 kilometres east of Damaturu when they encountered the insurgents midway into the journey.

    The three injured were taken to Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital by security forces.

    A hospital source at the Accident and Emergency ward of Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital confirmed that three people have been treated and referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe.

  • Travellers stranded on damaged Benin-Warri highway

    Travellers stranded on damaged Benin-Warri highway

    Thousands of travellers using the Benin-Warri expressway to the East were at the weekend stranded on the damaged portions.

    Many of them spent the night on the road.

    A gridlock resulting from the failed parts made driving a nightmare.

    Our reporter, who visited the collapsed sections near Adagbarassa Junction and Oviri, yesterday, met several stranded travellers.

    “We have been here for over six hours and we cannot proceed further because as you can see, the road is blocked,” a truck driver from Kebbi State, Dirisu said.

    The strategic Benin-Warri axis of the East-West highway is the preferred route for those travelling from Lagos and other western states to Port Harcourt (Rivers), Calabar (Cross River), Uyo (Akwa Ibom) and other major cities and towns in the Southsouth and Southeast.

    From a few potholes sometime ago, the bad spots have turned into gullies.

    In a special report in its Niger Delta Report section, The Nation raised the alarm on the deplorable state of the road.

    The report warned that unless the road was repaired, it would cause a nightmare to motorists during the rainy season.

    But barely a few weeks into the rainy season, the road has turned a major headache for travellers and transporters. They have been spending hours on the damaged portions, about four kilometres long.

    “The worst part of this problem is that this part of the road has no alternative. The only way around it is to go through Effurun/Eku/Amukpe. That, apart from taking longer hours, is also in a deplorable state and risky because of armed robbers,” a driver said.

    The dilapidated road has led to an increase in fares by as much as 100 per cent.

    For instance, a 20-minute journey from Warri to Sapele, which hitherto cost about N250, is now N550.

    Also, the one-hour trip from Benin to Warri, which cost between N500 and N650, rose to N1,200.

    “My brother, that is where we found ourselves. Worse still, there is nothing we can do about it. We are not in the government. We have to meet the costs and save something to cater for the family at home,” said Ejiro, a driver who conveyed our reporter from Effurun Roundabout to Oviri.

    Investigation by our reporter showed that the gridlock was worsened by a lack of officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to control  the traffic.

  • Fayose and fellow travellers

    SIR: When relics of uncivilized, primitive and medieval men who are not fit for the consumption of the modern man are elevated to positions of authority, the people bear the brunt. Today, relics of barbarism have found their way into our nation’s political space. They include but not limited to PDP disabled remnants who fraudulently got into office using wide spread rigging and violence and recently, Supreme Court electoral violators’ beneficiaries. They have sacrificed good governance at the altar of propaganda.

    While other governors are busy squeezing water out of the rocks to ensure they meet up with the burden of expectations of their people, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike are more at home with controversies.

    Fayose whose proclivity for gaffe knows no bounds has taken it as a duty to harangue and discredit every policy of the ruling government.

    The case of Wike is very pathetic! It’s been 10 months since he was sworn in as governor of Rivers State after proven cases of widespread rigging and violence which the Supreme Court recently proved otherwise, he is yet to make any meaningful impact in the state. Wike is yet to differentiate between violence and the acts of governance; ever since his victory at the apex court, Rivers State has known no peace; thuggery, militancy and armed robbery have taken up permanent residence in the garden city.

    Those who have done little or nothing to alleviate the sufferings in their states should not be in the leading position in firing bullets of unjust criticisms to the APC-led federal government.

    If it were in saner climes, the damning report by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the European Union that indicted Ekiti State (the fountain of knowledge) as the state with the highest number of residents, among Nigerian states, who defecate openly, is enough for a responsible and responsive governor to abdicate his seat but not for Fayose. While other states are busy investing massively in infrastructure and placing their states on world tourism map, their Ekiti State counterpart, while neglecting basic amenities in his state, is directly investing in open defecation. He does not give an iota of damn over such embarrassing report.

    Rather, he has found delectation in using Mr. President as his daily subject of contemptuous criticism, taking analgesic for any journey the President embarks upon. That is the only way he can advertise his terrifying ignorance and remain relevant in progressive politics.

    The best time to tell our resurgent opposition governors the harmful truth is now. The recent description of the duo of Fayose and Wike as “apostles of banditry” by APC, Rivers State chapter, has validated this quote by Thomas Man, “A harmful truth is better than a useful lie”.

    Fayose and his fellow travellers should be at home with the harmful truth; it will go a long way in freeing them from executive vacuity while facing the business of governance- major reason why they were elected.

     

    • Joe Onwukeme

    unjoeratedjoe@yahoo.com

  • Yuletide: Travellers decry fare hike, fuel scarcity

    Yuletide: Travellers decry fare hike, fuel scarcity

    Passengers travelling to different parts of the country ahead of the yuletide have decried the hike in the cost of transportation as well as the lingering fuel scarcity nationwide.

    Some of the passengers who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, however, said they were not surprised at the hike.

    At the popular Jabi motor park in Abuja, a passenger, Mr. Danjuma Audu, said that the increase in fare during yuletide was not a new development in the country.

    Audu noted that it was the usual practice of transporters to fare during festive seasons.

    He, however, expressed concern that the lingering fuel scarcity and the current economic situation in the country had added more pains to travelers and Nigerian masses in general.

    “Before now, I used to pay N2, 000 from here to Ankpa in Kogi State; but today I paid N3, 000.

    “The situation is bad; it is unbearable but we cannot stop moving because we have important things to do in our various places,’’ he said.

    Another traveler, Mrs. Josephine Akindele, said she paid N5, 500 to travel to Lagos as against the N4, 500 she had paid on the same route some weeks ago.

    Akindele urged the Federal Government to find a solution to the continuous fuel scarcity plaguing the nation, to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.

    Meanwhile, Malam Adamu Madaki, the Chairman of Zaria Line at Jabi Park, noted a significant drop in the turnout of travelers this year, compared to previous years.

    Madaki said that even though there was fuel scarcity, motorists had restrained themselves from hiking fare arbitrarily, due to the low turnout of passengers and the economic situation in the country.

    According to him, the fare to Zaria, Kano and other parts of the North remain constant N1, 700 to Zaria and N2, 000 to Kano.

    On the other hand, at the Peace Mass Transit Park, Utako, NAN gathered that the fare from Abuja to Enugu had jumped from N4, 500 to N5, 500 while Abuja to Port Harcourt now costs N7, 000 as against N6, 000 previously.

    A passenger, Mr. Dan Eze, told NAN that the hike in fare was expected, considering the usual rush during yuletide and the lingering fuel crisis.

    Eze, however, advised the government to devise a means of addressing the fuel scarcity, to enable motorists to provide effective and efficient service to the travelling public.

    He further urged motorists to ensure the safety of travellers by putting their vehicles in proper shape and sensitise their drivers against reckless driving.

     

  • Christian pilgrims board screens travellers

    The Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board (CPWB) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has started screening pilgrims intending to travel to Israel for the 2015 pilgrimage.

     

    Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Kennedy Okpara explained that the screening exercise is necessary to ascertain if the pilgrims are Christians and understand the reason for the spiritual journey.

    Okpara, who was represented by the Federal Commissioner representing North Central Zone, Mrs. Unekwu Ugboro,  said the pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise and not for sightseeing or tourism.

    “They are to be prepared spiritual and we pray that when they come back they would be changed people and when they are changed they will be able change their families, environment and nation positively,” he said.

    He also added that pilgrimage is for moral and spiritual transformation, “we believe that if people are morally and spiritually transformed they will fare better in their endeavours and impact positively on others and at the end of it all, we will have a better nation.”

    The Director of FCT CPWB, Dabara Vingo said the screening is aimed at ascertaining the health status of the pilgrims and to know the people with the tendency to abscond.

    Vingo also said that the board is fully prepared with the help of security, medical and other personnel to read the intent of the pilgrims, adding that the exercise started with 300 pilgrims, a number that increased to 1,200 due to additions from the NCPC.

    He said pilgrimage is for those that are intending to improve their holy life, “the Holy Land would make them read more about their faith thereby transforming their moral lives.”

     

  • Travellers stranded on Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

    Travellers stranded on Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

    Motorists and travellers plying the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway were stranded for over seven hours yesterday following a prolonged traffic gridlock caused by the National Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG).

    Those heading to the east and other parts of the country for the weekend from Lagos as well as those journeying to Lagos from different locations were pinned to a spot during the lockdown.

    Though operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from Ogun, Oyo and Lagos Commands made frantic efforts to control traffic jam, the nightmare had worsened by noon.

    At the RCCG Camp KM 46 stretch of the expressway, the situation became chaotic as worshippers desperate to beat the gridlock before the end of the convention compounded the stand-still.

    The weeklong convention, which started last Monday, peaked yesterday thousands of worshippers trooped into the camp.

    Others struggled to leave the convention, which ends today.

    An Abeokuta-based transporter, Mr Nurein Mudashiru, told our correspondent that he spent six hours in the jam for a return trip from Lagos – Abeokuta.

    The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Adegoke Adetunji, told The Nation that the convergence of large number of worshippers as well as those wishing to go home caused the traffic jam.