Naija seafarers dey beg di Ministry of Foreign Affairs make dem step in on top di new visa wahala wey United States put on top dem. Dem say di restrictions fit scatter dem jobs and how dem dey take survive.
For inside petition wey dem lawyers, P.O. Onucheyo, D.K. Ikoro and S.D. Omede sign, di seafarers warn say di way dem reduce di C1D visa to three months single entry go cause plenty people to lose dem job, and e go spoil dem career.
According to dem, di restriction fit even make Naija lose about $2 million dollars wey dem dey get from foreign exchange every month. Di Seafarers add say di restriction go get serious economic effect for di country.
“Di way wey dem no go fit join ships for US go make plenty of we clients wey need di C1D visa lose dem job, e go scatter dem career and how dem dey survive, and e go leave plenty people wey depend on dem without hope and how to survive.
“If dis seafarers lose dem jobs, di Naija government fit lose about $2 million dollars every month for foreign exchange. If opportunity for work reduce, dis important source of foreign exchange go dey in danger,” na wetin dem talk.
Di C1D visa, wey dem bring out after di September 11 attacks, na non-immigrant visa wey dey allow seafarers and airline crew enter United States to join dem ships or flights.
Before now, dem dey give Naija seafarers longer validity, wey dey make dem fit meet international employment requirements.
Di petitioners point to di case of Zimbabwe, where diplomatic intervention lead to dem give dem back two-year multiple-entry visa for dem seafarers and airline crew.
“Naija seafarers wey dey work on cruise ships with C1D visas get good record of compliance, dem dey come back home after dem complete dem contracts. Dem no dey pose risk.”