Election violence fears: Nigerian Politicians, CEOs move families abroad

In a bid to avoid being caught up in violence that may erupt after the February 2015 general elections, politicians, many chief executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy Nigerians have started moving their families out of Nigeria.

Over 800 persons, including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps were reportedly killed in the North during the violence that trailed the 2011 general elections.

Investigations by Saturday PUNCH showed that some apprehensive politicians and top members of the business community started relocating members of their families abroad late last year.

Many, it was learnt, are still moving their families out of the country.

According to findings, medical check-ups, short vacation, among others, are being cited by wealthy Nigerians as reasons for their trips.

Aviation experts told one of our correspondents that passenger traffic in Nigeria is usually low between January and March but that is not the case this year.

The CEO of a travel agency, who identified himself as Damian and did not want further details about himself or his company in print, said many of his clients had made bookings to travel abroad for fear of being caught up in violence.

Damian said, “It is true that there is an increase in the number of transactions we receive; many people are making bookings to leave the country.

“People are afraid; they fear that there may be violence after the election. Those making travel plans are mostly businessmen. I am also running away. I will leave before the election and return after the person who emerges as the president of the country has been sworn in.”

Similarly, a popular travel agency on Lagos Island told one of our correspondents that many managing directors/chairmen of some companies in Nigeria had booked their flight tickets in anticipation of leaving the country before the general elections.

One of the senior workers with the company, who simply identified himself as Thaddeus, said aside politicians who thronged the firm to buy tickets, many companies’ MDs and businessmen had bought tickets from the firm between November 27, 2014 and January 14, 2015.

Thaddeus named the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirate as the most preferred destinations of the MDs.

Reade mores here