Voters in Scotland turned out enmasse today to vote on whether or not Scotland should become an Independent Nation. Scotland has 4,285,323 registered voters including 16 and 17-year-old electorate, voters would answer “ yes or no” to the referendum question that “Should Scotland be an Independent Country?
Vanguard reports that some Nigerians who reside in Scotland said they voted “Yes” in the referendum because they were better off in an independent Scottish nation.
Mrs Macrine Haruna, a journalist, said “I voted yes because of the future of my children.With independence, citizenship for immigrants will be based on residency and birth and this will make it easier for children born here.Also, the Scottish policies on health and education makes it easy for people to access the National Health Scheme, and to acquire free education up to university level.”
Another Nigerian, Mrs Ama Shallangwa, a veterinary doctor, said she voted in favour of Scottish independence “because Scotland has an aging population so they are embracing immigrants. Alex Salmon, Scotland’s first minister and chief campaigner for independence, loves immigrants, and I know policies will be implemented in our favour,” Shallangwa said.
However, Mr Amos Yakubu, an economist was not so enthusiastic, he said “a lot of people here do not understand the implication of the independence. With this autonomy, it means Scotland will cease to use the British Pound Sterling, which remains the highest currency in the world. The newly independent Scotland will not be immediately absorbed by the EU, and it means Nigerians with UK visa will need a Scottish visa to visit Scotland.
More than 10,000 Nigerians reside in Scotland, with majority of them working as professionals in various sectors, while others are students in various institutions.
