
The Nigeria Immigration Service obviously got more than it bargained for on Saturday as it held examinations to screen =candidates into the service nationwide.
Street Journal’s correspondents reported that not less than 110,000 people thronged the National Stadium Surulere for the exams. At the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the crowd was more than 40,000 strong while the situation was similar in Benin and other locations across the country.
Reports from Lagos revealed that the heavy human traffic resulted in vehicular traffic jams around the stadium axis.
There was also a stampede at a point.
At the National Stadium, Abuja, an observer noted that not even Super Eagles games attracts more people. Hawkers made brisk business as a sachet of pure water went for as much as N 50 as against the normal N 10 in other parts of the Federal Capital Territory. A number of people collapsed in the Stadium and had to be rushed out for medical examination.
The situation was similar at the Akure test centre as an unprecedented crowd showed up for the test.
Findings however revealed that though a large percentage of the applicants might be unemployed, many applied to change jobs as Nigerians now find civil service jobs more appealing.