Nigerians constitute the largest number of African migrant workers in the Northeast of Scotland, a survey by Aberdeen City Council revealed.
The data showed 44.1% of foreign nationals who were allocated a National Insurance number (NINo) in 2009/10 were Nigerians residing in Aberdeenshire.
Overall, Polish and Indians ranked first and second, while Nigerians close in as the third highest registered overseas workers in the Granite City.
Councillor Gordon Graham who is the Chairman of Corporate Policy and Performance Committee on the Council said he was not surprised by Aberdeen’s attraction to migrant workers.
“I believe the jobs market is very stable here and despite the tough economic climate, Aberdeen fares relatively well compared to other places,” he said. A Nigerian migrant worker who wished to remain anonymous said: “Aberdeen is the most hospitable city in the UK to Africans, as far as I am concerned.”
Ninety-seven percent of those surveyed indicated desire to return to their original countries after “making substantial saving.”
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest loser of best brains to especially industrialised countries that provide employment to highly skilled migrant workers.
Although the exact number of Africans in diaspora is not known, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the figure to be 10 million, half of which could be Nigerians, as one in three black Africans is a Nigerian.
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