People wait to clear the Customs and Immigration plaza before or after crossing the Peace Bridge on September in Buffalo, New York. Nearly (Photo: AFP)

In the first quarter of 2023, according to data from the Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada recorded 5,755 Permanent Residents (PRs) from Nigeria alone, making a substantial 32.5 percent rise compared to the same period in 2022.

Similar trends are seen in countries like the UK and the US, which continue to receive Nigerians in their hundreds and thousands. However, not many immigrants are having it rosy on arriving at their new location.

To address these travel related difficulties and relieve immigrants from the uncertainty that comes with relocation, a Canadian registered firm, SettleQuick recently launched a project that unites verified immigrants and reliable service providers.

Co-founder and CEO of SettleQuick, Dr. Sunday Olorunsheyi in a statement, said the desire to address travel-related difficulties stemmed from his experience living abroad, as taking the bold step of migrating to a new country usually comes with many uncertainties.

Olorunsheyi, who attributed challenges faced by immigrants to lack of trust by local communities, said that new immigrants, particularly in Canada, have to live in frustration for many years before finding their feet and enjoying a balanced existence. “Migrating for work or study can be really frustrating even when you think you have prepared hard. There are so many challenges ahead, which you might not be aware of until you get to the country. Lack of total trust between the immigrant and members of the local community has been found to be the center of all the challenges that immigrants face when they arrive in a new country.”

An indigenous house owner would naturally be skeptical about letting a stranger stay in their house, but that’s where we come in. SettleQuick is designed to bridge the trust gap between immigrants and the host community by ensuring that immigrants are verified of their criminal history and financial status in order to be accepted by the host.”

Also remarking, co-founder, and COO SettleQuick, Wisdom Ezekiel, noted that the team had partnered with trusted and verified service providers who were expected to make travelling and resettlement seamless for on boarded subscribers and users.