NewStats: 3,261,329 , 8,173,695 topics. Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 08:32 PM 6w5b24

A Nigerian man, Sunny (not real name), spent 21 years living aboard buses in London after his asylum application was rejected, BBC reports.

While seeking asylum, Sunny was reportedly full of gratitude “for a second chance at life, hoping for a bright future, safe under the protection of Her Majesty the Queen”.

“Back then he was full of gratitude for his second chance at life,” the report said.

“He took a course in documentary-making, choosing to report on the lives of London’s homeless, never imagining he would soon be in their shoes.

“But his request for asylum was refused.

“That left him with two options: go home to a country under the iron fist of a military ruler, where his death sentence would finally be carried out, or go underground. It wasn’t a difficult choice.”

After his asylum was rejected, Sunny reportedly found himself on the streets where the London buses became a haven for him.

Sunny’s favourite spot on the buses was said to be at the back of the lower deck.

He reportedly travelled light, carrying a small tote bag, to avoid the stigma of homelessness during the day.

Describing the sitting arrangement on the buses, Sunny was quoted as saying the lower deck was the preserve of reasonable people, of families and of the elderly while the back seats were not just for the head rest but for peace of mind.

According to him, two hours of proper sleep across an entire night was “an achievement”.

“For more than two decades after his asylum application was rejected, Sunny found a safe haven aboard the buses that zigzag across London at night,” the report said.

“It was a church minister, a woman of unwavering generosity, who first bought him a monthly to save him multiple nightly fares. She continued to do so, month after month, and other friends would chip in if she wasn’t around.

“By day Sunny would volunteer at churches. When his work was done, he would often head to Westminster Reference Library where he could catch up on the day’s news or pick up where he’d left off in the book he’d been reading.

“He might then ask a restaurant manager if they could spare some food, and says he was rarely turned away.

“But no later than 9pm he would invariably be stepping aboard a bus for the first of three, maybe four, nightly trips across the capital.”

At dawn or when he got hungry, Sunny would head to a McDonald’s.

“He never begged but friendly staff at the Leicester Square branch would give him food and let him shave in the bathrooms. Fellow customers could be kind, too,” the report said.

Fortune smiled on Sunny when the legal team at Notre Dame de church made an application for ”leave to remain” on his behalf provided he could prove that he had continuously lived in the UK for 20 years.

This, according to the report, would have been difficult for him since he had spent his time avoiding all records and evading detection but he was lucky to get from a bus driver and churches where he had served.

It said: “Sunny asked the friendliest bus drivers to write him a letter of . One obliged, confirming he was ‘a regular rider throughout the night’.

“The churches he had volunteered at over the years provided ing statements and dug out old photographs recording his presence at charity events.”

In 2017, at the age of 55, Sunny was reportedly granted leave to remain in the UK.

https://www.thecable.ng/report-how-nigerian-asylum-seeker-spent-21-years-sleeping-on-london-buses

Fretzerr:
Come back home then

As in eh? Talk about 21-yrs wasted, on top wetin??

Congrats to him for living in london buses for 21 freaking years wow, i mean wow.

This is why I hate church people. They will do everything and even spend to keep you in your misery while praising themselves that they are doing good.

Fretzerr:
Come back home then

And do what? To come and face harsher one here now we have Buhari as a president.
Presently, sleeping in Buses in UK is far better than sleeping in a mansion in Banana island, Lagos.
Serene environment, security fully at alert, good paying jobs to sustain, no stray bullets from untrained policemen, but in Banana island, flood fit come your bedroom come carry you enter sea.

Though it tarry, wait for it it will surely come. After 21 years, he has finally gotten a leave to remain

May 2020 bestow upon us those blessings that have eluded us for previous years

55 - 21 = 34...

He may have lived a better life in Nigeria , if only he was not scared of "them say" "them say" or even come back to try other countries..

alfasexy:
This is why I hate church people. They will do everything and even spend to keep you in your misery while praising themselves that they are doing good.

The same church people that still helped him get the leave to remain

21 years outside in Europe is not easy
Without family

21-yrs is a freaking long time to be wasted hoping and waiting for papers. In those 21-yrs he could have developed himself in many more meaningful ways. It's not easy being an illegal immigrant abroad. Smh.

He wasted 21 years of his life. If he had returned home, there is a possibility he would made something significant of his life during that period.

Opportunities abounds everywhere in Nigeria and people are making it big all over the country. Anyway, congratulations to him for finally getting the “leave to remain” in the UK. At least, he can start life all over again at 55. We never can tell what he can achieve before 70.

The most important thing, he got what he wanted at the long run.

many able Nigerian wasting away in Diaspora

"In 2017, at the age of 55, Sunny was reportedly granted leave to remain in the UK"....After 21 years!

His village people followed him

inspiring

God

Lie's that Nigerians make, just to secure asylum is too childish. Imagine that a military head of state will cut off his head, if he goes back to Nigeria, even Nnamdi won't get that punishment.
One mumu said the Emir of Aba will force him, to convert to Muslim, once he steps foot on Nigeria.

One said the Sultan of sokoto, won't allow him to enjoy, his gay rights in Nigeria.
It baffles me these insidious kids sleep at night.

Davash222:

And do what? To come and face harsher one here now we have Buhari as a president.
Presently, sleeping in Buses in UK is far better than sleeping in a mansion in Banana island, Lagos.
Serene environment, security fully at alert, good paying jobs to sustain, no stray bullets from untrained policemen, but in Banana island, flood fit come your bedroom come carry you enter sea.

No doubt

You're mentally slow

This is difficult to understand. Wasting all of 21 years jumping away one's destiny. Am I the only one who thinks the refugee aspect of running from an iron-cast dictatorship was cooked up by guyman? Raise your hand if u thought so too. Nigerians cant cease to amaze me. For God's sake people still make it in Nigeria!!

This is pathetic. I blame our leaders


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Davash222:

And do what? To come and face harsher one here now we have Buhari as a president.
Presently, sleeping in Buses in UK is far better than sleeping in a mansion in Banana island, Lagos.
Serene environment, security fully at alert, good paying jobs to sustain, no stray bullets from untrained policemen, but in Banana island, flood fit come your bedroom come carry you enter sea.

Some of you talk like you're unintelligent (no offence).

Like look at this human saying sleeping in London buses is far better than sleeping in a mansion in Banana island?

What kind of fvckery and senile posit is that?

Na so ur life take go

Not funny

SweetBuns:

No doubt
You're mentally slow

Apt reply!
He's surely 'slow' no doubt!

must you go abroad? nonsense! I prefer my local champion here abeg.

So in all those 21 years, are you telling me there have not been people who once had nothing in Nigeria and all of a sudden have a lot,
Are you telling me there are not people who were a nobody financially 21 years a go in Nigeria and now are well to do fiancially.
Are you telling me there are not people who within the last 21 years have built houses upon houses, cars upon cars and they are not even into politics tbh

May God direct everyone to where his fortune lies