Warns Ghana and Togo to stop harassing Nigerians in their countries
The federal government is set to convene series of stakeholder’s meetings with Nigerian communities in the Diaspora, the high commissions and embassies following the action of a 32-year-old Nigerian, Jeffrey Ewohime, who destroyed Nigerian High Commission vehicles in London recently.
The chair and chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in Abuja after she held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
She said he the plan is part of effort to address rising tensions between Nigerians and Nigerian embassies and missions in some countries.
Besides, she said the interactions would identify the challenges faced by the Diaspora Nigerians and find urgent solutions to them.
“So, we will be engaging more with the Diaspora. Subsequently, we are going to have hotlines for Nigerians in Diaspora so that they can contact the commission and we can look into whatever challenges they are facing,” she said.
Thereafter, she warned Ghana and Togo to stop attacking Nigerians in their countries.
She issued the warning following the recent attacks on Nigerians living in those countries.
Dabiri-Erewa called on the foreign countries to protect Nigerians the same way the lives of their nationals are being safeguarded in Nigeria.
“Right now, we are dealing with the issue of attacking Nigerian traders in Ghana. We have the assurances of the President of Ghana through the high commission here and ours in Ghana that Nigerian traders will be protected.
“So, we are also going to be emphasising that the life of one Nigerian means a lot to us anywhere in the world.
“Of course we have the issue of Ghana, the professor whose appointment was terminated by his university because of the tape he released. Well, it turned out that he didn’t actually record, I mean that was a private meeting with Nigerians in Ghana, it was like a private discussion.
“And he also claimed that part of the tape was actually doctored. The matter is being looked into by the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana and I believed those matters will be resolved subsequently.”
She also said the Togolese Ambassador had been contacted on the issues of attacks on Nigerians in the country.
“And the issues happening around neighbouring countries like Togo – in Togo, we have Nigerians attacked.
“We have also seen the Togolese Ambassador and made it clear that the lives of Nigerians must be protected anywhere they are because we take care of others here and we deserve to be taken care of.
“If a Nigerian commits a crime, let him pay the penalty for it as a punishment, but you cannot penalise a nation and its citizens.
“So, we will be working more on that as we appealed to Nigerians to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves,” she added.
