Nigeria Insists on Good Treatment of Deportees

By Oghogho Obayuwana,

ALTHOUGH all nations have the sovereign right to send away unwanted nationals of other countries, such deporting states must, however, abide by known diplomatic conventions which stipulate dignified treatment for those affected.

The Federal Government again reiterated this position yesterday just as it appealed to the international community especially its strategic partners to give greater support to Nigeria’s efforts at combating the scourge of terrorism.

At the second formal meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of international agencies accredited to Nigeria which is coming on the heels of the maiden interactive session in July last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the Federal Government would not brook the maltreatment of Nigerians even when such citizens deserve to be sent home.

He said: “A critical issue I must comment upon concerns the deportation of Nigerians from various parts of the world. Let me state here that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in countries from where they are being deported; especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies. We, however, insist that this deportation should be done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework and with dignity and decency. We have signed MoUs with some countries of the world and are ready to take similar actions with interested countries.”

According to the minister, while urging Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law abiding and not abuse the hospitality of their hosts, the Federal Government will not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause. “I must emphasize that it is a cardinal principle of Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”.

No fewer than 56 Nigerians were deported recently from the United Kingdom. There are also a few isolated cases over which documentation is currently being compiled.

While thanking friendly countries for their support and understanding in meeting the challenge posed by terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, the minister said in tackling this particular challenge “the support of the international community and our strategic partners is vital.

This support in the form of training, capacity building, equipment and exchange of intelligence and joint actions, especially with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours is deeply appreciated. It is our wish and desire to intensify this cooperation in the days to come... government has begun programmes of social and economic empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction which we believe will ensure that the challenges of the recent phenomenon are sooner than later put behind us.”

He expressed delight that many countries have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives. Calling for more partnerships and engagement in these areas, he said “many have sent trade delegations to Nigeria or have received Nigeria’s trade delegations in their respective countries. I urge you to continue in this spirit so as to strengthen relations between our countries, to the mutual benefit of our people. we believe that trade is central to Nigeria’s prosperity. We therefore need to devise creative ways of increasing and diversifying trade and investments between our countries and in all sectors of the Nigerian economy especially the power sector, agricultural and manufacturing value addition so as to assist us in job and wealth creation.”

Ambassador Ashiru, however, expressed regrets that despite his intervention last July, Nigerian visa applicants are still being poorly treated by some diplomatic missions while other missions still bypass the official channel of communication between them and Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions in breach of established diplomatic practice.

He said in this regard among others: “I am happy to say that I have noticed marked improvements in this direction. The rate of rejection of visa applicants seems to have fallen in some missions... but there is still room for improvement. Missions that have not erected special reception halls for visa applicants should please do so in order that Nigerian visa applicants will not have to queue in the rain and hot sun when they apply for visas at embassies. We shall continue to demand at all times, dignified service to Nigerians.”

Before they went into a closed session yesterday, the dean of the diplomatic corps and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Msuya Waldi Mangachi pledged sensible action on the points raised especially with regards to getting Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions to be sensitive to the standard norm in dealing with foreign missions. Approaches, the High Commissioner insisted yesterday, usually originate from the Nigerian side.