The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, has said the Federal Government will defend the interest of Nigerians on consular related issues with foreign countries. He made this known on Monday in Abuja at the 2013 Ministerial Platform.
Reacting to a directive by the United Kingdom to introduce a bond of 3,000 pounds (N750,000) for intending visitors from Nigeria and five other countries, Ashiru said that the UK Government has not officially communicated the development to Nigeria.
“Really, we have received no official communication from the UK Government, he said. “When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they are trying to do but I can assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means it can.”
The minister disclosed that Nigeria missions abroad had been ordered to pay attention to the needs of Nigerians abroad, particularly the plight of Nigerians in various prisons abroad.
According to him, many Nigerians are stranded abroad in prisons and that has negatively affected law-abiding Nigerians in their host countries.
Ashiru said over 9,000 Nigerians are currently serving prisons terms abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK.
“Most of the remaining prisoners are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region and a good number of them are on death row. “We are concluding Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement with all those countries, such as United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Switzerland, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Hong Kong, so that we can bring home these Nigerians to complete their prison terms.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of different groups: the media, civil societies, religious groups, traditional rulers, etc, to join hands in the education of our youths in an enlightenment campaign against trafficking in drugs, in particular, and other social vices in general.
“This assignment should not be left alone to governments at different levels to handle.” Commenting on the reopening of Information Centres abroad, the minister appealed to the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure proper funding for the centres.
His words: “All I will appeal is that when it starts, they must be well funded. “I do not want cases where you send information officers abroad and after nine months or six months the funding will be tied. “You must ensure proper funding and we in the ministry of foreign affairs are in favour of this move because three or four heads are better than one. “We believe that the more experts we have to help with image promotion, the better for us.”
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