By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has tasked foreign Embassies yet to erect special reception halls for visa applicants to do so, so that Nigerian visa applicants do not queue in the rain and hot sun for visas.
Addressing the Diplomatic Corps yesterday in Abuja, Ashiru also said, the Nigerian government was unopposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in their host countries, as long as such deportation was done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework, with dignity and decency.
He disclosed that Federal Government, through the Ministry, has signed MOUs with some countries in that regards, expressing readiness to take similar actions with interested countries.
While enjoining Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law-abiding and avoid abusing the hospitality of their hosts countries, he said that the federal government would not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause in foreign countries.
“I must emphasise that it is a cardinal principle of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”, he stated adding that contrary to established diplomatic practice, some missions were in the habit of breaching the proper channel of communication with the Nigerian government.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained the official channel of communication between government and accredited missions.
According to him, “the support of your countries and governments remain critical to the success of President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda... many of your countries and governments have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives and our call for partnership and engagement in these areas.”
Subscribe to this comment's feed
