Lack of papers no reason to mistreat Nigerians abroad, says Maduekwe

FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, yesterday, called for an immediate halt to the criminalization of Nigerians living in foreign countries.


According to him, even those who have not secured the permit to live and work in such countries should be accorded official recognition since such Nigerians contribute to the growth of their economies.

He also explained what the rest of the world expects from Nigeria in the current world order, stressing that Nigeria is expected to play the role of "political locomotive" on the African continent as well as act as a "hammer" and not just the "anvil."

Maduekwe, who delivered the 2009 Millennium Good Governance Public Lecture titled, 'Our Challenge, Our capacity, Nigeria and the New World Order' at the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, said he was sick and tired of the continued criminalization of Nigerians in foreign countries including those who are hard working and doing genuine businesses in their host countries.

"Even as a lawyer, I am opposed to people breaking the law. But please don't criminalize Nigerians even if they left Nigeria without adequate papers. They are working hard in your economy and adding value it, regularize their papers," said the Foreign Affairs Minister.

According to him, the over 17 million Nigerians in Diaspora have contributed their quota to the growth of their resident countries and so should not be treated as criminals.

"If a Nigerian is working hard in London, Sweden, United States or any other country but doesn't have papers, give him his papers. After all, that is a typical case of using diplomacy. Most Nigerians are honest and hard-working people. I am sick and tired of this criminalization of my countrymen because this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world," he said.

The minister recalled that when the colonialists came to Nigeria and African countries some 300 or 400 years ago "they did not come with papers (resident permit) and their coming here became our first encounter with the other form of globalization, so you can't eat your cake and have it, and then our hard work created your economy over there."

On global expectations from Nigeria, Maduekwe said apart from the fulfillment of the promise it holds as a strong prosperous nation with clear consolidation in market democracy, human rights, rule of law and as a source of stability in the region, "we are expected to build on a well-established record of a military/strategic reach that has defined us as responsible, responsive global players in peacekeeping, whether in Congo 50 years ago, or much later in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and right now in Darfur."

Maduekwe, who endowed a chair in Public Diplomacy and Globalization at UNN, said the move was part of his contributions to the growth of his alma mater, adding that the endowment for which $100,000 had been provided by his friends and N7 million by Zenith Bank, would serve as a research centre for issues relating to globalization.

do we have a better option? (just at the title)

How in the World did he get the 17 million figure, since nobody knows the actual number of Nigerians in Nigeria.

naijaking1:

How in the World did he get the 17 million figure, since nobody knows the actual number of Nigerians in Nigeria.

Lol. . . You have a point there

that figure sounds correct. It may even be higher.

If a Nigerian is working hard in London, Sweden, United States or any other country but doesn't have papers, give him his papers. After all, that is a typical case of using diplomacy. Most Nigerians are honest and hard-working people. I am sick and tired of this criminalization of my countrymen because this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world," he said.

give him his papers?

this guy should be sending lawyers around the world giving legal advise to nigerians in unknown countries rotting away in jails and deportation camps

Our Statistics sometimes give me heart ache, 17million only Give him his papers, is he actually ignorant of how things work outside Nigeria, Rules dont just bend like that abegi

If a Nigerian is working hard in London, Sweden, United States or any other country but doesn't have papers, give him his papers. After all, that is a typical case of using diplomacy. Most Nigerians are honest and hard-working people. I am sick and tired of this criminalization of my countrymen because this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world," he said.

sounds like an SNL sketch. hilarious

How does this info affect the price of garri in the market??

GoldCircle:

How does this info affect the price of garri in the market??

tell them o!

i really marvel at the thinkin processes of our politicians. even if wat maduekwe said is true, wat effort/processes is he puttin in place to help the situation of things!

GoldCircle:

How does this info affect the price of garri in the market??

the PRICE OF GARRI in the market affects this info
many fled from naija because they couldnt afford to "smoke" garri again. i remember before OBJ came to power, people who drank garri were considered poor. Now, students cant even afford to drink garri again as we did in the early 90's in High school.

naijaking1:

How in the World did he get the 17 million figure, since nobody knows the actual number of Nigerians in Nigeria.

You think foreign governments are like ours? no way.
they have complete records of their citizens and visitors. they know everything about you and where you live. Nigerians living illegally in China are over 10,000. imagine that!!!!

what makes one a nigerian? that u r born in nigeria, or grew up in nigeria or your ancestors (till to the 10 generation were born in nigeria), that u have once stayed in nigeria for more than 2 years, that ur parents stayed in nigeria for more than 10 years before, that u marry a lady who is nigerian etc

And so? Did he mention any means by which to soften the grounds for the existing 129 million others in Nigeria let alone the 17 million ,does his department have a measure put in place to discourage mass migration and brain drain.
These govt officials will impress more if they shut their feeding contraption.