The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has appealed for calm in response to a trending video circulating on social media that appears to show Ghanaians protesting and demanding the expulsion of Nigerians from their country.
The footage, which has sparked concern among Nigerians both at home and abroad, reportedly depicts locals accusing some Nigerian residents of misconduct said to be at odds with Ghanaian cultural values.
Reacting to the situation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned what she described as unfair generalizations and stereotyping of Nigerians living in Ghana.
“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions”
She emphasized the historical bond between the two West African nations and called for continued cooperation and unity.
“Ghana and Nigeria are like siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers.
Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians living in Ghana to remain peaceful and avoid any confrontation, assuring them that diplomatic efforts are already underway to manage the issue through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
She advised anyone using inciteful words, on both sides, to desist henceforth as such statements are capable of escalating the matter.
The NIDCOM boss also urged the public to disregard unverified videos claiming attacks on Nigerian-owned businesses in Ghana.
“There is no evidence to that and we must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks”.
She commended the efforts of both the Ghanaian and Nigerian High Commissions in addressing the tension and noted that proactive measures have been initiated by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contain the situation.
The Commission reassured Nigerians that it is closely monitoring developments and that steps are being taken to safeguard the interests and well-being of Nigerian nationals residing in Ghana.
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