The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has appealed for calm following protests in Ghana where some demonstrators accused Nigerians of being responsible for criminal activities in the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa condemned the “blanket” labelling of Nigerians in Ghana as criminals.
“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” Dabiri-Erewa was quoted as saying in a statement released by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM.
She emphasized the longstanding brotherhood between Nigeria and Ghana, urging both nations to uphold peace and regional unity as enshrined in the ECOWAS framework.
A viral video circulating on social media shows some Ghanaians protesting and urging authorities to expel Nigerians, claiming their conduct violates Ghanaian values.
Reacting to this, Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians in Ghana to “not be provoked” or resort to violence, assuring them that the matter is being addressed diplomatically by the Nigerian government. She cautioned against the spread of unverified videos alleging the destruction of Nigerians’ shops and properties, noting that “there is no evidence to that and we must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks.”
Meanwhile, Senator Aniekan Bassey, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, also condemned the protests in Ghana, describing them as “deeply disturbing and contrary to the spirit of African brotherhood.”
Bassey, who serves in the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, called on both countries to uphold the spirit of regional cooperation, mutual respect, and solidarity.
“We must keep the flame of brotherhood alive. Nigeria and Ghana, as key members of ECOWAS, should be at the forefront of promoting peace, unity, and regional integration as enshrined in the ECOWAS charter,” the senator said.
He expressed support for law-abiding Nigerians living in Ghana and urged them to remain calm, assuring that “appropriate diplomatic channels are being effectively explored.”