The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has moved to quell rising worries amid an alleged call for the deportation of Nigerians from Ghana.
The Chairman of the commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of NiDCOM, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, made the call following tensions between citizens of the two West African countries.
She said the issue was already being handled at the diplomatic level by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Business Post reports that the statement followed the backdrop of a trending video on social media showing some Ghanaians demanding the immediate repatriation of Nigerians from their country.
“The attention of NiDCOM has been drawn to a disturbing video on social media showing protest by some Ghanaians, calling on the authority to send Nigerians back to Nigeria.
“I appeal for calm and urge Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or go into violence with anyone, as the issue is being handled at the diplomatic level by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu.
“Anyone using inciteful words, on both sides should desist henceforth, as such statements are capable of escalating the matter,” the NiDCOM head said, urging Nigerians to disregard the videos circulating that Nigerians’ shops and properties were being destroyed by Ghanaians.
According to the NiDCOM boss, there is no evidence to that effect and so Nigerians must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks.
She lauded the Ghanaian and Nigerian High Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa added that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs was already in touch with Ghanaian authorities, and had taken some pro- active measures toward finding an amicable resolution, stressing that the blanket outrage against Nigerians living in Ghana and branding them as criminals should be condemned by all.
This, according to her, is because Nigerians are not criminals but good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, advising that the bad ones among them should be fished out to face necessary sanctions.
“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,” she added.