Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has held talks with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Ablakwa, in response to recent protests in Ghana targeting Nigerian nationals.
The protests, which went viral on social media, showed demonstrators demanding the expulsion of Nigerians over alleged involvement in criminal activities.
In a statement released via her official social media handle, Ojukwu stated that her visit to Accra was aimed at reinforcing diplomatic relations and addressing growing tensions between citizens of both nations.
“The meeting focused on concerns raised by the protests against Nigerians residing in Ghana.
The Minister assured that Nigerians and their businesses remain safe and are not under threat of mass deportation,” Ojukwu noted.
Her visit to Ghana came a day after she arrived in Accra, where she was received by the Inspector-General of Police at the Kotoka International Airport.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has called for calm.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), through its chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned the generalisation of Nigerians as criminals, labeling it as misleading and unjust.
“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors. The few bad eggs should be identified and sanctioned accordingly,” Dabiri-Erewa said in a statement issued by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
She also urged both Nigerians and Ghanaians to avoid inflammatory statements and prevent any form of reprisal.
On the legislative side, Senator Aniekan Bassey, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, expressed concern over the protests, describing them as “deeply troubling” and contrary to the principles of African unity.
He called for continued diplomatic dialogue and regional cooperation through platforms such as the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerians living abroad while working toward a peaceful resolution to the diplomatic concerns raised.
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