Nigeria's Envoy in Johannesburg Pledges Support for Citizens in Southern Africa
Nigerians living in Southern Africa have been told that their welfare and safety remain a priority for Abuja, as the country's top diplomat in Johannesburg addressed passport difficulties and the threat of xenophobic violence in the region.
Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, the Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, made the commitment in a goodwill message marking Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary, directed at Nigerians in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and elsewhere in the region.
She acknowledged that the Consulate General is aware of the worries raised about passport services and the hardships Nigerians face amid xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks and threats.
"We are not sleeping over this matter. We are continuing to demand that the concerns before us receive the attention they deserve, and efforts are ongoing to push for urgent practical interventions," she said.
According to the envoy, any passport or safety issue touches a Nigerian who has family, business, professional or personal obligations, and therefore warrants serious and sustained attention.
"Fellow citizens, we hear you. The federal government hears you. Your Diplomatic Missions hear you, and there is genuine concern about the difficulties confronting our people," she said.
She encouraged Nigerians in the region to stay hopeful and constructive, stressing that trying circumstances should not shape the destiny of a people.
The Consul General also appealed to Nigerians in South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho to act as worthy representatives of their homeland by obeying the laws of their host countries and behaving responsibly.
"As Nigerians living abroad, we also carry a very important responsibility. Wherever we live, we remain representatives of our great nation. Let us therefore hold our Nigerian identity with dignity, confidence and respect," she added.
Okey-Uche described the 66th Independence Anniversary as an important milestone that should lead citizens to think about the country's past, honour the sacrifices of its founders and renew their faith in the nation's future.
Independence, she said, is more than a date on the calendar, calling it a reminder of Nigerians' shared identity, heritage and duty to coming generations.
Despite the difficulties Nigeria has encountered over the years, the envoy said the country still possesses enormous potential, human capacity, natural resources and resilience.
She also recognised President Bola Tinubu's leadership and the responsibility placed on his administration, noting that the Federal Government is pursuing reforms intended to strengthen the economy, widen opportunities and lay the groundwork for a more resilient nation.
Okey-Uche expressed the hope that the reforms would lead to better living conditions and more opportunities for Nigerians.
"Our hope is not blind. It is founded on the enduring strength of the Nigerian people and our capacity to overcome difficult moments, such as is the case now in some hotspots of South Africa," she said.
She voiced confidence in Nigeria's ability to convert its challenges into opportunities, and urged citizens to embrace hope, unity, responsibility and patriotism.
"Nigeria is rising. Nigeria remains a great country, with an even greater future," she declared.
In a separate Independence Day message, the National Secretary of the Igbo Union South Africa, Ezeanozie Eleberi, appealed for stronger national unity.
Eleberi said national cohesion needed to be reinforced and misconceptions about the political standing of Nigerians of Igbo extraction in South Africa addressed.
He stated that members of the Igbo community remain devoted to Nigeria's unity and development, and to backing efforts aimed at building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
Nation-building, he added, demands collaboration and constructive engagement, and no part of the country can attain national leadership without cooperation across regions and interests.
He also advised Nigerians in the diaspora to obey the law and present a positive image of the country in their host communities.
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