Shabby treatment of Nigerians: FG tackles South Africa

Amb. Marwa ends visa fee theft
From Alifa Daniel, Asst Political Editor, Abuja


ONE week after the emergence of signs that the National Assembly was considering a probe of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, The Guardian has learnt of measures introduced by the Federal Government, through the Ministry, to pay back the South African government in its coin over the way its embassy treats Nigerian citizens.





In what appears a bosom-for-tat measure currently subsisting in Nigeria's embassy in South Africa, citizens of that country hoping to get Nigerian visa are now made to wait outside the embassy for days, and sometimes weeks.
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Also, just as Nigerians are made to dish out about US$1,000 before they depart for South Africa, the federal government has made it mandatory for South Africans to do the same before boarding a plane to Nigeria.[/size]

And the measure is titillating National Assembly members who see the decisive action by the Government as a way of paying back some African countries, who maltreat Nigerians.

"We shed our blood and give our resources to these brothers of ours but they always turn around to land annoying slaps on our faces, but I am happy that the South Africans are waving the olive branch this time around," a lawmaker said.

It was gathered that some South Africans and government agencies fearing a backlash on their businesses in Nigeria have initiated moves to find a lasting solution to the disagreement.

Top presidency officials from the Southern African nation had met with the country's officials led by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials with a view to removing the "impediment to good relations between both African countries."

It is expected that new measures would be rolled out soon to stop the payment of $1000, as well as ensure quick issuance of visas to genuine businessmen, tourists, and others with valid interests.

[size=14pt]It was learnt that the "$1000," as an official described it, was put in place by the South Africans "because they presume that all Nigerians are criminals and should pay the amount to cover the cost of their deportation from that country. If you return unscathed your money is refunded"[/size]

"We ran into this kind of situation because we once had a leader who gave people the free rein to ride roughshod over us. He almost sold us out to foreigners to massage his international ego. When we began to take retaliatory measures, those who work in those firms with South African interests saw they were losing out, as they could not attend meetings in Nigeria on time. Nobody advised them to wave the olive branch, and that is the way it is supposed to be," a source said.

It was not clear yesterday what role Nigeria's Ambassador, General Mohammed Buba Marwa, played in the efforts to resolve the disagreement, but it was gathered he was at the centre of measures to stop alleged visa racketeering that was going on in his embassy.

"We learnt that he initiated the moves that led to the invitation of some officials that uncovered fraudulent activities in his embassy, and he also ensured that all those under investigation were moved from their desks. How he knew about the visa racketeering beats our imagination as ambassadors in other outposts have either been ignorant or they are part of it," a source said.

Last week, The Guardian reported plans to probe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its officials over frivolous trips, non-payment of salaries, and "missing visa fees" in some embassies.

This had come on the heels of reports that staff, in most foreign missions, were left stranded for the Christmas and New Year holidays without pay packets to take home.

In one of the embassies in Southern Africa, an officer was moved from his schedule because he failed to explain how over $150, 000 got missing from the Embassy's coffers.

Observers wondered whether the embassy official funds were not been used by staff to meet their personal needs abroad since Abuja was not forthcoming with salaries and other funds.

Other sources speak of such situations in most of the country's outposts abroad.

"What is sickening about the situation is that the local staff in those countries know what our people are doing with embassy funds so they do not have a great deal of respect for Nigeria and her citizenry. To compound matters, they know some of the fees being charged are illegal and going to private pockets. What does that say about the re-branding project when foreign governments know the situation in our embassies?" The Guardian was told.

Though the Senate is said to be gearing up for a far-reaching probe of how funds are managed by Abuja and the outposts, it was learnt that the amount of N2.7 billion said to have been spent by the ministers and officials of the Ministry for foreign trips might have been an under-estimation of the real amount that was actually spent.

"It is far higher than that, and we will get to the root of it. In fact, we learnt that most of the funds, which they said were used for trips abroad, were superfluous.

"Let me explain: Many of them either did not go for such trips or they spent less than the required days and did not return the balance. Somebody has said that if they deny, we should ask for the vouchers raised for all the trips and ask for the passports to check entry and departure stamps on the passports. It promises to be interesting."

Three weeks ago, The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs had frowned at the N2.7 billion expenditure, which it said was incurred by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Chief Ojo Madukwe, on foreign trips in 2009.

At a budget defence session with the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jibril Aminu (PDP, Adamawa Central) said the Minister's several trips outside the country had become 'wasteful' to the economy.

Aminu said: "The whole budget of the ministry of commerce is about N2 billion, while that of the Ministry of Police Affairs is about N1 billion but you have used N2.7 billion for international travels alone. And you are even asking for increase in the 2010 budget. These foreign travels are wasteful; you have to cut it down. There is no way we are going to give you more money for international travels."

In his response, Chief Ojo Maduekwe said the international travels being undertaken by the Ministry were for the sake of diplomacy saying:

"Diplomacy is all about visibility. Even technology has not helped in reducing international travels in diplomacy. There is no way the travel commitment of the Foreign Ministry could be compared to that of the Ministry of Commerce."

The Committee also lamented the non-release of funds to foreign missions, a situation it said resulted in non-payment of salaries and allowances of diplomats in the past three months.

On the issue of poor funding, Maduekwe told the committee that the poor financial position of foreign missions was caused by frivolous trips by some ambassadors whom, he said, usually pay themselves huge estacodes.

But in an explanation to the Committee, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Jibril Maigari, said due to a shortfall of 21 per cent in the allocated funds to the foreign missions, about N8 billion could not be disbursed.

"The exchange rate of Naira to the dollar in the budget was N118; but in the end, The naira fell to N150 per dollar, causing a shortfall in the funds disbursed to the missions," he explained.

According to Maigari, "although the CBN has paid the sum of N4.5 billion to take care of parts of the shortfall, the balance could not be paid because the 2009 Supplementary Budget is not ready."

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/9/11.html

Bloody crooks!

Why are they crooks?. Did you read the story at all?

Aloy`Emeka:

Why are they crooks?. Did you read the story at all?

Do me,i do u man no go vex.i hope we can extend such measures to the americans and europeans.

Thank you and I think we should start doing this more often.

SA must pay for her blonders

This is a big joke

Bloody lie ,i was at the Nigerian Embassy yesterday in Johannesburg and there were no South Africans queuing outside. There were only about 3 South Africans at the embassy and they attended to them quickly before they even attended to us.

Don't mind these foolish politicians and their empty threats. Is that not the same way they gave the USA an ultimatum only to withdraw it a few hours later. Nigeria is joke and it’s government and citizens are treated as such in foreign countries. Besides the South African embassy in Lagos has been asking for deposits since 2004 how come it took them six years to address the issue. These bloody ass.holes who rule ,na now dey wan raise shoulder.

That same embassy that does not pick up it’s phones, you will call for days but no one will pick up. When you go there , you find all this useless Nigerian girls gossiping and filing their nails. Can you believe that in South Africa , Nigerian government official are thoroughly searched for drugs at the airport when they arrive. What a JOKE of a nation.

flashgeek:

Bloody lie ,i was at the Nigerian Embassy yesterday in Johannesburg and there were no South Africans queuing outside. There were only about 3 South Africans at the embassy and they attended to them quickly before they even attended to us.

Don't mind these foolish politicians and their empty threats. Is that not the same way they gave the USA an ultimatum only to withdraw it a few hours later. Nigeria is joke and it’s government and citizens are treated as such in foreign countries. Besides the South African embassy in Lagos has been asking for deposits since 2004 how come it took them six years to address the issue. These bloody backside.holes who rule ,na now dey wan raise shoulder.

That same embassy that does not pick up it’s phones, you will call for days but no one will pick up. When you go there , you find all this useless Nigerian girls gossiping and filing their nails. Can you believe that in South Africa  , Nigerian government official are thoroughly searched for drugs at the airport when they arrive. What a JOKE of a nation.

May be they came on appointment and that doesn't mean they were not asked to deposit $1K before anything.