Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa has charged Nigerians in South Africa to be united and to enhance the nation’s image by being of good conduct.
NAN’s Wole Sogunle reports that Marwa gave the charge yesterday in Johannesburg in a message to Nigerian businessmen and traders in Yeoville.
The High Commissioner’s message, delivered by the Minister in Charge of Consular and Protocol Matters at the High Commission, Mr Ifeanyi Omokachie, reassured the Nigerian community of the federal government’s commitment to their welfare.
Marwa, who wished them a prosperous new year, said that high level talks had been scheduled between Nigerian and South Africans to iron out grey areas in bilateral relations.
He said that issues of maltreatment of some Nigerians in the area last year were being looked into, assuring that such treatment would soon become a thing of the past through better understanding.
“I can assure you that you will never be disappointed because we are in talks with immigration, police and other top government officials to enable Nigerians earn more respect,” he said.
Marwa tasked the Nigerian community to network and be their brother’s keepers and also be law abiding always.
Also speaking at the meeting, the President, Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Jason Osuafor, said Nigerian traders in Yeoville were the best thing that happened to the community.
He said the level of trade being conducted in the area by Nigerians had to a large extent, turned business in the area around.
He charged them to maximize their potentials by utilizing their skills positively.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians in the community used the opportunity to air their concerns in the country and sought the High Commissioner’s support.
Some of the speakers said there was a new trend of asking Nigerian married males who were flagged down by policemen on the roads to produce their wives, a situation, they termed strange.
They also asked for support of the High Commission to enable them give the Super Eagles the massive support in the 2010 World Cup by helping them with musical instruments and costumes
