The Nigerian Government has assured Nigerians living in Angola of its commitment to tackling insecurity, strengthening national security and improving the country’s economic outlook.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd.), gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
According to a statement by the Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as part of efforts to strengthen the Federal Government’s engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting Nigeria, noting that some were linked to instability in the Sahel region, with the effects spilling across national borders.
He assured the Nigerians in Angola that the Nigerian Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen the country’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.
The Minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to defeating security threats across the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, assured Nigerians that the country’s economy was improving.
“Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery,” he said.
Responding to the community’s request for the establishment of a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, Tunji-Ojo said he would look into the proposal to ease access to passport booklets and related consular services for Nigerians in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa, who coordinated the engagement, commended Nigerians in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for projecting a positive image of the country in their host country.
She said the Nigerian Government valued the contributions, concerns and welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, stressing that their voices remained important in shaping policies and interventions affecting them.
The NiDCOM Chairman urged Nigerians in Angola to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of both Nigeria and their host country.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the government for the engagement and highlighted challenges affecting Nigerians in the country.
Obi specifically called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, citing difficulties in accessing passport and consular services.
He also raised concerns over healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians in Angola and appealed for the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Angola by a Nigerian airline.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Nigerian Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening Diaspora engagement, addressing the concerns of Nigerians abroad and ensuring their continued contribution to national development.
