That President Goodluck Jonathan had to abort his trip to Namibia due to attacks on security agents in various parts of the country, especially in Nasarawa and Borno states, but Dr. Biodun Olorunfemi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Namibia, spoke to journalists in Windhoek, including MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR, on what the President’s visit would have meant for both countries and the relationship between the two countries.
CAN you give insight into some of deals President Goodluck Jonathan would have consummated had he not cut short his State Visit to Namibia to return home?
Namibians were so excited about the visit. I have been here for a while and I have not seen that level of enthusiasm shown by the Namibian government and people towards the visit of a Head of State.
So, it is a very good sign that the friendship is still on; the mutual respect is still there and the long-standing relationship going stronger by the day.
In terms of the agreements, we were to have signed about seven agreements if the President had visited. But it is not too bad, because the postponement will afford us the opportunity to tidy up some of the ones that could not be tidied up for signing at the time he was to have visited.
One is the Foreign Service Training in which in Nigeria is to assist Namibia in training its Foreign Service officers.
An agreement for technical medical doctors was to bring Nigerian medical doctors to Namibia, but it had not been tidied up. It was discussed and we realised that it is a different programme with the TAC (Technical Aid Corps) that the federal government is running.
So, we would amend that and it will then be signed by the time the President comes visiting.
There is another one on the joint oil refinery between Namibia and Nigeria, which has been on the drawing board since 2002, with just one or two clauses to be tidied up.
Right now, they are exploring for oil, but have not found the commodity in commercial quantity and a refinery has to service the neighbouring countries as well. Angola is building a refinery, which is yet to be completed. So, all fuel supplies are imported into Angola, Namibia, Botswana and other countries through the Warwurbe Port in Namibia.
There is another agreement on mutual legal assistance on extradition between the two countries, meaning that we could exchange prisoners, and fugitives, if they are wanted in each country.
Others are on youths development, tourism and visa exemption for diplomatic office holders, which would late be extended to business people and other Nigerians for years, instead of the one or two weeks visa we are currently experiencing.
Those ones on culture, as well as mining and geological services are being tidied up and I’ am sure of these would be completed by the time the Presidents comes visiting again.
Talking of extradition, one would want to know the number of Nigerians in Namibian prisons?
We have, as of the last count, eight Nigerians in Namibian prisons. That tells you that it has not been a bad experience here.
Do you have to deal with bad conducts from Nigerians here?
Since pre-independence days when Nigeria came strongly to support Namibia’s quest for self-determination, they have been able to keep up the interest, showing gratitude and also relating with Nigerians as a brother that came to their assistance in times of need.
The cordiality has continued and they feel more at home too with Nigerians. Some Namibians also schooled in Nigeria and some are high-level officers in government, such as permanent secretaries and ministers.
The relationship between Nigerians living here and Namibians is quite good and we do not experience the type of trouble you are talking about.
However, a few people have come falling foul of the laws, because they didn’t know what to do about Immigration, especially some transiting to Angola.
But we really don’t have that kind of trouble, no problems of crimes among Nigerians here, as compared to the other parts of the world.
We also encourage and keep preaching to them to ensure they have their correct papers and do not stay beyond the time they are allowed or do those things that could tarnish Nigeria ’s image here.
On the whole, how are Nigerians faring in Namibia?
Nigerians are faring very well in Namibia; those of them here legally are doing very well.
Incidentally, a lot of them are professionals, such as medical doctors, who one way or the other came here under the TAC, with a few coming on their own. Over 90 percent of them are professionals.
These include professors, Deans of faculties and Heads of departments (HoDs), mainly in the areas of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in the universities under the TAC, which the Nigerian government has been running since inception.
When do we expect the President to visit?
As soon as possible! Being a very busy person, they have to look at his programme and see how soon he can come.
So, I cannot on my own give you a specific date until I receive that information.
What other support does the Embassy offer Nigerians in Namibia?
The support we give them mainly is advisory, because they are so busy, being professionals holding these positions I mentioned, especially concerning their stay.
The only assistance, in terms of finance, is when we have one or two cases of people to be sent back if they run into some problems and do not have enough money.
For instance there was a case of someone who had a mental problem and we had to get the ticket just to be sure he gets back quickly and also pay for the medical expenses for attention to him before sending him back to Nigeria.
From your records, how many Nigerians do you have working and living in Namibia?
The figure is a little under 1,000 persons.
What would be your advice to them and other Nigerians?
We must continue, even as journalists, to promote goodwill between Nigeria and other countries of the world.
You must continue to also use your media to let people know that Nigerians are becoming respected because of the kind of leadership we have and the transformation agenda of the President and the deliberate efforts being made to go to various countries to promote investment drive into Nigeria.
The press must help educate Nigerians in various countries to see themselves as ambassadors of the country and not to commit crimes or do those things that will give the country a bad name.
The press must also expose those non-Nigerians, who from time to time, illegally obtain passports and drivers’ licence and engage in crimes, claiming to be Nigerians.
‘
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
