Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations, Honourable Nnena Ukeje, has stressed that the security of lives and properties of Nigerians is guaranteed under the constitution of Nigeria.
Channels Television’s Network Africa met with Honourable Nnena Ukeje and she shared the country’s constant efforts at implementing the laws to protect Nigerians living abroad.
Since the recent killing of a Nigerian in India, there has been a lot of focus on the welfare of Nigerians living abroad. More worrisome for many has been the alleged reluctance of the Indian authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of the act.
Hon. Ukeje in this interview stated that Nigeria already has the right laws under the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that the lives and properties of Nigerians living in Nigeria are well protected. However, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Missions abroad to enact these laws towards ensuring that Nigerians living around the world, do not get into danger and when they do, they can be well protected.
She however added that “we do not have the powers to investigate or to bring to book as it were, crimes in other countries, what we do is ensure that that happens. So the Nigerian embassies are a little handicapped.”
The perceived vulnerability of Nigeria’s peacekeeping missions to other countries, and its effects on Nigerians living in those countries and other countries also came under the spotlight.
Enjoy the interview.
