Nigerians in the Diaspora have been advised to be responsible residents in their host countries by shunning all vices that contravene their laws.
Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora Affairs gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
It was at the sidelines of a lecture organised by the Lagos State University (LASU) tagged: “An afternoon with Baroness Lynda Chalker,’’ held late on Wednesday in Lagos.
The theme of the lecture was: Africa in a Competitive World, Development and Business.
Dabiri-Erewa said that it was important for Nigerians to maintain peaceful coexistence with their host countries because there was little the Federal Government could do when its citizens get into trouble overseas.
“A lot of Nigerians have been caught in Benin Republic for cybercrimes because the country is now enforcing its cybercrime law.
“About seven Nigerians had been charged to court for cybercrimes, so we are warning Nigerians abroad to be careful and abide by the law of their host countries.
“This is because when you get into trouble with your home countries, there is really nothing the Nigerian Government can do,’’ she said.
The Senior Special adviser also urged Nigerian youths to avoid desperation of travelling abroad, especially, through illegal means because, “It is also not always green outside there’’.
She advised them to join hands with the Federal Government to develop Nigeria.
According to her, the stress of migrating abroad does not really worth it, as what appears to be hard in Nigeria is harder over there.
“For those pretending to be studying abroad, the law will soon catch up with you,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa promised that the Federal Government would continue to partner agencies and the European Union (EU) to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers inherent in migrating abroad illegally.
She also said that the government would encourage and invest in more entrepreneurship programmes that would empower its citizens and make the country more attractive to both local and foreign investors.
Earlier at the lecture; Dabiri-Erewa, who was the chairman of the event, said all hands should be on deck to fight corruption in the country.
She said that it was when corruption had been curbed in the country that it could record significant achievements in all spheres of human endeavours.
The Special Adviser urged Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s–led administration in its fight against corruption so as to build the country of their dream. (NAN)
