News From Other Land
By John Alechenu
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| Odein Ajumogobia |
Circumstances surrounding the death of a Nigerian, Biodun Efuwape (34), is generating concerns within the Nigerian community in Cairo, Egypt. It has also raised questions over the citizen diplomacy policy being preached by successive administrations.
Efuwape, a native of Sagamu Ogun State was said to have died in controversial circumstances while in the custody of Egyptian immigration officials.
Members of the family of the deceased in a petition addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, accused Nigerian Embassy officials in Cairo of failing in their responsibility of protecting Nigerians in the country.
The petitioner claimed that the incident happened in July, 2010 but that efforts by relatives of the deceased to get answers from the diplomats had not been fruitful.
The minister, who is currently on an official visit to Egypt, said the matter had just been brought to his notice.
He promised to take the matter up with his Egyptian counterpart. He said while he was not holding brief for the embassy, it was time Nigerians discarded the notion that the nation's foreign missions were inattentive to the plight of citizens.
According to him, "It only came to my attention this morning. And it only came to the attention of our new ambassador here today.
"He has only been here for six weeks, so it is something that we will immediately investigate. Indeed, I am meeting with the foreign minister (of Egypt) and it is one of the things that I will bring up.
"This particular case I will investigate and see what the details are and find out what we can do.
On the performance of embassies, he said, "I think it is wrong for people to assume that our embassies and high commissions abroad are not sensitive to the plight of Nigerian citizens, which is what they are there for.
"Sometimes there are constraints; but within those constraints, we are doing the best we can to serve our citizens."
Source: Punch
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