At a forum organised
by the Nigerian community in China to address the thriving illicit trade on
drugs and its effects on not just China-Nigeria bilateral relationship, but
also
on Nigerians living and doing business in China, the President, Good
Governance Initiative (GGI), Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, while saying 85 per cent of
Nigerians believe that China exerts positive influence on the social and
economic development in Nigeria, explained that China and Nigeria, as partners,
are not deserving of any bad image the growing malaise of drug trafficking may
rob on both nations’ integrity. In this interview, Festus, who also disclosed
that whereas Nigerians transactions in Guangdong Province alone in China are in
the region of $5,000,000 a day, Nigerians continue to suffer the worst form of
stereotyping in China and many other countries abroad in addition to being
placed on various diplomatic restrictions.
How do you describe
China-Nigeria bilateral relations?
Both countries are
committed to realising a long lasting bilateral relationship and, as the
Nigeria-China cooperation continues to grow, there are over 50 Chinese official
development finance projects identified in Nigeria which cut across rail, power
and telecommunications within the last 10 years. But the underlying fact which
Nigerians in China have failed to grasp is that Nigerian immigrants in China
should have been the direct recipients of these benefits of trade development
and mutual cooperation. China looks up to Nigeria as a model of trade and
economic development to boost its cooperation with Africa. At present, there
over 2,000 registered Chinese businesses and companies in Nigeria alone and
China seeks, avenues of mutual person-to-person cooperation between its nationals,
business owners and Nigerian citizens.
Why are Nigerians
placed on diplomatic restrictions in China?
Today, because of
the involvement of some Nigerian citizens in drug trafficking in China and
other places, we cannot truly say that the consummate benefits of this
relationship are robbing off on all of us. Rather we are being profiled on
daily basis and denied some privileges which ordinarily should come with our
residing in this country. It is knowledge in the public domain that because of
this involvement in drugs, by some miscreants, all of us are paying a heavy
price for it. Like our people say, when one finger is dipped in the red oil, it
will automatically affect all the other fingers even when they do not want to
be rubbed with oil. However due to our abusive tendencies to law and order we
are on a daily basis denied these benefits and are instead placed on diplomatic
restrictions.
Would you say it is
partly the reason Nigerians are denied resident permit and/or visa extension?
In Guangdong
Province, Nigerians are no longer given resident permit. There is also no visa
extension. Nigerians who are married and residing in China are not given
resident permit. That is why many of us do not have our families here with us.
Our citizens who come here to study cannot get resident permit and are not
allowed to work unlike the citizens of other countries. There is no doubt that
illicit drugs and trafficking undermine state authority and the rule of law by
fuelling corruption, compromising elections, and hurting the legitimate economy
and significant impact on the livelihood and quality of life, particularly the
poor, our women and children including all of us here, because one way or the
other, we are involved.
What can the
Nigerian authority in China do in this regard?
I plead with the
Nigerian embassy in China to find every means to look into the affairs of the
many Nigerian citizens present here. The community gathering, known as
“Nigerian Union”, is vey paramount. We are a communal people and China
recognizes the impact of our community gathering, as it aids control and
management of the numerous Nigerian immigrants resident or transacting
businesses across China. Our embassy authorities should help in creating a
platform of legality in the leadership of the Nigerian community. This I
believe will aid all our efforts to harness the activities of many Nigerian
citizens who are here in China for different purposes. Although, the embassy
may not be able to follow the activities of every Nigerian, a legal platform of
the Nigeria Union in countries of abode can combat some of the excesses of a
few robbing us the immense benefits of our cooperation with host countries.
What advice do you
have for fellow Diaspora Nigerians?
We should all rise
and say no to drugs because drugs and crime undermine development by eroding
social and human capital. The direct impact of victimization, discrimination,
image problem as well as fear of crime impedes the socio-economic development
of all. It leads to restriction of movements as already highlighted by the
position of Chinese authorities on some of us here in China. It also impedes
access to possible employment and educational opportunities, and it discourages
the accumulation of assets. Nigerian citizens used to be the most favourite of
China’s selection of Africans to partner with in business and other mutual
relationship but these unlawful behaviors robbed the average Nigerian immigrant
and businessman in China that privilege.
The negative effects
of illicit drug trafficking and unlawful behaviors go beyond the shores of
China. I can’t remember any former drug dealer who is at peace with the
proceeds made from drug trafficking whether for himself, children and family;
therefore why should you continue to plot your own ruin in life? We all must
rise to say no to drugs.
Nigerians must rise
to say no to drugs. Let me emphasize here that religion has become a part of
our cultural values, and, since it plays a major influence on how we value
life, I urge religious leaders to help discourage the temptation but encourage
true blessings when we work hard, pray and trust God.
As much as we are
foreigners in China and have come here with the sole intent to succeed and take
wealth home, the issue of clash of interest and partisan politics among
Nigerian citizens, whom I believe all have genuine intentions to help to
organize their fellow brothers and sisters, should not be viewed in the
negative but to be encouraged to take a formal approach with due respect to the
laws of the land.
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