| By Peter Ejiofor
Lagos, Aug. 2, 2022: The Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) says many issues affecting Nigerians in that country were already being addressed since the Federal Government appointed Mr Andrew Idi, the country’s new Consul General.
NUSA President Mr Collins Mgbo made the assertion in a statement from Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Mgbo said that the union thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Director, Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri among others for escalating their problems to the highest office and the urgent intervention.
He said that within the short period Idi assumed duty, he had attended to a number of issues affecting Nigerians in South Africa.
“One of such issues is the issue of xenophobic sentiment against foreign nationals. The Consul General had met with the law enforcement agencies to discuss how to solve the problem and so far, the situation has subsided substantively.
“The new consul general has resolved the issue of excessive charges that Nigerians complained about during the tenure of the previous administration in the consulate and has removed all the charges within a short period of time.
“He has resolved the issue of passport racketeering that was the order of the day at the Consulate General office in Johannesburg and brought dignity back to the Consulate,’’ Mgbo said.
He added: “Idi has been a blessing to the community since his arrival; he has attended to all the cases that affect Nigerians from province to province week-in-week out and has on so many occasions provided financial support to Nigerians who are desperately in need.
“The new consul general has proven that Nigerians can be proud in a foreign country. We are aware that some groups of individuals are trying to tarnish his image already because they can no longer do as they wish at the consulate.
“But we can assure the Federal Government and Nigerians in South Africa that we are in good hands so far, and we believe that it will continue to be better.’’
Mgbo noted that the much he had achieved so far, showed that the new consul general was the right man for the job and that the decision of the Federal Government in appointing him was a step in the right direction.
“NUSA assures the consul general that we will continue to work with him and assist him as community leaders to achieve set goals and objectives, especially issues that affect the welfare of Nigerians resident in South Africa.
“NUSA also assures the consul general that the organisation shall continue to encourage Nigerians in South Africa to remain law abiding and represent the country positively since they are witnessing a sense of sanity this far.”
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