Why Nigerians are comfortable in foreign prisons

 About 10,000 Nigerians are in jail in foreign countries, especially in Europe and Asia. PAUL ARHEWE reports that these citizens who ran away to be free from the economic misfortune at home before they were caught on the wrong side of the law, are, however, rejecting government’s move to bring them back home.

The number of Nigerians serving prison terms in foreign countries continues to rise.
It is estimated that about 9,000 Nigerians are in jail overseas, mostly in Europe and Asian countries.
These Nigerians who have run afoul of the laws of their host countries include the millions who have left the country in droves since the economy nose-dived.
In the 80s and 90s, the exodus of Nigerians to overseas was embarked upon by professionals and intellectuals, in what has come to be known as “


brain drain.” These were class of people that were uncomfortable with the military regimes or those who were being hounded by the military dictatorship of the era.
Since returning to civilian rule over 14 years ago and still without a change in the economic fortune of citizens, the next set of Nigerians “checking out” are mostly youths, who get involved in crimes, especially drug trafficking with a view to amassing wealth fast. In the process, they get caught by the law and are jailed or in some countries, executed.
Investigations have also revealed that among Nigerians in prisons abroad, many are incarcerated because of immigration misdemeanors.

Efforts to transform Nigeria through economic diplomacy

 Cross section of participants at the 13^th Brainstorming Session 

of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs 

on the Plight of Nigerians in

 Foreign Prisons held recently at the Institute.

 By Paul Arhewe
The scorecard for Nigerian foreign policy in harnessing and contributing positively to government’s transformational agenda, since 2011, is adjudged by stakeholders that more impetus is required to garner more dividends in comparative to what is achieved. Identified challenges need to be addressed to make the policy more effective and result oriented.
Economic diplomacy which forms the centrepiece of Nigerian foreign policy is a foremost instrument used by the current administration to propel the attainment of a robust economy.
The President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s agenda which is anchored on attaining specific targets in its vision 20:2020 policy; foremost among these are job creation, poverty alleviation, and the creation of a robust economic growth for the country.

My NUJ Award

Paul Arhewe, Winner of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Best Foreign / Diplomatic Reporter of the Year ( 2012), in March 2013.