Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has urged Nigerians to remain calm following protests in Ghana where some citizens were seen demanding the deportation of Nigerians
Speaking during a joint press briefing in Ghana on Wednesday the minister said there is no cause for alarm despite viral videos circulating online which appeared to show rising hostility
Visit to Ghana for On-the-Ground Assessment
Bianca explained that her visit was prompted by the growing anxiety caused by the videos
“The viral videos had caused anxiety necessitating my visit to the country for a firsthand assessment of the situation” she said
She stated that since her arrival in Ghana she had not seen any crowds burning tyres or holding placards in mass protests against Nigerians
Ghanaian Government Has Stepped In
According to the minister the absence of widespread protest activity is a sign that the Ghanaian government and its president have intervened to manage the situation
She said
“I would say there’s no cause for alarm they are handling the situation effectively and we will continue engaging stakeholders We have met with some of the leaders and individuals involved in a bid to de-escalate tensions”
Ongoing Diplomatic Engagement
Bianca emphasized that efforts were ongoing to ensure peaceful coexistence between Nigerians living in Ghana and their host communities and noted that dialogue with key stakeholders was continuing
This development comes amid a history of intermittent diplomatic tensions between both countries often rooted in trade rivalry migration issues and local politics While isolated xenophobic sentiments do emerge from time to time officials from both sides have generally worked to maintain stable relations and protect the rights of nationals within each other’s borders
