Some Nigerians living in India have expressed serious concern about what they claim to be an increase in racial profiling and police brutality.
They bemoaned the difficulties in regularising their visas and the exorbitant renewal costs, which they claimed had made living in the Asian nation intolerable.
Speaking to newsmen, a few locals said that several Nigerian students had been physically abused and that nothing had changed despite their reports to the authorities.
NANs outcry
NANS warned that if the problems were not resolved, it will intensify advocacy efforts across the country and gave the Federal Government a seven-day deadline for immediate diplomatic involvement.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, NANS Vice President (Special Duties), Abubakar Mallawa, condemned the alleged mistreatment of Nigerians and stated that the organization had received numerous distressing reports from students in Indian cities, especially Mumbai, regarding visa issues, discriminatory practices, and systematic profiling.
A video clip played by the tv station showed some suspected Indians attacking and throwing stones at an individual, said to be a Nigerian, on the floor.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another Nigerian student in Delhi claimed that in order to renew their visas, Nigerians had to pay 10,000 rupees (about N146,000) every three months; she asserted that this amount was less for students from other African nations.
She added that the fee was not disclosed during visa processing in Nigeria and that many students only became aware of it after arriving in India.
The student further alleged that Indian police actively track Nigerians, whose visas had expired, leading to arrests, intimidation and deportation.
FG can’t decide for India — NIDCOM
In response, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission emphasised that the Federal Government could not meddle in other nations’ immigration laws and stated that it was not aware of any official complaints about visa issues impacting Nigerians.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit, stated that aside from the inquiry made by Saturday PUNCH, the commission had not received any complaints from impacted pupils.
The Indian High Commission’s press and information spokesperson, Shri Narendra Garg, declined to comment on the issue, thus attempts to gain clarification from them in Nigeria received minimal reaction.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, did not respond to calls or messages seeking an official reaction as of the time of filing this report.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
