The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has commended Nigerians in the Diaspora for their positive roles in enhancing the image of the country.
In a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Special Assistant on Media to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Arkwright gave the commendation during a courtesy call on Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in Abuja.
He said Nigerians in the Diaspora are a huge potential, playing greater role in all sectors, especially in the United Kingdom.
He said such relationship was geared towards cementing the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“Nigerians are great people and making greater positive impacts in all fields of human endeavour and this Diaspora office is crucial to such development.
“We are ready to work with you in this respect. The positive aspect of it is that we are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria to promote business in Nigeria,” he said.
Arkwright said “We are equally assisting Nigeria in the areas of security with UK training Nigerian forces as well as partnering in the fight against corruption.”
On Immigration law in UK, he said the law was not to keep the immigrants, especially Africans and Nigerians away, but to regulate the influx of too many immigrants.
He said that the influx of too many Africans had put a lot of pressure on UK public utilities and the service.
“We are a welcoming society but detest crime while prejudices against non-British will not be tolerated,” he said.
Arkwright used the opportunity to condole the family of the slain Nigerian teenager, Fola Orebiyi in London, assuring that those arrested would be prosecuted accordingly.
Corroborating, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said Nigerians in Diaspora, especially in UK, are great human capital contributing to the development of both UK and Nigeria.
She restated President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to lay a solid foundation for a new Nigeria by tackling corruption, insecurity, economic diversification, job creation, among others.
She lamented that one or two bad news involving very few Nigerians abroad usually blown out of proportion while the several good stories never told.
“We have to celebrate ourselves’’, she added, saying that the Diaspora Quarterly magazine is aimed at highlighting such success stories.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the British High Commissioner for the prompt response in demanding for justice for the 17-year old Nigerian teenager, Fola Orebiyi, killed in the UK.
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