Bianca visits Ghana over ‘Nigerians must go’ protests, says no cause for alarm
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for foreign affairs, has said there is no cause for alarm following recent protests in Ghana demanding the deportation of Nigerians.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the remarks on Wednesday during a joint press briefing in Accra, after arriving in the country for an on-the-ground assessment of the situation.
“Since I arrived, I haven’t seen people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere calling for Nigerians to be deported,” she said.
“This shows that the Ghanaian government and the president have stepped up to the situation — I would say there’s no cause for alarm, they are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging stakeholders.”
The minister added that meetings had been held with some of the individuals behind the agitation, with efforts underway to de-escalate tensions.
The visit follows a viral video over the weekend showing some Ghanaian traders protesting against Nigerian counterparts in local markets. Protesters alleged that Nigerians were disrupting business and engaging in criminal activities.
Speaking alongside Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ghana’s foreign affairs minister, Samuel Ablakwa, assured that steps were being taken to address the matter.
“The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country — citizens and non-citizens — is protected,” he said.
He also urged everyone in Ghana to be law-abiding, noting that actions that could divide the country must be avoided.
