NIGERIA’SIMAGE ABROAD: PERCEPTION AND REALITY
It is unfortunate that in an interconnected world like ours,some persons still treat Nigerians with the mentality of the last century. Evenwhen the government has taken clear-cut decisions to rebrand our image abroad,some citizens of other countries still judge us by what we are not. In acentury where an earthquake in Haiti attracts the sympathy and support of a manin Nigeria, where Hurricane Sandy in America attracts global sympathy andsupports, some persons are still viewing Nigerians with the lens of yesterdayas if there is any country that is a safe haven! Was is not President Obama whotold his African audience some years ago, that he do not see an Africa that isdisconnected from the world, but he sees an Africa that is a fundamental memberof our interconnected world? But, sometimes the reverse has always been thecase! Nigeria is a sovereign nation like any other country withgood people and bad people!
Its citizens are hardworking people who show thebest of affections to foreigners than their fellow compatriots. But, it isregretful that this gesture is not always reciprocated by the greatestbeneficiaries, rather, they treat us like animals in the bush while we treatthem like human beings. Hence, it is understandable why Jonathan's Governmentdecided to changed our Foreign Policy from “Big brother” to “Economic diplomacyand reciprocity”. This new policy was applied last year when a row betweenNigeria and South Africa ensued over yellow fever vaccination. Unlike in thepast where such action goes unanswered, the Federal Government respondedappropriately. However, our position and size as the largest country inAfrica and as the most populous black nation in the world is not in question,but what is in question is how businesses and big corporations are not utilizingsuch opportunities to increase their earnings and equally develop
businessopportunities that suit the environment. In fact, what is the rationale behindthe action of “PayPal”, an e-commerce business organization that allowspayments to be made online and equally the transfer of money through theinternet, denying Nigerians the opportunity of using their services? This iseven more worrisome that countries like Kenya, Benin Republic and othercountries in the continent are allowed to use the service, whereas Nigeriansare barred from using the service. In the same vein, there are some foreigncompanies that do not accept credit cards issued by Nigerian Banks, even whenour banks work closely with companies like Master Card and Visa Card to issuethese credit cards to their customers. In a highly globalised world, wherebusiness activities have gone online, some companies are still discriminating againstNigerians. Do we need Doha round of trade talks to start participating fully inthe global economy without further
discriminations? Recently, authorities in Ghana descended on Nigerians doinglegitimate business in the country. They said, the reason for such action wassimply because their law does not allow foreigners to engage in retailbusinesses. That retail business in the country is exclusively reserved for Ghanaians.Even when some of the ECOWAS Treaties says: “The liberalization of trade by theabolition, among member states, of customs duties levied on imports andexports, and the abolition among member states, of non tariff barriers in orderto establish a free trade area at the community level”. “The removal, betweenmember states, of obstacle to free movement of persons, goods, service andcapital, and to right of residence and establishment” shall be among itsobjectives, the Ghanaian authorities are acting to the contrary. Is it becausethere are Nigerians? What if it was the American Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., theworld's largest retail company, would they
go and close their shops and askthem to leave their country the way they did to Nigerians? This un-African treatment smack of “Ubuntu” against Nigeriansmust stop, because ECOWAS cannot be looking up to Nigeria to paying thesacrifice of blood and money so as to maintain and promote peace and securityin the region, while her citizens are been denied the right and privilege toreside and do legitimate business in any parts of the region. Game theory is apopular parlance in the diplomatic circles, but Nigeria has not been applyingit because we believe that, as the richest and the most powerful country inWest Africa, insecurity any where is insecurity everywhere in the sub-regionand that is why we are strongly committed to promoting peace, security and theuniversal brotherhood of man. Finally, while I commend the Federal Government forreviewing our Foreign Policy which is gradually restoring our image and dignityin the comity of nations, the government
should also do more until Nigeriansare accorded the best respect and treatments they deserve anywhere in theworld.Comrade Edwin Ekene is the National President of YoungNigerians for Change.07065862479, [email protected]. 29 Ben Mbamalu Crescent, Achara Layout, Enugu State.