The Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland has urged his compatriots here to remain law abiding and to respect one another.
Ambassador Felix Pwol was speaking at a recent special meeting at the embassy with the Ireland branch of the Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation Europe (Nidoe).
Nidoe Ireland chairman Waheed Mudah briefed the embassy about members’ concerns, including the rise in racially motivated attacks against Nigerians, most recently the death of taxi driver Moses Ayanwole in November last year.
Ambassador Pwol assured Nidoe Ireland of the embassy’s readiness “to always explore all legal and diplomatic means to advance the welfare of Nigerians”. He also said the embassy is being reassured by the Government that “it is doing its best to curb any excesses against non-Irish nationals and Nigerians in particular”.
On improvements in issuing passports and other services, the ambassador repeated his call to Nigerians “to always visit the embassy’s website for information as the first step to any service required at the embassy”. This, he added, would prevent people from wasting their time as well as the time of embassy staff.
Nidoe Ireland also used the meeting to outline its events programme for 2012, which is set to include a public lecture on Democracy Day (25 May), an economic summit to inform Irish businesses of investment opportunities in Nigerian; and a gala dinner to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence Day in October.
Ambassador Pwol said the mission was not in a position to support all of these events due to the economic downturn, but would look at the possibility of partnering in Democracy Day celebrations.
