ARREST OF SOME NIGERIAN FRAUDSTERS NOT A YARDSTICK TO STIGMATIZE  NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA .. Dabiri Erewa

Oru Leonard

The Chairman of the Nigetians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has said that the recent arrest of some Nigerians in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates for fraud particularly, Ramoni Igbalode, known as Hushpuppi, should not be a yardstick  in anyway to judge and stereotype Nigerians who are excelling globally.

A release issued by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public  Relations and Protocol Unit, NiDCOM, the Chairman /CEO, NIDCOM Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated that “Nigerians all over the world are known to

be hardworking, diligent and determined and succeeding tremendously in their chosen careers wherever they are, noting that bad news travels fast.”

The statement made reference to  a Nigerian, Mr Ikenna Nweke who was appreciated and commended by the Japanese government and the Police for returning a lost wallet with large sums of money and a Credit Card, yet, it did not make headlines. Also while the news of Hushpuppy was trending , a Nigerian in Russia Dr Chidubem Obi graduated with a 5.0 GPA cleaning all established records in the University.

She stressed that Nigerians unarguably are the most educated immigrants in the United States and are hard working, committed, determined and very successful in their career and professions.

While commending the FBI and the EFCC for tracking and tracing fraudsters, Hon Abike noted that the law must be allowed to take its cause.

The NiDCOM Boss also added , “let us focus more on the positive things Nigerians in the Diaspora are doing than the few negative narratives that purportedly give Nigeria a bad image.

“Some Nigerians are working three to four jobs per day, yet acts such as those arrested for fraud are used to judge and stereotype them”.

She urged the youths to channel their energies to the path of honesty and integrity, and uphold  high
moral values stressing that one bad apple cannot spoil the whole bunch.