Amid rising tensions fueled by protests against Nigerians residing in Ghana, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has met with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Ablakwa, to address the unfolding diplomatic situation.
Ojukwu, who announced the meeting via her official social media handle on Thursday, said discussions centered on recent public demonstrations in parts of Ghana where some locals accused Nigerians of contributing to increased crime rates.
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“Meeting with the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Hon. Samuel Ablakwa, to address the situation of Nigeria-Ghana citizens’ relations in the aftermath of protests against Nigerians living in Ghana,” she wrote.
She further disclosed that Ghanaian authorities assured her of their commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens.
“The Minister assured that the lives, properties and businesses of Nigeria and Nigerians living in Ghana are safe and protected, and that there is certainly no threat of mass deportations of our nationals residing in Ghana,” Ojukwu stated.
Ojukwu had earlier revealed in an Instagram post that she arrived in Accra around 9:30 p.m. and was welcomed at Kotoka International Airport by Ghana’s Inspector-General of Police — an indication of the gravity both nations place on diplomatic engagement.
Tensions escalated after viral footage surfaced online, showing protestors in Ghana demanding the expulsion of Nigerians over alleged criminal activities. The development sparked widespread concern among the Nigerian diaspora and prompted swift responses from key stakeholders.
Reacting to the incident, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) issued a strong statement condemning the blanket criminalization of Nigerians. Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the protests as unfair and misrepresentative of the broader Nigerian community.
“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” Dabiri-Erewa emphasized in a statement released by NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
She urged caution in public discourse surrounding the issue and warned against narratives that could incite retaliatory actions or deepen diplomatic strain.
“There is no evidence to that, and we must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks,” she added.
“We urge our citizens not to be provoked or resort to violence.”
Senator Aniekan Bassey, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, also condemned the protests.
He described them as alarming and un-African in character.
In a press release, Bassey — who also serves in the ECOWAS Parliament — called for enhanced regional cooperation and continuous dialogue between the two nations to ease tensions and foster mutual understanding.
