Abike Dabiri replies ex-Indian Minister calling for ban on Nigerians

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has described the statement by Ravi Naik, a former Indian Chief Minister, on Nigerians as “condescending and unacceptable”.

In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said the call by Naik for a ban by the Central Government of India on Nigerians from entering the country was rather unfortunate.

Naik had reportedly referred to Nigerians as “Negroes causing problems in Goa and other parts of India.”

“They create problems everywhere. We do not want Nigerian tourists.

“The Nigerians should be asked to leave India, we don’t want Nigerian tourists.

“The Government of India should ban Nigerians from entering India”, he had stated.

The SSA said though the statement of Naik was personal to him and does not represent the Indian government, such comment was demeaning and condemnable of a former high ranking government official.