About 400 Nigerians are serving various jail terms for diverse offences in South Africa.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, stated this Friday in Abuja at a joint press conference on the visit of the Nigerian delegation to South Africa.
Dambazau and his foreign affairs counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama, had on Monday led a delegation to South Africa over incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in the country.
He said they had a meeting with the home affairs minister of South Africa and discussed on general issues, particularly on migration.
The minister said that they also discussed about some few Nigerians who have been found involved in criminal activities.
“I said that it is possible, but I quickly pointed out that those are in the minority because equally we have Nigerian professionals who are contributing positively to development of the economy of South Africa,” he explained.
“I understand that there about 400 Nigerian who are in their prison for various offences at date,” he further explained.
The minister said that the offences involved included prostitution, drugs and others. He said that the prisoners would finish their jail terms in South Africa because there was no prisoner exchange arrangement between Nigeria and South Africa as with some other countries.
He however said that efforts would be made to ensure that such arrangements were put in place.
“When we met with the Nigerian community, we also emphasized that those who are involved in criminal behaviour should not be allowed to spoil the good names of others and that of Nigeria, so they have that moral responsibility to report where necessary,” he said.
He said that the issue of passport challenge was also tabled at the meeting with the Nigerian community with a promise that it would be resolved.
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