By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Former Kaduna Central Senator and 2027 senatorial candidate, Shehu Sani, has raised alarm over the rising cases of crimes linked to Nigerians living abroad.
In a post on his verified X handle on Thursday, Sani said the growing number of arrests and convictions of Nigerians in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries was becoming a national embarrassment.
The outspoken former lawmaker noted that hardly a week passes without reports of a Nigerian passport holder being arrested for fraud, drug trafficking or cybercrime, a trend he said is fueling anti-Nigerian sentiment globally.
According to him, the actions of a few criminal elements are now affecting the chances of millions of innocent and law-abiding Nigerians who are seeking legitimate opportunities, education and business partnerships abroad.
“This negative behaviour by some of our people abroad is largely responsible for the anti-Nigerian sentiments we see today. It is making visa processes tougher, creating profiling at airports and eroding trust,” Sani wrote.
He described it as a “bitter truth” many Nigerians do not want to hear, but one that must be confronted if the country’s image is to be salvaged. Sani called on the federal government, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and diaspora associations to intensify value reorientation and peer monitoring, while urging families to caution their wards against get-rich-quick schemes.
His post has generated mixed reactions, with many Nigerians on X agreeing that criminal activities abroad are tarnishing the image of the green passport, while others argued that the majority of Nigerians abroad are hardworking and should not be judged by the actions of a few.
