Nigerian Diplomats and Compatriots in the Diaspora

Also published in DAILY TRUST

 

The adoption of what the federal government called “Citizen Diplomacy” in 2007 to guide Nigeria’s foreign policy was a reaction to the prevalent incidents of alleged abuse and persecution of Nigerians in different parts of the world. It was designed to primarily give priority to the interests of Nigerians abroad, as opposed to what was previously obtained; when the country’s foreign policy was literally like a candle burning itself to benefit others.

However, ever since then there is hardly if at all any tangible effect to be attributed to that policy. As a matter of fact, the “Nigerian Factor” seems to have thrown it into oblivion, as there is hardly any official reference to it even in the most relevant circumstances e.g. the on-going mass posting of the newly appointed Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners to different countries around the world.

Nonetheless, even if the alleged persecution of Nigerians in different parts of the world does not subside, one can at least expect some improvement in the way Nigerian diplomats abroad handle the issues of their fellow countrymen living there.

Interestingly, relationship between Nigerians abroad and their fellow countrymen working in the country’s missions abroad is not as it should be, to put it diplomatically. This is due to the mutual suspicion that defines the way either party looks at the other.

For instance, on one hand, an average Nigerian diplomat abroad particular in developed and rich countries forms his primary impression on his fellow countrymen living there based on some stereotypical preconceptions about the notoriety of some Nigerians living abroad, who are involved in various illegitimate pursuits.

This is even though, in as much as many Nigerians abroad are being rightly or wrongly associated with many illegitimate acts, it is obvious that there are equally many Nigerians of proven integrity out there, who pursue their legitimate endeavours and contribute their quota to Nigeria’s economic development and indeed promote its reputation. For instance, the recent finding that, Nigerians in US are the most educated migrant group in the US says it all.

Anyway, on the other hand, an average Nigerian living abroad suspects his diplomat fellow countryman of not being committed enough to his responsibility to promote and protect Nigeria’s interest, insensitivity towards Nigerians’ plight, exploitation and even betrayal of his countrymen for that matter.

Incidentally also, in as much as it is obvious that many Nigerians abroad misunderstand the nature, scope of work, right and privileges of diplomats, which informed their illusion that, the diplomats owe them a duty to be on their side under any circumstances even when they break their host countries’ laws, the diplomats are not helpful enough to their fellow countrymen either.

In reality, either side could be right to some extent because there are some reasons that informed their impressions towards each other. For instance, a Nigerian living in a functional country is used to the culture of punctuality in official appointments, efficiency in service delivery and professional politeness from civil and public officials.

So, once he shows up at the next Nigerian diplomatic mission to apply for some consular services for instance, he is shocked by the poor quality of service and indeed the largely impolite and undiplomatic manners of the Nigerian staff at the mission. However, while he laments about it, the embassy staff assumes that he simply performs his duty the right way.

The fact is that, what that shocked Nigerian seems to forget is that, the embassy staff is after all a typical Nigerian civil servant, who has imbibed Nigeria’s corporate system culture before his foreign posting, where he also works in a Nigerian establishment. He therefore operates according to Nigeria’s standards hence the poor quality of service, inefficiency, lack of punctuality, lack of transparency and indeed lack of professional manners.

However, his mediocrity is particularly much easier to be exposed because he is assessed against the standards of the efficiently functional environment abroad where he operates, while the mediocrity of his home-based colleague may not be specifically discernible because the whole system in which he operates is already substandard in the first place.

This explanation also applies to the lamenting Nigerians abroad, who would not have lamented had they been living in Nigeria, where they might have addicted the culture of mediocrity prevalent in the society, as I wrote in this column last year under the title of “Triumph of mediocrity” (Daily Trust, Friday, 28 October 2011.)

Anyway, in as much as this situation is lamentable, it is even disgraceful if it involves foreigners pursuing some services at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad. Because many of them form their negative impression about the country right from their experience at the hand of Nigerian staff at the country’s various diplomatic missions around the world. This to a large extent explains why many prospective foreign investors may never consider Nigeria for investment.

For instance, sometime last year, I was at the Nigerian embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to apply for a travel certificate for my UAE-born baby, who could not get a passport from the embassy due to the non-availability of passport processing machine, years after the introduction of the e-passport.

At the reception which was manned by non-Nigerians, I noticed some visibly worried foreigners, who lamented how they had been struggling for the past few days to apply for Nigerian visas through Nigeria Immigration website, which was however partially down probably for some days then.

Therefore they showed up at the embassy to get a solution to their dilemma; however they were shocked when the non-Nigerian receptionist told them that there was nothing the embassy could do about it.

Meanwhile, they were so desperate that they were still holding their laptop trying hopefully they could get through on the Immigration’s website, but to no avail. Moreover, there was no single Nigerian officer around to advise them or at least console them as the normal diplomatic practice requires.

Being the only Nigerian at the reception at that time, and even though I was not yet done with my own issue, I felt embarrassed and I intervened to ask the non-Nigerian receptionist if the embassy could process the visas for them anyway, since the Immigration website was not working, he said no, and maintained that, there was no any contingency arrangement at the embassy to process visas in such a situation.

I pretended to hide my embarrassment and began to console the visa applicants though without offering any specific solution. At the end and before I left, I advised them to keep trying, wishing them a good luck while jokingly pointing to a giant portrait of President Good Luck Jonathan hanging on the wall, a gesture that elicited some smiles despite their obvious frustration.