16 comment(s)

1. D-Tee | Dec 14, 2007 | Reply

   Is it really the job of the Minister to do what you have asked? I would assume the administrative/management staffers at the embassy are career diplomats and foreign affairs experts who should routinely be doing what you listed. It should be a standard practice regardless of who the minister is. The criticism/suggestions should also apply to the upper management of these embassies.

2. Florence | Dec 14, 2007 | Reply

   Whao!
   This is a very beautiful style of writing. I have read Dr Kila elsewhere he is always brilliant and original.
   @D Tee. You are missing the point. This is a great lesson in politics and citizenship by Dr Kila. The issues raised should be directed to the minister as he is the one politically responsible to Nigerian citizens. The bucks stop with him. It will be great to see a reply from the minister’s office.
   Florence Ajayi
   UK

3. Misi | Dec 14, 2007 | Reply

   @D-Tee, it might not directly be the job of the Minister to solve these problems but he can ensure that these things get done. After all he is the BOSS for the time he is in office. Have you ever attempted to call the Nigerian embassy in Washington or UK? No one ever picks the phone and when you try to leave a message it tells you the mailbox is full or if you are lucky to leave a message no one returns your calls. Can you imagine how frustrating that is? Getting through to them is like trying to pierce a brick wall with your bare fingers–virtually impossible. The Minister on the other hand can enforce efficiency within the bureau and ensure his Staff pull their act together or be removed. I am sure if he does that half of the issues Dr. Kila raised would be resolved.
   @Dr. Kila, I don’t think the Minister can really do anything about the way other country’s embassies treat Nigerians because their meanness is a reaction to some of our people’s deceit and dishonesty in seeking visas.

4. Omotaylor | Dec 15, 2007 | Reply

   @Misi, I tried to make a comment which I lost when the page did not go through then I gave up, but happily your comment above is almost a mirror reflection of what I wrote and lost and I thank you for this. I’m totally in agreement with your points above and also about Nigerians bringing on themselves some reactions they get from others. Respect begets respect and we have to respect ourselves so others can respect us. Dr Kila’s postcard is a good innovation. How I wish good and valid points do get to the addressees. Hope this postcard gets to the Minister even if designed as a Xmas Card attachment.

5. david | Dec 17, 2007 | Reply

   I agree with the contents of this postcard completely and the way it is written is just superb Kudos to Dr Kila and African Loft.
   Many times I ask myself where are our intellectuals and our elites? I compare them to what I see in Europe and I feel ashamed. This kind of approach is actually meaningful and gives hope. Dr Anthony Kila did not ask for anything that will involve money and he did not fight the minister. He simply suggested solutions, that is the way true intellectuals should behave.

6. ambasador | Jan 26, 2008 | Reply

   i living in spain here now with my woman, if i may say i will like to be nigeria ambasador in any country. i will be happy if it will be granted, but is it possible to get the requiement am ekene/ wife rosario

7. Emma O.C | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply

   Chief Ojo Maduekwe
   Papa as i may call you,I have been humiliated here in Indonesia,I was given Admission to study in the University (Swiss German University Serpong Indonesia)I wrote the entrance exam, passed excellently,completed all there formal documentation requirement, paid the tuition and they sent me an admission latter,We started the orientation week on the 25/08/2008, which was the first day, and the second day after the lessons,the visa rector academic sent for me, and i came to his office,I was told by him, that because of my color country,I am dismissed in the school,I should send a bank account where all the fees i paid will be transferred back to me,Sir, if i may ask, is it an abomination to be a Nigerian,I tried all i could to reach the embassy of Nigeria in Indonesia, but to no avail,I was there for several time, but the security will not allow me in,all i get is there is no body on seat.
   It has happened to me, but i pray if this could bring to light the crisis Ndi Igbo go through overseas.
   I pray you will use your humble office to bring sanity in this ministry and to assist indigbo in Diaspora.
   Emma O.C Jakarta

8. Victoria Uzere | Sep 9, 2008 | Reply

   Dear Minister,
   I am a Nigeria domiciled in Egypt with my family. My family is with an International organisation. I have actually been asking around for an access to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for quite sometime now.

   I am very concerned at the rate people leave the shores of Nigeria without any clear vision of what their mission is.
   Every opportunity I get to talk to would be illegal immigrants and existing illegal immigrants I often ask the question - what drives them? It is amazing the level of ignorance these group of people display in response to this question. I am also shock by their resolve to continue untill their dreams become reality.

   There is a new wave of Nigerians paying so much to go to Isreal and in the process some have been killed and others are in jail for violating immigration laws. I will like to say, Isreal is a small country and a security state, everyone and anyone is under watch. You cann’t make it in and think you have blended in the population and can hide. In Egypt, when you are caught as an illegal immigrant, you don’t just get deported, you are sent to jail thereafter, you are made to provide your airline ticket back to Nigeria (if you cann’t provide a ticket, you remain in jail), unlike in the USA.

   It is unbelieveable what is going on at the moment, some Nigerians who migrated say 10-15 years ago, really want to come back - some with great family support are already coming back, for some it is out of the question to come back as their families will not want to hear of such.

   I will really want to speak or write directly to the minister himself as I have workable suggestions on the way forward.

   I am so concerned because I am a part of a prison ministry team that go to visit Nigerians and other nationals in prison, we are been strect to the limits and our sponsors are beginning to give up.

   Thanks and God bless,
   Victoria Uzere
   Cairo - Egypt

9. Emma O.C | Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

   To the Foreign Affairs Minster
   Chief Ojo Maduekwe
   Dear Sir
   It will be my great pleassure to tell you what people are going throught there at hom and overseas,Hoping you will use your position to advice the present government,

   JOE (surname withheld) lost his sister-in-law last week. The young woman, who reportedly died of high

   blood pressure, left five children behind. The widower, who has no visible means of livelihood, has

   another wife who has six children – five boys and one girl. He had married that one to give him a boy

   because the five children of the deceased wife are all girls. Now that depression and a troubled

   existence have taken the first wife, it is not certain how this man will cater for 11 children.

   Throughout Nigeria, similar cases abound. Many people are no more living. They merely exist. On the

   news menu last week, as usual, are depressing news items about life and living in Nigeria. For

   instance, a civil society group, Action-Aid Nigeria, reportedly conducted a research last year and

   found that about 54 million Nigerians go to bed every night hungry. I suspect that this number is

   low. Even for some of those who are sure of having a good dinner every night, there is some

   uncertainty over the continuous availability of food on their dinner table. A man eating with a

   golden spoon today may end up eating with an aluminum one tomorrow.

   This is why a senator of the federal republic will collect wardrobe allowance, car maintenance

   allowance and will still struggle for constituency and capacity-building allowances. This is why

   ministers and some other government officials will go out of their way, even visiting juju houses, to

   retain their positions. This is also why politicians will do everything possible to win elections,

   not to serve but to corner resources for generations yet unborn.

   It is for this reason also that our youths trade in scam mails, or join gangs to raid commercial

   banks and snatch cars. Some sneak out of the country to peddle hard drugs. Sometimes, they are

   successful. Oftentimes, they are not.

   This is the fate of some 10 Nigerians or so currently languishing in Indonesian jail. Reports have it

   that about 20 of them were on death row in that Asian country for drug-related offenses. Already, two

   of them – Samuel Iwuchukwu and Anthony Nwolisa – had been executed, while Augustine Ogbonna died in

   prison earlier this month. The condemned men only have one month to apply for a review of the

   penalty. Last Friday, there were reports that the police in Indonesia shot dead a Nigerian, Oliver

   Osondu, during a raid on suspected drug traffickers in Jakarta.

   Recall that another Nigerian, Amara Tochi, was executed in Singapore last year for alleged drug

   trafficking. Last July, Saudi Arabian authorities beheaded a Nigerian suspected drug trafficker,

   Shuaib Mohammed. Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, reportedly said over 50 Nigerians were on

   death row in some other Asian countries.

   Elsewhere, especially in Europe and America, a greater number of Nigerians are in various jails for

   criminal activities. Last week also, there was a report that a Nigerian woman, Remi Fakorede and her

   daughter, Denise, were jailed in the United Kingdom for fraud. The woman was allegedly involved in a

   £925,000 tax credit fraud, while her daughter was jailed for laundering £70,000 of the stolen money.

   Besides, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters, in

   collaboration with international agencies, arrested 60 Nigerians for alleged human trafficking in

   eight European countries.

   The implication of this is that saner nations will continue to view us with suspicion. We cry that

   immigration officials in other countries harass many Nigerian visitors. But with this type of

   scenario, will there be an end to such harassment? We even give the impression that we are not

   serious with the fight against hard drugs. On many occasions, convicted drug couriers escape with

   light sentences only to plunge in deeper into the illicit business.

   The problems notwithstanding, the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, intervene to

   save the lives of these Nigerians. Like the Singaporean case indicated, it may not be easy to cajole

   these Asian countries into dropping death penalties already passed. But the government should at

   least ensure adequate legal representation and demand fair trial for these Nigerians. It should not

   relent in asking the Indonesian authorities to commute the death sentences to a more humane

   punishment.

   The government should also fix the socio-economic problems that drive many Nigerians into this type

   of business in the first place. A starting point, perhaps, is to address the infrastructural problems

   that cripple the growth of businesses here. It is disheartening that Nigeria ranked 118th out of 150

   countries the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation surveyed for 2009 ease of doing

   business index. This was a drop from the 108 and 114th positions the country attained in 2007 and

   2008 respectively. No doubt, a better economic climate will curb the inclination for this illicit

   business.

   Generally, Nigerians should realize that things are hard. They should therefore desist from doing

   things that will further worsen their economic plight. Breeding children that one cannot adequately

   take care of is a typical example,and the government should start the fight of the corruption in aso

   rock and other government Establishment.

   A common Nigerian should be able to have the following,good road,water,free health care,electricity

   and good educational systems. this countries our brother go to, are not better than Nigeria,is just

   that an average citizen of those country can asses the social economic amenities within his/her

   reach.

   Democracy is yet to bring a change to this country,Now i can believe that those fighting the military

   government is because the loot was not getting across to them.

   Sir,I will advice that the present government should do something about this regards immedately.

   Thank you
   Emma O.C
   From Jakarta

10. Ola | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Minister, i am a nigerian studying here in finland,i was asked by the finnish magistrate to legalised my birth certificate by your honourable office and the finnish embassy in nigeria so as to be able to have a permanent address in finland which will facilitate my application for the police card and the social security number.kindly advise me on how to go about it sir.

11. temi | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply

    so you all really think those african booty scratcher that call themselves ministers/politician will read your complaint?

12. Omotaylor | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply

    ‘temi, you never know who will read or see what and alert the minister. You never know, God could touch the heart of the minister. And you never know this minister could be differnt. All the people can do is tried. Nothing ventured nothing gained or lost. But some of the requests are a tall order or sound like a joke - pardonez moi …

13. Omotaylor | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply

    sorry for bad grammar, I meant “all the people can do is TRY”

14. ANYA VICTOR MC | Feb 12, 2009 | Reply

    Congratulation to man of disciple, a humble, and purposeful leader. T rue nationalist,exemplary character. men andWomen of wisdom back with intergrity, complete detribulised citizens sir ‘ you left impressions so overwhelmng that only few giants can cliam to match. At tis juncture, i slute you and your many uncountable attributes and i am conviced that nothing whether high above the sky or in the deepest ocean. Nothing in all creation will ever be able to seperate you from the love of God that is revealed n husband and children, may He equally guard and protect you and the members of your christ Jesus our Lord.Amen
    May the good Lord almighty continue to strenghten and uphold you, your families and ministry, and grant you many many more happy returns of the day with the very best of health always. may this season be a season ture joy and also prepare a ground for solid fulfillment of purposes. God bless you ma. Amen. pls to

    your”s son
    Anya victor mc

    pls call and help us touch lifies +2348050692996

15. Dr and Dr(Mrs) V. C, Sharma | May 4, 2009 | Reply

    May 5, 2009 UNITED KINGDOM

    Hon Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe:

    RE: NON-PAYMENT OF OUR PENSIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA, FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS SINCE 1ST APRIL,2005

    After dozens and dozens of letters to various quarters including University of Benin, Pension Commission, Abuja, Nigerian High Commission, London, The National Universities Commission, Abuja etc etc we are now approaching you directly for your kind attention and the speedy resolution of our much delayed pension concerns from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

    1. In 1972, after our PhD graduation here from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, we were selected by the then INTER-UNIVERSITY COUNCIL (IUC) in London (a committee comprised of both British and Nigerian Professors)to re-build the University system in Nigeria immediately after the Nigeria civil war. Both myself and my wife Dr(Mrs) A Sharma, served the Nigerian University system as academics for 24 years, purely because of our attraction and love for Nigerians and returned to our home in the UK in 1996 mainly because of our health concerns. It is pleasing to note that many of our ex students are now in very Senior positions both in Nigeria and abroad as Professors, Chairpersons of both public and private enterprises, military officers, ministers and so on. We fully dedicated our lives to the service of Nigeria with full passion and energy.

    2. At the beginning, we did receive our pensions here in the UK from the University of Benin for the first nine(9) years from 1st April 1996 to 31st March 2005 in accordance with the then laid down pension regulations for the expatriate staff which stipulated that pension will be paid directly into our nominated Bank Accounts in the UK (our country of residence)by the Nigeria Universities Office based at the Nigerian High Commission in London. However, after 9 years of such payment, our pensions were suddenly discontinued from 1st April 2005. After numerous letters and many reminders to the Vice-Chancellor (Professor E.A.C. Nwanze)of the University of Benin for the past 4 years , the university authorities are now demanding that we should both present ourselves physically to the University of Benin authorities and also to the Nigerian Pension Commission in Abuja, before our pensions could resume payments from 1st April 2005. This new demand violates the then pension conditions under which we retired in 1996. Moreover, we retired in 1996 solely due to health concerns and as such we are unable to present ourselves physically at this point in time (after 13 years of retirement) both at the University of Benin and also at the Pension Commission, Abuja, as per the new demanded.

    3. In response to the above new demand from the University of Benin and the Nigerian Pension Commission, Abuja, we have written several letters to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin stating that at this age and stage, as pensioners with severe financial constraints and serious health concerns(which was the main reason to retire from the University in the first instance) we were unable to travel to Nigeria to present ourselves physically before the University of Benin authorities and also before the Nigerian Pension Commission in Abuja. Instead, as usual, we did send to the University of Benin authorities our life certificates duly authenticated by our Attorneys in the UK stating that we were still alive and also giving them the added option that we were prepared to present ourselves physically before the Nigeria High Commission in London which is the authentic arm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and which indeed represents the Federal Government of Nigeria in the UK or before any other organ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria here in the UK e.g. The Nigerian Universities Office also based at the Nigerian High Commission in London and which represents the interests of National Universities Commission in Abuja. Very sadly, however, these legitimate options put forward by us have been ignored both by the University of Benin and the Pension Commission, Abuja, and as a result, our pensions from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, continue to remain unpaid for the past 4 years starting from 1st April 2005.

    4. In view of the above predicaments, we are left with no option but to contact you directly through this channel and seek your urgent help and support on the non-payment of our legitimate pension rights from Nigeria for the past 4 years. Needless to say, we have earned our pensions from Nigeria and our pensions are our inalienable legitimate rights which can neither be ignored nor usurped under any circumstance but sadly these have been violated and denied us for the past 4 years.

    5. And finally, we both thank you for your time and attention and look forward to your full support for the speedy resolution of our pension concerns caused entirely and unjustifiably by the University of Benin and the Nigerian Pension Commission in Abuja. We are optimistic,with you help, our backlog of pensions for myself and my wife Dr(Mrs) A Sharma will resume payment,once again by the Nigeria Universities Office based at the Nigeria High Commission in London. We look forward to your kind and prompt response on our lingering pensions.

    With our kind regards.

    PROFESSOR V C SHARMA DR(MRS)A SHARMA
    ADDRESS: 11 Ribble Court, Garrard Gardens, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, United Kingdom B73 6DL.
    TEL: 0121 355 6461
    Fax: 0121 355 6461

16. ikumogunniyi kamorudeen o | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply

    Good day, please i will like to know if the ministry of foreign affairs has branch office in lagos state. thanks

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