Striving to put Nigerians back in positive light

2010/02/08

NIGERIA was in the news in Malaysia, and around the world, last week -- for the wrong reasons, as usual. It began with the detention of 10 people under the Internal Security Act over an alleged link to the Nigerian responsible for the botched Christmas Day plane bombing over Detroit.

But it soon emerged that two in the group may have been Nigerians, information that served to embellish the belief in some quarters that most Nigerians in Malaysia were rogues, thieves and scammers.

Far be it from the truth that all Nigerians have a criminal bent, says Peter J.E. Anegbeh, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia, who is at his wit's end over the bad publicity that Nigerians have been receiving.

"I have yet to be informed by the Foreign Ministry that two Nigerian citizens had been detained under the ISA, although the police told me so a few days ago," he says resignedly over yet another case of Nigerians receiving bad press undeservedly, or otherwise.

The former chief of protocol at the Nigerian Foreign Ministry, who has an inclination to look at life from a philosophical perspective, appears hard put to do so where the image of Nigerians in Malaysia is concerned.

"I don't like the way Nigerians are continuously being put in a negative light," he says as we sit in his Jalan Ampang Hilir office discussing bilateral relations and the image of Nigerians in Malaysia.

He had earlier spoken of the amazing manner in which Malaysians were flocking to Nigeria (an average of 40 every month) in search of business opportunities and how 7,500 Nigerians, the largest from the continent, were studying in Malaysia.

He had also spoken of how a Malaysian company, NGV Tech Sdn Bhd, had obtained a US$260 million (RM895 million) deal to build nine ships for a Nigerian enterprise; how a Malaysian company, Iris Smart Technologies, was producing passports for Nigerians; and how a Malaysian firm, ARM Associates Inc, was building houses for Nigerians in a big way.

"Under my watch, I have convinced many Malaysians to travel to Nigeria to see for themselves what my country holds for them in terms of investment and trade.

"In fact, these days, I don't have to try to convince Malaysians of the potential Nigeria holds for them, as Malaysians who have invested there are doing the job for me," he says.

But the glow of pride in these positive developments dulled when the conversation turns to the negative impression that many Malaysians have of Nigerians.

"It will be like this when four out of 10 Africans abroad are Nigerians," he says, adding that the same statistics generally applied to Nigerians in Malaysia.

Certainly, with so many (relatively-speaking) Nigerians here, their involvement in issues of a questionable or criminal nature in Malaysia may be large but smaller percentage-wise when compared with other nationalities.

Anegbeh may have succeeded to some extent to explain the situation to Malaysians in private and in public as his predecessors certainly did, but this is not about to change the ground realities.

"One of the factors leading to misunderstanding between locals and the Nigerians is the lack of interaction between them. I have been talking to our students with some success.

"But sometimes, the local authorities give trouble to our nationals who want to start restaurants or stalls to serve Nigerian food. They are willing to meet conditions set, but invariably face difficulties," he says.

Anegbeh is happy that the police are helpful in such situations and others like that where a few Nigerian students were arrested over a misunderstanding.

"I went to see the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who settled the matter in 30 minutes. What a man," he says, delighted over the manner in which the matter was disposed off by the top policeman.

Another recent development that brings a smile to his face is the visit of two school delegations which had the pick of a few European nations to visit, but chose Malaysia.

"They absolutely loved Malaysia. They had a hard time when it came to leaving for home."

The 60-year-old career diplomat, in his first and probably last ambassadorial posting (he retires this year), will see a slight change in name when he is no longer in harness.

Chief (he is a chieftain of the Bini people) Peter Anegbeh can be expected to immerse himself in charity work with the same measure of enthusiasm displayed over his 31 years in diplomacy.

bmoses@nstp.com.my