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A
cross section of Ambassadors Designate during the Induction Programme for them
in Abuja on Thursday (30/3/17). 02155/30/3/17/Anthony Alabi/JAU/NAN
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A non-career
ambassadorial nominee, Yusuf Hinna, has alleged that Ghanaians and citizens of
other African countries obtained Nigeria passport and use it for criminal
activities.
News
Agency of Nigeria report continues:
The
nominee stated this while responding to questions at his screening by the Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Tuesday.
He
told lawmakers that some of the criminal activities perpetrated in several
countries of the world were by nationals of other African countries who hold
Nigerian passports, and not by Nigerian citizens as often reported.
He
said if confirmed as ambassador, he would embark on continual screening to
determine citizenship and eligibility for obtaining the Nigeria passport.
On
Xenophobia, Hinna said if confirmed and posted to South Africa, for instance,
he would engage the country’s government in order to stop harassment of
Nigerians living in the country.
“There
are dislikes against Nigerians in South Africa. When Nigerians arrive, police
dogs are used to sniff them at the airport.
“If
I am sent to such a country, I will engage the government so as to stop
unwanted harassment.
“However,
I recall that some Africans such as Ghanaians were arrested and they were
carrying Nigeria passports.
“There
is abuse of our green passports. There are security challenges, and we have to
tackle them,’’ he said.
On
threat to world peace, the nominee said “nuclear weapons are dangerous to world
affairs’’.
He
also spoke on the rise of different militant groups, particularly in Nigeria,
who posed danger to security of lives and property.
The
nominee called the Federal Government to curtail activities of such groups to
protect the country against security threats greater than that currently posed
by Boko Haram.
The
News Agency of Nigeria reports that other nominees screened by the committee
were Sylvanus Nsofor, a retired justice from Imo State and Joseph Iji from Ondo
State.
President
Muhammadu Buhari in a letter dated March 29, 2017, requested the Senate to
re-consider Mr. Nsofor, who was earlier rejected for failing to scale through
the initial process.
Mr.
Iji’s nomination replaced Jacob Daodu, who was also rejected by the Senate
based on a report from the Department of State Security, DSS.
Mr. Hinna, from Gombe State, was nominated to replace Suleiman Hassan, who was nominated to fill the ministerial slot of Gombe State.
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