A diplomatic crisis is brewing between Nigeria and India as thousands of Nigerians resident in the Asian country report a surge in racial profiling, police brutality, and systemic discrimination.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to intervene, following "disturbing" footage of Nigerians being stoned and assaulted in Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
Central to the outcry are allegations of predatory visa policies.
Nigerian students allege they are forced to pay 10,000 rupees (approx. ₦146,000) every three months for visa renewals—a fee reportedly not required of other African nationals.
Furthermore, Nigerians face mass arrests, denial of rental housing, and the forced closure of businesses.
“Anything that goes wrong is attributed to Nigerians. It’s unfair. I have seen male students bullied and harassed because they don’t believe we live by the rules,” a student in Delhi told Saturday Punch.
The Statistical Reality:
While there are roughly 50,000 Nigerians in India, analysts suggest the community is being targeted due to crime statistics. In 2024, Indian agencies arrested 660 foreigners for drug crimes; 106 were Nigerians (the second-highest nationality after Nepalis at 203). Consequently, deportations have quadrupled, with 1,470 Nigerians removed in the 2023-2024 fiscal year alone.
Despite the outcry, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) stated it cannot dictate another sovereign nation's immigration laws, suggesting "reciprocity" as the only diplomatic tool available.
Former envoys are now calling for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Indian Ambassador to address the safety of Nigerian citizens.
#India #Nigeria #RacialProfiling #NANS #NiDCOM #Diplomacy #HumanRights #VisaCrisis
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