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Nigerian group in Italy, lauds envoy over decline in prostitution, others

By From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
11 May 2010   |   2:05 pm
A GROUP, Nigerian community in Padova and its Environs, has commended Nigeria's Ambassador to Italy, Prince Iheneden Erediauwa for the reduction in prostitution and drug trafficking by Nigerians in the European country.The group added that through Erediauwa's efforts, there was decline in prostitution by Nigerians, particularly from Edo State and a drop in drug trafficking…
A GROUP, Nigerian community in Padova and its Environs, has commended Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy, Prince Iheneden Erediauwa for the reduction in prostitution and drug trafficking by Nigerians in the European country.

The group added that through Erediauwa’s efforts, there was decline in prostitution by Nigerians, particularly from Edo State and a drop in drug trafficking in Italy.

In a letter to the National Assembly by the group, it commended the ambassador’s eagerness and prompt response to the needs of Nigerians in that country.

The letter signed by the group’s President; Chris Ezeagba, Vice President; Sunny Idada, Secretary General; Matthew Ogaraku and Treasurer; Mrs. Julie Agu and made available to The Guardian in Benin yesterday commended Erediauwa for “the sending of our officials of the embassy to the nooks and crannies of Italy to offer consular services to them, thereby saving them the cost and stress of travelling to Rome for the services is a big relief.

It continued: “His diplomatic interventions have prevented a lot of Nigerians from being intimidated and deported illegally. Our appeal for years for the reduction of costs for consular services has been met through the current ambassador. Nigerians here through his policies have regained confidence in our country, hence our appeal for more encouragement.”

They appealed for the establishment of a consular section in Milan, Northern Italy which they said accommodates a large percentage of Nigerian immigrants because of employment opportunities available there.

It was gathered that not less than 1,600 Nigerians within one month got their Nigerian passports to enable them apply for Italian residents permit under an amnesty programme by the Italian government for illegal immigrants.

The group in the letter, however, called on the National Assembly for a fact-finding visit to the country to see things for themselves but lamented the absence of any pensionable scheme for Nigerians working in Italy unlike what nationals of countries like Senegal and Ghana get when they retire. This development, they attributed to the absence of bilateral agreement to that effect between the Federal Government and Italian government.

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