Nigeria's president has warned his fellow citizens to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be "accepted" abroad.

Muhammadu Buhari, the tough ex-general elected last year, said those who had joined the migrant exodus to Europe were doing so purely for economic reasons rather than because they were in danger.

He added that because of the number of Nigerians imprisoned for law-breaking in Britain and elsewhere, they were also unlikely to get much sympathy.

"We have an image problem abroad and we are on our way to salvage that"

"Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking," he told The Telegraph.

"I don't think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country."



Mr Buhari's remarks may upset refugees' rights groups, who claim that the vast majority of asylum cases lodged by Nigerians are genuine. In recent years, many have said they are fleeing Boko Haram, the Islamist group that Mr Buhari's army is now struggling to stamp out in northern Nigeria.

However, only around one in ten of the 13,000 asylum claims lodged by Nigerians in Britain in the last 15 years have been accepted.

And the claims of persecution appear to cut no ice at all with Mr Buhari, a headmasterly figure who famously waged a "war on indiscipline" on his fellow Nigerians while serving as the country's military ruler in the 1980s.



Back then, Nigerians could be whipped if they did not stand in line at bus queues, while lazy civil servants were forced to do frog jumps in the office if they arrived for work late.



While he has not re-introduced such measures as a civilian ruler, he makes it clear that a minority of his countrymen could still do with improving their behaviour. "We have an image problem abroad and we are on our way to salvage that," he said.

Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/12143510/Nigerians-reputation-for-crime-has-made-them-unwelcome-in-Britain-says-countrys-president.html

Nigeria needs no additional enemy cos Buhari is already doing enough damage both at local and international fronts.

Who in his sane mind paints a bad picture of his home?
Does Buhari understand what diplomacy in speeches mean?

Every nation has its social challenges but they don't go about brandishing it at the slightest opportunity.

Are we worse than the Chinese, Indians, Lebanese and even Americans? Every nation is working at improving itself but not by washing its dirty linen on international media.

And we wonder why all the investors took off after May 29?

Buhari should never have been Nigeria's president at this time of global media frenzy

You know you are finished when your leader fails while trying to solve a Nations problems

But you are Complete finished when your leader starts to accuse the citizens of creating the problem he is suppose to solve.

This Buhari is a Big IDIOT

I love this man's sinpidity

Cc lalasticlala

Just look at the way a man who is suppose to promote Nigeria's image abroad is busy destroying Nigeria's image abroad and painting Nigerians as corrupt, broke and criminals in the eyes of the world. What a shame !!! THIS APC GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY DICTATORIAL WITHOUT RESPECT FOR THE JUDICIARY BUT ALSO SHAMELESS AND CLUELESS. NONSENSE !!!

IgboDelta:
Just look at the way a man who is suppose to promote Nigeria's image abroad is busy destroying Nigeria's image abroad and painting Nigerians as corrupt, broke and criminals in the eyes of the world. What a shame !!! THIS APC GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY DICTATORIAL WITHOUT RESPECT FOR THE JUDICIARY BUT ALSO SHAMELESS AND CLUELESS. NONSENSE !!!

Next time, Nigerians will understand what it means to have an educated politician in power. For now, lets live with the worsening image Bubu has painted to the world.

Bubu the idiot is disgracing his country internationally again


Obama will never make this statement or he will be booted out but alas a dullard is in power

Chai Buhari!

DickDastardly:
I love this man's sinpidity

His stupidity has defied the law of physics and common sense

PROVACATEUR:
This Buhari is a Big IDIOT

This is what happens when you elect a dullard with Nepa bill as certificate to be your president

Bubu just called majority of Nigerians abroad criminals

You all can say what ever kind of trash about the president out of hatred . He still remains the best and corruption free president this country ever had. Unlike the previous silly and corrupt Jonathan that almost brought this country to down .

So many foolish comments up above me

Sall:
You all can say what ever kind of trash about the president out of hatred . He still remains the best and corruption free president this country ever had. Unlike the previous silly and corrupt Jonathan that almost brought this country to down .

Tell us another story. GEJ increased our Foreign Direct Investment FDI during his tenure. He convinced investors to come to nigeria. Hosted the World Economic Forum. Rebased our economy to be the largest in africa.

All this man does is talk trash and damage our image oversea. If a father contines to call his daughter a thief infront of suitors will the daughter ever get married?

obasiken:


Tell us another story. GEJ increased our Foreign Direct Investment FDI during his tenure. He convinced investors to come to nigeria. Hosted the World Economic Forum. Rebased our economy to be the largest in africa.

All this man does is talk trash and damage our image oversea. If a father contines to call his daughter a thief infront of suitors will the daughter ever get married?

Stop bothering yourself with APC zombies who never argue with facts. They aint worth that time .... trust me.

THIS IS A CLUELESS GOVERNMENT

Does the silly president know that his foolish statement can affect honest Nigerians doing honest business?
How dare a president make such statement?
Promoting his fake self proclaimed integrity to the detriment of millions of Nigerians. Even if all Nigerians are criminals you the president isn't the one to tell the world about it. Yours is to protect the image of Nigeria and Nigerians abroad.
I'm not disappointed though.

Every nation has the good and bad citizens. Whilst there are many Nigerians doing the wrong stuff abroad, there are still many others who go about their business in the most honest and sincere manner.

The President shouldn't add more injury to our image as a people. He must be careful with his words whenever abroad or even back here. There are millions of decent Nigerians living and working abroad.

Mr. President should stop trying too hard to impress the international media with his not - too - smart comments.

He represents us and; therefore he must endeavour to represent us very well and professionally. The President making such statements can further destroy whatever trace of trust others have towards his own people. Wisdom is very necessary.

Lalasticlala, let's see how people respond to this.

Flets:


Nigeria's president has warned his fellow citizens to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be "accepted" abroad.

Muhammadu Buhari, the tough ex-general elected last year, said those who had joined the migrant exodus to Europe were doing so purely for economic reasons rather than because they were in danger.

He added that because of the number of Nigerians imprisoned for law-breaking in Britain and elsewhere, they were also unlikely to get much sympathy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/12143510/Nigerians-reputation-for-crime-has-made-them-unwelcome-in-Britain-says-countrys-president.html

Buhari can only decieve himself and other idiotic people who cannot think for themselves

Reasonable people can see through all these deceptions

As for the British
They are the most treacherous, mischeivious, deceptive, diabolical, criminal, wicked and evil human beings to ever walk the face of the earth

They are the full embodiment of what zoombie religious followers call SATAN

I don't believe president Buhari make that type of statement against his country people. It's a lie

This guy just wan finish us Nigerians.

Which sane individual goes out to say bad things about his family just to prove he is clean. If that is not gross Stupidity tell me what is it?

Thank God I didn't fall for their Nonsense Change

babaijesha1:
I don't believe president Buhari make that type of statement against his country people. It's a lie

Tell that to Telegraph

This administratiom reminds me of the book "one week one trouble", only that in this case, with each trip there is plenty of trouble.
Buhari guard your mouth, you have done this thing in Benin republic, in India, in Kenya, in the UK.

You are driving the final nail into the coffins of the numerous Nigerians who are doing their best to rack a decent living and contribute meaningfully to their host countries pls remitting money back home .

May God grant you wisdom to control your tongue when presented with a microphone or audience.

Mynd44 OAM4J please do the needful

Buhari is a bastard, he has finished all of us, i pity yorubas in the uk, Because ur language was added to the list of UK police languages, u think its an achievement. Criminality is the achievement and buhari has helped cement the belief that nigerians are criminals, especially yorubas.


SAI BABA

Just read the comments on telegraph, you will weep and even deny your nationality. Buhari has damaged our reputation in the uk and the world at large. As long as the internet exists, it will never be erased

Sall:
You all can say what ever kind of trash about the president out of hatred . He still remains the best and corruption free president this country ever had. Unlike the previous silly and corrupt Jonathan that almost brought this country to down .

Hypocrite, you are saying other people's comments are based on hatred. Please what is your own comment based on?? Because i didn't see where the previous administration was mention in the news

Sall:
You all can say what ever kind of trash about the president out of hatred . He still remains the best and corruption free president this country ever had. Unlike the previous silly and corrupt Jonathan that almost brought this country to down .

both you and the persons that liked your post are idiots, its because you have never traveled out of nigeria thats why you have the effrontery to say this nonsense, have you thought bout the millions of nigerians outside? Have you!!!

thiagocrush:
Just read the comments on telegraph, you will weep and even deny your nationality. Buhari has damaged our reputation in the uk and the world at large. As long as the internet exists, it will never be erased

Buhari must be cautioned as a matter of urgency on the damage his unwise and poor utterances are causing Nigeria.

This is not an APC vs PDP affair. It's a national disaster.

Lalasticlala and seun make una come see our president Don talk again

vizboy:
Lalasticlala and seun make una come see our president Don talk again

Not even sure why this is not on front page.