In view of increasing number of Nigerians being arrested for violating Chinese laws, and with available statistics showing that about 732 Nigerians are in different Chinese prisons for various offences, discussions on the consular problems have become inevitable.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, made this clear at the weekend in Beijing, China at the ‘Nigeria-China Strategic Dialogue’.

The aim of the interactive session is an avenue for both countries to find ways in upgrading, improving and consolidating relations.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Keshi stressed the importance of the collaboration of the Nigerian embassy and Chinese authorities, to hold seminars in order to enlighten Nigerian in China on Chinese immigration laws/regulations.

He disclosed that out of the 732 Nigerians in Chinese prisons for violating Chinese immigration laws, existing statistics show that about 322 out of the number are in detention and another 304 are awaiting deportation, while the remaining 106 are in prison for trafficking, robbery and fraud.
“Over the years, increasing number of Nigerians arrived in China mostly as traders, and later find it difficult to leave the country,” he added.

The Nigerian envoy said: “By Chinese penal code, foreigners who overstay their visas’ period will face severe penalties including arrest, detention and payment of fines before they could leave the country.”
He stated that, to address the issues, both sides would consider two agreements proposed by Nigeria, namely: Agreement on Immigration Matters and Prisoner Transfer.

With the Chinese delegation, led by the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Wang Zhuanyu, Ambassador Keshi revealed that the Strategic Dialogue was established in 2008, which provides both countries the opportunity to assess and review the state of relationships between the two countries, as well as to reach agreements or harmonize their positions on a number of global issues, in particular on some of the issues before the United Nations General Assembly and the forthcoming Conference on Climate Change.”