Nigerians misuse educational schemes: Goan MP Shantaram Naik

All foreign nationals irrespective of their nationalities, overstaying in Goa, should be deported, he says

Amid a row between Goa government and Nigerians, Goa MP Shantaram Naik today claimed that Nigerians misuse educational schemes, violate Foreign Exchange Management Act and indulge in drug trade in the state.

 

"Nigerians misuse education schemes, violate Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), indulge in drug trade and yet try to boss over Goans which no civilised society would tolerate," Naik said in a statement released here, commenting on the current row between Nigeria and the Goa government.

 

Naik said all foreign nationals irrespective of their nationalities, overstaying in Goa, should be deported by following due legal process.

 

The Goa state government has begun a crackdown on foreigners staying illegally, after a group of 200 Nigerians created a ruckus on the highway in Goa last week.

 

Naik said although Nigerians are permitted to get educated in India, their activities in Goa are "dubious, illegal and dangerous" to the peace loving state.

 

"Reportedly, Nigerians stay in Goa, even by destroying their passports and continue to stay on temporary documents. They pretend to be students, while they carry no proof about the same. Some of them claim to be self-employed or self-paid, and that they carry no visa documents," Naik said.

 

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had yesterday accused a Nigerian diplomat of sending "offensive SMSes" to a senior police officer over the killing of a Nigerian national.

 

"He (the diplomat) was wrongly briefed and went to the extent of sending offensive SMSes to our Superintendent of Police," Parrikar had said.

 

The Centre yesterday said it was in "diplomatic dialogue" with Nigeria after that country raised the killing of one of its nationals in Goa and noted that it was expecting a report from the state government in the matter.

 

The state police had also arrested a Goan youth in connection with the killing of the Nigerian national on October 31 which sparked protests by his fellowmen.

 

The special investigation squad arrested Surendra Pal on Tuesday night in connection with the killing of Obodo Uzoma Simeon from Chapora, a beachside village in north Goa.