The German government of Angela Merkel has revealed indications that about 12,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany are on their way for deportation while the Nigerian government has said they would be welcomed.
Dr. Ralf Sanftenberg, Germany’s Global Head of Programmes, Migration and Development, made the revelation yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Relations and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.
TheNewsGuru recalls that in October 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari met with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in Germany, where he discussed economic relations for the betterment of Nigeria with the female world leader.
TheNewsGuru recalls as well that it was at this meeting that President Buhari made the notorious statement that his wife belongs to his kitchen, his living room and his other room.
At the visit to the President Buhari SSA, Sanftenberg stated “We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers”.
“There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year,” he added.
According to the envoy, 99 per cent of Nigerians in Germany are likely to be denied asylum status since Nigeria is not considered a war-ravaged country.
Sanftenberg, however, noted that if the Nigerians willingly return home, they would be assisted through a support programme organized by the German government.
A member of the delegation, who is a consultant to the programme, Stephanie Alofokhia-Ghogomu, urged the Nigerian asylum seekers to return home. Alofokhia-Ghogomu, who was also a voluntary returnee, said she had spent half of her life in Germany, adding that she had to return home to contribute to the development of Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa while commending the German Chancellor Merkel for her professional handling of illegal migration in her country urged the affected Nigerians to return home and take advantage of the assistance being provided by the German government.
“For Nigerians in Germany, who may wish to return, there is a better place for them at home to help them live a better live.
“Germany has the Ministry of Internal Affairs and budget for the returnees. And there are services that would be provided through the German government which they can enjoy,” Dabiri-Erewa said.