NIGERIA PROTESTS TO U.S. OVER EMBASSY'S VIOLATION
From The Nation Newspaper Nigeria
Nigeria protests to U.S. over
Embassy’s violation
The Nigerian Embassy in Washington has protested to the
U.S. Government over the violation of its premises by the
Secret Service agents following fracas between two local
workers.
The Acting Ambassador/Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem
Balogun, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) that a “protest note” had been transmitted
to the U.S. Department of State.
Balogun condemned the violation of the diplomatic
protocol over altercation by two Embassy drivers adding:
“The embassy has as well transmitted a protest note to
the U.S. Department of State.
“We have sent a protest note in respect of the entrance
by the police into the embassy. It is against diplomatic
protocols.
“They are not supposed to enter the embassy. The protest
letter is in respect of the entrance of the police into the
embassy,” Balogun said.
The Nigerian envoy also said that he “has since taken
appropriate and timely, administrative and diplomatic
steps to address the incident.
“These measures include the immediate and indefinite
suspension of the two local staff members involved in the
fracas.
“There is the establishment of a Committee to investigate
and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against
the two locally-recruited staff members involved in the
fracas.”
Balogun dismissed the publication by a Nigerian
newspaper alleging that “the United States Police was
called in to restore order in the Embassy as a result of ‘a
physical fight’.
The ambassador also described as baseless, claims that
the fracas took place “in the full glare of dozens of
guests and visa applicants”.
“To buttress its report, the Newspaper attached a
photograph claiming to be the ‘chaotic situation’ that
erupted as a result of the fight,” he said.
According to him, however, the dispute between two of its
drivers took place in the basement area of the Chancery
where Embassy drivers are stationed.
“The physical encounter was, therefore, not in the full
glare of the public as to have caused a chaotic situation.
“A cursory look and careful analysis of the picture
attached by the Newspaper will reveal to anyone
conversant with the Embassy’s premises that the picture
used has no physical connection to the Embassy.
“This was clearly an effort at deception,” the ambassador
said.
On the issue of the nationalities of the Embassy’s local
staff members, he said the primary qualification for
employment into the non-diplomatic workforce is
knowledge of the job, not the nationality of the applicant.
“The Newspaper went further to question the composition
of the nationalities of the Embassy’s locally recruited
staff”.
“This is an international best practice. Be that as it may,
it is important to inform that out of the Mission’s current
local staff strength of 44, there are 37 Nigerians.
“Seven are non-Nigerians from India, The Philippines,
Singapore and Sri Lanka,” he said.
Balogun assured that the Mission would continue to do
everything within its mandate to protect and defend the
interests of Nigeria and Nigerians in the U.S. (NAN)
Nigeria protests to U.S. over
Embassy’s violation
The Nigerian Embassy in Washington has protested to the
U.S. Government over the violation of its premises by the
Secret Service agents following fracas between two local
workers.
The Acting Ambassador/Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem
Balogun, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) that a “protest note” had been transmitted
to the U.S. Department of State.
Balogun condemned the violation of the diplomatic
protocol over altercation by two Embassy drivers adding:
“The embassy has as well transmitted a protest note to
the U.S. Department of State.
“We have sent a protest note in respect of the entrance
by the police into the embassy. It is against diplomatic
protocols.
“They are not supposed to enter the embassy. The protest
letter is in respect of the entrance of the police into the
embassy,” Balogun said.
The Nigerian envoy also said that he “has since taken
appropriate and timely, administrative and diplomatic
steps to address the incident.
“These measures include the immediate and indefinite
suspension of the two local staff members involved in the
fracas.
“There is the establishment of a Committee to investigate
and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against
the two locally-recruited staff members involved in the
fracas.”
Balogun dismissed the publication by a Nigerian
newspaper alleging that “the United States Police was
called in to restore order in the Embassy as a result of ‘a
physical fight’.
The ambassador also described as baseless, claims that
the fracas took place “in the full glare of dozens of
guests and visa applicants”.
“To buttress its report, the Newspaper attached a
photograph claiming to be the ‘chaotic situation’ that
erupted as a result of the fight,” he said.
According to him, however, the dispute between two of its
drivers took place in the basement area of the Chancery
where Embassy drivers are stationed.
“The physical encounter was, therefore, not in the full
glare of the public as to have caused a chaotic situation.
“A cursory look and careful analysis of the picture
attached by the Newspaper will reveal to anyone
conversant with the Embassy’s premises that the picture
used has no physical connection to the Embassy.
“This was clearly an effort at deception,” the ambassador
said.
On the issue of the nationalities of the Embassy’s local
staff members, he said the primary qualification for
employment into the non-diplomatic workforce is
knowledge of the job, not the nationality of the applicant.
“The Newspaper went further to question the composition
of the nationalities of the Embassy’s locally recruited
staff”.
“This is an international best practice. Be that as it may,
it is important to inform that out of the Mission’s current
local staff strength of 44, there are 37 Nigerians.
“Seven are non-Nigerians from India, The Philippines,
Singapore and Sri Lanka,” he said.
Balogun assured that the Mission would continue to do
everything within its mandate to protect and defend the
interests of Nigeria and Nigerians in the U.S. (NAN)
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