The Consul-General of Ghana in Lagos, Maxwell Awiaya, on Wednesday disclosed that there were about 500,000 Ghanaians currently living in different Nigerian cities and communities.
Awiaya also told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that only
about 20,000 out of the number had so far been registered as Ghanaian
nationals in Nigeria.
He said: “As we all know, Nigeria and Ghana are brothers. There has always been that spirit of brotherliness and long existing relations between
Nigeria and Ghana.
“Our records currently show that we have an estimation of about
500,000 Ghanaians living in different parts of Nigeria.
“According to our records, we have barely about 20,000 Ghanaians that
are registered as our nationals in Nigeria. And this is not encouraging at all.
“We are, therefore, going to increase our efforts at making more of
our nationals in Nigeria come to us or we go to them for registration.’’
Awiaya said that his consulate had started visiting churches in Lagos,
Ibadan and Imo state, to seek Ghanaians in those communities for
registration.
Awiaya said that identification cards were also currently being issued
to every registered national immediately after their registration.
The consul-general said that with their registration, it would become
easier for them to relate with the consulate, as well as their home
government.
Awiaya, therefore, enjoined all Ghanaians in Nigeria to come out in large numbers and take advantage of the ongoing nationality registration for them in Nigeria.
He said: “We want our nationals in Nigeria to know that we are currently
visiting churches with our consular forms, to enable them to be registered
as Ghanaians in Nigeria.
“We want them to join us on Sunday, March 11, at the Four Square
Church, Yaba, Lagos for the celebration of our country’s 61st Independence anniversary.
“We really want to use the celebration of the country’s Independence anniversary in Lagos to register many of our nationals.’’