Nigerian students in Northern Cyprus as Nidcom to come to their aid as they suffer ill-treatment

NIGERIAN students in Northern Cyprus have asked the federal government for help them over the ill-treatment they are currently suffering in the hands of their host nation which has led to a high suicide rate among their members.

According to David Alozie, the president of Nigerian Diaspora Youth Ambassadors, Nigerian students in Northern Cyprus are suffering from intense depression as a result of the inhuman treatment meted to them, which has resulted in a high rate of suicide. Mr Alozie who spoke in Abuja when he led a four-man delegation to visit the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Nidcom) Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said for instance, that Nigerian students are forced to pay for tuition in pounds whereas other foreign students pay in Turkish lira.

He expressed a willingness to collaborate with Nidcom and other relevant agencies to create more awareness on challenges Nigerian youths are facing in Northern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus is only recognised Turkey and Nigeria with other countries not having an embassy there, making it difficult to take the issue up diplomatically or the United Nations or the European Union.

Nidcom spokesman Gabriel Odu, said the purpose of the visit was to appeal for quick intervention from the federal government on the plight of Nigerian students in the country. he added that Nigerian students are being racially profiled and deported on arrival at the airport for establishing contact with any individual in southern Cyprus.

Hon Dabiri-Erewa, added: “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not the best place to study, as majority of the institutions there are not recognised by the European Union or any country in the world.” She stressed the need for further awareness to sensitise Nigerian youths who are leaving their country with the hope of getting a better education.

In addition, Hon Dabiri-Erewa warned that Northern Cyprus is becoming a dangerous transit route for migrants, stressing that the country is not recognised by any country in the world except Turkey. She gave assurances that Nidcom will continue to work with relevant agencies like the International Organisation for Migration, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the nagging issue of Northern Cyprus.