Over 400 Nigerians in Chinese jails for drug trafficing

Not less than 400 Nigerians are currently in Chinese prison.

Mr. Wali also disclosed that 80 per cent of the prisoners committed drug related offences. He also said about 80 per cent of the crimes committed by Africans were committed by Nigerian citizens.

The Ambassador was speaking in an interactive session with journalists in Beijing, on Monday ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China beginning on Tuesday.

“We certainly have big issues with drug related crimes committed by Nigerians in China and when you look at the whole of Africa you find out that about 80 percent of all the offences and crimes committed by Africans in China about 80 percent is committed by Nigerians; that is why I think we are having running battle to try and control the situation.

“But we need assistance from back home, from the security agencies manning our exits and entry points in Nigeria to be more alert and vigilant to make sure these type of individuals do not escape and pass through our routes to come into, not only to China but any other country in the world because drug trafficking as it were, drug is the biggest problem that we have as far as Nigerians are concerned,” he said.

Mr. Wali further said that a lot of the Nigerian prisoners don’t come to China with Nigerian passports.

“A lot of them don’t come in with their real names so sometimes with difficulties we only know when they are taken prisoners or they are sentenced and they are looking for consular visits. And of course if a Nigerian comes with the Ghanaian or Malawian passport and the Malawian consular goes there, he says no that is not from my country and eventually they now have to revert to us. We have to go and confirm these are Nigerians and then of course we take over and we give them necessary support,” he said.