The President of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a non-governmental organisation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Blue Diamond Logistics, based in China, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, has raised the alarm over Nigerians languishing in Chinese prisons for alleged drug trafficking, warning them to stay off drugs.

He said Nigerian businessmen in China contributes to over 70 per cent of China’s growing economy and were doing well, regretting that only a few had marred this laudable effort through drug trafficking and other social vices.

While reminding them that death by hanging is the penalty for drug-related offences in China, he urged Nigerians doing business there to say no to illicit drug trafficking and desist from crimes that could dent the image of Nigeria abroad.

Mbisiogu, who was the keynote speaker at the forum, which sought to rebuild the image of Nigeria abroad, noted that though both countries have had a very strong trade relationship over the years, Nigerians in China were still placed under heavy diplomatic restrictions owing to crimes and illicit drug trafficking.

“In Guangdong Province alone, Nigerians contribute to over 80 per cent of SME development that has revolutionised the means of doing business between Africans in China and Chinese entrepreneurs.

“In the city of Guangzhou alone, a predominantly Nigerian business area, daily business transactions have been recorded to exceed a cash return of $5 million.

“Yet, Nigerians continue to suffer one of the worst forms of stereotype between Chinese citizens and its foreign visitors, virtually in every aspect of economic and social lives. Today, because of the involvement of some Nigerians in illicit drug trafficking in China, we are not truly enjoying the benefits of our trade relationship with them. Instead, we are being profiled on a daily basis and denied some privileges, which ordinarily should have come to us as people contributing significantly to the growth of their economy.”

Mbisiogu, therefore, called on Nigerians in China to work hard to protect the image of the country abroad. He said: “In Guangdong Province, Nigerians are no longer giving residents’ permit. There is also no visa extension. Nigerians, who are married and residing in China are not given residents’ permit. That is why many of us do not have our families here with us. Our citizens, who come here to study are not allowed to work unlike the citizens of other countries.”