Ambassador Says 98 Nigerians Studying In Algerian Tertiary Institutions

Nigerian Ambassador to Algeria, Aisha Garba has revealed that no fewer than 98 Nigerian students are currently studying in various tertiary institutions across Algeria.

Garba, on Wednesday, said that the students were in Algeria on the Education Bilateral Agreement between both countries, a programme which commenced in 2010.

Garba disclosed this following the hosting of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, at the Nigeria Embassy in Algiers.

Bayero went to Algiers for a two-day International Conference on “Imam Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Maghili Governance Stability and Unity of African Societies.”

Her words: “We have a sizable number of Nigerians in Algeria. Apart from those that work in the Embassy, we have Nigerian students who are under the Bilateral Education Agreement. About 98 of them are studying in various fields.

“We have professionals working in various international organisations. They are few though. We have Nigerians (the migrants) in view of the proximity from Algeria to Europe.

“We usually get up to 15-20 students every year but from 2020-2022. Due to COVID-19, we have not received any students yet.

“We are hoping that by 2023, the scholarships will resume.”

The diplomat noted the impending end of the accommodation issue which posed a major challenge to the embassy, stating that had been allocated land for the building of the Nigerian embassy in Algiers.

Garba who said construction work would commence soon pointed out that the Embassy had been operating from a rented apartment, which had been consuming a lot of the mission’s subsection annually.

“It has been challenging for us because the properties for rent in this area are on the high side.

“The project will start as soon as possible. We are doing the paperwork already. We don’t have the budget, yet, of how much the building will cost because we just got the land,” she explained.

The envoy advised Nigerians to not only visit the Embassy when they get into trouble but to do so whenever they come into any country.

“Sometimes, we do not know when Nigerians come in until something happens then we start running helter skelter.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been telling people all the time, that whenever they are coming to a foreign land and they have representation in that country, the first point of call is the Embassy so that if anything happens, he or she has registered their presence in the country. 

"The embassy will know where they live and the purpose of their coming.

“The only time we do not have a quick response to issues is when it is complex, especially when it has to do with an illegal stay. 

"This is because illegal migration is a crime in this country. But if one is a legal resident, we try as much as possible to protect Nigerians,” she said.