INDIA SET TO DEPORT 30 NIGERIANS!

PANAJI: The 30 Nigerians without valid travel documents arrested for creating a ruckus on NH 17 on October 31, 2013, will remain in Goa a few more months as the Nigerian embassy is yet to confirm their identity. The Ghana embassy too has not responded on the Ghana national arrested in the same case.

Foreigner regional registration office (FRRO) has written to the Nigerian embassy seeking details of the 30 Nigerians. The process will take at least five months to complete and it will not be able to deport any of the foreigners until it gets confirmation from the embassy. tnn

SP Tony Fernandes, who retired this week as FRRO, told TOI before his retirement, that the Nigerian embassy was contacted immediately after the problem and the list of 30 Nigerians submitted to it.

Fernandes said he had spoken on the issue with a representative of the Nigerian embassy who was in Goa to attend a conference about a month ago. "Nigeria, being a big country having a population of 185 million people, they will need time to check on the 30 persons we want to deport," Fernandes said.

Of 52 arrested foreigners (51 Nigerians and one Ghana national), 21 were found to be have passports and other documents. Of the 30, some had passports but did not have visa documents.

FRRO has initiated the process for deporting the 21 Nigerians holding valid passports. Porvorim PI Shivram Vaigankar said the proceedings for deportation have to be through FRRO. Though cases are pending against the Nigerians found overstaying in Goa, the government can deport those not facing serious criminal charges, Vaigankar said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/