Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has dismissed allegations suggesting that Mexico is turning Nigeria into a centre for drug-related activities, describing the claims as inaccurate and harmful to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Omokri made the clarification while responding to a journalist’s concerns on his social media platform over reports involving some Mexican nationals accused of drug-related offences in Nigeria.
The former presidential aide argued that the actions of a few individuals should not be used as a basis to label an entire country or its citizens as contributors to criminal activities. He maintained that the cases frequently referenced by critics were isolated incidents that should not define decades of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Mexico.
“There is no truth to such insinuations,” Omokri declared. “Yes, there have been isolated cases involving some individuals, and I think that in our fifty years of bilateral relations with the United Mexican States, such a thing had only happened twice. This indicates that the unfortunate cases were isolated incidents.”
He stressed that both countries share a commitment to fighting crime and have no intention of protecting anyone who violates the law.
“Neither Nigeria nor Mexico want to protect criminals. If individuals break the law, they must face the consequences,” Omokri stated. “But to blame their nations or tar all citizens of that country with the same brush is not expedient. It hurts legitimate business people.”
The ambassador-designate cautioned against statements that could strain relations between Nigeria and Mexico, noting that such narratives could negatively affect trade, investment and diplomatic cooperation.
He described Mexico as a major global economy and an important economic partner to Nigeria, adding that both countries have maintained mutually beneficial trade relations over the years.
“Nigerians ought to know that Mexico has a $2 trillion economy and is the thirteenth-largest economy on Earth,” he said. “We have been trading with Mexico for decades, and the trade balance is in our favour. Three times in our favour. So, this is a friendly country, and the Nigerian media should understand the implications for our country of mislabelling a country whose policies towards us have been benevolent.”
Omokri further drew attention to the population imbalance between Nigerians living in Mexico and Mexicans residing in Nigeria, saying the figures showed the need for both nations to avoid generalising criminal cases.
“Might I make you aware that there are 50,000 Nigerian citizens in Mexico, versus only 500 Mexicans in Nigeria,” he noted. “And, sadly, we do have Nigerians, which runs afoul of the law in Mexico. But that country has prudently refrained from defining its bilateral relationship with Nigeria along those lines.”
He appealed to media organisations and public commentators to support efforts aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation rather than promoting narratives that could undermine trust between both countries.
Omokri said Mexico’s achievements through regional trade frameworks could provide valuable lessons for Nigeria as it works towards strengthening economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
“People like you, and your newspaper, which I believe is Vanguard, should use your wide reach as the most-read paper in Nigeria to help build our bilateral relations with a country that has made an exponential success out of the NAFTA and USMCA trade agreement, which is something Nigeria would like to achieve with ACFTA,” Omokri said.
Connecting the issue to President Bola Tinubu’s economic objectives, Omokri said Nigeria should prioritise strategic partnerships with countries that can contribute to its development goals.
“We have a national ambition under President Tinubu to be a $1 trillion economy by 2031. We should not be undermining our relationship with a $2 trillion economy that can give us valuable, experience-based, practical insight and assistance that will help us attain that vision,” he added.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to distinguish criminal behaviour from nationality, insisting that law enforcement authorities should handle individual cases without creating negative impressions about entire countries.
“Leave the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to handle isolated cases of criminality unrelated to nationality.”
