Abubakar Hashim /Monrovia
The Nigerian community in Liberia is well-structured and cohesive. Nigerians are about 270,000 in Liberia and the community is, today, a united entity. The community is also well organized, with various ethnic unions. Members in all the ethnic unions are screened and registered, to weed out criminals and drug pushers in Liberia. Today, drug menace, which was rampant in the past, has been drastically reduced, and unity among Nigerians in Liberia has been attained, with strong cooperation and a sense of direction, under the abled leadership of Deacon Harisson Eva Aniukwu. He works closely with the Nigerian Embassy, under the dynamic leadership of the outgoing acting ambassador and charge d’affairs of the Nigerian Embassy, Manir Ibrahim, who has been worthy to sustain unity among Nigerians in Liberia and to promote healthy bilateral relations between the two countries.
In the past, Nigerians were utterly disunited in Liberia. Series of protests were so frequent by Nigerians in front of the Embassy at Congo Town in Monrovia. But today, things have completely changed under the current leadership of the Embassy and that of the Nigerian Community under Deacon Harrison Eva Aniukwu, who is the President General, of Nigerian Community and Descendants Union of Liberia, with oversight advice and guidance of Mallam Yahaya Jalingo, who is the ECOWAS citizens chairman and publisher, ECOWAS citizens newspaper in Liberia who has residered in Liberia for over 47 years.
Harrison’s stewardship, with Jalingo’s useful advice, in cementing the Nigerian Community in Liberia, as a strong united entity, is immense. Harrison was elected in March 2019 for a 4-year term and is likely to be re-elected in up coming November 2024 elections for another term, due to his sound record of uniting Nigerians in Liberia. Jalingo is not only a father of Nigerians in Liberia but also a watchful eye of all ECOWAS citizens residing in Liberia.
When Charles Taylor was evacuated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 to Nigeria, it was Harrison, together with Jalingo, that were tasked by the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia, to supervise the smooth evacuation of thousands of stranded Nigerians on board Kabo Airlines back to Nigeria. The evacuation was successful.
Deacon Harisson Eva Aniukwu, President, Nigerian Community, Liberia… Laid solid
foundation of Unity of Nigerians in Liberia
The sterling leadership of Harrison has also led to a dramatic drop in drug-related cases by Nigerians in Liberia; as he has a cordial working relationship with the Liberian Drug Law Enforcement Agency LDEA.
The success of the Harrison-led team will not be possible without the significant input of the Nigerian Embassy under outgoing Charge’, Manir Ibrahim, who remained an influential figure in the unity of Nigerians in Liberia today. He has also maintained and sustained warm and cordial bilateral relations between the two countries
The Nigerian Community in Liberia, today, will also not be so united without the auxiliary support to the Harrison-led administration by Elder Council Chair, Chief Joseph Awabara, Yahaya Jalingo, Alhaji Mohammed Super Sow, Chief Michael Nana Okoli, Alhaji S.J. Amadu, among others, who are strongly supportive to a united Nigeria and ECOWAS unity in Liberia today.