Abuja – (NAN) A Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federal House of Representatives, Dr Kingsley Ebenyi, has condemned the persecution of Nigerians abroad.

In a  statement, Tuesday, Ebenyi said that the recent molestation of Nigerians by the Malaysian Police was unacceptable.

The former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain and Holy See described as outrageous and provocative the action by Malaysian Police who clamped down on any Nigerian in sight, including “even legitimate students who had committed no crime’’.

He pointed out that no nation would watch with hands akimbo and allow the continuous dehumanization of its citizenry.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must liaise effectively with Nigeria missions overseas to be proactive and respond spontaneously to distress calls.

“We must make a statement that gone are the days Nigerians would be brutalized for no just cause. We must be seen as providing protection for our citizens wherever they are as our primordial concern,” Ebenyi said.

He advocated for a re-orientation of embassy staff for quick response so that Nigerians would have a sense of belonging.

“Our foreign missions must embark on mass enlightenment of critical sectors and authorities of their host countries, such as the immigration, police and other security arms,” Ebenyi said.

He urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intervene on the fate of brutalized Nigerians, especially reported cases of Nigerian students allegedly shot by the Malaysian Police.

Ebenyi insisted on demands for adequate compensation and prosecution of those who carried out the acts against Nigerian citizens.

The former Ambassador also tasked the Ministries of Information, Culture and Tourism as well as Youth Development and Sports, to evolve a cultural package that would showcase Nigeria’s diversity in arts and culture.

“Let’s have exchange programs that would air on television stations overseas, the giant strides Nigeria had achieved in sports; football and athletics, wrestling, taekwondo and boxing.

“Good documentaries of our star footballers have a way of portraying the nation in good light,” he advised.

Ebenyi said the country’s Nollywood was beginning to receive positive responses overseas and advised that films of high quality, well produced and not smeared with rituals be packaged for projecting the country overseas.