Sir, - The report (April 14th), that deportation of Nigerian asylum-seekers is imminent is extremely disheartening. Medbh Ruane's excellent article (April 6th), pointed out either the Government is abysmally ignorant of the political situation in Nigeria or it just does not want to know. I have known many Nigerian asylum seekers here in Limerick. One couple with a new-born baby stayed with us while awaiting a flat. They have all been uniformly the most pleasant, civilised well-educated people you could imagine. They all speak English as well as several African languages. Many also speak French and other European languages. They have been bank officials, local government employees, teachers, and health officials. One rather outstanding individual, who has appeared several times on national television to plead their case, was a lecturer in international relations.
Thanks to the trojan work of Doras Luimni, the voluntary body who looks after them in Limerick, the Nigerian asylum-seekers, indeed all the asylum-seekers, have integrated very well with local communities. They have breathed new life into the centre city churches, both Protestant and Catholic. They have organised an educational programme for city schools. They have worked with the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick.
Most of them have lost everything in the move to Ireland, including contact with their families. They had everything to lose and nothing to gain in fleeing their countries - except their lives.
Most of the Nigerians seem to have been involved in resisting the imposition of the shariyah in their respective states and have been targeted by extremist groups over which their government does not seem to have any control. If they return, they tell me, that they are faced with a £500 fine at the airport for a "passport". If their families meet them at the airport and pay the fine they will still have to spend up to a month in prison. If they do not get the money right away they will spend months in prison. The conditions in Nigerian prisons are notorious and their chances of survival in a such a hostile atmosphere are slim. The Nigerians that I know are terrified of returning. Their existence here is not easy, but at least they are alive and free with some hope of seeing their families one day. If they are returned en masse they have very little chance of survival. We, for our part, will join the ranks of those countries that refused asylum to the Jews in the 1930s and repatriated Russian prisoner of war in the 1940s knowing full well they were destined for Stalin's labour camps. Surely we do not need to repeat the regrettable mistakes of our fellow Europeans. - Yours, etc.,
David Blake, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick.