Freetown — Time will tell what will become of Nigerians and their reputation in Sierra Leone after the series of heart-to-heart discussions they engaged themselves recently.

The spate of negative perception about Nigerians has reached a point of redressing as their majority is now regarded with corresponding banality.

Under the direct supervision of the Nigerian High Commission, Nigerians have embarked on extensive dialoguing to rid themselves of the dented image that has been attached to their majority -even though just a few of them asked for it.

And truly, honesty was at play. At one of the meetings which were held in succession, young minds voiced their concerns and Nigerians with grey hair came out to give their candid opinion on what has become a matter of collective embarrassment to their personalities.

This is not how it used to be for those of us who have been here for more than a decade, one of them explained at one of the meetings. Comparison was made between Nigerians' stay in Sierra Leone now and the last few years before the flaws were analyzed.

However, despite the recorded (downward trend) changes in Nigerians' goodwill, blames were not traded - for the sake of national cohesion and to proffer a lasting solution to the problems. Rather, issues affecting the Nigerian community presently were confronted head on.

Afterwards, there was a consensus that there would be a change of attitude on the part of every Nigerian in Sierra Leone. This, it is believed, will result in better relationship with Sierra Leoneans.

As an individual, I thought such meetings have long overdue so many months or even years ago and that it was rather unfortunate for them to be taking place now but some Nigerians proved me wrong saying the maintenance of order and decency, as far as a group of people is concerned, always stems from the top.

Suffice to say that if those sitting aloft - particularly in authority - choose to be aloof from other Nigerians' because of their differences, then there is no point in trying to share a common goal.

But now, when the managing director of a (now) multi-national bank whose institution has invested millions of dollars into their operations in Sierra Leone, is being asked to expose his buttocks at the airport to confirm that he has nothing like cocaine in the hole, the situation shows it has reached an unbearable stage. Very embarrassing!

So, high and low status Nigerians were compelled to unite for a common goal. In fact, the most impressive point that I observed is that these meetings brought Nigerians - I mean Nigerians of various calibers- together for the first time in a long period.

They all met to discuss issues affecting their generality in a foreign land. Some of us think that feat alone is enough to indicate that something good is lurking in the corner for Nigerians generally.

It is also at this point that I share in the notion carried by some people who carved out a positive side to the negativities attributed to Nigerians. They said if the situation hadn't reached this alarming proportion, nothing tangible could have been done to address Nigerians' image problem in Sierra Leone. In other words, it is a blessing in disguise.

Another set of people gave a thump-up to the new Nigerian High Commissioner, Mr. Godson Echighile for supporting such an initiative that would enable Nigerians in Sierra Leone comport themselves to the laws of Sierra Leone.

Echighile resumed duty sometimes in May and have reportedly gone through the length and breadth of Sierra Leone in the interest of Nigerians. He even made statements that constitute sheer truth - similar to those uttered by elder statesmen traditional settings.

He could be said to be performing his designated role as a diplomat but older Nigerians say he has outdid four to five previous ambassadors whose administrations have done little to proffer a remedy.

As two loving nations, Sierra Leone and Nigeria have gone beyond a level whereby their relationship would be strained on the basis of shortcomings from their citizens. But that understanding, notwithstanding, should not serve as a license to encourage misdoings on any side.

Citizen Diplomacy has always been centered on people but the onus is on Nigerians in Sierra Leone to learn to live within the confines of the laws of their host nation in order not to destroy the over-a-century relationship that has existed between the two West African states.

As more and more Nigerian investments are finding their ways into Sierra Leone, it will be expedient for Nigerians, irrespective of their status in the Sierra Leonean society, to maintain a clean sheet in whatever they do.

Though the bottom line of the matter is that the stigma on Nigerians must be erased gradually until it fades, it is still tentative to state that the unification of the 'many Nigerians' would be sustained in strength to overcome the scourge of the 'few Nigerians' who taint their overall image. It is very dicey but Nigerians -in all- would determine their stand.

Just two days ago, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe expressed concerns that many Nigerians were being treated with disdain at foreign airports as a result of the activities of "a very negligible number of Nigerians who are seen as criminals." "Ninety-nine per cent of Nigerians are clean and credible people who are doing their legitimate business everywhere in the world," Maduekwe said. "It is rather unfortunate that just for the sake of a few, all of us are being harassed when we travel abroad." Let's hope the issue of these 'very negligible number of Nigerians who are seen as criminals' has been addressed forever in Sierra Leone.