Nigerians in India form one of the largest African communities in the country. As of November 2013, there are about 50,000 Nigerians living and working in India. They live in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa and Jaipur.
Contents
Demographics
It is estimated that there are more than 2,500 Nigerians living in Delhi and 3,000 in Bangalore, with another 4,000 spread across the rest of the country. Neither the police nor the Nigerian High Commission has details of the number of Nigerians currently residing in India. Many Nigerians are also found in several unauthorized colonies like Munirka, Uttam Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar.
Inter-ethnic relations
Nigerians have a negative public image in Indian society and beyond. This is because many Nigerians were involved in illegal activities in India such as drug trafficking, drug abuse, fraud, credit card fraud, internet scams, identity fraud, rape, phishing, cyber-crimes, job scams, lottery scams and forgery of travel documents, such as passports and visas,trafficking in stolen documents; marriages of convenience and forgery of academic certificates. There are also more than 500 known Nigerians in various jails across India.
Organizations
The All India Nigerian Students and Community Association (AINSCA), a non-official arm of the Nigerian embassy helps members of the community living in India. It liaisons proactively with Delhi police to nab unscrupulous elements in the community.