Manchester Incident And The Nigerian High Commission Voodoo Diplomacy

On Monday 22nd May 2017, the world saw another terror incident at Manchester Arena when Ariana Grande was performing at a concert. The event left 23 people including the bomber dead and nearly 116 people injured. As someone who for the past two years is working with Humanity Road – an internet based digital disaster response organisation - as my case study organisation, Manchester event made me starts wondering whether there is any difference between the job specification of the Nigerian High Commission compared to their counterpart embassies in the UK. Working with Humanity Road has given me insight on how embassies function whenever there are ongoing public safety events like a terrorist attack. Embassies will always reach out to their citizens through their social media handles by publishing their contact details. During the Manchester attack, I saw how Embassies of Ireland, USA, Canada, Russia, Iceland, Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar and Poland all reached out to their citizens. However, what is particularly worrying is Nigerian High Commission was conspicuously silent. Sadly, on checking its website, the high commission does not have a single social media account. In fact, the site is static as such visitors can only read information. The essence of this piece is not to make a fool of the respected organisation but to draw its attention that in this age, social media is a necessity that cannot be ignored. Developing social media policies, training its personnel as well as creating accounts will not make their budget ballooned. In fact, several organisations like Humanity Road can teach some of your members without accepting any fee. All it takes is for you to send a request and you will be baffled with the kind of knowledge and techniques you will learn.

Embassy of Ireland Tweet

Embassy of Ireland @IrelandEmbGB

Anyone with concerns for Irish citizens in Manchester can contact the Embassy 02072352171 or Dublin [phone].

12:36 AM - 23 May 2017

Embassy of Ireland / Via Official Twitter Account of the embassy

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Tweet

Travel - State Dept @TravelGov

Incident in #Manchester UK. US citizens should heed guidance from local authorities and maintain security awareness… https://t.co/n34BMiJ4V5

12:24 AM - 23 May 2017

Official Twitter for U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. / Via Official Twitter for U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Government of Canada's comprehensive international travel information Tweet

travel.gc.ca @TravelGoC

U.K.: explosion at Manchester Arena. Canadians, for emergency assistance; call us (toll-free) 00-800-2326-6831 or [e-mail]

11:47 PM - 22 May 2017

Government of Canada's one-stop shop for comprehensive international travel information / Via Government of Canada's one-stop shop for comprehensive international travel information

Embassy of the Russian Federation 🇷🇺in London Tweet

Russian Embassy, UK @RussianEmbassy

Телефон для экстренных случаев/Emergency phone for Russian nationals [phone] #Manchester

11:58 PM - 22 May 2017

Embassy of the Russian Federation 🇷🇺in London - official Twitter feed / Via Embassy of the Russian Federation 🇷🇺in London - official Twitter feed

Embassy of Iceland Tweet

Embassy of Iceland @IcelandinUK

Sendiráðið fylgist með málinu. Forðist svæðið og látið aðstandendur vita af ykkur. Neyðarsími borgaraþjónustunnar… https://t.co/QGVn9ooY7D

11:39 PM - 22 May 2017

Official Twitter account of the Embassy of Iceland in the United Kingdom / Via Official Twitter account of the Embassy of Iceland in the United Kingdom

Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the UK Tweet

Bahrain Embassy UK @BahrainEmbUK

في حالة الطوارىء ندعو الجميع بالاتصال على رقم 999 او التواصل على رقم 07944559911

11:36 PM - 22 May 2017

Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the UK / Via Official Twitter account of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the UK

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London Tweet

Saudi Embassy UK @SaudiEmbassyUK

في حال حدوث أي طارئ لا سمح الله الرجاء الاتصال بالسفارة على الرقم: ٠٠٤٤٢٠٧٩١٧٣٠٠٠ حفظ الله الجميع من كل مكروه.

11:17 PM - 22 May 2017

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London / Via Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London Official Twitter Account

Embassy of the State of Qatar in London Tweet

سفارة دولة قطر-لندن @QatarEmbassyUK

٤- الإخوة المواطنين في حال تعرضكم لأي موقف يهدد سلامتكم فعليكم الاتصال مباشرة برقم الطوارئ 999 والسفارة 02074932200 على مدار الساعة.

11:06 PM - 22 May 2017

Embassy of the State of Qatar in London / Via Official Twitter account of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in London, UK

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester Tweet

PLinManchester @PLinManchester

Eksplozja w Manchester Arena. Kontakt w przypadku informacji dot. ob. RP, telefon dyżurny: [phone].

12:19 AM - 23 May 2017

Konsulat Generalny RP w Manchesterze / Via Konsulat Generalny RP w Manchesterze Official Twitter Account