Nigerians were outraged yesterday as the ambassador of Lebanon to Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Diab, yesterday walked out on the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs.

The ambassador was summoned by the Committee to respond to questions on the maltreatment of Nigerians in Lebanon.

When the hearing was about to commence, at about 10: 52am, the Lebanese envoy, walked out of the room and shut the House’ hearing room 348 door, behind him.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Tolulope Akande-Shadipe, who was miffed by the development, said they were “shocked that the Ambassador will just get up and walk out on us”.

Shortly after the development, she excused the Media from the room and called for an Executive Session.

The lawmaker after the session, however, recanted, saying the meeting was cordial, and the walk-out was a misunderstanding.

“It was an informal meeting because the ambassador was nice enough to join us at the meeting. There is no law that says he has to be here today, but because he has an interest in the joint relationship between Nigeria and Lebanon

“We have a lot of Nigerians in Lebanon, we have a lot of Lebanese in Nigeria. We have a relationship with Lebanon from the 50s so you can imagine how we have been.

“This meeting today has further reiterated the Lebanese community and the Nigerian community we always stand together to ensure that justice and respect for human lives is a priority and we will work modern-day slavery to an end.”