Nigeria’s newly-posted Charge’ d’Affaires en-titre to Libya, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed has called on Nigerians to shun irregular migrations to foreign lands without documents. He said most of such irregular migrations usually end up in slavery and sexual exploitations in Europe.
Amb. Mohammed, who stated the above in Tripoli, Libya, Tuesday, during the repatriation of 122 stranded Nigerians in that country,also noted that migrations that follow due process are allowed,but advised Nigerians to always ponder well before embarking on the risk of the ill-advised journey across the desert.
The Head of the Nigerian Mission in that country,who recently assumed duty after receiving his Letter of Commission following his appointment by Mr President,thanked the Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the various roles they played in facilitating the release of some of the Nigerian migrants in detention facilities in the country and aiding the day’s repatriation to Nigeria.
The 122 evacuees, comprising 52 males,39 females(7 of whom were rescued victims of human trafficking),21 children as well as 10 infants,were at about 1.30pm, Libyan local time, airlifted from Mitiga International Airport aboard chartered flight No.uz 189. They were expected at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,Lagos,at 5 pm, Nigerian Time,from where they would be handed over to the appropriate government agencies that will re-unite them with their families.
According to official sources, Tuesday’s evacuation,conducted in collaboration with the IOM in Libya as part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) programme,was the ninth carried out by the Nigerian Mission in the country this year.The foregoing remains part of the 4-D foreign policy thrust of the Tinubu Administration,which came from the directives of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs,Amb.Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
It will be recalled that, in 2023, a total of 2,041 stranded Nigerian migrants were assisted to return home by the IOM.Within this year alone,about 1,350 stranded Nigerian nationals have also safely been assisted to return home.
Musa Abubakar
Tripoli, Libya
