Finally, Buhari orders instant repatriation of Nigerians hopeless in Libya
…Libyan returnees traffic may increase at SCOAN
Following steady rise in number of reports bordering on deaths, torture and drowning of many Nigerians on the Mediterranean Sea in their bid to cross to Europe, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, ordered immediate repatriation of Nigerians stranded in Libya and other parts of the world for rehabilitation and empowerment.
Already, followers of the trend usually adopted by majority of troubled deportees from Libya say the order may cause serious traffic at the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN), Ikotu-Egbe, Lagos, managed by Prophet TB Joshua.
Business Hilights investigations showed that since this year, more than 45 per cent of Nigerians deported from either Morocco or mainly Libya had been received, rehabilitated and empowered by the church. The man of God had spent several millions of naira on them to begin a new life after giving them opportunity to relay their horrible experiences during Sunday Live Service.
*Right Half of the Picture: One of the deportees giving testimony on their ordeals, and survival in Libya during Sunday Live Service monitored in Lagos (Nov. 19,2017). Photo: Business Hilights
A statement issued on Wednesday by President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said President Buhari made the declaration in Abidjan during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Community in Cote D’ Ivoire.
Shehu revealed that President vowed to reduce the number of Nigerians heading for Europe illegally through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea by providing basic social amenities such as education, healthcare, and food security at home.
In the statement President Buhari was quoted as saying that “All necessary steps would be taken to stem the tide of illegal migration by Nigerians”.
“It is very difficult to know the origin of the people who died, while attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, because of lack of documentation.
“When it was announced that 26 Nigerians died recently in the Mediterranean, before they proved that they were all Nigerians they buried them.
“The evidence I have from the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, (Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa) is that only three of them were identified as Nigerians.
“But I’ll not be surprised if the majority of them were Nigerians.
“For people to cross the Sahara desert and Mediterranean through shanty boats… we will try and keep them at home.
“Anybody who died in the desert and Mediterranean without documents; to prove that he is a Nigerian, there is absolutely nothing we can do.’’
Reacting to the recent footage on the sale of Africans in Libya, Buhari averred that “it was appalling that some Nigerians (in the footage) were being sold like goats for few dollars in Libya.’’
On domestic issues, President Buhari told Nigerians in the Diaspora that “there is good news from home in the area of security, economy and anti-corruption.
“We are not doing too badly in trying to secure the country, improve the economy and deal with corruption,” Buhari noted.
