Libya govt committed to evacuation migrants – Minister
…Says militia camps ask for money to free Nigerian migrants
…Weak economy responsible for illegal migration – UK Envoy.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has stated that the government of Libya is providing all necessary assistance for the smooth evacuation of Nigerians who are trapped in several detention camps in Libya.
Onyeama also said that UK is also assisting Nigerians to negotiate for the release of all Nigerian trapped at the camps in the control of the militia groups.
Onyeama stated this yesterday in Abuja while receiving the Libyan Ambassador to Nigeria Attai Alkhoder, Onyeama said that Libya has shown strong commitment towards ensuring that the slave market is abolished and all Africans are quickly repatriated from the country.
The meeting he said, “was really to continue with the cooperation and as I pointed out earlier, the Libyan government has been very cooperative to Nigerian government in evacuating these migrants.
“I let him know that we appreciate what the Libyan government is doing and that we appreciate the fact that Libyan government in no way condones or is part of the criminality hat surrounds migration.”
On the attempt to get out Nigerians trapped in the terrorists camp in Libya, he continued,
“We agreed on a way forward which is that the Libyan government will continue to help us to try and access those camps where there are still Nigerians outside the control of the Libyan government”.
“So we require negotiations with the militia group that are in control of those camps.
Read Also: Onyeama, NAPTIP DG, Dabiri-Erewa in Libya to evacuate Nigerians
“We have been given some amount that we have to pay to those rebels to try and get our people out. There was on camp where it was negotiated down to $2,500 to get out Nigerians who are there. There is also another camp where we are also negotiating around that kind of figure, so the Libyan government is helping us with that and we don’t have control really over those areas”.
The Libyan Ambassador while addressing the Press after the meeting reiterated the efforts of Libyan government to ensure that all Nigerian are safely repatriated back to the country.
He said, “Libya is struggling with the problems and is cooperating with African countries to repatriate stranded nationals in order to reintegrate them into the society.”
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner has also disclosed the willingness of UK to partner with Nigeria towards the rehabilitation and empowerment of the migrants.
Also after a meetings with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the UK Envoy Paul Arkwright said that search for greener Pasteur is the major reason behind illegal migration adding that a strong economy will curb the tide.
He said, “The UK is interested in seeing what we can do to Nigeria to stop those migration and ensure that the victims of trafficking are not in the future repatriated back to Libya but stay in Nigeria.
“We are already doing quite a lot including support to NAPTIP.
“The Common Wealth Meeting is coming up in April, so I was talking with the Foreign Minister on areas we can cooperate like on environment, violent extremism, the question of migration and human trafficking, trade and investment in the economy. We shall see how we can strengthen ties between Nigeria and UK.”
On why migration is at its peak now, he responded
“It has been a problem for a long time but I think it is coming more to light because of press and media coverage.
“People are looking for better life, people are looking for economic opportunity. That is why it is very important to create economic opportunities here in Nigeria. I know this is what the government is working hard doing and the UK government is going to support them.”
On support to Nigeria he said,
“We are working with NAPTIP in terms of providing expertise, helping in the screening of people who have been repatriated. We are looking at support for safe house in Benin City and we have already provided support for many in the safe house there.
“We are looking at the long term of rehabilitation, these are people who should not just be brought back from Libya and sent back to their communities. They need care, they need support, they need rehabilitation.
“We are also looking at areas where we can provide economic opportunity, jobs in Nigeria so that these people will not feel that they need to look elsewhere for jobs and opportunities”.
Throwing more light Onyeama stated,
“We discussed the situation in Libya and how the British could assist. The Ambassador came with the Head of DFID which is the development arm of the UK.
“So we identified the areas we feel they could help especially especially capacity building for our boarder enforcement people especially if NAPTIP is going to help with boarder controls.
“And also rehabilitation, help with some of the safe houses and also with vocational training and skills development for all these migrants.
“And I also mentioned the possibility of establishing a database, so that there can be real followup as regards the migrants.”
On Common Wealth Heads of States Summit, which will hold in April, he said,
“The issues they want to address are quite varied. They were interested in knowing the issues Nigeria would like to play a lead role in.
“Things like violence extremism, human trafficking, common Wealth trade among common wealth countries which is something I thought would also be a priority for Nigeria and multilateral trading system and also good governance.”
Myke Uzendu, Abuja
