The Nation Newspaper

Tag: foreign affairs

  • Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has reassured Federal Government’s commitment to return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Onyeama gave the assurance when he received 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya at Port Harcourt International Airport, alongside Rivers Government officials.

    The minister said there were stories of exploitation and suffering by stranded Nigerians in Libya, which compelled Federal Government to act decisively.

    He added that “we made it clear to the Libyan Government that we want to see all Nigerians there. We insisted that we should see all of them, instead of hearing from them.

    “We made it clear that they ( Libyans ) are signatories to international conventions and we expected them to have control of those who guard our children.

    “They cooperated with us because of respect for Mr President, there were people who were making money from these children and did not want them to return home.

    “We carried out rigorous outreach to ensure that we have everybody back.”

    The minister noted that the programme was a continuous process that would return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The minister explained that “the Libyan Government got the message that as far as they are Nigerians, we have zero tolerance for molestation.”

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Sir Kenneth Kobani, who led the state delegation, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making efforts in returning the stranded Nigerians.

    He said “as a state government, we had no choice really, let me say that the Rivers State Governor made it clear to me that  we should  do everything possible to make sure that this exercise was handled smoothly.

    “The  Rivers State Government would do everything in its power to assist federal agencies handling this programme, because above everything else, we are all Nigerians and this programme is a clear indication that when we work together, we can achieve anything.

    “What you are seeing here today clearly shows that our governor and indeed the President feel same about this issue.

    “On behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, I will like to thank President Muhammadu  Buhari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team who worked tirelessly to make the return of our brothers and sisters successful.”

    Reports say that all the returnees were profiled at designated booths at the airport.

    The minister was accompanied by officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service, NEMA NAPTIP and military personnel.

    NAN

  • Senate probes irregular migration of Nigerians across Sahara, Mediterranean

    Senate probes irregular migration of Nigerians across Sahara, Mediterranean

    The Senate Wednesday asked its joint committee on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to investigate the rising cases of irregular migration across Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

    It also urged the Federal Government to strengthen National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) and the Nigerian Immigration Service to take effective measures towards preventing the trafficking in persons and illegal migration.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion entitled “Trans-Sahara-Europe migration crisis” sponsored by Senators Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) and Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South).

    Alimikhena who led the debate noted that negative trend of migration by Nigerians and other African through illegal routes across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea which has continued to result in colossal loss of lives.

    He also noted the definition of a migrant under the United Nations International Organisation for Migration as “any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his/her habitual placed of residence, regardless of the person’s legal status, whether movement was voluntary or involuntary, what the cause of the movement are and the length of stay.”

    The Edo North lawmaker said that the Senate should aware that Nigerians who embark on illegal/irregular migration find their route through Liyba, Morrocco and Algeria.

    He expressed worry that the International Organisation for Migration’s report 2016 revealed that the more than 5,070 people were estimated to have lost their lives on migratory routes around the world and the Mediterranean alone witnessed a record of 3,870 out of which 2,000 of the casualties were from the central Mediterranean route used by the West and North African countries and Nigeria alone has more than 1000 of the central Mediterranean casualties.

    Alimikhena further expressed concern that because of the involvement of many Nigerians in the irregular migration, the International Organisation for Migration made Nigeria and Iraq a case study in one of their researches, the result of which was mind-boggling.

    He noted that in addition to the tragic loss of lives, a substantial number of victims are not recovered and even those recovered are buried with at best a number and not a name.

    He said that it is important to emphasize that each unidentified migrant represent a missing person for a family who live in perpetual grief without certainty of the whereabouts of their loved ones.

    The phenomenon, he said, is aggravated by the activities of unrepentant human traffickers who deceive unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of leading them to greener pastures only to sell them as sex slaves and where possible, even harvest their body organs for money.

    He prayed the Senate to show determination to reverse the negative trend and inhuman treatment suffered by Nigerians migrants in the hands of Immigration officials in neighbouring countries.

    Most Senators who contributed asked the government to step up efforts to save Nigerians who might be deceived to toe the same line like those who lost their lives.

     

  • Reps charge FG on Nigerian students arrested in Turkey

    Reps charge FG on Nigerian students arrested in Turkey

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to explore all diplomatic means of rescuing the student arrested by the Turkish Gvernment and resolve the issue.

    The House also mandated its committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Matters, Interior and Tertiary Institutions to investigate the matter and report back to the House in one week for further legislative duties.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion sponsored by a member Hon. Solomon Bulus Maren under matter of urgent national Importance.

    Maren while moving the motion noted that 50 Nigerian students  were illegally arrested  and detained on October 1st 2016 at the Instanbul Airport on arrival to pursue their education.

    He noted he continuous humiliation of Nigerian Students and nationals in various countries of the world without any diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian  Government.

    “Recall the murder of a Nigerian student in Dubai who was thrown from a multi- storey building, the case of our dear sister Julie who is bedridden in a rehabilitation home for the elderly and mentally ill in Italy due to doctors torture and maltreatment . The death of a Nigerian students and Nationals around the globe on flimsy excuses.

    The lawmaker recalled the July 15th failed Coup in Turkey and the clampdown on 2099 schools, dormitories and Universities and the allegations that they were terrorist institutions due to,their links with Islamic scholar Fetullar Gulten “whom the Turkish Government has accused of being the mastermind of the failed coup in Turkey.”

    Maren expressed concern that some of the arrested students are being humiliated and abused, while some are sick and are being held in dark rooms.

    “Of the 102 countries that have students in that university, only Nigerian students are being treated in this manner, whereas other countries have sorted out their’s diplomatically,” the lawmaker said.

    The Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje while speaking on the matter said Nigeria will not normally interfere in the internal workings of any country especially when its in a situation that seem to threaten their democracy.

    “As a country we also owe a responsibility to our citizens to know exactly where they are or how their doing in their host country. But we would draw the line when it comes to that number of our citizens who have been arrested in a foreign country and especially charged with treason.

    “It is pretty heavy, and any responsible country and parliament would want to find out exactly what the true status is,mand that’s what we intend to do, moving forward.”

    Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters Hon. Rita Orji described the arrest of the students as an assault on Nigerians.

    She said that the fact that’s were taken from the airport to detention is an insult on the sovereignty of Nigeria as a whole. According to her, it is not enough to allege that the student may be linked to schools that are supposedly linked with terrorism.

    She said it would have been better if the government of Nigeria had been informed on the suspicion of the Turkish government, rather than clamping innocent Nigerian into detention.

    “I have to let Nigerians know that it is high time we rose up to this challenge. So that people will know that the life of every Nigerian student abroad matter.”

  • Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    —Ebonyi, Ondo, Plateau candidates failed appointment criteria, says Senate report

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to commence immediate consideration and screening of 47 career ambassadorial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The list of the ambassadorial nominees was submitted to the Senate on June 9th, 2016 for consideration and confirmation.

    The resolution of the upper chamber followed the recommendations of its committee on Foreign Affairs which considered as series petitions alleging irregularities and lopsidedness in the appointment of the nominees.

    The Senator Monsurat Sunmonu headed committee which considered the petitions recommended that the screening of the nominees should begin immediately.

    Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani presented the report of the committee to Senate in plenary.

    The reported stated that from the presentation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal who appeared before the committee to clarify issues surrounding the criteria for the appointment, candidates from states that were not represented in the list of 47 did not meet the requirements for appointment.

    The report also said that some senior officers from the omitted states either did not meet the required minimum of 30 months to their retirement or fell short of other criteria used for the appointment.

    The committee said that from its findings due process appeared to have been followed in the appointment of the nominees.

    The report said that the SGF assured that President Buhari would to address the seeming lopsidedness with the appointment of non-career ambassadors.

    The committee said that its findings informed its recommendation that the Senate should proceed with the screening of the nominees.

    It however urged the Federal Government to quickly submit the list of non-career ambassadors to assuage the feeling of marginisation  by some states.

    It asked the government to sustain the tradition of submitting the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees at the same time.

    The upper chamber adopted all the recommendation of the committee and resolved to begin the screening of the nominees.

    Senators from Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba had raised objection to the list because their states were not represented.

    After the resolution, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa State) insisted that “fairness is fairness.”

    Paulker said that he expected that with 47 appointments, at one would go to each state of the federation while the remaining 11 may be used to favour some states.

    He said that Bayelsa has many level 16 officers in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

    He added that the Federal Character principles should have been adopted.

  • Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa State

    Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa State

    The Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Emmanuel Paulker, Tuesday raised the alarm over the omission of Bayelsa State in the list of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate for confirmation and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Senator Paulker noted that he was inundated with calls by his constituents and other concerned Nigerians who drew his attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa State was included among the ambassador designates.

    The lawmaker said that he carefully went through the list sent to the Senate and discovered indeed that there was no nominee from Bayelsa State.

    Paulker said that the non-inclusion of a nominee from Bayelsa State is made more painful when it is realised that some states had three nominees while others had two.

    He prayed the Senate to mandate its committee on Foreign Affairs to take up the matter to ensure that justice was done to the state.

    President Buhari had on June 9th, 2016 forwarded a list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation and approval.

    Paulker said, “Mr. President, just as we left here (Senate) at the close of work (on Thursday June 9th, 2016) my other two colleagues and I were inundated with calls drawing our attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa was reflected on the list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate.

    “Mr. President initially I thought those calls were misplaced but we have gone through the record and discovered that the calls were not misplaced.

    “Mr. President, facts are available to us that even in the Foreign Affairs Ministry at least we have two Bayelsans that are on the level of deputy directors.

    “I believe that these two personalities can fit into where these nominees came from.

    “Equally in the list there are some states that have up to three in number. Non-inclusion of any Bayelsans on the list is a clear violation of the Constitution.

    “My only prayer is that before the committee considers this list, I implore you and my colleagues to tell the committee and in fact communicate to the Presidency about the omission so that justice can be done to the state called Bayelsa.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki noted that in line with Senate rules Senator Paulker discussed the matter with him.

    Saraki added “You know according to our rules under Order 43, there would be no debate but however I am happy that the chairman committee on Foreign Affairs is here, they will take note of this observation while they carry out their work on this matter. By tomorrow (Wednesday) we would have committed that to the Foreign Affairs Committee to work on it.”

  • Senate backs Buhari on move to prosecute looters hiding abroad

    Senate backs Buhari on move to prosecute looters hiding abroad

    The Senate on Wednesday passed for third reading and possible passage into law, a Bill which seeks cooperation with other countries to repatriate and prosecute alleged corrupt Nigerians and their accomplices who are staying outside the country.

    The Executive Bill is entitled: “A Bill for an Act to make provision for mutual assistance in criminal matters between Nigeria and other foreign states and for related matters, 2016”

    Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume lead the debate on the general principles of the Bill.

    It went through a brief debate before its referral to the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Foreign Affairs and Anti-corruption for further legislative consideration.

    The Committees are expected to come up with a report on the Bill after a public hearing in two weeks.
    Ndume in his lead debate noted that the legislation will fast-track the prosecution of Nigerians and their accomplices fleeing abroad with loots from the country and would also strengthen President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption.

    Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, urged the Senate to support the passage of the Bill so as to hasten the battle against graft even across borders.

    Na’Allah said, “Let’s agree to fight-trans border crimes. This Bill, apart from meeting the international requirements to fight crime and the war on corruption is a very serious Bill that deserves urgent attention.”

    Senator Chukwuemeka Utazi (Enugu North) supported the Bill and urged the Senate to approve its passage into law without hesitation.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, agreed that the Bill is key to the fight against corruption.

    Saraki referred it to the Committees of Judiciary, Foreign Affairs and Anti-corruption to hold a public hearing on it and report back to the Senate in two weeks.
    The Senate also received reports of its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Special Duties on fuel scarcity.

    The report was presented by Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North-APC).

  • Dabiri-Erewa is Buhari’s SSA, Foreign Affairs

    Dabiri-Erewa is Buhari’s SSA, Foreign Affairs

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a former member of the House of Representatives,  Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.

    She was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity between 2003 and 2007 and later chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs between 2007 and 2015.

    She was at the Presidential Villa yesterday to receive her letter and carry out other necessary documentation.

    But no official statement concerning the appointment has been issued as at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari appoints Abike Dabiri SSA Foreign Affairs

    Buhari appoints Abike Dabiri SSA Foreign Affairs

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the appointment of a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.

    She was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity between 2003 and 2007 and later chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs between 2007 and 2015.

    She was at the Presidential Villa on Monday to receive her letter and carry out other necessary documentation.

    But no official statement concerning the appointment has been issued as at the time of filing this report.