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Tag: Libya returnees

  • 326 Nigerians return from Libya, says NEMA

    At least, 326 stranded Nigerians in Libya have arrived Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) has said.

    Alhaji Idris Muhammed, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, who confirmed the development to newsmen on Friday in Lagos, said the returnees were received in two batches.

    Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via two different flights.

    He said the first flight arrived Nigeria with 143 returnees aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with registration number 5A-DMG which landed at 10. 20p.m on Thursday.

    He said the second flight, a Nouvelair aircraft, with registration number TS-INA, arrived with 183 returnees aboard at about 1.20 a.m on Friday.\

    Read Also: NEMA distributes materials to bandit attack victims in Kwara

    Muhammed said the Nigerians were brought back by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) programme.

    He said officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) were on ground to welcome the Nigerian returnees.

    “At the end of profiling, the breakdown of the returnees shows 148 female adults; six female children, 15 female infants, making a total of 169 females.

    “The males are143 male adults, two male children and 12 male infants, making a total of 157 males,” the NEMA coordinator said.
    He enjoined the returnees to join the government in working assiduously toward making Nigeria a prosperous nation.

    Muhammed said: “The country of our dream is unfolding. As you are struggling to travel outside the country, many foreign nationals are struggling to come into Nigeria as well.

    “Movement of people is naturally divine and no one is saying you should not travel but travelling across the desert is not worth it.

    “The Federal government is desirous to make every Nigerian contribute his or her quota in developing the country to the level we want it to be.

    “Let us all stay back and support the government in its efforts at refocusing the country.

    “We all have trust and confidence in this government that it will lead us to the promise land with the present leadership, but youths are the engine room in building a virile and developed nation.

    “Traveling out for greener pastures outside will not enable our needed collective efforts that are very vital at this stage of the country’s progressive history.”

    He advised the returnees to be ready for reintegration process that would follow the arrival stage that had just been completed.

    Mr Daniel Atokolo, Commander, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Lagos Zone, assured Nigerians that any information provided, that could lead to the arrest of traffickers, would be treated with utmost secrecy.

    He also assured that government was ready to protect the identity of informants, adding that the task of eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria required the efforts of all and sundry.

  • 160 Nigerians deported from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)  has received another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya

    The Returnees were received by the Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Alh Idris Muhammed at the Cargo Wing of MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

    They were brought back by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with EU’s special intervention on Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme and arrived Nigeria at about 7:50 p. M on Thursday evening via Nouvelair Airline of Libya.

    The Returnees were made up of 68 female adults, 1 female child and 5 female infants.

    Also, there are 79 male adults, 2 male children and 5 male infants making up 74 females and 86 males including a psychologically traumatized adult male

    The Coordinator while receiving them implored other Nigerians still aspiring to travel out of the country to desist from irregular migrations which removes the fundamental rights that such migrants could have enjoyed and by this expose them to avoidable risks.

    A Returnee, Mrs Adebisi Komolafe from Osogbo Osun State while narrating her experience explained that “Nigerians need to be praying fervently for Our leaders especially the President.

    Despite the bad situations in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them. They still see hope in their country”

    “If Nigerians can avoid blaming Government for everything, with faith and sincerity our prayers will be accepted by God.

    God will guide our leaders right if we direct our supplications to Almighty God to guide our leaders right.”

    I don’t wish any Nigerian should think of traveling to Libya, I never knew the situation in Libya before I left, if I had known, I wouldn’t have traveled there.”

    Nigeria is far better than that country.

    We need prayers and sincerity in Nigeria

    “I worked as a housemaid and had opportunity to make some money but the lack of government is a serious problem there.

    “I could nott send money back home since I left Nigeria in 2016.”

    ” The only thing I did was to buy goods that I can sell when I get back to Nigeria and I brought everything back now”

    Miss Aisha Ibrahim from Oyo State on her own, totally regretted her ordeal, my sister told me that there are opportunities in Libya, I thought it was an opportunity to travel and make better life like in London or America.

    My sister paid for my transportation and after a week on arrival at Libya, I got a housemaid work.

    “You must work and carryout any instructions given by those people. You must do whatever directives given.

    Failure to comply obey them will attract still punishment or arrest.”

    At times, I will not come back to my sister’s house for 3 or six months.

    In Libya, you don’t have freedom, once they hear you are a Nigerian, trouble starts. They don’t like us.”

    You cannot change work.

    “If you have travelling documents and you are caught, those documents will not be returned to you and you will be arrested.

    They can raid your house and cart away all your savings and property.”

    Miss Ibrahim explained that she worked for 6 months without break and when she wanted to visit her sister, she was accosted on the road

    I was arrested, all my money were taken away from me and above all, about 400,000 naira were paid to free me by my sister and this made me come back to Nigeria by going to Nigerian Embassy.

    No Nigerian should think of going to Libya please.

    Nigeria is far better than Nigeria

  • NEMA receives another batch of 149 Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) has received another batch of 149 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 1.20 am on Friday.

    They were brought back in a Buraq Airlines Boeing 737-8000 aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under its Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesperson for NEMA, South West Zone, said the majority of the returnees came back from Tripoli, the capital city of the volatile North African country.

    Farinloye said they comprised of 81 adult males, 56 adult females, two male children, eight male infants, one female child and two female infants.

    One of the returnees, Ms Aminat Sunday, told newsmen that she worked as a maid during her stay in Libya, adding that she was lured to the country due to family burdens and persuasion from her trafficker.

    The 29-years-old lady who hails from Ifo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun state, said she regretted embarking on the journey as she had a very difficult experience in Libya.

    Read Also: UNN students lament inaccessible portal

    According to her, she paid her trafficker with her full year wages after arriving in Libya.

    “I was working as a housemaid cleaning tiles but the work made me to come back home because it is very stressful, tiring and have serious health problems on my body.

    “To be sincere, Nigeria is far better than Libya, I have learned my lessons in wrong way but thank God I am still alive,” Sunday said.
    She therefore advised other youths to learn from her experience and shun the urge of irregular migration in search of greener pastures.

  • 10,500 Nigerians rescued from Libya – NAPTIP

    The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said on Monday that at least 10,500 Nigerians have been rescued from Libya.

    This number includes the 3,500 rescued by the Federal Government and over 7,000 repatriated from the North African country by the International Organization for Migration (IMO).

    She said the agency has so far recorded 359 convictions against traffickers since inception and 43 this year alone.

    The NAPTIP chief added that 10 potential Russia- bound human trafficking victims were rescued at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on their way out of the country.

    Address journalists in Abuja at a press conference to mark the agencies 15th anniversary and the 2018 World day against human trafficking, Okah-Donli said NAPTIP has written to the Ministry of Sports, inviting people who returned from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia to report at its office.

    She said: “With regards to Libya, so far we gave been able to rescue 3,500, IOM has rescued over 7,000 and it is a work in progress. So giving figures might not be doing justice because almost every week we have returnees to Nigeria. So it is not easy to just pin a figure at it because we may get a plane tomorrow or next.

    “For the reintegration of the victims, we have 10 shelters. We give them psychosocial support, those who want to go to school were given the opportunity and those who want to acquire some skills, they do that. We reintegrate them back into the society at the end of the day.”

  • 186 Nigerians return from Libya

    The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) have evacuated 186 more Nigerians from Libya.

    The spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West Zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos.

    Farinloye said the returnees arrived in two batches at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday and Thursday.

    He said,” Within 24 hours, NEMA has received 186 Nigerian returnees from Libya on two different flights at the MMIA, Lagos.

    “The flight with 154 returnees arrived the airport at 8:45p.m. on Thursday aboard a chartered Libya Airline with registration number 5A-DMG. They were received at the Cargo Wing of the airport.

    “The other 32 returnees arrived via a commercial flight, which landed at the International wing of the airport on Wednesday at 3:45a.m.”

    According to him, the returnees comprised of 99 female adults, 75 male adults, four children and eight infants.

    Farinloye said the new arrivals were those based in Libya but voluntarily decided to return home when opportunity came from IOM because of the current volatile state of the North African country.

    He disclosed that IOM had started training past returnees in batches in order to reintegrate them into the society.

     

  • NEMA receives 165 Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday received 165 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya.

    The returnees arrived aboard a chartered flight operated by Buraq Airline with registration number 5A-DMG.

    The aircraft landed at 9:45 p.m. at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The returnees included 68 female adults, six female children and 89 male adults and one male infant.

    They were handed over to the South West Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, by the Head of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mission in Nigeria, Ms Enira Krdzalic.

    Krdzalic said IOM in collaboration with the European Union (EU) had repatriated 7,746 Nigerians from Libya under its voluntary return and rehabilitation programme.

    According to her, 600 returnees have been rehabilitated already, while another 200 are to be rehabilitated.

    She urged the Nigerian government to improve efforts towards positively engaging the youths by partnering with more international agencies to create employment opportunities in the country.

    NAN

     

  • Ireland lauds Obaseki’s reintegration plan for Libya returnees 

    Impressed by the Edo State government’s holistic plan for receiving and reintegrating Libya returnees, the  Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy, has expressed his country’s readiness to collaborate with the state government in training the returnees on technical and vocational skills to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    The envoy disclosed this when he led a delegation of Irish diplomats on a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    He commended the efforts of the governor at curbing illegal migration and human trafficking, noting, and “Providing the youths with means through which they can acquire skills is a significant step in curbing illegal migration, modern-day slavery and human trafficking”.

    “We have identified ways we can assist the state in training these youths. We are in talks with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on the training of returnees. We want the returnees in Edo State to benefit from the programme.

    “It is important for us to show love and empathy to the returnees and assist them to acquire skills which will provide them with opportunities to seek gainful employment,” he added.

    In his response,  Governor Obaseki said the state government has a comprehensive work plan with clear strategies for curbing illegal migration which includes providing youths with technical and vocational skills.

    He said his administration is partnering with the European Union (EU) to empower the youths. He commended the Irish Government for offering to support the state government in empowering Edo youths.

    The governor told his guests that statistics gotten from about 3,082 returnees of Edo State origin showed that 77 per cent were males; 79 per cent of the returnees sponsored themselves for the journey; while 81 per cent of them embarked on illegal migration voluntarily.

     

  • Libya Returnees: Obaseki approves verification exercise, payment of stipends

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved verification exercise and payment of three months stipends for new batch of Libya returnees of Edo State origin.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, disclosed this during the verification exercise, noting, “The approval for the verification exercise and payment for the new batch of returnees are part of the promises made by the governor to assist victims of human trafficking and illegal migration and reintegrate them into society.”

    Okoduwa said since the first two batches of returnees were received by the state government between 7th and 15th November 2017, the state has recorded 26 other batches totalling 3,165 returnees.

    “The verification exercise for the new batch of returnees will be processed in the next 12 days, after which payment of their stipends will commence. Each returnee will be paid a stipend of N20,00 per month for three months. Among them, pregnant women will be entitled to N25, 000 each, while those with babies will get N30, 000 each,” he said.

    Okoduwa assured the returnees that they will get their stipends, urging them to follow the required procedures to get verified.

    Assistant Secretary, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, Lilian Garuba, said “The returnees who had been verified have been paid. The verification is a precondition for getting the stipends, so we encourage them to come forward for the exercise.

    She added, “Those who are yet to be verified should be patient. We assure that the taskforce is working to ensure that the directive of the governor is fully carried out. The exercise is to ensure that we monitor the progress of reintegration and follow up where necessary.”

    One of the returnees, Idemudia Grace  confirmed that she has gotten her pay for a month, adding, “I am here for another round of verification to receive the second payment.”

    Oghogho Moses, who turned up for the exercise, commended the governor for keeping to his promise to pay returnees three months stipends, noting, “Obaseki has done well for the returnees, he is the first if not the only governor in the country to make provision for stipends to returnees and other packages to assist the returnees’ reintegration into the society.”

    Read Also: Obaseki hails payment of Libya returnees by Benin monarch

  • Obaseki hails payment of Libya returnees by Benin monarch

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, for offering tô place some deportees from Libya on a monthly salary for a period of three months.

    Governor Obaseki described the gesture as a landmark effort towards  rehabilitating the deportees.

    Obaseki commendation which was contained in a statement he personally signed Governor stated that the Oba has shown commitment to seeing that the deportees are catered for and protected from the vagaries of idleness.

    According to the statement, “I commend the Oba’s support for the returnees. This has shown that the Oba is not just committed to ensuring that our youths break loose from the grip of human trafficking, but that those who survived the hellish experience in Libya are catered for and do not have any reasons whatsoever to go back to their vomit.

    “This gesture came at the right time and will further complement the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate the returnees and reintegrate them into society. We are delighted and appreciate the Oba’s support since the onset of the recent campaign to stem the tide of illegal migration and human trafficking.

    “We, at this juncture, want to call on our illustrious sons and daughters to join in this campaign and help our brothers and sisters as they settle back into society. The Oba’s gesture is a clarion call to all. Much as the state government is committing resources to make this happen, we are certain that this cause could do with more hands. This will help build structures and institutions to stem the tide of the menace and restore our ethos and pride as a people,” Obaseki said.

     

     

  • Benin monarch pays Libya returnees

    The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has placed each returnees from Libya, on three months salaries.

    A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Desmond Agbama, yesterday said Oba Ewuare, announced this when he hosted Libyan returnees.

    Besides the allowances, he said the Oba Ewuare Foundation would provide the tools/facilities for those who went through skill acquisition programmes.

    He decried the quest to make quick money without legitimate means, noting that youths must embrace agriculture and other legal businesses to excel.

    The statement said the monarch frowned at parents encouraging illegal migration via sea and desert, stressing that the palace will discourage the trend.

    Oba Ewuare, who praised the steps taken to curb human trafficking and crime in the state, called for everyone’s collaboration to win the fight against inhuman acts.

    Leader of the returnees Vincent David told the monarch that they were at the palace to seek assistance to enable them start up after acquiring skills from the government.

    The returnees hailed Oba Ewuare for deploying traditional means to rescue trafficked victims from their slave masters.