16,387 Nigerians Deported in 2017, Says Immigration CG
Onyeama assures protection of Nigerians in Libya
Alex Enumah
The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, yesterday disclosed that a total of 16,387 Nigerians were deported to the country from Libya, Saudi Arabia, Italy and from other countries across the globe in 2017.
Babandede who made the disclosure at a media briefing by members of the federal government delegation on a rescue mission of trapped Nigerians in Libya, however warned that the figure could be higher in 2018.
Meanwhile, Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Mustapha Mahaja, has disclosed that another set of 545 returnees from Libya would be arriving the country yesterday as parts of efforts at evacuating Nigerians held in various slave camps across Libya.
Also, Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, who led the delegation to Libya assured of the protection of Nigerians in Libya as well as the safe return for any Nigerian who is desirous of returning home.
The immigration boss in a breakdown of the figure of deportees in the last year, noted that 5,908 were from Libya, 3,836 were from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while about 6,643 were deported from South Africa, Italy, Austria and from other countries across the globe.” I want to state that in 2017 alone we have received in our country from Libya, we have received 5,908 deportees till last year, so if you add the one for yesterday, we received 485 from Libya. The total will now be 6,393 deportees received from Libya.
“Surprisingly from Saudi Arabia, we have 3,836 deportees, 395 male, 2,331 females and 1,110 children in 2017 alone.
“From other countries, the highest number comes from South Africa, Italy and Austria the total number we have from other countries is greater than the one in Libya 6,643.
“So grand total of persons deported to Nigeria in 2017 is 16,387. We are afraid this might continue or even be higher in 2018.
Babandede, who further distinguished between returnees who were trafficked and those smuggled, however stressed that not all Nigerians in Libya are being held or sold into slavery as been reported, adding that a sizeable number of Nigerians are living and doing legitimate businesses in that country.
He disclosed that the service has already sent a team to facilitate the renewal of passports for those who migrated legally as well as any other challenge confronting them.
“We have also sent a team to Libya to renew the passport of those who needed to be renewed”, he said.
While harping on the need for effective border patrol to check irregular migration, the immigration boss however, called for collaboration with other countries in guiding the nation’s border noting that the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of person allow Nigerians with genuine documents go on hindered as far as Niger Republic.
Onyeama who described the delegation’s mission to Libya as highly successful, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making available resources for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Libya.
He disclosed the team during the visit met with a high powered delegation from government of Libya, international Organisation on Migration and others in order to secure the release of Nigerians from some of the camps visited.
Onyeama also disclosed that in one of the female camps visited, the delegation insisted that only female guards should be in charge of the girls.
Another member of the delegation, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli, who disclosed that the agency has so far convicted over 369 human traffickers, said justice for victims of trafficking is the prosecution and sentencing of traffickers.
She disclosed that the agency’s counseling unit have already commenced rehabilitation of returnees to help them adjust to society and find meaning to life.
The government delegation had on January 5 left Nigeria on a fact finding mission to secure the release of Nigerian migrants stranded in Libya.