‘128 Nigerian migrants died in Mediterranean Sea’
No fewer than 128 Nigerians were among the over 576 West African migrants to Europe that recently died in the Mediterranean Sea.
No fewer than 128 Nigerians were among the over 576 West African migrants to Europe that recently died in the Mediterranean Sea. The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this yesterday at the public presentation of two books, From Libya with Tears and Practical News and Feature Writing in Lagos.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dabiri-Erewa, represented by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Balogun, said most of the victims were heading to Italy en-route the Libyan coast when the tragedy occurred.
She described the incident as unfortunate, saying the story was one too many and that it highlighted the desperation by some Nigerians to travel to Europe at all costs despite the high risk.
Dabiri-Erewa said some Nigerians had been trapped in Libya and were subjected to various inhuman treatments and that only the intervention of the Federal Government had ensured the return of many.
She said that the German Embassy in Nigeria had intimated her office on plans to repatriate no fewer than 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers from the European country. Also speaking at the occasion, a former governor of Ogun State and a veteran journalist, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said there was need for journalists to constantly update themselves with the requisite skills of the profession.
According to him, the main problem to the development of the profession is a deficit in skills. Managing Director of NAN, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the retiring director as an accomplished journalist, who had made a great impact at the agency.
Onanuga, represented by Mrs. Kate Popoola, Head of NAN, Lagos Operations, said the author had a penchant for imparting knowledge. The book reviewer, Mr. Ade Obisesan, said the book reflected the writer’s hatred for anything that dehumanises the female child.
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4 Comments
So madam Dabiri, the lesson you managed to deduce from the death toll is that a lot of Nigerians are desperate to travel out right? No mention of the reasons for this desperation. Of course, when you, as a senior special adviser also have a special adviser advising you, all being payed for with the scarce tax payer’s funds, it is easy to postulate from your moral high ground. People are committing suicide daily due to hardship and you sit there talking about travel desperation. Do you think those unfortunate souls were traveling for tourism?
Oh, sorry I forgot you were once a legislator, you know; those leeches continuously bleeding the country dry without passing any sensible laws. So I guess your point of view is “understandable”. Charlatans…
You said it all! Real charlatans!!
I couldnt say it better. Thank you!
Thanks so much my brother, you can imagine what the looters has caused Nigeria, Nigerians have been dying in diaspora over the last decades, the solution is what a Nigerian said recently, we should bury all our elected leaders, because they are elected, but don’t know what to do. It’s almost two years now with the present administration, what tangible law have day passed?
This is a sad judgement on our leaders. It is a thoroughly shameful reflection on failed leadership, who appear totally without any care for the plight of our people. Our journalists should report on the state of origin of these desperately diseased children of our nation to shame the leaderships who preside over these deprivations that drive their young to their demise in the seas. Shaming indeed!!! May their miserable souls rest in peace now.
We will review and take appropriate action.