533 Stranded Nigerians Back From Egypt

The Federal Government has made good its promise to airlift stranded Nigerians in Egypt following the anti- government protests that have rocked the Arab nation in the last one week.

President Goodluck Jonathan had Tuesday directed both the Foreign Affairs Minister,Odein Ajumogobia and the National Security Adviser,Lt. General Owoye Asazi[rtd] to ensure that the evacuation of the over 200 stranded Nigerians at the Cairo airport in Egypt
At the last count, 533 Nigerians who were stranded in Egypt were airlifted back to Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday
 The United States, Turkey and some other nations have already evacuated their citizens from Egypt.

The Nigerians who arrived Abuja  about 3.35am on Thursday  abroad a chartered flight were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Mrs Salamatu Suleiman and her Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Capt. Caleb Olubolade[rtd].

 The returnees comprised of students, businessmen and sick people who had gone to Cairo to seek medical help. The rescue mission was organised by the Foreign Ministry and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Nigerians had been housed at the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo, having gone there from various cities to seek safety in the mission.
Suleiman while welcoming them home reiterated that the government was concerned about the fate of its citizens all around the word.
She thanked them for their patience while waiting to be evacuated.

 In another development, the International Labour Organisation has said the failure of the Egyptian government to address the high rate of unemployment and decent work has fuelled the protests which have been going on for over a week.

The  Director General of ILO, Juan Somavia in a statement made available to THISDAY  from ILO  Headquarters in Geneva Thursday  blamed unemployment coupled with Egypt’s’  limitations on basic freedom.

He added that the ILO had pointed out the gravity of the decent work deficit in Egypt and some other countries in the region, especially the situation where Egypt allows the operation of only a single trade union federation with obstruction to free organisations of workers in trade unions of their choice.

“Nevertheless, the nationwide mobilizations of the last days have led to the establishment of the Egyptian Independent Trade Union Federation. It has called for jobs, a living minimum wage, social protection, and freedom of association,” Somavia said.
The DG welcomed calls by the demonstrators for a new government, adding that no worker should be punished for seeking to exercise his right.
“In the difficult times ahead it will be of critical importance that the government and all other actors commit to peaceful action to open the way to a new era of social justice in Egypt’s proud history. It is a matter for sorrow and deep regret that the loss of human lives has been so high. It must not rise any higher,” he said in the statement.

-ThisDay

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