Libya stalls moves to evacuate trapped Nigerians

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Saturday, February 26th, 2011

Libyan authorities may have stalled moves by the Federal Government to evacuate hundreds of Nigerians from the troubled country back home.

SATURDAY PUNCH investigations showed that the Libyan authorities did not issue the clearance to the Nigerian government to fly into that country to evacuate the Nigerians.

It was gathered that preparations to ensure an immediate evacuation of Nigerians in Libya (currently facing violent protests to demand a change of the 42-year-old regime of Col. Muammar Gaddafi), got to a peak with a presidential directive on Wednesday to that effect.

According to a source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, Mallam Mohammed Sani-Sidi, led operatives of other agencies in the arrangement to get Nigerians out of Libya.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Mr. Yushau Shuabu, confirmed on the telephone on Friday that necessary arrangements, including the provision aircraft that would be used for the rescue mission, had been perfected.

He said NEMA and other agencies involved in the operation were only awaiting clearance from the Libyan authorities to swing into action.

Shuabu could not, however, explain the reasons for the delay in granting of the clearance, but referred our correspondent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said a combined team of operatives of NEMA, members of staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and medics were involved in the operation.

He said that the team had been waiting at the Abuja airport for two days, awaiting the clearance from the Gaddafi–led government.

The NEMA spokesman could not also give the exact number of Nigerians that would be airlifted to the country, but insisted that what was seen on the ground would determine further steps.

Although there is no authoritative confirmation of the number of those trapped in the violence in Libya, reports say Libya plays host to a high population of Nigerians, who use the Arabian country as a gateway to Europe.

Among those trapped in the crisis-torn country is a boxer and boxing promoter, Mr. Bashiru Ali, who reportedly went to the country to seek Gaddafi’s support for a planned fight that has lingered for six years.wp_posts