Buhari raises 17-man fact- finding mission for Libyan returnees

President Muhammadu Buhari has set up a 17-
man fact-finding mission to bring back Nigerians
trapped in Libya.
The team may also open talks with Libyan
authorities on how to stop the exodus of
Nigerians to the Arab country.
The panel has 38 days to evacuate all Nigerians
trapped in Libya.
The team, which will leave for Tripoli immediately,
collaborating with the Nigerian mission in Libya.
No fewer than 5,037 Nigerians have volunteered
to return to the country but the number could
rise, with the presence of the committee in Libya.
About 6,091 have been brought back to Nigeria
from Libya through collaboration between the
National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA)
and the International Organisation for Migration
( IOM).
According to investigation by our correspondent,
the 17-man team is headed by Minister of
Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama.
Others are Comptroller-General of Immigration
Mohammed Babandede, NEMA Director- General
Mustapha Maihaja, Senior Special Assistant to
the President on the Diaspora Mrs. Abike Dabiri-
Erewa, National Agency for the Prohibition of
Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP) Director-General
Julie Okah-Donli, National Commission for
Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced
Persons, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, some
diplomats and nine members of a sub-technical
team.
A source in the Presidency, who spoke in
confidence, said: “This is the first elaborate
measure put in place by the Federal Government
under the leadership of President Buhari. Hitherto,
NEMA had been managing reception centres for
IOM.
“To underscore his commitment, the President
has directed that Monitoring and Evaluation desks
be opened in his office and in Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo’s office. So, there is no room for
tardiness at all.
“This evacuation started on December 22 and the
execution is planned to end within 38 days.
Another top government source said “with the
approval of the President, an operational
secretariat has been activated. The secretariat,
which is headed by the DG of NEMA., comprises
all stakeholders and security agencies. The centre
will be guided by the Monitoring and Evaluation
Manual to ensure strict compliance and timely
evacuation.
“The government has established a Reception
Centre in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital
to receive the over 5, 037 returnees. The Zonal
Coordinator of NEMA will manage the centre.
Max Air and Medview have been approved as
carriers to fly home the Nigerians.
“NAPTIP, National Commission for Refugees,
Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in
conjunction with NEMA will be responsible for the
rehabilitation of the returnees,” the source said.
“We will receive and profile the returnees, ensure
their health status and provide feeding
arrangement. The University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital has been placed on the alert by
the Federal Ministry of Health for appropriate
medical attention for returnees in need. It is really
a tidier structure,” the source said.
The Federal Government is to work with the
governors of the returnees’ states.
The governors have supported this evacuation.
After profiling, identification and documentation,
the returnees will be handed over to their state
governors.