AU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY- NNENNA UKEJE ON AIT

Honourable Nnenna Ukeje, the Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs was on Focus Nigeria program on AIT this morning to respond to questions from Gbenga Aruleba on the topic: “NIGERIAN MIGRANTS IN LIBYA”.

She stated that Libya post Gaddafi has been enmeshed in long time slavery for long now. So, the global outcry that has greeted the spreading news, images and pictures of many Africans under slavery in that country is a wake up call for action from all especially African leaders. She said, African leaders or AU should take responsibility because the entire crisis is a failure on the part of African leaders in their respective countries which fuels this surge to migrate to Europe for better life.

When asked: “If European leaders are guilty of this conspiracy, what about African leaders, is there no responsibility for AU”

She responded by saying that European countries like Italy have always cried out over surging migrations into their country. She said all elections in Europe recently have all been based on Migration crisis even in US. According to her, as at yesterday, the US Supreme court gave its nod to migration ban in the US.

She continued by saying the reason why many Africans pass through Libya is because of stringent immigration rules set out by Europe.

She called on African leaders to create policies necessary to stop the migration drive to Europe on the mission for better living standards which they are deprived here at home in most African countries.

On Nigeria migrants in Libya, she confirmed speaking to Nigerian head of mission in Tripoli who confirmed that many Nigerians have been identified in camps in Libya. Most of them are held under militia camps which they are not able to reach. So the Honourable member called for Nigerian Govt to stoop down to negotiate with those militias for the release of her citizens.

She however, confirmed that 250 Nigerians are coming back today Teusday December 5^th, while the process will be ongoing weekly with about 250 Nigerians returned home weekly. She said the reason for returning only 250 at once was largely due to the capacity of the aircraft.

On people that are repatriated back, she called on them to be employed by Govt and made to tell their stories to the media for others to learn lessons as a way of reorientation of our people about that dangerous trip across through Libya to Europe.

She continued by saying that Libya needs a strong democratic process to help rebuild post Gaddafi Libya.

She called on African leaders through AU to come together in one voice to:

·         Harness our potentials

·         Negotiate on the round table with rest of the world

·         Take responsibility

She confirmed that the House of representative has already passed a motion on this.