Libyan Returnees: Let Government Act Now

The persistent protests at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by hundreds of Nigerians who recently returned from Libya are heart-wrenching.

The government must act fast to save us the international embarrassment that may further dent our already battered image in the comity of nations.

Since they returned from Libya via Tunisia last month, hundreds of Nigerians have been storming the Lagos airport on weekly basis to demand that their luggage, left at the Tunis airport, and money promised them by the United Nations be delivered.

Yesterday, they stormed the entrance of the airport’s terminal building to remind us that they are also Nigerians and must not be treated like foreigners in their own country.

The returnees, numbering about 500, brandished placards, sang war songs in Arabic and called on the Nigerian government to pay them the $200, promised them by the United Nations as they were leaving Tunis airport.

At least 980 Nigerians who escaped from war-torn Libya were airlifted to Nigeria from the Tunis airport by the United Nations passenger plane. Their belongings, already at the Libyan airport, were to be airlifted by a cargo plane provided by the Nigerian government. But, to their surprise, they have not got their luggage for about a month now.

Their demands were inscribed on placards they were carrying yesterday.

It is indeed heart breaking that the Nigerian government which could not airlift Nigerians from Libya has taken so long to bring their luggage home.

It is even mind boggling that money said to have been given by aid agencies to assist returnees get back to their home states, seems to have been embezzled. We find this unacceptable.

Most of the returnees are from Edo and Delta States. They claim that they have no money to travel to their home states.

Yesterday was about the fifth time that they had gathered at the Lagos airport to draw attention to their plight. And as usual, they go back home with promises that their luggage will soon arrive. A week after, they are back to the airport to hear the same excuses. Yesterday, they were reassured that a cargo plane was about leaving Lagos for Tunis and the should expect their luggage this week.

We call on the Nigerian government to do the right thing and bring back their luggage home. Tunis airport is less than six hours away from Lagos. We also call on the government to open an investigation into the alleged embezzlement.

We must remind ourselves that it is because of the harsh realities at home and several failed governments that thousands of Nigerians escape to other countries every day, risking their lives just to earn a living.