499 Nigerians evacuated from Libyan turmoil

Nigeria evacuated her citizens from the troubled land

The Federal Government has lived up to her promise by evacuating 499 of her citizens from the troubled land of Libya to Nigeria. The news was disclosed to Nigerians by the spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib. This is an agency charged with the responsibility of rescue and security of Nigerian citizens in time of trouble and calamity. Bloomberg News Agency reported the phone conversation with the spokesman Yushau Shuaib whom was quoted, “NEMA is coordinating other agencies to bring back about 2,000 Nigerians.”

Nigerian “President Goodluck Jonathan gave the directive for the evacuation on Wednesday, as the crisis in Libya worsened after days of protests. There is no official figure of Nigerians living in Libya, but the number is believed to be substantial because many Nigerians use the country as a gateway to Europe.

Among Nigerians stranded in Libya is popular boxer Bash Ali, a former International Cruiser weight champion, who went to Tripoli to seek the assistance of Libyan leader Mouammar Khadafi for his impending fight,” according to Africa Online.

A charted Jumbo jet carrying 499 citizens of Nigeria landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1.30 am Sunday morning. The Federal Government is also making arrangements to bring the remaining Nigerians in Libya. The problems of clearance from Tripoli and instability of the Libyan government as she experienced uprising from her citizens has become a major problem for a quick evacuation of Nigerians.