The Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has listed the condition of living of most Nigerians fleeing abroad as his greatest regret in government.

Onyeama narrated how he had to fight for the release of some Nigerians held in prison camps in Libya.

The Minister described the situation of Nigerians held in Libya as pathetic.

He said: “If there’s one thing that I look back on with the greatest regret in my seven and a half years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is the situation of Nigerians in foreign countries.

“There are many Nigerians in many foreign prisons and having to go and evacuate them from the middle of the desert. I went to Libya, I actually shed tears when we went into this. We went to this camp, we were told they were holding Nigerians. There was the whole issue of slavery, and of course, all the exploitation that goes with it.

“They told us that they were only 100 Nigerians or so about 100 or 200 there.

“So they went to the yard. It was one of the most touching things that I’ve ever experienced. So we had all these very young people. I didn’t really realise how young they were, 13-14-15 years old

“They came out with 100 of them. As they arrived in this huge yard, they all stood up to attention and started reciting the Nigerian National Anthem.

“Tears came to my eyes, so there were some of them that were girls, who were there on one side, and we told the prison guard. Because we were hearing stories that they hire these people out at night to work in places, prostitution or whatever and they were making money for these camp guys

“I complained to them and they told us that was the number that they were 200 or something there. We asked them if they were treating them well, of course, they were a little bit intimidated and they kind of said yes.

“But of course, the girls you know, girls, feisty. There are not only these people you’re seeing here, but there are also many of them, many more who are being hidden and they want to use them too.

“So we insisted that we’re not going to leave that place until we see the other Nigerians. And low and behold, 20 minutes later about another 200 Nigerians were brought out. It was something else and of course, the President gave a directive.

“We ordered even more planes and we said we were going to get them out because clearly they also needed them to exploit and so on.

“So, I’ve seen a lot, it’s been really just some of the harsh things and the reality is, unfortunately, whether it is a push factor that’s pushing a lot of our young people to take these ridiculous risks.

“Also when they get to these countries getting involved in drug trafficking, getting involved in all kinds of things really makes it difficult sometimes for Nigerian passport to be respected.

“The US Ambassador came to me and showed me the whole list of approvals for visas that were given for even my ministry. I’m ashamed to say that people collect note verbale to go to the US for a meeting they will never attend, they will never be seen, they just disappear," he said. (The Nation)

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