Federal Government evacuates Nigerians in Central African Republic
The Federal Government of Nigeria has began treating its citizen in other
countries like Humans, gone were the days when it shows a lackadaisical
attitude to its citizens in war torn countries,
It would be recalled that a United Nations report, said over
one million people had been displaced from their homes in the clashes between
Christian militias and the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group that overthrew
President Francois Bozize in March. According to NEMA, the first batch of
evacuees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday,
January 3. The agency said others, who were evacuated on Saturday and Sunday,
were all received on behalf of the Federal Government by its Director-General,
Muhammad Sani-Sidi, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Welcoming the returnees home, Sani-Sidi told the evacuees that food and
non-food items were available for them at the camp, while contacts had been
made with the government of their various states of origin to convey them home.
Most of the registered evacuees were discovered to be indigenes of Bauchi, Edo,
Jigawa, Kebbi, Borno, Ekiti, and Anambra, Zamfara, FCT, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Abia,
Enugu, Kano, Imo and Kaduna states. Others were from Sokoto, Kwara, Adamawa,
Gombe Nassarawa and Delta.
The governments of Benue, Anambra, Delta, Abia, Edo and Bauchi states have so far commenced the trans-portation of their indigenes out of camp in Abuja.
A breakdown of the evacuees, comprising mainly children, women, the aged and disabled, indicated that the first batch consisted of 365; second batch, 748; and third, 164.
The governments of Benue, Anambra, Delta, Abia, Edo and Bauchi states have so far commenced the trans-portation of their indigenes out of camp in Abuja.
A breakdown of the evacuees, comprising mainly children, women, the aged and disabled, indicated that the first batch consisted of 365; second batch, 748; and third, 164.
Victims' stories
Meanwhile, some of the evacuees have appealed to the Federal Government for jobs, adding that gainful employment would help to cushion their plights.
One of them, Uche Okechukwu, who hails from Imo State, said: "I am pleading with the Federal Government to help us with jobs, because we have lost everything."
Another evacuee, Mrs Charity Igwe, from Anambra State, who fled CAR with four children, said going home with the children would not be easy for her.
Igwe said her husband refused to come, adding that she had to leave with her children for safety.
Mr. Sule Idris from Kano State said he was coming home after a four-year stay in CAR, stressing that his regrets was that he lost everything.
Idris appealed to the Federal Government to provide him with a job to make life meaningful for him again.
Agencies at work
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in collaboration with NEMA, Nigeria Immigration Services and other government agencies are involved in the evacuation of Nigerians from CAR back to the country.
Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, represented by Lt.-Col. Ezindu Idimah, said DHQ had provided Nigerian Air Force plane, medical team and other personnel to assist in the exercise.
The Head, Mission Control Centre of NEMA, Cdr. Mike Igwe, said the agency had been on ground for over a week to provide succour to the displaced persons.
Igwe said there had not been any casualty so far in the exercise.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed Defence Headquarters to dispatch one C-130 aircraft and two chartered aircraft to bring back 1,620 Nigerians
Meanwhile, some of the evacuees have appealed to the Federal Government for jobs, adding that gainful employment would help to cushion their plights.
One of them, Uche Okechukwu, who hails from Imo State, said: "I am pleading with the Federal Government to help us with jobs, because we have lost everything."
Another evacuee, Mrs Charity Igwe, from Anambra State, who fled CAR with four children, said going home with the children would not be easy for her.
Igwe said her husband refused to come, adding that she had to leave with her children for safety.
Mr. Sule Idris from Kano State said he was coming home after a four-year stay in CAR, stressing that his regrets was that he lost everything.
Idris appealed to the Federal Government to provide him with a job to make life meaningful for him again.
Agencies at work
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in collaboration with NEMA, Nigeria Immigration Services and other government agencies are involved in the evacuation of Nigerians from CAR back to the country.
Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, represented by Lt.-Col. Ezindu Idimah, said DHQ had provided Nigerian Air Force plane, medical team and other personnel to assist in the exercise.
The Head, Mission Control Centre of NEMA, Cdr. Mike Igwe, said the agency had been on ground for over a week to provide succour to the displaced persons.
Igwe said there had not been any casualty so far in the exercise.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed Defence Headquarters to dispatch one C-130 aircraft and two chartered aircraft to bring back 1,620 Nigerians
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