- Enira Krdzalic, the IOM chief of mission in Nigeria, says some Libya returnees are faced with psychiatric issues
- Enira in her speech says that aside from counseling such persons, the organisation plans to complete the rehabilitation process by setting up businesses for them
- Enira also mentions that between January and November 2017 IOM has helped to rehabilitate more than 4,489 Nigerian migrants
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) chief of mission in Nigeria, Enira Krdzalic said in a gathering tagged National Planning Workshop in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, that the agency was able to put Libya returnees with psychiatric challenges through some counseling, Vanguard reports.
Sunday Omoyeni, the national programme officer who represented Krdzalic, said: “For the nearly 5,000 returnees, we have not started their full reintegration. We have only done initial reintegration which is counselling.
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’Many of them are ill, many have psychiatric issues and we have referred them to psychiatric institutions. After that, we will help them with training or to set up a business but it is not sustainable. What the international donors are bringing is not enough. What happens when we end this project? The Nigerian government has to step in to help.
“When you see these people returning, what comes to your mind is that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder because these are agile or able-bodied youths with nothing to do.’’
Krdzalic also remarked: “Between, January and November, 2017, IOM has assisted in the return and reintegration of over 4,489 stranded Nigerian migrants. The increasing number of migrants returning to Nigeria from North Africa, as well as increased number of irregular migrants arriving in Italy from Nigeria, suggests an increasing trend of irregular migration from Nigeria and call for urgent actions to address the situation.
“The number of deaths and those suffering exploitation and abuse along the Central Mediterranean migration route are at an alarming rate.
“Crossing the Mediterranean is by far the deadliest route, with one death recorded for 35 arrivals. European statistics show that the amount of migrants from West Africa in migration flows to Europe have continued to increase, despite the perilous conditions of making the journey irregularly.
‘’Thousands of Nigerians are stranded in Libya, living in a terrible condition, with many desirous of the opportunity to return home."
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Earlier, NAIJ.com had reported that a member of the national PDP professional and business group which is the professional and business wing of the party said the former vice president was focused on 2019 with his important meeting with party stakeholders and was “going about his ambition in a very decent manner.
"Politicians meet all the time and so, what happened (the meetings) was no different. But one thing you cannot take away from Waziri is his political maturity and understanding of the game. You saw him during the convention and how he stayed put until winners were announced.
This goes to show his level of passion for the party and his belief in the ability of the party to regain power in 2019."
Nigerians speak on slavery in Libya on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 14 December 2017