A total of 174 migrants were deported from Libya to Nigeria on Tuesday with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), according to a Libyan official.
Muhammad Baraida, an assistant for security affairs of the Libyan Illegal Immigration Control Department, told Xinhua that the repatriated migrants were mostly women "who tested positive for infectious and chronic diseases."
The migrants were deported through IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, which facilitates the return of migrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.
Baraida added that the deportation was carried out in coordination with the Nigerian embassy in Libya, noting that Libya has been collaborating with IOM to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of migrants in the country.
Ever since the downfall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for some African migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.
According to IOM, the VHR program has helped more than 80,000 migrants return to their home countries voluntarily from Libya since 2015.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
174 migrants deported from Libya to Nigeria
Nigeria declares cholera crisis, launches emergency measures
Nigerian authorities have declared a national emergency and activated response operations to control the spread of a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 50 people.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control, or NCDC, said Tuesday that its decision to activate the National Cholera Emergency Operation center followed a risk assessment conducted by authorities last week.
NCDC said the assessment showed the country was at high risk of the disease and that the fatality rate from cholera stood at 3.5% of cases.
So far, 53 people have died out of more than 1,500 recorded cases in the country. Nigeria's largest city and economic hub, Lagos, is the most impacted.
"Having considered all the details available, there's still an increasing trend of suspected cases nationwide," said Jide Idris, director general of the NCDC. "We have four levels of risk — low, medium, high and very high. We've seen more cases in more states than we did last year."
National health authorities say they will work with affected state authorities to ensure rapid case detection, analysis and management.
The latest outbreak comes as the European Union pledged millions to help fund vaccine production in Africa. The continent depends on imports for more than 90% of its vaccine doses.
Last week, the NCDC said Nigeria had no cholera vaccines and is waiting for fresh supplies.
Public health analyst Chukwunonso Umeh said the threat is serious.
"I'm happy that the government has actually declared an emergency on this," said Umeh. "The virulent level is very high, so there's a possibility of transmutation; in terms of the severity of the symptoms, it's kind of higher and the rate at which it is being transmitted is also higher."
Cholera is a seasonal disease in Nigeria, and authorities warn the impact could worsen with the rainy season.
The disease spreads through contaminated food and water, causing severe diarrhea and death if not treated.
Umeh said socioeconomic problems are affecting the way the disease impacts Nigerians.
"Cholera is a hygiene-related disease," said Umeh. "With the current hardship in the country, people are struggling ... there are a lot of risk factors that people are being exposed to. You don't know the source of the water that they use in making some of those foods. One of the basic things in terms of minimizing this for now is improving awareness of what people are supposed to do, sensitizing people, community mobilization."
In 2018, Nigeria recorded 830 deaths from more than 42,000 cases of cholera — the highest numbers in recent years.
By Timothy Obiezu, VOA
Video - NEVs, digital economy are key areas for cooperation with China according to foreign minister of Nigeria
During his official visit to China, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said that the China-Africa cooperation framework, as represented by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, has provided rare development opportunities for a broad range of African countries, including Nigeria, in an exclusive interview with CGTN's China Africa Talk host Bridget Mutambirwa.
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Over 1,800 fuel outlets shut in Nigeria over smuggling dispute
Nearly 2,000 petrol outlets were shut in Nigeria's northeast to protest against an anti-smuggling operation that targeted some operators, the local head of the petroleum marketers association said on Monday, forcing motorists to buy from the black market.
Dahiru Buba, the chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for Adamawa and Taraba states, said petrol stations stopped operations after the Nigeria Customs Service impounded tanker trucks and shut some fuel outlets on suspicion they were smuggling petrol to neighbouring Cameroon.
Black market fuel vendors in Cameroon, Benin and Togo have for years relied on cheap gasoline smuggled from Nigeria.
When Nigeria scrapped a petrol subsidy last year, that black market trade collapsed, but the product has become cheaper again after Nigeria capped the price since June 2023 despite its currency sharply weakening.
Under "Operation Whirlwind", Customs initially impounded some tanker trucks belonging to IPMAN members and released them after the association protested. But more trucks were seized and several fuel stations were shut, forcing fuel station operators to close outlets en-masse in protest, said Buba.
"We wrote to them (Nigeria Customs) again but there were no responses that is why we decided to go on strike," he said, adding that over 1,800 outlets had ceased to operate.
"This is our business and we cannot be quiet when our members are treated this way."
Mangsi Lazarus, Customs spokesperson for Adamawa and Taraba said tanker trucks were seized because they were being used to smuggle petrol.
In Adamawa capital Yola, black market traders quickly took advantage of the shortages to sell petrol for 1,400 naira ($0.9459) a litre, compared to between 650 and 750 naira at the pump.
By Percy Dabang, Reuters
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Monday, June 24, 2024
Gunmen invade Abuja estate, kill army general
Some armed persons attacked Sunshine Homes estate in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, during which they killed a retired brigadier general, Uwem Udokwere, the police have announced.
Abuja police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the attack occurred at about 3 a.m. on Saturday.
“In response to the tragic and unprecedented attack at Sunshine homes estate by armed robbers, resulting in the untimely demise of one Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwere (rtd.) on June 22, 2024, at approximately 03:00 a.m, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Benneth Igweh has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding this regrettable event.
“Expressing profound condolences to the bereaved family, CP Benneth Igweh assures the family and the public of swift justice, with every effort in conduit to ensure the perpetrators of the atrocious act are apprehended and brought to justice,” Ms Adeh, a superintendent of police, wrote.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that Sunshine estate is in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, close to the city centre. It is largely occupied by middle-class people including senior government officials.
The latest incident adds to the concerns about insecurity in the Nigerian capital where there have been cases of kidnappings in different communities.
By Ademola Popoola, Premium Times