[size=14pt]FG orders evacuation of over 500 Nigerians from Libya[/size]

Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria has orders the evacuation of over 500 Nigerians from Libya while condemning the government over the use of force on protesters who are asking for political change in that country.
Mr. Labaran Maku alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia who spoke on Wednesday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo noted that the Federal Government deplored violence in all ramification and not also happy with the use of force deplored by the Libyan Government to quell protesters.

“A number of key issues affecting the nation were discussed. Specifically, Council discussed and reviewed the situation in Libya and some middle east countries, where the wind of discontent has led to protest, Maku said.

“Government deplores the violence, said it also condemns the disproportional use of force to disperse protesters, saying that the crisis can and should be resolved through dialogue in those countries.”

He however said that “these are all sovereign countries and we cannot dictate to them how they should govern their countries; but we believe that the will of the people should be the guide.”

The condition of Nigerians in these countries, the minister added was particularly discussed with the minister of Foreign Affairs briefing council on the directives given by the President and the preparations made to evacuate Nigerians.

He also said the situation in the Middle East countries as it affected Nigerians was being monitored closely by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that government was in close contact with Nigerian envoys in those countries.

“Already Mr. President has directed that stranded passengers in Tripoli and Bengazi who are Nigerians should be evacuated and steps are been taken as we did in Cairo to evacuate these Nigerians to their respective homes,” he said.

He assured that President Goodluck Jonathan was committed to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian citizens, saying that whatever measures necessary including evacuating Of Nigerians, if the need arises, would be taken to ensure their safety and security.

“The standard procedure is that whenever there are conflicts in any country we advise our envoys to evacuate their families to safety so that the officers who are manning our missions can concentrate on the work at hand to ensure that they give attention to and consider diplomatic issues on ground,” he said.

On whether similar protest might take place in the country, the Minister said, “yes there are problems of unemployment, but the President has already put in place measures to address these problems. They are clearly at the fore front of his agenda.”

Maku also argued that Nigeria was not in the same situation with other countries; adding that the protests in Middle East countries were as a result of absence of proper democratic culture that allowed for free and fair election.

“Yes there are parallels between Nigeria and these other countries, when it comes to the level of development, but one thing that is clear is that when you see some of the countries where these protests are taking place, you have one man dictatorships that have lasted in those countries for decades. The difference between Nigeria and those countries is that this country today is run on constitutional order where the tenure of office of leaders is fixed.

“So our country has lessons that these countries can learn from. The lesson today is that it is more important to build institutions that can endure, because leaders can come and go but the institutions remain. Adding that Nigeria is probably the only country in Africa today that has the largest number of former leaders alive.”

The Minister who also mentioned that power supply was a major challenge in the country however noted that “it is an issue the president is tackling very seriously as the government sees it as the solution to unemployment and wealth generation.

“One of the major challenges we have in our country is power. Power is what is going to drive the small and medium enterprises, agriculture, water resources cannot be mobilized without power. The fact that President Jonathan has taken firm control of power as his key sector is an indication of his serious commitment and determination to overcome this challenge.”

Story by Victor Iluyemi (info@worldstagegroup.com)

http://www.worldstagegroup.com/worldstage/index.php?&id=2173&active=news

For the first time in our history, govt is actually showing interest and placing value in the welfare of the average Nigerian.
Great move.

I though Nigerian were in their thousands in Libya. Why only 500.

lol. .I dey laugh o. .do we have only 500 Nigerians in Libya, what happens to the others

Or is it first come first serve to the airport, naija style

Beaf:

For the first time in our history, govt is actually showing interest and placing value in the welfare of the average Nigerian.
Great move.

Are you part of the school of thot that believes govt is doing them a favor by sending a plane

I remember when GEJ said he did not promise constant petroleum products yet he has delivered it

We need to celebrate and specially go and thank Mr. President for this kind gesture Lmao

Thank you Oga Jonathan, May you win the next election in Jesus name Amen!

Are you part of the school of thot that believes govt is doing them a favor by sending a plane

Lol, In Nigerian history only GEJ and IBB have done this.

Kudos to Mr President. This is the sort of thing that makes one proud to be Nigerian.

I saw on BBC 500,000.

Nigeria is much better than the UK whose Prime Minister went on a jaunt there, taking along arms dealers while the place was burning. It didn't cross his mind to evacuate his people first, and when it did, the plane the British ordered broke down at Gatwick!!!
The mugu is currently at an arms fare in Qatar.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359316/Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-takes-arms-dealers-Egypt-promote-democracy.html

[size=14pt]Libya rescue mission criticised by trapped Britons[/size]
Plan to evacuate citizens from Libya criticised after government-chartered rescue plane breaks down at Gatwick airport

Foreign secretary William Hague's plan to evacuate British citizens from Libya came under heavy criticism after a rescue plane chartered by the government broke down at Gatwick airport and its departure delayed by more than nine hours.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/23/libya-rescue-mission-criticised-by-britons

An aircraft carrier to help bring the British home also broke down. Fvcking hell!!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/22/article-1359316-0D4CFC3D000005DC-945_306x650.jpg

Pic of a mad fool:

Things like this give us good press, instead of the usual stream of scam news. Well done GEJ!
From Voice of America:

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is taking steps to evacuate his country's stranded citizens from Tripoli and Benghazi. Several hundred Nigerians are estimated to be in Libya

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/US-Other-Nations-Send-Ferries-Planes-to-Libya-for-Evacuations-116720514.html