President Muhammadu Buhari has publicly told visiting German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel, his government does not support
Nigerians trying to illegally enter Europe, saying those caught
would be “at his or her own risk”.
The president said “Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on
his way to Europe through illegal means will be brought home and we
will send him back to the local government.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday morning arrived
Nigeria and was received by Mr Buhari at the presidential villa in
Abuja.
Chancellor Angela Merkel o Germany
and President Buhari
Mrs Merkel’s visit to Nigeria marks the final part of her
three-day trip to West Africa countries: Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria
with a focus on strengthening economic development and containing
illegal migration.
“I appeal that the fourth coming elections in Nigeria
should be free, fair and credible. It should not result to chaos or
complete breakdown of law and order. A credible election is an
important aspect of democracy and good governance,”
Her visit comes two days after the British Prime Minister,
Theresa May, visited the country with plans to increase trade and
investment between Nigeria and the UK.
President Buhari, who welcomed the German Chancellor at the
forecourt of the presidential villa, introduced some members of his
cabinet and presidential aides to his visitor before going into
closed door meeting to deliberate on issues of mutual interest to
both Nigeria and Germany.
After the closed door meeting, both leaders addressed the press
briefly.
During the briefing, Mrs Merkel tasked Mr Buhari to ensure a
free, credible and fair election in the fourth coming 2019
polls.
“I appeal that the fourth coming elections in Nigeria should be
free, fair and credible. It should not result to chaos or complete
breakdown of law and order. A credible election is an important
aspect of democracy and good governance,” she said.
The German leader said she was aware that Nigeria is facing many
security challenges.
“We are aware of it and that is why we are co-hosting the great
Chad conference with Nigeria to address these issues,” she
said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, German
Chancellor H.E Angela Merkel in a handshake with Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama
Mrs Merkel said there are plans to increase the number of
Nigerians studying in Germany. “About 1200 Nigerian students are
studying in my country, we are making plans to increase that
number.”
She touched on boosting Nigeria’s power generation capacity.
“There is one project that hasn’t been finished yet, it is about
the sugar plant, where we are trying to be able to switch energy
production from electric supplies to bio-waste. We could open up
new sources, we have entrepreneurs in our delegations that can make
offers in the field of wind energy. What is important for us is
that we have efficient in transmission systems.
“There is one company that I told the president about and we are
happy that we are able to examine the context that identifies
leakages in the pipelines.
“We are operating in a great number of areas with the Nigerian
side especially with the field of energy. Germany is more than
happy and even more than ready to work with Nigeria in this
regard.”
On business and economy the chancellor said she would be
focusing on boosting small businesses in the three African
countries she visited.
“Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on his way
to Europe through illegal means will be brought home and we will
send him back to the local government.”
In his speech, Mr Buhari laid more emphasis on illegal
migration. He said his administration is strongly against it.
“I guess many of my country men and women illegally struggle to
find their way to European countries through the deserts and the
Mediterranean because they feel there are greener pastures there
whether they are prepared for it or not. As an administration, we
are not in support of it.
“About three weeks ago, we repatriated 3,000 Nigerians from
Libya. They want to travel to Europe illegally. We do not support
this and anybody caught is at his or her own risk.
“Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on his way to Europe
through illegal means will be brought home and we will send him
back to the local government.”
Migrant arrivals in Europe across the Mediterranean from Africa
and Turkey are at their lowest level in five years, but the issue
remains sensitive.
Mrs Merkel, who refused to close Germany’s borders at the height
of the migrant crisis in 2015, has toughened her stance recently to
salvage her government from a rift over the issue.
President Muhammadu Buhari, German
Chancellor H.E Angela Merkel in a handshake with Minister of
Inormation, Lai Mohammed, Kemi Adeosun, Gen. Dambazau and Mr
Geoffrey Onyeama
No fewer than 10,000 Nigerians have died between January and May
2017 while trying to illegally migrate through the Mediterranean
Sea and the deserts, the Nigeria Immigration Service said last
year.
Some in Europe hope that investing more in West Africa will help
keep people in a region plagued with unemployment, dodgy
infrastructure, rising extremism and now the effects of climate
change from leaving
President Muhammadu Buhari has publicly told visiting German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel, his government does not support
Nigerians trying to illegally enter Europe, saying those caught
would be “at his or her own risk”.
The president said “Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on
his way to Europe through illegal means will be brought home and we
will send him back to the local government.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday morning arrived
Nigeria and was received by Mr Buhari at the presidential villa in
Abuja.
Chancellor Angela Merkel o Germany
and President Buhari
Mrs Merkel’s visit to Nigeria marks the final part of her
three-day trip to West Africa countries: Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria
with a focus on strengthening economic development and containing
illegal migration.
“I appeal that the fourth coming elections in Nigeria
should be free, fair and credible. It should not result to chaos or
complete breakdown of law and order. A credible election is an
important aspect of democracy and good governance,”
Her visit comes two days after the British Prime Minister,
Theresa May, visited the country with plans to increase trade and
investment between Nigeria and the UK.
President Buhari, who welcomed the German Chancellor at the
forecourt of the presidential villa, introduced some members of his
cabinet and presidential aides to his visitor before going into
closed door meeting to deliberate on issues of mutual interest to
both Nigeria and Germany.
After the closed door meeting, both leaders addressed the press
briefly.
During the briefing, Mrs Merkel tasked Mr Buhari to ensure a
free, credible and fair election in the fourth coming 2019
polls.
“I appeal that the fourth coming elections in Nigeria should be
free, fair and credible. It should not result to chaos or complete
breakdown of law and order. A credible election is an important
aspect of democracy and good governance,” she said.
The German leader said she was aware that Nigeria is facing many
security challenges.
“We are aware of it and that is why we are co-hosting the great
Chad conference with Nigeria to address these issues,” she
said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, German
Chancellor H.E Angela Merkel in a handshake with Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama
Mrs Merkel said there are plans to increase the number of
Nigerians studying in Germany. “About 1200 Nigerian students are
studying in my country, we are making plans to increase that
number.”
She touched on boosting Nigeria’s power generation capacity.
“There is one project that hasn’t been finished yet, it is about
the sugar plant, where we are trying to be able to switch energy
production from electric supplies to bio-waste. We could open up
new sources, we have entrepreneurs in our delegations that can make
offers in the field of wind energy. What is important for us is
that we have efficient in transmission systems.
“There is one company that I told the president about and we are
happy that we are able to examine the context that identifies
leakages in the pipelines.
“We are operating in a great number of areas with the Nigerian
side especially with the field of energy. Germany is more than
happy and even more than ready to work with Nigeria in this
regard.”
On business and economy the chancellor said she would be
focusing on boosting small businesses in the three African
countries she visited.
“Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on his way
to Europe through illegal means will be brought home and we will
send him back to the local government.”
In his speech, Mr Buhari laid more emphasis on illegal
migration. He said his administration is strongly against it.
“I guess many of my country men and women illegally struggle to
find their way to European countries through the deserts and the
Mediterranean because they feel there are greener pastures there
whether they are prepared for it or not. As an administration, we
are not in support of it.
“About three weeks ago, we repatriated 3,000 Nigerians from
Libya. They want to travel to Europe illegally. We do not support
this and anybody caught is at his or her own risk.
“Any Nigerian found in Libya or anywhere on his way to Europe
through illegal means will be brought home and we will send him
back to the local government.”
Migrant arrivals in Europe across the Mediterranean from Africa
and Turkey are at their lowest level in five years, but the issue
remains sensitive.
Mrs Merkel, who refused to close Germany’s borders at the height
of the migrant crisis in 2015, has toughened her stance recently to
salvage her government from a rift over the issue.
President Muhammadu Buhari, German
Chancellor H.E Angela Merkel in a handshake with Minister of
Inormation, Lai Mohammed, Kemi Adeosun, Gen. Dambazau and Mr
Geoffrey Onyeama
No fewer than 10,000 Nigerians have died between January and May
2017 while trying to illegally migrate through the Mediterranean
Sea and the deserts, the Nigeria Immigration Service said last
year.
Some in Europe hope that investing more in West Africa will help
keep people in a region plagued with unemployment, dodgy
infrastructure, rising extremism and now the effects of climate
change from leaving
Read more https://apc.com.ng/buhari-to-merkel-illegal-nigerian-immigrants-at-their-own-risk/