By Victor Asije
Ijebu-Ode – As about 2000 young Nigerian
returnees are currently being taught self-employment skills nationally,
some beneficiaries in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday regretted their decision to
travel to Libya.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally
Displaced Persons (NCRMI) had last Monday flagged-off a Five-day
skills acquisition training programme for returnees from across the
six geo-political zones of the federation.
Some of the returnees told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the
sidelines of the training programme in phone repairs and soap
production that they regretted travelling to Libya.
They lamented that they were disappointed at the level of hostility
and discrimination they received from the Libyans, adding that Libya
eventually became a place of false hope to them.
Adenike Olanipekun said that the economy was what forced her to
travel to Libya two years ago, only to end up in a Libyan prison, before
her assisted return to Nigeria.
Olanipekun said like other thousands still currently on Libyan streets
and prisons, she was openly discriminated against and denied
interaction with other Nigerian brothers and sisters.
She commended the Ogun State government for swiftly coming their aid
when they were arrested in Libya and forced to return to Nigeria.
Olanipekun, who commended the NCRMI for involving her in phone
repairs, said that the training had made her to know that there was no
place like one’s country.
“We really suffered in Libya, I must confess. We were deceived to
believe that life in Libya was rosy. I still regret what me to go
to Libya.
“Well, I am happy to be part of this training. After this training, I
can set up my phone repairs business and go back to school. I can
never go back to Libya again,’’ she said.
Another Libyan returnee, Ogunaike Adewale, also decried the
ill-treatment and denial he and other young Nigerians received from
the Libyans, adding that he had travelled to Libya to make money.
Adewale, who said that he had unforgettable experiences, appealed
to young Nigerians planning to travel to Libya to remain in
their country.
“I do not want any other young Nigerian to think or plan to travel to
Libya, but to think of what they can be doing in Nigeria.
“If I had had this training opportunity that the NCRMI is now giving
us, I should not have bothered travelling to Libya,’’ he said.
Saidi Adebayo, another returnee, said that he had travelled to Libya
with the hope of making money, but was disappointed by the harsh and
unfriendly disposition of Libyans toward Nigerians.
Adebayo, who said that there were still many young Nigerians roaming
Libyan streets and in prisons, swore never to go back to Libya.
He said that they were treated badly by the Libyans, to the extent of
being forced to change their Christian names to Muslim names, and were
not allowed to greet other Nigerians on the streets.