Dabiri-Erewa Laments Deaths of Nigerians in Mediterranean Sea

Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commiserated with the parents and families of victims of the latest Mediterranean Sea boat mishap, and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

In a statement signed by her Media Aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa described the deaths of the young Nigerians in the latest boat mishap “unfortunate, tragic and preventable.”

She expressed sorrow over promising young Nigerians who embark on such dangerous journeys, in search of greener pastures and ended up faced rather with hopelessness, torture, despair and sometimes death, as in this case.
She said: “It is tragic and lamentable! It is just not worth it ultimately. There has to be sustained awareness campaigns on the dangers inherent in such journeys.

“Migration policies are getting tougher all over. In Germany alone, there are about 12,000 Nigerians seeking asylum and they will not be granted. They are likely to be deported.”

According to the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), 128 migrants, including Nigerians and other West Africans, died while crossing Mediterranean Sea to Europe between March 6 and 26, 2017.