Reps probe death of 26 Nigerians at Mediterranean Sea

November 9th, 2017 Editor News 0 comments

Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously resolved to investigate the remote and immediate cause if death of 26 Nigerian women who died at the Mediterranean sea.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje to liaise with Federal Ministry of Fereign Affairs and Libyan Government to unravel cause of their death.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent national importance by Femi Gbajabiamila, House Leader, who queried the mystery behind the tragic loss of lives of 26 Nigerians.

Other lawmaker who spoke in favour of the motion include: Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau), Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (APC-Oyo), Betty Apiafi (PDP-River) Segun Adekola and Onyemaechi Mrakpo (PDP-Delta) called for the House intervention.

In his lead debate, Gbajabiamila observed that the news that came in recently indicated that there were over 50 persons that were traveling in the boat.

According to him, the circumstances of the deaths made it pertinent for the House to investigate the cause to forestall future occurrence.

He said: “It is a motion that involves the death of 26 young Nigerians at a sea. You are all aware that just a few days ago, 26 bodies were found. News filtered in that they were Nigerians.

“We were made to understand that there were about 70 persons but 26 died. They were Nigerians. When things like this happen abroad, we are always quick to send our condolences. But these are Nigerians.

“The questions are how come they were found dead at sea? What happened to the rest? We must not allow foreign bodies to do our work. It is a very sad one. If even it is one life lost, it is sad let alone 26.

“We need to investigate it with the Foreign Affairs Ministry with the Human rights groups to know what happened and report back to this House so that we can avert future occurrence,” Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) told the House.

On her part, Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau) who acknowledged the efforts of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) towards halting human trafficking and prostitution, called for adequate budgetary provisiin for the agency.

She said: “I want to implore the House that in 2018 budget, there is budget for emergency funding for National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) to help tackle these problems”.

In his contribution, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (Oyo-APC), said the latest incident was one out of many tragic occurrences at the sea, saying that it was important to know what happened and how the women died.

“We should not forget that it was no just these 26 ladies. A lot has happened on the Mediterranean Sea. We need to know what happened”, he said.

In her remarks, Betty Apiafi, chairperson, House Committee on Health Institutions observed that the “rate at which Nigerians are dying on the Mediterranean Sea calls for concern’’.

In his contribution, Segun Adekola (PDP-Ekiti) however expressed worry on the harsh living conditions that usually made Nigerian youths to seek greener pasture abroad despite the deadly challenges.

He therefore urged the House and Government at all levels to create jobs for them to prevent people from taking avoidable risks.

He said: “Our youths are going out to seek for greener pasture because our economy is harsh. The youths are not being employed. Mr Speaker, Nigerian youths are suffering.

“It is high time we did something to alleviate their suffering. Nigerian government should do something. The youths are dying,’’ the Ekiti lawmaker urged.

In her submission, Onyemaechi Mrakpo (PDP-Delta), said: “each time we have painful deaths like this, it brings to mind how we have failed. The death of our youths that are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow is terrible.

“When you get up in the morning and there is nothing to do or eat what would you expect? I think as a country, we should look seriously into their issues,” Mrakpo said.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja