Foreign minister gets flak over late Libya response

Critics say without job creation, illegal migration would not cease

By John Eche

A tweet by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, announcing his imminent departure to Libya as the head of a response mission on the black African slavery crisis in that North African country has stirred angry reactions from social media respondents.

Geoffrey Onyeama‏Verified account @GeoffreyOnyeama

FollowingFollowing @GeoffreyOnyeama

I am leading a fact-finding mission to #Libya on the orders of President @MBuhari, that appropriate strategy be developed for the massive evacuation of stranded Nigerian migrants in various detention camps in #Lybia.

11:28 AM – 3 Jan 2018

Responding to the tweet, several commentators wondered why it was coming this late in the day even as others hinted that the absence of major efforts to create jobs in the country was going to make the response inadequate and unfruitful over the long haul.

Sammy elebiyo‏ @Sammyviper2 14h14 hours ago

Replying to @GeoffreyOnyeama @AsoRock @MBuhari

So you had to be ordered to do the needful weeks after the news broke about the Libyan slavery, Oga abeg park well. #noinitiative

Kingsley Ibokette‏ @kingubong 12h12 hours ago

The Minister is even proud to mention that they had to remind him of his duties. Shame…

Dr. Hakeem Onapajo‏ @tna_editor 14h14 hours ago

Replying to @GeoffreyOnyeama @MBuhari

Please ensure that you also investigate the pull and push factors that inform the irregular migration. Without addressing those factors, the problem will remain.

Odion Aleobua‏ @odionmatics 4h4 hours ago

When done, come back home and do something about unemployment. Failure to do the second step, means you will have to evacuate more citizens on a monthly basis. Nuff said!

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama