Obasanjo condemns slave trade in Libya

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo condemned the resurgence of slavery in some parts of Africa, saying the development was worrisome.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Obasanjo said this at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Comptroller-General of Immigration held at the MITROS Residences in Abeokuta. Obasanjo said slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest term possible.

The theme for the conference was, ‘Managing migration and facilitating trade and development in 21st century Nigeria: NIS perspective.”

The former President noted that the current development in Africa called for sober reflection among African leaders.

He said, “I believe that slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest language possible and nobody who is involved in it should be excused.

“What can we do and what must we do? We must ensure that conducive atmosphere is created for genuine exchange of goods and ensure development within our country, sub-region, continent and the world which we live.

“But then today, migration has a very nasty connotation, particularly when you watch the television and you hear the story of thousands of our youths daring to go through the desert.

“Then after they have embarked on such perilous journeys, some of them are sold as slaves. Slaves in the 21st century, Africans being sold by Africans and maybe to Africans.

“All of us as leaders must feel a sense of regret and have sober reflection on what we have done or what we have not done to bring this about to our own people,” he said.

Obasanjo urged the men of the NIS to imbibe the culture of training, professionalism, integrity, loyalty, and service.

In his address, the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said the service was committed to safe and regular migration of Nigerian citizens and foreigners.

He disclosed that the situation in Libya was not new to the NIS and it had regularly engaged in measures and activities to reduce the menace.

Babandede however warned travel agencies, individuals and officers in the passport offices at various borders, who engage in smuggling of migrants to desist from it, saying anybody found wanting would be made to face the law.

The service, according to him, has some cases of smuggling under investigation.

Babandede added that from January, 2018, the National Identity Number would be part of requirements for the issuance of the Nigerian passport with the National Identity Management Commission.

Earlier, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, who declared the conference open, had condemned the return of slave trade in Libya, saying that African leaders should rise to condemn the act.

Source: (NAN )