From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigerian government has summoned Libya’s Chargé d’Affaires amid ongoing crisis involving the Super Eagles, stranded in Libya after their flight was diverted.
The team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match had their flight diverted to another airport far away from the venue of the match.
The NFF had revealed it was planning to fly the team back home after players resolved not to play the match any longer.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, at the State House yesterday, confirmed that the team was redirected to Al Abraq Airport, which lacked aviation fuel, leaving them unable to depart for Benghazi.
He explained that efforts were being made to refuel the aircraft and expedite their return.
Asked to speak on the issue Tuggar said: “Well, it’s the most unfortunate situation, because the Super Eagles flew to Libya to play a match. As you know, the Libyan team was here they were supposed to land in Uyo instead, they went and landed in Port Harcourt , where they were not supposed to land.
And now our team has gone to Libya, and somehow the plane gets diverted to a different airport. And unfortunately, at that airport, there is no aviation fuel, because what we have decided is they need to refuel and get out, we will not be able to allow them to continue. No food.
“You know, it’s a good thing when they landed in Kano they actually even got some water, some cartoons of water otherwise even water would have been a problem. But suffice it to say that we have established contact with them. We’ve sent people from the mission to go there, representing the mission. They are in touch with the delegation.
“Now I am also communicating directly with the chairman, and since last night, we’ve been on the phone with the chargé d’affaires because Libya doesn’t have an ambassador here, so we’re in touch with the with the chargé d’affaires, and I’m heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the chargé d’affaires, the Libyan chargé d’affaires.
“This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So we’re on top of the situation”, he said.
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described as despicable and condemnable the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team.
In a statement issued by Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, Abuja, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, she noted that travelling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and expressed optimism that the Ministry of Sports and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will advice appropriately.
The NiDCOM boss also called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.