The Federal Government has rejected allegations of mass arrests and harassment of Nigerians living in Libya in the wake of a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in favor of Nigeria.
CAF awarded points to Nigeria’s Super Eagles and fined Libya $50,000 for mistreating the Nigerian team during a Nations Cup Qualifying Match.
In response to the ruling, reports surfaced indicating that Nigerians in Libya faced various forms of harassment.
Some Libyan news outlets suggested increasing taxes on Nigerians to cover the fines imposed on the Libyan football team, while some Nigerians claimed they were being arrested.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that Nigerians in Libya are safe and emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey that as of the time of making this statement, Nigerians in Libya are going about their daily activities without any harassment from Libyan authorities, following the CAF verdict that criticized the Libyan Football Association for their treatment of the Nigerian team and officials during their visit for a Nations Cup Qualifying Match.
The Ministry reiterated that the well-being of Nigerian citizens globally is a top priority for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it will continue to strive to ensure their safety at all times,” the statement read.
