Ondo Govt. Recieves Libyan Returnees, Begins Rehabilitation

The Ondo State government today received formally its indigenes repatriated from Libya.

The 23 deportees, comprised 12 females, 10 males among whom were a pregnant woman and a baby were received at the Ondo State Correctional Centre, Akure, by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, Honourable Agboola Ajayi.

Honourable Ajayi thanked God for sparing their lives to come back home hale and hearty.

‘I rejoice with you for surviving the ordeal of making it to and fro Libya.
You are fortunate to be alive. The Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu welcomes you all home with warm greetings and say Ondo State is big enough to accommodate you.

The Deputy Governor, who took time out to identify the deportees through calling of their names from a list , asked everyone to name the local councils they originated from and the jobs they were doing in the North African country.

He assured them of government readiness to assist them resume normal lives.

“Government will try our best to set up and rehabilitate all of you in order to eke out a living.”
On how government intended to assist them, he explained:

“Government will render assistance based on your antecedents according to you. You will be taken through a series of debriefing following your ordeal in Libya.
You owe yourself the responsibility of being obedient to your instructors.
Its a shame hearing what some of you were doing there.
All these jobs are available here, from vulcanizer to other menial jobs.”

Honourable Ajayi charged them to learn from their past experience.

“Definitely, things are going to get better for you as from now.
However, do not be tempted to think of returning to Libya, when things improve as it could be suicidal. Work is available in Nigeria. You only need to change your thought process and be more realistic.
I am sure you can see that there is no place like home”

He praised the Federal Government for bringing them home, saying the gesture had actually saved many lives.

As the deportees narrated their ordeal in Libya, some of them wept, leading to outpouring of emotion from everyone present.

According to them, they were on the road for months travelling day and night before getting to their destination in Libya.

The Deputy Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Alabi and members of SEMA and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs.