Dabiri: Nigeria on standby to evacuate citizens from Gambia
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, says the federal government is “on standby” to evacuate Nigerians in Gambia if the need arises.
Crisis is brewing in Gambia over the refusal of President Yahaya Jammeh to step down after losing the election, with supporters of Adama Barrow, the winner, vowing to swear him in on January 19 when Jammeh’s tenure will elapse.
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the situation in Gambia.
But responding to a Twitter user’s question on Monday, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria was prepared to relocate its citizens should the need arise.
“@abikedabiri Please what is the government doing to evacuate Nigerians in Gambia? They will be target if things get out of hands,” went the tweet from Daud, who described himself as “an easy going guy”.
Dabiri answered: “Hopefully not. Optimistic in intervention of our heads of state. However, Nigeria on standby if evacuation needed.”
@abikedabiri Pls what is the govt doing to evacuate Nigerians in Gambia? They will be target if things get out of hands. God Bless
Advertisement— Daud (@Darafat710) January 9, 2017
Hopefully not. Optimistic in intervention of our heads of state . However, Nigeria on standby if evacuation needed https://t.co/tLLbbmIFzi
Advertisement— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) January 9, 2017
Is she now the foreign affairs minister?
Please don’t lie! Do you even know the number of Nigerians in The Gambia?
How many times has nigeria gov. evacuated her people out of trouble areas, pls inform. Nigerian gov. on a standby predicted by you mrs Dabiri, politics of 3rd world, do we need to wait until the last day? Again are you and your gov.not going to dump them at the parks in nigeria if atall they are evacuated?