‘We can’t do much for you there’ — FG warns Nigerians against travelling to Northern Cyprus

The federal government has advised Nigerians against travelling to Northern Cyprus. 

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), gave the warning on Thursday at the state house ministerial media briefing in Abuja.

According to her, Nigerians are subjected to human rights abuses and are being killed in that country.

Dabiri-Erewa said Northern Cyprus is only recognised by Turkiye, and does not have robust mechanisms that would enable the federal government to pursue justice for several Nigerian students killed there.

“Think twice before going to Northern Cyprus. We can’t do much for Nigerians there. Our students are being killed daily,” she said.

“Some people will tell you that their destinies are abroad but if you want to go, go legally.”

Speaking on the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya, Dabiri-Erewa said over 10,000 citizens have been evacuated so far.

She also said about 2,000 Nigerian students stranded in Ukraine at the start of the conflict have returned home safely.

She said students psychologically affected by the conflict have gone through proper counselling before continuing their education either online or on-site by enrolling into private universities in the country to continue their programmes.

“We do the work but we don’t get any form of extra money. There is a department in foreign affairs strictly for Ukraine but we did our own bit, there is a portal that if you want to continue your education…,” she added.

“Again it is a matter of choice, go to the portal and enroll and I think as at the last time I spoke to the director in charge, he said 403 had actually enrolled but a lot of them are actually trying the private universities.

“Some universities have offered scholarships. It’s ongoing but the key thing is some institutions, particularly in the medical world noted that when they put them through some examinations, they actually didn’t pass the level they felt they should, so there were some issues.”