Tuggar Urges Collaboration Between MFA and Sports Authorities for Adequate Briefs Before Travels 

Oru Leonard 

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has called on the Sports Administrators in the country to seek for travel advisory from the Ministry of Affairs to guide sportsmen and  sportswomen on visits and stay in other countries during competition.

The Minister who gave the advise during a courtesy visit by the President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Ibrahim Gusau, to thank the Government on the role played to safe the Super Eagles and crew members at Libya. Tuggar then clarified that Nigeria did not Apologize to Libya over Super Eagles detention fiasco

To put the record straight, a He said the publication was to gain political leverage and cause dissaffection amongst continental football administrators and fans.

“The publication by the Libya Observer, which misrepresents the phone correspondence between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the East-based Government’s Foreign Minister, is a clear case of misinformation.

“The fact of the matter was that the CDA of the Government of National Unity was summoned to the Ministry to seek an immediate end to the unfortunate incident. However, not much diplomatic headway was made during the meeting with the Acting Charge of Affairs, Imad Mohammed Matooq Aboud, as they insisted that it was not under the jurisdiction of Tripoli, which they represented, but that of the Eastern Government in Benghazi.

This prompted the Minister to take immediate action by contacting the Foreign Minister of the Eastern Government, Abdelhadi Lahweej, to intervene and ensure that the detention ended. After that, the aircraft was given the necessary permits to fly, and aviation fuel was accessed.

Both Ministers agreed that the matter should be de-escalated immediately. Even when Lahweej insisted on rehashing the untruth about the treatment of Libyan players in Nigeria, Amb Tuggar once again corrected the misinformation about the mistreatment of Libyan players during the Nigerian encounter.

“Above all, the federal government of Nigeria only shares a diplomatic relationship with the government of the National Accord and not with the Eastern government.

“Nigeria remains unequivocal in expressing its displeasure and disappointment with how the Nigerian Football Federation officials were treated in Libya. It calls on the Confederation of African Football to urgently ensure that its Disciplinary Board investigates the matter and imposes appropriate sanctions based on its statutes, he stated.

Background

The Nigerian national football team recently faced a harrowing experience in Libya, where they were detained at Al-Abrak airport. Upon arrival, they were forced into a small hall with no access to networks or the internet, surrounded by security officers . The team’s ordeal began when they landed at 7:45 p.m. and were subjected to numerous entrances and delays. Despite the challenges, they managed to establish communication using a player’s phone, who had a British citizenship and played in Saudi Arabia.

The situation became increasingly worrisome when the pilot and crew were initially allowed to leave but returned after being denied accommodation due to carrying Nigerian passports. The pilot’s experience working in Libya for two years proved crucial in navigating the airport’s limitations and ensuring the team’s safe landing.

The Nigerian government, led by President Bola t Tinubu intervened to secure the team’s release. Sunday Akin Dare, the former Minister of Youth and Sports, acknowledged the government’s efforts in ensuring the team’s safe return. The incident highlights the need for closer collaboration between Nigerian football authorities and the government to ensure players are adequately briefed on prevailing conditions before traveling.

What Happened

– Detention at Al-Abrak Airport: The Nigerian national football team was detained upon arrival in Libya.
– Communication Challenges: The team faced difficulties communicating with the outside world due to lack of network access.
– Government Intervention: The Nigerian government secured the team’s release.
– Need for Collaboration: Closer collaboration is necessary to ensure players are prepared for travel.

This incident underscores the importance of prioritizing athlete safety and well-being during international competitions.