Aftermath of the recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board against the Libya Football Federation (LFF), members of the Nigerian community have reported mass arrests and fines imposed on them in Libya.
This may not be unconnected to the verdict delivered by the Confederation of African Football, (CAF), in response to the complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), over the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles in Libya.
Blueprint recalls that the Super Eagles and crew were detained at the Al-Abraq Airport for over 20 hours, after they arrived for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterannean Knights.
In a ruling on October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals for the abandoned game.
In reaction, the LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I described the decision as “unjust and malicious,” and alleged that the NFF’s influence within CAF played a major role in the outcome.
Following the CAF ruling, popular Libyan news blog, Libya News Today 1, which has over 188,000 followers on Facebook and 57,000 likes, posted on Sunday: “All Libyan TV channels are urging the government to arrest the Nigerian workers who are working here in Libya without legal papers. They have to pay $500 plus taxes.
“The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya. We have been subjected to injustice. We have no borders with Nigeria. What benefit are they to us? They’re a burden on the Libyan people. They have to go back home.”
This post was followed by a video of a Libyan TV presenter, who said, “Anyone who is living in Libya and working without paying tax is eating haram, which means sinful money. The government should make every effort to arrest all Nigerians who are working in Libya so that they can pay a tax of $500 and regulate their stay in the country by obtaining residence permits.”
Another Libyan site, Libya INF.TV, reported that Libyan stations wanted the government to start arresting Nigerian workers.
“Those who don’t have Libyan papers will have to pay a fine of $500 for taxes. If you refuse deportation, no mercy. The Libyan government will pay the Nigerian government from their citizens’ money,” the post said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens in Libya.
The Ministry disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe on Sunday, 3rd of November, 2024.
“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, devoid of any form of harassment by Libyan authorities, following the verdict of the Confederation of African Football which indicted the Libyan Football Association for their ill-treatment of the Nigerian team and officials while in Libya for a Nations Cup Qualifying Match.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that the well-being of Nigerian citizens anywhere in the world is a top priority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to strive to safeguard it at all times,” the statement read.
