The incident occurred when the Nigerian aircraft, originally en route to Benghazi, was suddenly diverted to another city, over two hours away from their intended destination.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the actions of Libyan authorities following an incident at Al Abaq Airport where the Super Eagles football team and their officials were held hostage.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, expressed deep concern over the distressing treatment of the Nigerian national team.
The incident occurred when the Nigerian aircraft, originally en route to Benghazi, was suddenly diverted to another city, over two hours away from their intended destination.
Senator Enoh, in his official statement on Monday, criticised the unnecessary inconvenience and stress caused to the Super Eagles, their officials, and support staff.
He emphasized that the situation, which left the team stranded at the airport, was unacceptable and called for immediate action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
However, the minister expressed deep concern over the poor treatment of the team, particularly as they were in Libya for an international engagement.
The statement reads, “Such actions by the Libyan authorities are deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. Holding our national team and officials hostage under any circumstances violates not only international sporting protocols but also the principles of respect and hospitality that should be extended to all visiting teams.”
“The Nigerian government will not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment toward our players and officials,” Senator Enoh adds.
Senator Enoh further explained that the safety and welfare of the Super Eagles and their officials remain the government’s top priority.
The minister assured Nigerians that the Ministry of Sports Development is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant diplomatic channels, and other stakeholders to ensure the immediate and safe release of the team and their safe passage to their destination.
“We are in close contact with the appropriate authorities, and we are sparing no effort in ensuring that this situation is resolved swiftly. I urge everyone to remain calm while we engage diplomatically to address this matter,” Senator Enoh adds.
Senator Enoh called on the Libyan authorities to respect international sporting relations and the fundamental rights of athletes and officials traveling for official purposes. He stressed that sports diplomacy is a vital tool for fostering global unity, and such incidents should not be allowed to occur again.
"Nigeria remains committed to strengthening international relations through sports, but it will not shy away from defending the rights and dignity of its athletes and officials when they are unfairly treated," he said.
Enoh, however, expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian public for their patience and support during this challenging time and reassured everyone that every necessary measure is being taken to bring the Super Eagles safely to their destination.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y