The Federal Government deployed no fewer than 2500 Technical Aid Corps volunteers to African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries under its Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) from 2015 to date.
Geoffrey Onyema, Minister of Foreign Affairs announced this at the 22nd edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023), organised to project the achievements of the Buhari government.
The NewsZenith reports that the ‘Scorecard programme is being anchored by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, on Thursday in Abuja.
Onyema listed the countries to include Benin Republic, Belize, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Jamaica, Liberia and Niger.
Others are Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tanzania, The Gambia and Uganda.
The minister said that through DTAC, the ministry generated employment for many Nigerians.
Many are still waiting for clearance from other recipient countries, he said.
“Since the inception of the administration of President Buhari in 2015, DTAC has recorded substantial progress.
“The progress includes an increase in the number of recipient countries and resuscitation of the TAC scheme, where it has been moribund in the ACP (Africa Caribbean and Pacific) regions.
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“There has also been a significant increase in the deployment of volunteers and improvement in the socio-economic development of these countries,” he said.
DTAC was established to share Nigeria’s technical know-how and expertise with other ACP countries.
It gives assistance on the basis of the assessed and perceived needs of the recipient countries.
It also helps to promote cooperation and understanding between Nigeria and the recipient countries.
Onyema revealed that the ministry had repatriated many stranded Nigerians in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
According to him, the situation was common in Libya, Mali, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, where there are increasing rates of victims of human trafficking, particularly girls.
He said that some Nigerians have been repatriated home in a humane manner.
The minister added that the ministry evacuated more than 100 citizens stranded in Russia after the 2018 World Cup.
He also announced that the ministry facilitated the evacuation of 1,531 Nigerians from Ukraine to Nigeria.
“A large number were recently evacuated from India and the UAE,” he said.
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