In a highly embarrassing incident for Nigeria, the ship carrying the passengers broke down in Calabar and the port was unable to effect repairs, forcing the Cross Rivers State government to evacuate the passengers by road to their various countries. According to David Akate, the deputy director of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (Sema), over 10 buses conveying the passengers were hired and escorted to the various countries by immigration officials, police and other security agents.
He added that the affected nationals were from Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Guinea. They were forced to terminate their sea journey in Calabar when the passenger vessel Emiliana-Carneiro made an emergency berthing at the port when one of the engines malfunctioned and a leakage on the floor of the ship was observed.
According to Mr Akate, while in the port facilities, the state government through its humanitarian outfit Sema, provided them with food, water, blankets, toiletries and health needs for the sick and pregnant women. Its director-general John Inaku who spent time interacting with people wished them a safe transit through the state and Nigeria to their various destinations.
Mr Inaku commended the Cross River State governor Ben Ayade for the prompt response to their plight by providing them with the essentials for their comfort while in the state. He emphasised that the actions of the governor was a testimony of his magnanimity and sensitivity to the needs of people without an iota of ethnic, racial or colour bias.
Mohammed Buhari from Niger Republic said the gesture of the Cross River State government was overwhelming and that the negative pictures painted about Nigeria abroad lacked merit and truth. He described Nigerians as friendly, accommodating and sensitive to the well-being of human beings.
Another passenger Abdulsalam Isa, said he was surprised that the state and the country of Nigeria could be so hospitable, contrary to the wrong notion he had hitherto held. He added that even though it was not the fault of the Nigerian government that they made an emergency birthing in Calabar, it did not deter the government from showing humanitarian gestures and love by their approach and dexterity to their situation.
Other passengers said that although they were angry with the development which caused them to miss the celebration of the yuletide with their families, the action of the government and people of Nigerian calmed their nerves. They added that the interaction portrayed the people of Nigeria as wonderful, friendly and accommodating.
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