COVID-19: Nigerians living abroad have started registering for evacuation - FG
- Nigerians living abroad have started registering for evacuation to return home amid the coronavirus pandemic
- The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission noted that those registering will bear the cost of their flight to Nigeria
- So far, responses are coming from Nigerians living in China, UK, US, and other West African countries
Amid the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has said Nigerians living in the United Kingdom, United States, China, and other West African countries have been registering for their evacuation back home.
According to Premium Times, the commission noted that those registering for evacuation will be footing the bill for their flight expenses.
It would be recalled that last week, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the NIDCOM chairperson urged Nigerians who want to be evacuated to notify the Nigerian missions in their respective countries.
Dabiri-Erewa had explained that respective individuals coming back home will bear the financial implications of the evacuation.
The Nigerian Consulate in New York, United States, in response to the directive, announced via a statement on Sunday, April 5, that it had begun compiling names of Nigerians willing to return home.
Source: UGC
According to Balogun, interested Nigerians had been sending emails to the commission about the modalities for their evacuation.
He said: “Nigerians are responding overwhelmingly from China, UK, US and also from West Africa. We can’t quote a figure because the registration is still ongoing.
“A lot of people have been sending emails to us. The response has been overwhelming. Some said they were ready to be quarantined on their return to the country. They are ready to pay for the evacuation. Some also have their air tickets but they could not come before the lockdown order was implemented.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that some Nigerian citizens who are stranded in Glasgow, Scotland have cried out to the federal government for help. The stranded citizens say they want to return home to Nigeria amid the coronavirus outbreak which has brought the world to its knees.
One of the Nigerians, a student, tweeted the group's Save-Our-Soul message to the chairman of Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). Dabiri replied to the tweet, expressing the willingness of the government to bring home the stranded Nigerians if they meet NIDCOM's requirements at such a critical time.
In a related development, the United States government has commenced the evacuation of its citizens from Nigeria following the coronavirus pandemic. The US consulate in Lagos confirmed that multiple emergency flights departed from Lagos and Abuja.
The consulate, however, urged US citizens not to come to the airport until they have been contacted directly. It advised its citizens to shelter in place and await further information.
Similarly, Nigerian missions in other countries have been instructed by the ministry of foreign affairs to compile lists of nationals who have indicated interest to return home.
This directive from the ministry was revealed on Friday, April 3, by the chairman of NIDCOM. She explained that this became necessary after Nigerians stranded abroad made a request to this effect following the spread of coronavirus.
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