The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has announced the evacuation of 500 Nigerians stranded in United Arab Emirate, Dubai.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that in September, a viral video had surfaced online in which some Nigerians were reportedly stranded at the Dubai international airport and their passports seized.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), had explained that despite being warned, some Nigerians who were sent back from Dubai tried to circumvent the new visa rules of the United Arab Emirates.
To this end, the Head of Press Unit, NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, in an invitation preceding their arrival, said the evacuees are expected to arrive at the Hajj Terminal of General Aviation Terminal (GAT) private wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Max Air, on October 22, at about 7: 30am
He said: ‘About 500 stranded Nigerians in Dubai and are being evacuated back home by the Federal Government are expected to arrive Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Saturday early morning 22nd Oct 2022.
‘I am directed to request you to cover reception for the returnees at the Hajj Terminal of General Aviation Terminal (GAT) private wing NAIA, Abuja.’
In another report, no fewer than 126 stranded Nigerians in Libya were last week received back to Nigeria by NEMA.
The citizens were brought back with the assistance of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) via a voluntary repatriation programme which has been on for a while.
This was confirmed to newsmen by Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye who is the acting NEMA Coordinator in Lagos, when he spoke to re[prters.
Farinloye said the Nigerians were received at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The returnees arrived aboard a Boeing 700-787 Al Buraq Air with registration number 5A-DMG.
They include 46 male adults, 62 female adults, two male, and six female children, as well as four female and six male infants.
Farinloye said many were being deceived with promises of relocation assistance to Iraq, Egypt, Dubai in UAE, etc., but end up in connection houses in Libya.