542 stranded Nigerians return from UAE

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 542 Nigerian returnees from United Arab Emirates (UAE) through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Manzo Ezekiel, head of press unit, NEMA, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.

Ezekiel said the returnees, consisting of 79 males, 460 females and three children, arrived in Nigeria on Sunday morning.

He said the returnees were examined by health administrators and profiled by relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), before they were given transport fares to return to their various destinations.

“A total of 542 stranded Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) evacuated back home by the federal government arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on board Maxair charted flight on Sunday morning at 4:29 am,” the statement reads.

“The evacuees consisted of 79 males, 460 females and three infants.

“They were received by a federal government team led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and airport officials, security agencies including National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), NAPTIP, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, NDLEA, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Port Health Services, NCDC and others.

“On arrival, the returnees were screened by the Health officials, profiled by various relevant agencies and cleared by Nigerian Immigration Service before being given a token of transport fare by NEMA before leaving the airport.”

While receiving the returnees officially, Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA director-general, represented by Sani Jiba, director of finance and accounts, urged them to “learn from their experiences and be law-abiding citizens to promote economic growth and positive image of Nigeria”.

Jiba said the federal government had approved the repatriation and provision of the token for the returnees to support their local movement back home.

In her remark, Atinuke Mohammed, consul-general of Nigeria in Dubai, commended the federal government for ensuring a safe evacuation of the returnees and accompanied them back on the local flight to their homes.