The Federal Government has evacuated another batch of 418 Nigerians from Saudi Arabia.
The returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja the nation’s capital on Wednesday two days after a batch of 255 returnees were received in the country.
This brings the total returnees to Nigeria from the Saudi Kingdom to 1,071 within three days.
Leading the inter-governmental agencies to receive the returnees, the Director, Consular and Legal Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, said the reintegration exercise was made possible through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to create a smooth rehabilitation process for the returnees.
He commended all other agencies like NAPTIP, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), NIMC, FCT Pilgrims Board and Public Health for their wonderful coordination alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, the rapid testing method for Covid-19 detection was carried out while the returnees were profiled into States and gender.
As against the previous arrangement where each of them will stay in the camp for seven to 14 days, he said the maximum number on camp is three days before they are released to go and meet with their family members.
He assured the returnees that the accommodation at the camp has the basic amenities which include a 24-hour medical service to look into the welfare of the returnees before they are joined with their families.
The Ambassador said that a token amount of N20,000 was given to each of the returnees for their transportation while free meals and toiletries were supplied to all of them.
Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, welcome the restated Government’s commitment to ensure their comfort.
Represented by the Head of Media, NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Chairman appealed to those still wishing to leave the country due to one challenge or the other to have a rethink especially if they do not have any job to do abroad.
Speaking in the same vein, the DG NAPTIP, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, appreciated the efforts of the Saudi Arabia Government for liaising with the Nigerian Government for a smoothie return if the stranded Nigerians.
She said the Agency was equally profiling all the returnees and counselling them as part of the rehabilitation process.
It would be recalled that more than 1000 Nigerian returnees from Saudi Arabia were evacuated back to the country in January 2021.
PIAK
