Why We Have Been Unable To Evacuate Stranded Nigerians In UAE – FG

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government has disclosed why it has been unable to evacuate Nigerians who are stranded in the United Arab Emirates, UAE.

About 3,000 Nigerians are stranded in that country due, mainly, to immigration problems. The UAE has also been reluctant to renew the immigration status of legally employed Nigerians.

The FG said the delay in evacuating them is due to legal processes and the finalization of relevant documents with the UAE.

This was disclosed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli. She said  that the Ministry is working with the Nigerian Mission alongside the UAE authorities to assist stranded Nigerians in the country for various reasons, ranging from overstay, loss of passports, and lack of documentation, especially in the case of infants, to pending cases with the Emirate police.

She was reacting to the allegations in the Media which stated that the Nigerian Government has not only abandoned the stranded Nigerians, but is making it difficult for them to return home.

Her statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to news making the rounds on social media that the Nigerian Mission in the UAE has abandoned some stranded Nigerians in that country and is making it difficult for them to return home.

“The allegation is completely untrue and misleading as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Mission have been working assiduously with the UAE authorities to assist over 300 Nigerians stranded in the country for various reasons, ranging from overstay, lost passports, and lack of documentation especially in the case of infants, to pending cases with the Emirati Police.

“The affected Nigerians are among nationals  from other African countries in custody at the holding centre of Al Aweer Immigration Office, pending the consideration of their cases and conclusion of the legal processes by the relevant authorities before repatriation.

“The Nigerian Mission has since the commencement of the saga on August 15, 2022, been working hard to collate the details of the stranded Nigerians with a view to issuing Emergency Travel Certificates to those of them with no means of identification.

“The UAE authorities on the other hand, will process the immigration papers of those on over-stay, who are the majority and are required by law to pay fines. Some of the affected Nigerians have fines of over $10,000 per person. The UAE Government is willing to waive the fines for those who are unable to pay, however, not without the attendant penalty of 10-year-ban from the UAE. Those in police custody for other alleged offenses must be cleared, while those without documentation or means of identification especially infants will go through legal procedures for rectification.

“The various processes outlined above have to be finalised by the relevant Emirati authorities before repatriation of affected Nigerians by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government wishes to seize this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians in the UAE to remain law-abiding and avoid actions that would inflict untold hardship on them.”