The National Emergency Management Agency has released fresh information on 542 Nigerians that were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates to the country after being stranded.
Recall that NIGERIACRIME reported that no fewer than 542 Nigerian nationals arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday after departing the Middle East country.
Reacting to the development, Head of the Media Unit, NEMA, Manzo Ekeziel, disclosed that the evacuees complained of not being able to get a work permit because of a new policy by the UAE government.
The agency said, the evacuees who returned on board Max Air flight had 79 males, 460 females and three infants on board.
According to Ekeziel, the Federal Government is making plans to ensure that other Nigerians who are still stranded in the Middle East country return safely to their motherland.
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He said, “The Federal Government received communication and decided to support them back to the country. I don’t know if there’s any diplomatic row or not.
He continued, “There are some of them that could not come in today but arrangement is on for them to be transported, maybe tomorrow. I’m not sure of the total number of those still left behind.
“One of the evacuees, Blessing Okorie, from Ebonyi State, interacted with, blamed a new visa policy; and that they could not get a work permit.
“She said she travelled to that country with valid papers but after some time, according to her, the government of the UAE came up with a new visa policy that made her unable to get a work permit. Because of that, she was sacked from where she was working and, according to her, she had to hustle.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission revealed that the evacuees were given $100 each to facilitate their return home.