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Nigeria repatriates hundreds of migrants from Saudi Arabia

Published 28/01/2021, 21:41
© Reuters.

By Camillus Eboh and Abraham Achirga
ABUJA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Nigeria evacuated hundreds of its
citizens from Saudi Arabia on Thursday after they overstayed
their visas and were left stranded, two Reuters witnesses said.
The first returnees, clad in masks and flowing robes, could
be seen walking across the tarmac after their plane landed in
the capital Abuja.
High unemployment and two recessions in four years have
pushed thousands of Nigerians to seek work overseas. But the
coronavirus pandemic has reduced employment opportunities in
other countries and travel restrictions have left many stranded.
A video circulating on social media in recent weeks had
shown Nigerians who said they had been held in a camp in Saudi
Arabia for more than three months while other countries had
flown out their stranded citizens within two weeks or so.
"A camp generally is not a luxury hotel, but when people
have waited for some time agitation comes in," said Akinremi
Bolaji, a foreign affairs ministry official.
The government had said on Monday it was working with Saudi
authorities to repatriate 802 Nigerians via two flights on
Thursday and Friday.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora
Commission (NIDCOM), said last Friday that evacuations had been
delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We appeal to Nigerians to resist travelling abroad without
proper documents. It becomes very dangerous and more difficult,"
he said.

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