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COVID-19: Govt moves to evacuate Nigerians abroad

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The Federal Government on Friday directed all the country’s missions abroad to compile a list of willing Nigerian nationals who had expressed the desire to return home following the outbreak of coronavirus in many parts of the world.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this in a statement issued by the Head of Media and Public Relations at the Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the decision followed the receipt of requests from Nigerians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She, however, said the financial implications of the evacuation process would be borne by those willing to return home, adding that will be compulsorily quarantined when they returned to the country.

Dabiri-Erewa also implored the interested persons to inform the embassy in their country of residence about their intention to return to Nigeria.

The statement read: “The interested Nigerians are advised to inform the missions in the various countries they are in, which will then collate and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“To this end, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians stranded abroad and willing to return home to key into this Federal Government gesture by providing information to the mission in their respective host countries.”

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases now 210 as 20 new cases emerge

Several countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, and the European Union member states had last week commenced the evacuation of their citizens from Nigeria following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

The pandemic had infected over one million people and killed at least 54,000 others in more than 60 countries across the world.

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