FG Plans Repatriation Of Additional 250 Nigerians From UAE

The Federal Government has announced a plan to soon repatriate an additional 250 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Naija News reports that the latest repatriation is coming not long after the return of 190 Nigerians from the UAE on Tuesday.

In a statement issued earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that the repatriated individuals on Tuesday were welcomed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 05:57 on Wednesday by a joint team of government officials, led by the National Emergency Management Agency.

Naija News understands that as of October 2023, the Federal Government had successfully facilitated the return of 542 Nigerians from the UAE.

During a visit to the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Al-Shamsi, in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa expressed the intention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to engage and sensitize Nigerians residing in the UAE, encouraging them to serve as exemplary ambassadors for both the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.

A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Gabriel Odu, read, “Dabiri-Erewa stated that NiDCOM intends to engage and sensitize Nigerians in the UAE to be good ambassadors of their country of stay and country of origin, to excel in whatever they are doing and never to forget home. She added further this initiative aims to foster better understanding and compliance with local regulations.

“She also disclosed that 190 Nigerians were repatriated to Nigeria, with an additional 250 expected to return soon. She noted that the actions of individuals in a host country can greatly impact the overall image of their home country. She also noted the role of Western media imperialism in perpetuating negative stereotypes about Nigerians.”

Speaking, the UAE ambassador to Nigeria stated that his country’s visa-on-arrival policy was not only cancelled for Nigeria but for all countries.

The statement added, “Al-Shamsi explained that the visa ban on Nigeria has been officially lifted. He confirmed that the Visa on Arrival policy has been cancelled for all countries, but assured that the new procedures are designed to facilitate tourism and ensure travellers’ safe return.

“The Ambassador expressed his commitment to providing the best possible services for Nigerians, with the support of the determined Nigerian government. He also acknowledged the UAE’s role in safely repatriating 96 Nigerians at no cost.”

On the occasion of his first anniversary in the role of UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Al-Shamsi conveyed his favourable impressions of the country, characterizing it as a picturesque nation with a populace known for its warmth and a shared cultural, religious, and ethnic heritage with the UAE.

He articulated his enthusiasm for further collaboration with the NiDCOM with the aim of fortifying the bilateral relations between the two nations.