3-4 minutes
Some Nigerians recently evacuated from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, have lamented that they are being treated like “prisoners”.
They told newsmen that the hotel, where they are being quarantined in
Lagos, is surrounded by soldiers who do not allow them to even get fresh
air or receive some sunlight within the compound.
One of them, who prefers anonymity for fear of being victimised, said,
“Sincerely, we have not had it good since we returned from Dubai. We all
tested negative for COVID-19 but we are being treated as if we have the
disease.
“We have been here for three days now but we have not been allowed to
even breathe fresh air or even feel sunlight on our skin. It is as if we
are in prison. Even the food we are being given is not good at all. We
are just managing it.”
Another evacuee revealed that no government official had called or
visited to check their welfare except some officials of the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control who visited them on Saturday morning.
“We have been complaining about this but everything has fallen on deaf
ears. No one from the government has called to ask about our living
conditions. It was this morning (Saturday) that some NCDC officials came
to check our health status.
“We are not allowed to even stroll within the compound. We are just
inside our rooms. If things continue this way, some of us may even fall
sick from being idle,” he said.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, neither responded to calls nor a text message on Saturday.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora
Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, however, said inquiries should be sent
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema.
She said, “All COVID-19 issues are handled by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in consultation with the PTF (Presidential Task Force). NIDCOM’s
role was to help co-ordinate the names of those who wanted to return,
working with the mission.
“And we got about 4,000 from about 75 countries. We are not involved in
the logistics of their return. So please direct your questions to Hon.
Minister of Foreign Affairs who is in total control.”
No fewer than 256 evacuated Nigerians arrived in Lagos State from the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
They arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via an Emirates Airline about 07.40pm.
Upon their arrival, the evacuees were placed on 14-day quarantine in line with the government’s COVID-19 protocol.
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