One of the
returnees said they encountered many challenges in Lebanon with many of them
being owed seven to eight months salaries by their employers.
Another batch
of 27 stranded Nigerian girls evacuated from Lebanon arrived at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday, with tales of woes.
The girls
were evacuated as a result of the collaboration between the Nigerian and the
Lebanese government, as well as the Lebanese community in Nigeria.
Mr Ferdinand
Nwonye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said the evacuation was in
fulfilment of the Nigerian government’s promise to ensure no Nigerian is left
stranded in Lebanon.
There had
been several pleas from Nigerians stranded in Lebanon appealing for assistance
to enable them to return home.
Nwonye said
the Nigerian government was aware of the unfortunate situation they experienced
in Lebanon, hence the collaboration to ensure their safe return to the country.
“I am here on
behalf of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs who facilitated this return,
together with the Ministry of Aviation, Embassy of Nigeria in Beirut, the
Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria and the Lebanese community in Nigeria.
“These are
the individuals and institutions that made it possible for you to be here
today.
“It is
unfortunate the situation you passed through; which is why the Ministries
concerned made sure you are here today and we are telling you that you are now
home today and nothing will happen to you.
“Make sure
you follow the protocols they advised you on; you know what to do to recover
your passports again.
“You are
welcome back home and I wish you journey mercies to your various
destinations,’’ Nwonye said.
The Foreign
Affairs Ministry spokesman told newsmen that the stranded Nigerians were
evacuated in line with the Federal Government’s guidelines on COVID-19
evacuations.
He said the
girls tested negative for COVID-19 before embarking on the journey and would be
allowed to go home after 14 days self-isolation, in line with the Federal
Government’s guidelines for COVID-19 evacuations.
He explained
that their passports were retrieved from them upon arrival and they are
expected to collect them back with proof of COVID-19 tests which they are
expected to take again once they complete their 14-day self-isolation.
The
spokesperson said the girls were tested in Beirut before embarking on the
journey and they were also profiled on arrival.
Mr Philip
Webbe, a representative of the Silver Wings Group in Nigeria, said the Lebanese
community and its Embassy in Nigeria had facilitated the return of the girls
with the support of the Nigerian government.
Webbe said it
was in fulfilment of their promise that they would not leave any Nigerian girl
stranded in Lebanon.
“We are the
company, silver wings that brought the Chartered flight to Nigeria. We are
evacuating stranded Nigerian girls that are in Lebanon. These girls had nobody
to assist them to bring them back to Nigeria.
“The Lebanese
Community is assisting them with the help of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry
of Aviation, the Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria’s Ambassador to
Lebanon, and they have put great efforts to bring them back.
“We had 27
girls that came on this flight and just like we promised last time, we will not
leave any stranded Nigerian girl in Lebanon.
“On this
flight, Mr Fassai Khalid supported 20 girls to come and there were another
seven girls facilitated by the Lebanese community.
“They all
came today and they are finishing the process. Some came yesterday, some will
come tomorrow, we won’t leave anyone of them behind.
One of the
returnees who spoke on condition of anonymity appreciated the Nigerian and
Lebanese governments for ensuring their safe return back home.
She said that
if not for the assistance, they would have been left stranded in Lebanon as
they could not afford to buy tickets to return home.
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