IMMIGRATION STOPS 58 NIGERIAN DOCTORS FROM LEAVING FOR UK VIA CHARTERED FLIGHT
The Nigeria Immigration Service has stopped 58 doctors from traveling to the UK via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The doctors, who are all Nigerians, planned to leave the country through a chartered aircraft with flight number EFT 550 which came into the country from London.
The NIS said the chartered flight was billed to carry only 42 medical doctors for a training program in the UK.
However, 52 doctors showed up ready to board the flight, and only 2 of the doctors had entry visas to enter into the UK.
Therefore, Nigerian Immigration officials refused their departure and the chartered flight returned to the UK without the doctors.
In a statement released to the press on July 10, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede MFR, said:
"The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave. This is to avoid refusal of Entry and repatriation back to Nigeria amidst Covid-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as flouting the Federal Government’s directive on restriction of international flights unless for essential reason as approved by government. There is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry of Health in Nigeria or any known Medical body notifying the NIS of the travel of this number of Medical Doctors. The Aircraft has departed for London without the Medical Doctors.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, MFR, is taking this opportunity to advise Nigerians to always adhere to travel protocols and ensure they have Valid passports with Valid Visa to the country they intended travelling to before going to any Airport, Seaport or Land Border Control to avoid refusal to depart."
Comments