NATIONAL: NIDCOM evacuates 384 Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia

THE first batch of Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia has landed in Nigeria.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission announced this on Thursday.

The commission, which had earlier promised to evacuate the stranded citizens, said 384 Nigerians made the first batch home.

A statement issied by NIDCOM noted that those already evacuated are part of the 802 in the oil-rich country which complained of maltreatment, based on various reasons, to the federal government.

It added that the remaining citizens will come with the second batch tomorrow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the second batch will arrive in the country on Friday and would be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the ministry’s officials.

A statement said, “They (returnees) will be quarantined at the FCT Hajj camp for a period of 14 days in line with established COVID-19 protocols. Thereafter, the ministry will facilitate their movement to their respective home destinations.”
Announcing the return of the first batch,

NIDCOM said out of the 384 returnees, 300 are males while 83 are females with one infant whose gender the Commission didn’t disclose.

“384 Returnees (300 Males, 83 Females and one Infant) of the 802 stranded Nigerians just arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja via Saudi Air flight B773 at about 1:10 pm local time today 28th January 2021.” NIDCOM wrote on Twitter.