Why 542 Nigerians Were Evacuated From UAE – NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has stated the reason for the evacuation of 542 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Head of the Media Unit, NEMA, Manzo Ekeziel, the Middle East country’s recent policy made it impossible for the evacuees to secure a work permit.

Recall that the Nigerian government received 542 evacuees from the UAE at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday.

79 males, 460 females and three infants were on board the Max Air flight, NEMA disclosed.

Ezekiel also unveiled plans by the Federal Government to help more stranded Nigerians return to the country.

He said, “The Federal Government received communication and decided to support them back to the country. I don’t know if there’s any diplomatic row or not.

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He continued, “There are some of them that could not come in today but arrangement is on for them to be transported, maybe tomorrow. I’m not sure of the total number of those still left behind.

“One of the evacuees, Blessing Okorie, from Ebonyi State, interacted with, blamed a new visa policy; and that they could not get a work permit.

“She said she travelled to that country with valid papers but after some time, according to her, the government of the UAE came up with a new visa policy that made her unable to get a work permit. Because of that, she was sacked from where she was working and, according to her, she had to hustle.”