Another batch of twenty-seven stranded Nigerian girls has been evacuated from Lebanon by the Federal Government and the Lebanese government, as well as its community in Nigeria.
They arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Receiving the girls, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the evacuation was in fulfillment of the Nigerian government’s promise to ensure that no Nigerian is left stranded in Lebanon.
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
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.
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He said, all the girls tested negative for COVID-19 before embarking on the journey and would proceed on 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 representative of the Silver Wings Group in Nigeria, Philip Webbe 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 fulfillment of their word, that they would not leave any Nigerian girl stranded in Lebanon.
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, if not for the assistance, they would have been left stranded in Lebanon, as they could not afford to buy tickets to return home.
She disclosed that they encountered many challenges in Lebanon with many of them being owed seven to eight months salaries by their employers.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
