FG Denies Allegation of Frustrating Evacuation Process of Nigerian Students From Saudi Arabia

The Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied the allegation that it was frustrating the evacuation process of stranded Nigerian students in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, on Thursday August 6, 2020.

The ministry expressed its disappointment over the misleading viral video, condemning the attitude of the Nigerian government to students in the Saudi Arabia.

“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a misleading video in circulation, fabricated by some misguided, unpatriotic and ungrateful Nigerian Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the statement reads.

In the viral video, the students alleged that the government of Nigeria, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah, have deliberately refused to facilitate their evacuation to Nigeria for holiday since 15th May, 2020.

The group further alleged that the embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah refused to issue permits to students to travel home and failed to secure Clearance and Landing Permit for the Saudi Arabian Airlines to airlift Nigerians from the Kingdom.

“The Ministry wishes to state that the Nigerian Mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with Federal Government guidelines for the evacuation of Nigerian Nationals stranded in different parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been engaging relevant host authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Nigerians from the Kingdom.

“Though the Saudi Airlines fixed 8th July and 1st August, 2020 respectively, the Airline never informed the Embassy of the dates or sought approval of the proposed dates from Nigeria either through the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh or the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah, which is against the spirit of established diplomatic protocols.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also wishes to put it on record that the Embassy Officials did not demand any commission or graft from the Airlines as insinuated by the misinformed select Nigerian students whose allegations have since been condemned and refuted by the leadership of Nigerian Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The Ministry wishes to recall that the Embassy of Nigeria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia successfully facilitated the evacuation of 117 Nigerians from the Kingdom via Azman Air Services Limited, Flight No: ZQ381 on 19th July, 2020, and is committed to ensuring that the right processes and established guidelines are adhered to in the evacuation of Nigerian
Nationals,” the statement adds.

The ministry therefore urged Nigerians to disregard the unfortunate allegations by the misinformed students.