About 600 Nigerians are currently stranded in Saudi Arabia, many of them for over seven months, according to a video circulating on social media.
The Nigerians, in the video, are pleading with the authorities back home to come to their aid by evacuating them immediately.
Their spokesman says: “We are here more than three months, six months, seven months ago, without any action, no better information on transport to Nigeria.
”According to the rules and regulations of this location, we are not supposed to be here for more than two weeks.
Most nationals of other countries have been flown back to their countries. Only we Nigerians don’t have any source or way of getting back.
“I’m here on behalf of others to seek your assistance to get us back to our country.”
Their identities could not be immediately verified.
However, the Chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said on Friday that “Nigerian irregular migrants in Saudi Arabia are due to be evacuated on the 28th and 29th of January, pending any unforeseen issues.”
The evacuation is expected to be carried out in two batches of 400 and 200 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NIDCOM chief said.
She said: “Their evacuation was delayed due to issues relating to Covid-19.
“We appeal to Nigerians to resist traveling abroad without proper documents. It’s become very dangerous and more difficult.”
