NIGERIANS that are being evacuated from countries such as India, Thailand and others back to Nigeria as a result of COVID-19 pandemic are to pay a total of N297,600 before they could be airlifted, Elendu Reports gathered.
According to letters dispatched by the Nigerian authorities to its embassies abroad, sighted by our reporter, ” all evacuees going to Nigeria are to pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation or hotels before departure and arrivals in Nigeria.”
One of such letters dated May 14 addressed to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand gave the breakdown of the amount as N240,000 for accommodation at N15, 000 for 16 days and N57, 600 for feeding for 16 days.
The letter was signed by Nicholas B. Uhomoibhi, the head of chancery on behalf of the ambassador.
In another letter issued by the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi, India, it was stated that the Federal Government would no longer be able to bear the cost quarantine, accommodation and feeding of the affected Nigerians on arrival.
It added that evacuees were to pay the amount at the point of paying for their ticket which Elendu Reports gathered cost $1,300.
There have been concerns over this development, as many Nigerians who are patients from various India hospitals with serious life-threatening and/or terminal illness have been reportedly stranded as result of this extra payment.
“A lot of Nigerians willing to return home from India are stranded. They have been charged exorbitantly for the flight ticket a whopping Usd 1,300. After collecting their money they now turned back and requested them to pay an additional almost ₦300,000 doe accommodation in Nigeria,” said a concerned Nigerian who did not want his name mentioned.
“It seems Abike Dabiri and her colleagues are trying to make brisk business. 80% of stranded Nigerians in India went on medical reasons, some have undergone brain surgery some are cancer patients who have few months to live yet others bave other serious ailments and had to struggle to travel for lack of facilities.”
“Even the President always run to the UK often to seek for medical attention. Most of those returnees barely paid for the ticket. They were not told before paying for the ticket that they need to pay for the hotel and feeding while in quarantine in Abuja. Attached herewith is the letter from Nigerian High Commission in India,” he added.