Hundreds Of Nigerians Stranded In Russia Have Arrived Abuja

 Scores of Nigerians who travelled to the country for the World Cup were unable to leave, having discovered that they were swindled. 

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday ordered their immediate repatriation on the expense of the federal government. The stranded football fans came through Ethiopian Airline flight number ET-ALP. The flight arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 9pm.

A nursing mother was among the 155 Nigerians stranded in Russia who arrived the country on Friday.

Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, who was at the airport to monitor their arrival, lauded Buhari’s effort to ensure their safe return. According to him, the ministry has been monitoring the process of the evacuation, which is under the coordination of the mission of Nigeria in Moscow. The minister explained that there was also an allegation that some airline travel agents cancelled return tickets of their customers without informing them.


He said, “The aircraft departed Domodedovo Airport in Moscow with the stranded Nigerians in the afternoon and arrived in Abuja this evening. They were among the fans who travelled to the Russian Federation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament and were stranded after the events due to lack of funds for their upkeep.”


From the cable