FG evacuates stranded Nigerians in Russia

Nigerians who have been stranded in Russia after the FIFA World Cup were on Friday evacuated by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The affected Nigerians had traveled for the competition, but got stranded owing to lack of funds and claims that their return tickets were cancelled without their  knowledge.

This prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, and Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, to commence the process of bringing them back home.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile disclosed that the stranded Nigerians were cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to the federal capital.

Fatile expatiated: “As of the last count, over 230 stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja.

“Consequently, the Mission submitted a formal complaint to host authorities against the airlines that
brought the stranded Nigerians to the Russian Federation.

”The Mission also made arrangements for the feeding and accommodation of the stranded Nigerians in
hostels around Moscow.”

The spokesman further disclosed that the ministry and Nigerian embassy in Moscow both worked in
collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation to process the evacuation.