The federal government has sent new guidelines to Nigerian embassies and high commissions stating Nigerians wishing to return home would henceforth pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation or hotel before departure and arrival in the country.
It was gathered that the revised rule was informed by the government’s seeming inability to afford the cost of taking care for two weeks, of the estimated 4,000 Nigerians who have indicated interest to return.
In the new guidelines, each Nigerian evacuee from Thailand, Turkey and Kuwait is meant to N297, 600.
Prior to issuing the revised guidelines, the returnees were only required to pay for their flight while the government took care of their two weeks stay in isolation.
The government said it imposed the fees “due to measures that are beyond the control of COVID-19 local organizing team.”
A 14th May, letter by the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangkok, Thailand, which was signed by the head of chancery, Mr. Nicholas Uhomoibhi, said each returnee is expected to pay N297,600 for quarantine and feeding in Nigeria.
“I am directed to bring to your attention due to measures that are beyond the control of COVID-19 local organizing team in Nigeria, all evacuees going to Nigeria henceforth are to now pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation centre or hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria
“In this regard, all prospective evacuees are to note the negotiated rate below: Accommodation (N15, 000 x16 days=N240, 000) and Feeding (N3, 600 x16 days=N57, 600). Total: N297, 600 at N18, 600 x16 days.
“Kindly be informed that these rates were negotiated in Nigeria and that the Embassy has been instructed not to airlift any evacuee who fails to pay the above fee,” the letter stated.
A similar letter sent to all Nigerians in the State of Kuwait by the Embassy of Nigeria on May 13, 2020, said the evacuees will pay N297, 600 for their quarantine in Nigeria apart from the air fares.
The letter, titled “Re: Request for evacuation of Nigerian nationals in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” said in part: “Further to our notice of 5th April 2020 on the above mentioned subject matter, the Embassy wishes to inform that all intending evacuees are to pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/centre/hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria.
“The negotiated rate is as follows: Accommodation-N240, 000 (N15, 000 x16 days); Feeding-N57, 6009 (N3, 600 x 16 days). Total- N297, 600 (N18, 600 x16 days).
“All evacuees are to pay the aforementioned amount for their quarantine/isolation/centre/hotels directly to the airline along with their tickets. Evacuees have option to pay in dollars or its equivalent in naira.
“It is important to note that evacuees that do not pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/ centre/ hotels will not be allowed to board the flight.”
For Turkey, the Embassy in Ankara informed them with a May 13 memo to pay N297, 600.
With The Nation report
