The results of the tests, which were released on Monday in London, indicated that the 10 individuals were asymptomatic, raising fears that they might have infected other people.
This was said to have sparked panic among the staff of the Nigerian High Commission in London and other Nigerians who heard about the development.
Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported on April 11 that 2,000 Nigerians, mostly in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and the United Arab Emirates, had registered and indicated their intention to come home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which compiled a list of such stranded Nigerians, gave some conditions that the intending returnees would pay for their journey back home. Also, it stated that they would be compulsorily tested for COVID-19 before coming back to Nigeria.
Punch reports that many of the stranded Nigerians were students and businessmen, who travelled to the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
It was learnt that many of those who tested positive were not resident in the UK, but went to the European country for business and educational purposes.
A source in the high commission explained that Nigerians, who registered for the evacuation, were being tested in a batch of 40. The source added that another batch would soon undergo the COVID-19 test.
He stated, “We have just received the results of the first batch of 40 Nigerians who registered for evacuation to Nigeria. The results show that about 10 persons tested positive for COVID-19 and they have commenced treatment in isolation centres.
“What is generating consternation is the fear that they might have infected many other people since they were not showing symptoms of the deadly disease.”
Efforts are going on to begin contact-tracing.
FG exploring all options for evacuation –Minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, told The PUNCH on Monday that the Federal Government was exploring all options for the evacuation of the stranded Nigerians.
When asked if the government would charter an aircraft for the evacuation of the over 2,000 individuals, Onyeama simply said, “We are exploring all options.”
Many Nigerians have been clamouring to return home following the increase in cases of COVID-19 across the world.
from punch
OMG!!!!! Since they obviously have better health care in UK,those that tested positive should stay back and receive treatment.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Better health care system but it is overstretched and they may not receive the best of attention. A catch 22 situation
DeleteIn the UK health is paramount. The govt has said that everybody irrespective of immigration status will treated.
DeleteSo they want to start bringing in these people from the abroad.
ReplyDeletePlease they should stay there.
Once they come now, they will still disobey and start sharing chocolates to longer throat members
Lmao @long throat members
DeleteLmao @long throat members
DeleteYori yori🤣🤣🤣
Delete🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 naughty naughty@ sharing chocolate.
Delete🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 sharing chocolate to longer throat members
DeleteGovernment should be careful with this matter o. They have a right to return but not when it will be detrimental to us. They can't take us back o. They had better stay & be treated where they are. My opinion, only certified citizens tested repeatedly and found to be free of the infection should be flown back home. Kilode na!! It's these same returnees that got us to where we are today.
ReplyDeleteI wish them speedy recovery, nothing is permanent in this world, Nigeria the once rejected stone has now become the chief cornerstone, before if they are asked to come back home they would refuse now it's all they want.
ReplyDeleteJust speechless..
DeleteI wish them speedy recovery in Jesus name. Amen.
you certainly didnt read well...they are non residents of these places mentioned. Why wont they return home in that case???
DeleteWhy do they want to come back? Why can't they be there and receive treatment. What is this?
ReplyDeleteIf they come back are they sure of receiving prompt treatment.
Since you all don't have positive thoughts about Nigeria, in not surprised to see comment like this.
DeleteIf you know them, tell them to remain there.
My dear as it is now there is no treatment that is better than what they will get anywhere. The only clause here is if they get to the extent that they need oxygen and ventilators, then abroad is better for them. If it’s normal sit at home and shed the virus, it’s the same measure round the world. Afterall a close friend that was not showing full signs of the virus just died in the UK because he started finding it difficult to breath on Friday and by the time the ambulance cane fro him in London, he was gone. Even the oxygen didn’t save him.
DeleteThe High Commision should please ensure they run the tests before they enter any plane to go to Nigeria.
They should stay there and get treated properly before coming home...
ReplyDeleteI wish them all speedy recovery now and beyond in Jesus name. Amen.
Just imagine this covid of a thing started here, this country would have been almost empty by now.
ReplyDeleteI pray those that have already tested positive to it will recover speedily.
Amen
DeleteAbeg leave them there for now.
ReplyDelete@ Don, you are two faced. Read your first post on this issue.
DeleteWe have good thoughts towards our country Nigeria. But we need to say the truth.
If there is a huge break out of the infection, can the Nigerian health care system cope? That's the angle we are looking at.
They want to import more virus
ReplyDeleteI hope upon return they are also quarantined here o, we can't take chances abeg
They will be isolated for 14days when they get here.
DeletePlease,let them stay there and receive treatment. I think they have better chances there.
ReplyDeleteSpeedy recovery to all those infectes
*infected*
ReplyDeleteThey left us to suffer buhari alone, now they want to come back 🙄🙄 , no! Everybody remain where u are
ReplyDeletePlease naija is filled up already, they should remain there o
ReplyDeleteI think it's constitutionally wrong to deny a citizen their rights of entering their country so the Nigerian govt may have to let them in. Because Nig is the only place they can call home. Most of the people signing up to return to Nigeria are people who actually went to visit US/UK and other countries, not people who live there. So if they stay longer than their visiting visas, they will become illegal. Plus they have no jobs or homes over there cos that's not their primary residence.
ReplyDeleteStop it. They had no intention of coming back. It is because things have gotten so bad and now they are fearing for their lives they remember Nigeria. They had ample time in March to return, they heard borders were getting closed and airlines were cutting routes and they still did not move an inch to return. For once in modern times Africa is ahead of the world on something and now they remember Africa. They thought things would be better in the abroad for them, but now they see the shit show in the abroad and see the refuge that Nigeria poses they suddenly want to return, for what now? No to them, let them stay and work through it wherever they are. The lives of the people currently in the country should be protected first.
DeleteJamaica refused to accept some Jamaican citizens who were on a cruise ship after it closed it's borders. Those ppl had embarked on the cruise after the government had warned citizens not to travel anywhere and the country did not accept them in because they chose their own destiny. Governments need to stand up and not fall on sentiments in these times.
at NIB, they should remain there, even if their visas have expired, they should use Covid-19 as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteWell, but at whose costs? The hotel? The hospital? And for how long? Nothing is free. What if they've run out of money?
DeleteThe government should reject these requests. Africa is the only continent doing well in this pandemic. The ppl in Africa must be protected first. These ppl had no intention of returning because they could have returned long before things got so bad, when airlines were still operating and before borders closed, it is now they know Nigeria when the abroad is on fire. Let them stay because this virus has too many unknowns, too many false negative tests in the early stages. The people in Nigeria and their lives should be the government's first priority. Let those outside fend for themselves wherever they are until this scourge has passed. They are free to come home in December.
ReplyDelete