Drama As UK Deports 41 Nigerians Over Visa Issue

No fewer than 41 Nigerians were Wednesday, deported from the United Kingdom.

They arrived at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos in a chartered Air bus 330 aircraft which touched ground at exactly 7:40 a.m.

About 83 were reportedly scheduled to be deported but it was gathered that the aircraft first landed in Ghana where some Ghanaians were dropped off.

Nigerians deported comprised 33 males and eight females who are all adolescents.

Among them were elderly men and women who looked forlorn as they disembarked from the aircraft. Some were corporately dressed.

One woman created a scene as she raised hand praising and thanking God as she came down from the aircraft.

They were said to have been deported for immigration related offences as most of them had expired visas.

However there were no prisoners among the deportees whom would have been expected to complete their jail time in Nigerian prisons. All those deported were sent home for visa issue.

Sources said Nigerian High Commission in UK is still negotiating for the prisoners among them to be brought home to complete their jail terms.

They quietly left the airport after their profiling by the immigration officials.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), police men and aviation security personnel were on ground to receive the deportees.

There was a mild drama at the airport as the deportees resisted journalists who were trying to capture their faces when they were searching for their 'Ghana Must Go' bags.

NEMA Director- General, Alhaji Mohammed Sidi said the deportees would ben given a 'token' to go back to their respective destinations.

Sidi represented by the Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, Dr. Abdullahi Onimode advised those leaving the country in search of greener pastures to have a rethink by staying in the country to develop it.

The NEMA boss said, "We need to talk to them, counsel them and let them realize that the country they left some years ago is not the same country they are meeting today, we have moved ahead and everybody has equal opportunity in the present day government to be the best you can be.

"Whatever your trading or leaning, ensure that you carve a niche for yourself. Where we tend to go to for greener pastures after all were developed by their own persons. So we should be able to proudly stay back here in Nigeria and ensure that we develop our own country".