Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos Command has refused departure of fifty-eight (58) Nigerian medical doctors who attempted travelling aboard a United Kingdom bound flight.
The aircraft marked SP-ES which flew in from London was expected to be used to operate the flight number ENT 550, which the doctors were expected to board to London, UK.
A statement by the Nigeria Immigration Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James (pcc), a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration said, “Fifty-Six (56) of the Doctors had no Visa for entry to United Kingdom, while only two (2) had visa.
James clarified further that the Fifty-eight (58) Medical Doctors were refused departure in line with Section 31 subsection 2a and b, on powers conferred on the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service by the Immigration Act 2015, to prohibit departure of any person under the conditions stated in the Act.
He noted that the chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to carry forty-two (42) medical doctors for a training programme but later turned fifty-eight (58) with only two (2) having Visa for entry into UK, a situation that calls for refusal of departure.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons,” James affirmed, “will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave.”
He reasoned that the departure was refused to avoid refusal of entry and repatriation back to Nigeria amidst Covid-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as flouting the Federal Government’s directive on restriction of international flights unless for essential reason as approved by government.
James alleged that there is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry of Health in Nigeria or any known Medical body notifying the NIS of the travel of this number of medical doctors. He therefore confirmed that the aircraft has departed for London without the medical doctors.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, MFR, however used the opportunity to advise Nigerians to always adhere to travel protocols and ensure they have Valid passports with Visa to the country they intended travelling to before going to any airport, seaport or land border control to avoid refusal to depart.
