COVID-19: Nigerian evacuees in Thailand asked to pay N297,600 as “Quarantine fees”

Posted by admin COVID-19, Latest Politics, NNP News Friday, May 15th, 2020

(NNP) Nigerians in Thailand seeking to be evacuated as a result of the ongoing pandemic will have to dole out the sum of about $800 USD or N297, 600 before they could board the evacuation flight. According to a letter (posted below) issued by the embassy to persons scheduled to be evacuated and signed by the Head of Chancery, Mr. Nicholas Uhomoibhi, those persons wishing to be evacuated must pay N15, 000 daily for their accommodation for 16 days and N3, 600 for their feeding for the same number of days.

The embassy stated that the compulsory payment is as a result of “measures beyond the control of the COVID-19 local organizing team in Nigeria.” The letter further stated, “Kindly be informed that the rates were negotiated in Nigeria and the embassy has been directed not to airlift any evacuees who fail to pay the fees.”

Foreign affairs minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama noted in April that due to the acute lack of funds, all evacuees will be made to pay for their upkeep while in isolation before they are allowed to travel to their various destinations in Nigeria. He further noted that only those on student status in Khartoum, Sudan are exempted from the mandatory payment.

A similar repatriation arrangement to evacuate 200 stranded Nigerians from Canada on May 14^th failed due to inadequate planning to secure landing rights for Air Peace, the Nigerian carrier scheduled to effect the repatriation. The flight was deny entry to the North American country.

-New Nigerian Politics

wp_posts