The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has addressed an appeal by Dr. Muinat Jaji, a Nigerian family stranded in London, United Kingdom with her family.
Nigerian online newspapers on Thursday, published the plight of Dr. Muinat Jaji and her family members, Nurudeen Jaji (husband) Abdulhameed Jaji (son) Maryam Jaji (daughter) and Dr. Muinat Jaji (wife).
Jaji had complained that they were stranded at Heathrow Airport for alleged manipulation of her COVID-19 test results, thereby sabotaging her plan to fly back to Nigeria.
“My visa expired on 14th August 2021, that was four days into my return to the UK and I have not seen it renewed because the UK home office said my employer needs to send in my spreadsheet.
“They reassured me that my visa is being processed and had been sent. But the home office team as well as the home office tracker said my record is not valid.
“I hate to remain in the UK as an overstayers because it will soil my dignity and long standing integrity. I should leave the UK within 30 days of visa expiration and since I was been tossed around, I decided to resign. I sent in my resignation letter which they are not willing to approve.
“I booked my flight, got my approved letter from my GP as been fit to fly. But now I was not allowed to fly at the airport because my COVID-19 test result would not just be released for unknown reasons.
“I am pregnant and heavy and soon the airline would not carry me from 32 weeks. I need to leave the UK but my efforts is being sabotaged. I am not sick and I can’t declare that I am sick because if I say so then it means I am not fit to fly.
“They are frustrating my COVID-19 test results so that I won’t be able to fly and since I have resigned from my workplace, I will not be paid. My house rent has expired, I have left the house and handed over the keys to the house owner because my life is precious to me. I feel so unsafe to have my baby in the UK as it is the same people who will be taking care of me.
“I used the last money on me to book for another COVID-19 test and a hotel. If I don’t fly today or tomorrow then I might be financially stranded in the airport as a pregnant woman with two children and husband sleeping about,” Dr Jaji had complained.
Contacted on Friday, the spokesperson of NiDCOM, Abdul-Rahman Balogun said the commission would act on the complain by Friday (today).
However, ASHENEWS gathered that the authorities in both countries acted Thursday and the victims had since arrived Abuja, capital of their home country.
“They’re now in Abuja, they arrived yesterday (Thursday). I spoke to a friend in the Ministry of Justice in London and they called them immediately to board the flight,” publisher of Royal News said.
In a letter to Dr Jaji by its media unit dated 10th September, 2021, NiDCOM stated:
“I trust this email meets you well. Please note that you should be able to do your Covid-19 test at Heathrow from a commercial provider.
Please check this link below: https://www.expresstest.co.uk/heathrow-landing/
“We have also forwarded your complaint to the Nigerian High Commission in the UK and we believe all should be resolved, if there are no underlying issues the mission is not aware of, there is no reason the UK would not allow you depart for your home country.
“Once again, apologies for the trauma you must have gone through. You can please liaise further with Barrister Abdullahi Bello, Legal Department, on abello155@yahoo.com who will in turn liaise with the Director, Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, if necessary.”
