The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has justified the delay in the airlift of certain Nigerian students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The aggrieved Nigerians have accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda, of deliberately refusing to facilitate their evacuation to Nigeria for holiday since May 15, 2020. But the Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye denied the accusations. ”He equally denied allegation of financial inducement by the Nigerian Embassy officials from operators of the Saudi airline. The statement further read in part: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also wishes to put it on record that the Embassy Officials did not demand for any commission of graft from the Airlines as insinuated by the misinformed select Nigerian Students, whose allegations have since been condemned and refuted by the leadership of Nigerian Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: Nigerian Tribune August 06, 2020 22:18 UTC