BEVERLY HILLS, July 22, (THEWILL) – The government of the United Arab Emirates has given Nigerian citizens living in that country with expired visas up till August 17, 2020, to pack up their belongings and leave otherwise the wrath of the law awaits them.
The Nigerian Embassy in capital Abu Dhabi has therefore urged Nigerians still in the country with expired visas to use the emergency evacuation flights organized by the Nigerian government to depart the country before the August 17 ultimatum.
In a statement titled, ‘Public Notice’ and dated July 21, the embassy said: “The Embassy wishes to inform that the government of the United Arab Emirates has granted waivers on fines/penalties on visas that expired before 1st March 2020 to leave the country on or before 17th of August 2020.
“Consequently, the Embassy is urging fellow Nigerians living in the UAE to avail themselves of this opportunity to return home with the impending Air Peace evacuation flight scheduled for 1st August 2020, and or subsequent Emirates evacuation flights before the expiration of the grace period.
“Accordingly, affected Nigerian nationals who are willing to return home are kindly requested to submit their names and passport numbers to the Embassy and or the Consulate for onward transmission to the UAE authorities in order to obtain the necessary clearance.”
The UAE has toughened its immigration policies and enforcement against Nigerian citizens since police officers sensationally busted a cyber criminal gang made up of ‘Instagram celebrities’ Abass Ramon Igbalode aka Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacob Ponle aka Woodberry.
THEWILL also reports that a few Nigerians have been convicted in imprisoned for various fraudulent activities including money laundering.
The Hushpuppi and Woodberry were handed over to the United States’ FBI for prosecution over alleged cybercrimes said to be in millions of dollars. Both men have appeared before judges and are presently in prison awaiting trial after bail was denied.
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