The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos restrained 58 Nigerian Doctors from boarding a UK bound aircraft flight number ENT 550, registration number SP-ES that flew in from London.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Spokesman of the NIS, DC Sunday James, 56 of the Doctors had no Visa for entry to the United Kingdom, while only two had a visa.
According to the NIS statement, “The 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.
“The chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to carry 42 medical doctors for a training program but they were 58, with only two of them having Visa for entry into the UK, a situation that calls for refusal of departure.
“This is 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 the restriction of international flights unless for an essential reason as approved by the government.
“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. The Aircraft has departed for London without the Medical Doctors.
