The Nigerian government says some 75 Nigerians who were stranded in Russia have refused to be repatriated.
These stranded Nigerians were part of some 230 who travelled to Russia to watch the world cup.
The plight of these Nigerians was well reported by the global media after they were pictured sleeping in the open.
They travelled to Russia to watch the world cup to support their national team. They however had plans of securing jobs in Russia only to be disappointed.
Last week 155 of the 230 returned to Abuja after the government successfully paid for their travel fares. On Wednesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the remaining 75 have vanished in Russia.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fans absconded in spite of government’s efforts to repatriate them.
Fatile says the 230 stranded Nigerian football fans were to board the chartered Ethiopian Airline to Abuja. He revealed that at the last minute, only 155 boarded the flight.
“As at the last count, over 230 stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja, however, only 155 boarded the flight that arrived Friday night July 22,” he said.
He says the ministry however is willing to assist these recalcitrant stranded Nigerians when they are ready to return home.
Some of these fans also claimed to have been tricked into buying football World Cup passes to travel to Russia.
They had bought Fan IDs, which served as visas for the duration of the tournament for $700 in the hope of securing professional football contracts.
Some also said their travel agencies cancelled their return flights and pocketed the cash.
Source: Africafeeds.com
