BREAKING: NIS Blocks 58 UK-Bound Medical Doctors Allegedly Being Smuggled Out Of Nigeria

The Nigeria Immigration Service has blocked 58 Nigerian medical doctors from travelling to London for a training programme after it was discovered that some of the affected medical personnel have no valid travelling documents.

BIGPEN understands the medical personnel were allegedly being smuggled out of the country – some without a valid passport when NIS operatives swooped on them.

NIS, in a statement by its public Relation Officer, Sunday James, on Friday, said that the UK-bound medical doctors were stopped at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that the medical doctors were refused departure through “a UK bound aircraft flight number ENT 550, registration number SP-ES that flew in from London.”

“Fifty-Six (56) of the Doctors had no Visa for entry to United Kingdom, while only two (2) had visa”, James added.

James said: “The Fifty-eight (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 forty-two (42) medical doctors for a training program but they were fifty-eight (58) with only two (2) having Visa for entry into UK, a situation that calls for refusal of departure.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave.

“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 restriction of international flights unless for essential reason as approved by 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.

“The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, is taking this opportunity to advise Nigerians to always adhere to travel protocols and ensure they have Valid passports with Valid Visa to the country they intended travelling to before going to any Airport, Seaport or Land Border Control to avoid refusal to depart”, the statement added.