SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, (THEWILL) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 75 out of 230 stranded Nigerian Football fans absconded in Russia after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The ministry’s Spokesperson, Tope Elias-Fatile, told NAN in Abuja that the fans absconded in spite of government’s efforts to repatriate them.
Mr Fatile said 230 stranded Nigerian football fans were profiled to board chartered Ethiopian Airline to Abuja but 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 said the ministry officials had to contribute to feed some of the stranded Nigerians in Moscow as many of them were left with nothing.
He said though they had the rights not to come back but it would be better for them to return because of the unfavorable weather in that country.
He said the mission had done a lot to facilitate their coming back but they did not appreciate it.
“Do you know that the officials at mission have to sacrifice their earning by contributing money to feed the stranded fans,” he said.
He said if, however, they repented and decided to come back, the ministry was ever ready to assist them adding that federal government was ever willing to assist Nigerians at anytime, anywhere in the world.
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