Former president of NANS-Turkish Zone calls for the removal of the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey over outrageous repatriation fees for students

Former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS-Turkish Zone, Zacks Jim has called for the removal of the Nigeria Ambassador to Turkey for requesting that students who are stranded in Cyprus and Turkey and wants to return home pay N800,000 for transportation, quarantine and food despite the fact that they are only students.

Zacks made the call out in a Facebook post on Monday, May, 18 where he described it as sheer exploitation. According to him, the Government of Nigeria has absolutely no justification asking students to pay almost N800,000 (about $2,050) for transportation, quarantine and food.

Recall that the government last week released a circular requesting that all intending evacuees from Turkey, Cyprus and other countries are to pay for their quarantine, isolation and accommodation center (hotel) before departure amounting to 297,600 Naira without flight ticket. Anyone who fails to meet the conditions will not be able to fly.

This new arrangement did not however appeal to Nigerians both home and abroad who feels the government like every other nations in the world has a responsibility to cater for it's citizens especially at a time when many people are facing financial crisis. 

The former NANS president also stated how difficult it is for Nigerians especially students to get access to the embassy in Ankara, describing it as a 'no-go-area' for students. 

He called for the removal of Nigerian ambassador to Turkey and the CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Hon. Abike Dabiri for doing things at their own pace and not putting the interest of Nigerian Students as a priority in the execution of their plans and programs.

Below is the full statement; 

I feel pained and disappointed in the Government of Nigeria for not putting concrete plans and making robust financial commitment to evacuate Nigerian students stranded abroad. I make bold to say there is absolutely no justification in asking current and recently graduated students to pay almost N800,000 for transportation quarantine and food. The reality is that, where do they expect a student struggling to achieve a better life and future to have money to the tune of that amount. If the government has the interest of Nigerian students at heart, then obviously, it should be seen to be building confidence and ameliorating our challenges not this sheer exploitation.

More painful is the fact that, the Nigerian Embassy in Turkey is somewhat a 'no-go-area' for students. How can our voices be heard and concerns embraced when the major channel through which we pour our concerns are blocked? This is hardly fair. We feel left behind and swept under the carpet for mundane reasons best known to the FG. We can not be cowed continuously by the government's insensitivity to what has enormously become our achilles heel.

Having observed with great dismay and utter disappointment and in the light of this reality, I call on the removal of Nigerian ambassador to Turkey and the CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Hon. Abike Dabiri for doing things at their own pace and not putting the interest of Nigerian Students as a priority in the execution of their plans and programs. Their removal must be done as a matter of urgency in order to change the course of history.

While I call on Nigerian students to remain calm and do everything legitimately possible to be of good behaviour and respect all guidelines developed to fight Covid-19, I also assure all and sundry that we will continue to work in togetherness to achieve the pre-eminence of our Purpose and highest destiny.

I feel pained and disappointed in the Government of Nigeria for not putting concrete plans and making robust financial...
Posted by Zacks Jim on Monday, May 18, 2020