By Our reporter

Sept. 9, 2020 - Another 27 stranded girls successfully evacuated from Lebanon by the Federal Government and the Lebanese government and community in Nigeria have arrived Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Receiving the girls, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister for Foreign Affairs said the evacuation was a fulfillment of the Nigerian government's promise to ensure no Nigerian is lefts stranded in Lebanon to suffer following the outcry of stranded Nigerians in the country.

Nwonye said the Nigerian government was aware of the unfortunate situation they experienced in Lebanon thereby made sure of their safe return to the country.

"I am here on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs who facilitated this return together with the Ministry of Aviation, Embassy of Nigeria in Beirut, Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria and the Lebanese community in Nigeria. 

"These are the individuals and institutions that made it possible for you to be here today. 

" It is unfortunate the situation you passed through that is why the ministries made sure you are here today and we are telling you that you are now home today and nothing will happen to you. 

"Make sure you follow the protocols they advised you on, you know what to do to recover your passports again. 

"You are welcome back home and i wish you journey mercies to your various destinations," Nwonye said.

Nwonye while speaking to newsmen said the stranded Nigerians were evacuated in line with the Federal Government's guideline on COVID-19 evacuation.

He said the girls tested negative for COVID-19 before embarking on the journey were allowed to go home on 14 days self isolation in line with the Federal Government's guidelines for COVID-19 evacuation.

He explained that their passports were retrieved from them upon arrival and they are expected to collect them back with a proof a COVID-19 test which they are expected to take again once they complete their 14- days self isolation.

The spokesperson said the girls were tested in Beirut before embarking of the journey and they were also profiled on arrival.

Also speaking, Mr Philip Webbe, representative of the Silver Wings Group in Nigeria said the Lebanese community and Embassy in Nigeria had facilitated the return of the girls with the support of the Nigerian government.

Webbe said it was in fulfillment to their words that they would not leave any Nigerian girl stranded in Lebanon,

"We are the company, silver wings that brought the Chartered flight to Nigeria.

"we are evacuating stranded girls that were in Lebanon. These girls had nobody to assist them to bring them back to Nigeria. 

"The Lebanese community is assisting them with the help of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Aviation, the Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria's Ambassador to Lebanon, and they have put great efforts to bring them back. 

"We had 27 girls that came on this flight and just like we promised last time, we will not leave any stranded girls in Lebanon. 

"On this flight, Mr Fassai Khalid supported 20 girls to come and they were another seven girls facilitated by the Lebanese community. 

"They all came today  and they are finishing the process. Some came yesterday, some will come tomorrow, we wont leave anyone behind.

One of the returnees who spoke in anonymity appreciated the Nigerian and Lebanese governments for ensuring their safe return back home.

She said that if not for the assistance they would have been left stranded in Lebanon as they could not afford to buy tickets to return home.

She said they encountered many challenges in Lebanon with many of them being owed seven to eight months salaries by their bosses.