KUCHING: The return of all 56 Malaysians stranded in Nigeria following the Covid-19 pandemic crisis now depends on the implementation of relevant protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the Nigerian government’s part.
In stating this, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said as of now, the Nigerian government had yet to prepare the protocols and SOPs in handling its citizens bound to return from Malaysia.
“The Nigerian government wants its people in Malaysia to return and the arrangements are being made. All of this now depends on the speed of the Nigerian government in preparing the SOPs for its returning citizens.
“We were able to prepare our protocols in less than week but we cannot assume the same for them,” he said to a press conference on Saturday when fielding a question pertaining to the status of Malaysians stranded in Nigeria.
He said that it was understood that some airlines are still allowed to make flights to Lagos, Nigeria including Turkish Airlines.
However, Wan Junaidi expressed his concerns that boarding the flight to Turkey could result in the Malaysians being stranded in Turkey.
“For now we wait. When the Nigerian government has prepared their SOPs and protocols, then it can be carried out.
“I understand their situation and sympathise them. We are doing our best,” he said.
He then assured that the government is doing its best to arrange for the return of some 24,000 Malaysians currently unable to make their way home in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
