COVID-19: Nigerian Doctor Denied Visa In India For Evacuation
A Nigerian Medical Doctor, Mue Daniel Demesugh, has cried out to the Federal Government for help to enable him leave India where he has been trapped in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Mue, an Orthopedic Surgeon, from the Benue state university teaching Hospital Makurdi, went for a short time medical training on spine surgery for 3 three months at BP Koriola Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan –Nepal a training he has since completed.
But following the outbreak of COVID-19, he became stranded in India.
According to a letter he addressed to the Nigeria Minister for Foreign Affairs, titled, “Urgent Request to Prevail on the Indian Authorities to Grant me Transit Visa/Waiver to Enable me Access and Join the Emergency Evacuation Flight for Nigerian Nationals in Ghandi International Airport, New Dehli en route Abuja- Nigeria” Mue lamented that as Nigerian government has commenced evacuation of all Nigerians stranded outside , the Indian Embassy refused him transit visa to join his Nigerian counterparts in New Delhi for take-off to Abuja.
Recalled that at the moment, Nigerian Government has granted transit visa to all Indians resident in African countries to converge on Lagos Airport for take-off to their country.
The letter stated in part that, “The Nigerian government has arranged a chattered flight on 4th of June 2020 for emergency evacuation of its nationals from Delhi- India en route Abuja-Nigeria.
“The high commissioner, Ambassador Chris Eze (whom I am in touch with) has made futile efforts to obtain a transit visa/waiver for me to access and join the flight from Nepal. Despite all his pleas the Indians have refused to allow me join the evacuation flight.
“Kindly use your good office to prevail on the Indian authorities (through their embassy in Nigeria or as you may deem necessary) to grant me necessary travel documents(special waiver, transit visa) to enable me access and join the emergency evacuation flight from Bagdogra airport to Delhi airport en route Abuja-Nigeria so as to return home to my family”.
