Ireland spends N577m to deport 35 Nigerians

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The Republic of Ireland spent €324,714, equivalent to about N577m, to hire a chartered flight for the deportation of 35 Nigerians to Lagos on Wednesday night, according to an Irish news outlet Raidió Teilifís Éireann.

RTÉ News reported that the flight, which took off from Dublin Airport, conveyed 21 Nigerian men, nine women, and five children.

According to the medium, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, disclosed the cost of the chartered flight, explaining that it was carried out by An Garda Síochána, Department of Justice staff, and prison officers, who accompanied the deportees on the flight.

The minister said although the flight made an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, all 35 returnees arrived in Nigeria on Thursday morning.

O’Callaghan added that this was the third time the country had used a chartered flight for deportees this year, and the operations underscored its strict enforcement of deportation rules.

According to him, the Nigerian deportees failed to comply with an earlier deportation order served to them.

“People need to know that if they are served with a deportation order, it has meaning, and the meaning is that you are not entitled to stay in Ireland.

“If it is the case that you’re not permitted to stay, whether you have overstayed your work visa or haven’t been granted asylum, there must be a consequence,” the minister was quoted as saying.

As of 1 pm on Saturday, the exchange rate stood at approximately N1,777.43 per €1. Therefore, €324,714 is equivalent to about N577m in Nigerian currency.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, through its spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said there was no issue with the deportation and that the Irish government didn’t have to inform the commission before deporting any Nigerian.