An American citizen Bishop Abiodun Mayungbo, at the weekend said no fewer than 380 Nigerians are being deported by the United States government every week over various offences, ranging from lack of relevant travelling papers, illicit trade and other offences.

He said the American government has made available an aircraft that would carry all those who violate the country’s regulation on immigration to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, saying despite the humiliation, many young Nigerians still travel abroad without the necessary papers.

Although the cleric agreed that the nation’s economy is bad, he said it’s growing. He said that there is still hope, adding that there was no need for youths to be hell bent on traveling, even when there are better opportunities for them in the country.

Mayungbo, who is the founder of Bible Life Holiness Church in Ibadan, made the revelation at the weekend during a news conference he addressed on his latest book, entitled “How to live well abroad.”

The cleric, who said he was one of the first set of Nigerians who won the USA Visa Lottery in 1994, frowned at a situation where hundreds of Nigerians are being deported from foreign countries over various offences.

He urged the government to intensify public campaigns that would discourage young Nigerians from travelling abroad in search of greener pasture.

“I believe if young people must travel they must have relevant immigration documents, so that they would not go out there to mess themselves up,” he said.

The cleric said: “There should be a forum to inform young people and guide them about travelling abroad. They should be told that there are no jobs abroad. They should think of what they can do here rather than travelling abroad for jobs that are not available.”

Mayungbo noted that having travelled widely, the book was his contributions to guide Nigerians who are bent on travelling abroad on what it takes to live well abroad without running into trouble. “

culled from the Daily Sun

United Airlines begins Nigeria-US flight

Nigeria's minister of aviation, Fidelia Njeze, and delegates from United Airlines, an international carrier from the United States of America, have officially announced the commencement of flight operations by an additional airline on the Nigeria-USA route..

Describing the development as an "accomplished mission" for the federal government of Nigeria, Ms. Njeze disclosed that the entry of the new United States carrier into the Nigeria aviation industry depicts mutual understanding between both countries after the signing of the open skies treaty.

"This is mission accomplished for us in the ministry and for Nigerians," she said during a briefing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Wednesday.

"What we are witnessing started some years ago, which led to the coming in of Delta Airlines; and this marks the Nigeria-United States agreement of open skies signed in 2001."

The aviation minister disclosed that Nigeria will continue to work with the United States government to enhance development in the sector, adding that the arrival of United Airlines will boost services on the route.

"Nigeria will always be a strategic and economic partner of the USA, and for this reason I hereby formally announce on behalf of the federal government, the arrival of United Airlines to Nigeria," she said.

Making Lagos a hub

Speaking on the development, Richard Aisuebeogun, managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, said that the federal government is making efforts to ensure that the Lagos international airport becomes a hub in Africa, adding that the airline is welcomed to Nigeria.

"This shows progression and it drives at making Nigeria, especially Lagos airport, a hub in Africa," he said. "We have the market, the number and the business, so we welcome United Airlines and we want to assure you that soon your frequency will be increased."

Expressing thanks to the federal government through the ministry of aviation, Charles Duncan, president of the carrier, reiterated that the addition in the number of carriers on the route will promote trade, improve cultural ties and development passenger services.

"I am grateful to the aviation minister and all of our partners here who made launching the new service to Washington possible," he said. "This service will facilitate stronger commercial and cultural ties between the United States and Nigeria, while making travel more convenient and more accessible to our customers in Africa and the Americas."

United Airlines brings the number of carriers flying to the United States from Nigeria to three after the country attained the much coveted Category One Status in August this year from The United States Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA). The other airlines on the Nigeria-US route are Delta Airlines and Arik Air, an indigenous carrier.