No formal request for asylum from West Africans

Nicholas added that granting the refuges legal status will not happen overnight, as they must go through all legal processes before that can be done

“Even though the modality may be set in place for them to have legal status, there is still going to have to be the review of every individual to determine that we know from whence they came, who they are and to ensure that we are not dealing with any falsities and that whole due diligence process to accommodate them”

“The Department of Immigration will have a significant amount of work to do to be able to go through that whole scrutiny of the individuals whom we may accord residency, but it’s a process that I imagine once it starts is going to take a while for them to develop the experience to be able to know the nuances between the various persons who have presented themselves to be accorded residency,” said.

While the majority of these men and women may choose to return here, Nicholas said if anyone would wish to return to their homeland, plans are underway to arrange a charter flight with assistance from the Antigua Nigeria Chamber of Commerce.

“We have already had contact with the people from Antigua Airways and even the president of the Antigua Nigeria Chamber of Commerce that they are prepared to facilitate a return flight for those who would wish to go back,” Nicholas said.