Deported Nigerian student Olukunle Elukanlo is expected to collect his visa allowing him to return to Ireland from the Irish Embassy in Nigeria tomorrow morning.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, no date has yet been set for the return of Mr Elukanlo to Ireland. However, the cost and organisation of a flight will be jointly met by the Irish Embassy in Nigeria and the International Organisation on Migration (IOM).
A spokeswoman for the department said Mr Elukanlo's visa has been ready since the weekend but that he must travel from Lagos to the Irish Embassy in Abuja.
"He is staying with a priest at the moment in Lagos and plans to travel with this priest to Abuja tomorrow morning." She said no request was made by Mr Elukanlo for assistance in travelling to Abuja and added the Irish Embassy was in regular phone contact with him.
A Department of Justice spokesman said it was hoped that Olukunle would return to Ireland this week.
The IOM was contacted by the Government and asked to assist with the arrangements for the return of Mr Elukanlo to Ireland.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last week revoked his deportation order, which had seen Mr Elukanlo flown to Nigeria on March 14th as part of a group of more than 30 Nigerians.
A spokeswoman for Residents against Racism welcomed the news that the visa was ready but questioned why the process was taking so long. She also called for the return of the other Nigerians deported.
The group has also called for immigration policy to be taken out of the hands of the Government and given over to the Human Rights Commission. Residents against Racism are planning a protest against deportations at the GPO in Dublin at 12.30pm next Saturday.
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