Kafiyat and her Husband

Woman who gave birth on the repatriation flight of Nigerians from the UAE speaks

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By Johnson Dike

The lady who reportedly gave birth abroad on the Emirate flight evacuating 256 Nigerians, from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has described her labour experience.

“I can’t really describe my experience as real labour, but a forced one that can be attributed to a series of stress that I went through a few days before I embarked on the voyage.

“My actual due date was May 30 and my husband and I had agreed for me to come home to deliver our third baby in Lagos. I had resigned my appointment two months earlier and had actually bought a ticket preparatory to return to Nigeria before the lockdown with the grounding of flights worldwide.

“But surprisingly, I delivered by myself inside the plane even before the flight attendant could get to me. It was a miraculous act that is beyond my imagination,” she narrated.

Kafayat said she indicated her interest to return back to Nigeria when the Nigerian authorities asked willing Nigerians to register for evacuation to Nigeria. She mentioned that she was one of the first persons to book the flight because she  and her Husband decided to have their baby in Nigeria. 

“We were initially scheduled to leave Dubai on April 26, but unfortunately the flight was cancelled until another opportunity came on Wednesday and I prayed and wished that I get to Lagos before the delivery.

“But when the mild pain started, I thought it was just stomach pain. Honestly, I prayed silently for God to let get to Lagos since the journey was just seven hours,” Kafayat continued.

Asked how she feels that she’s back to Dubai, she said:

“To be sincere I am not happy. I resigned two months ago and started the process of coming back to Nigeria and the Covid-19 issue started, and again I am back in Dubai instead of being in Nigeria with my children.”

“I am so grateful to God and all Nigeria government representatives here in Dubai, especially Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa who called to congratulate me early this morning (Thursday)”

Kafayat and her new baby are doing very well. A mother of three kids with two currently in Nigeria with her parents. She said 

“Most importantly, I needed to be with my kids, I want to feel the joy of motherhood with them coupled with the cost of working, living and training children in Dubai. It’s very expensive raising children here.

Kafayat has been in UAE for seven years where she has worked in the Alshaya Company as an administrator. She also solicits the help of the Nigerian Government for their support to file her baby’s documents and other imminent needs.

 

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