COVID-19: Evacuation of Nigerians Stranded Abroad Begins this Week – FG

Pat Stevens/

The federal government has announced plans to commence evacuation of citizens stranded in various countries abroad due to COVID-19 shutdowns from this week.

The government had earlier blamed the delay in carrying out the evacuation on the difficulty in securing suitable facilities to quarantine the evacuees upon their return to the country.

Aside subjecting them to 14-day compulsory quarantine, the government also said the returning citizens would bear the cost of their flight.

However, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed today that arrangements have been concluded for the evacuation to begin this week.

Dabiri-Erewa shared the news via her verified Twitter handle, @abikedabiri.

According to her, the countries to be covered include, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America, among others.

She wrote, “Planned evacuation of Nigerians begins from this week. UAE. UK. USA etc All applicants should please check with the various missions for updates and protocols to abide by. May the Lord heal the world.”

Meanwhile, the Consulate of Nigeria in New York has confirmed that the evacuation of Nigerians stranded in the United States will begin on May 10.

The Consul-General, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, disclosed in a notice yesterday that no fewer than 700 Nigerians have registered with the missions in the US for the evacuation, which would be done in batches.

The consulate said the first batch of 270 evacuees would be transported to Abuja through an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 509.

The plane is expected to depart the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at 9.15pm and fly directly to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The notice stated, “The projected cost for the one-way economy ticket is between 1,300 dollars (N488,800) and 1,700 dollars (N639,200) per adult.

“Please note that over 700 Nigerian nationals have registered with our missions in the USA to be evacuated.

“However, only 270 passengers shall be accommodated in this batch of evacuation.”

The mission further said the applicants would be prioritised according to their immigration status.

“This includes the need to consider those stranded with proof of short-stay visas, the elderly, families with children and returning students,” it noted.

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