Yemisi Izuora
An Emirates Airlines has flown back 265 Nigerians from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, earlier said the evacuees were expected to arrive at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
According to the statement, hotel accommodation in Lagos and Abuja have been put in place.“The hotels have been inspected by the following: Port Health Services, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IPC.”
It added that the “Ministry wishes to further inform that adequate arrangements for hotel accommodation in Lagos and Abuja have been made for the evacuation exercise.”
According to the statement, discussions with the British Airways through the British High Commission to evacuate 300 Nigerians from London on Friday, March 8, are still ongoing.
The flight (BA 9155) is expected to depart London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, at 07:10 AM and arrive Lagos at 1:10 PM on the same day.
Arrangements with Ethiopian Airways to evacuate Nigerians from New York to Abuja are also ongoing as evacuees are expected on Monday, May 11.
The evacuation is as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected nearly 4 million people globally and caused over 200,000 deaths.