544 Stranded Nigerians Evacuated From USA, UK

Not fewer than 544 Nigerians stranded in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) has been successfully evacuated, Ekohotblog reports.

The evacuation was the last before the opening of the country’s air space on August 29.

The country’s air space was shut in March 2020 as a result of the global lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Confirming the evacuation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the US evacuees, who were conveyed on Ethiopian airline, included: 87 males, 111 females and 10 infants.

According to the flight manifest, a total of 89 passengers were for Abuja and 119 for Lagos.

Also Read: COVID-19: FG Approves Last Evacuation Flight From US

The latest evacuation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brings to 2,322 the number of Nigerians evacuated from USA following the global lockdown in March 2020 occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“From USA, 208 stranded Nigerians arrived Abuja and Lagos on August 9 and the last evacuation flight with Ethiopian Airlines ET 509 yesterday from Newark, New Jersey. The flight departed Thursday, August 20 by 21:51 hours and estimated to arrive Abuja by 12:41 hours and Lagos by 14:31 hours yesterday. The flight manifest included: 87 males, 111 females and 10 infants, with a total of 89 passengers for Abuja and 119 for Lagos. This last flight brought the total number of stranded Nigerians evacuated from the USA to 2, 322 returnees,” the ministry stated.

While the UK evacuation, which was the 8th and the last were conveyed on Air Peace flight operated by Air Europa and scheduled to arrive the country on Saturday 21st August 2020.

The ministry said: “The 8th and last batch of evacuation flight from the UK departed Gatwick Airport, London to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday at 1.35pm.

“The Air Peace Flight No. P47701 operated by Air Europa Flight No. UK 962 had 236 returnees on board.”

Over 10,000 Nigerians have been evacuated back home since May 2020 under the emergency flight arrangements.