COVID-19: 12 Nigerian Evacuees Pay ₦7m For Côte d’Ivoire Charter Fight

Twelve Nigerians who were marooned in Côte d’Ivoire have reportedly paid N7m for a charter flight bring them to the country.

The stranded men who were said to be awaiting evacuation were desperate to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire gave the 12 businessmen approval to secure the aircraft at their own expense, PUNCH quoted à senior government official to have said.

The source stated, “Twelve businessmen stranded in Côte d’Ivoire are desperate to return home. They contacted the Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and were asked to make their own travel arrangements, so they decided to come by charter flight.

“They have agreed to pay N7m for the charter flight, but they are waiting for the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to sort out the landing rights and other clearance issues. A man in Sierra Leone, who is suffering from acute typhoid and was anxious to return to home for treatment, is also willing to pay N1m for a seat on the flight.”

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In related development, There are feelers that the Federal Government is in talks with the Malaysia government for the evacuation of Nigerians in that country.

Air Peace is expected to fly 150 Malaysians stranded in Nigeria back to their country and bring back the stranded Nigerians.

But the Malaysian government, it was learnt, was insisting on a Malaysian carrier which had allegedly fixed its tickets at about $2,500 against the $1,500 charged by Air Peace.

It was gathered that the ministry and Malaysia are still negotiating the flight cost and landing rights.

The MFA spokesman, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, said all Nigerian missions abroad had been directed to negotiate with airlines for the evacuation, adding that citizens who wished to make their own arrangements were free to do so.

He stated, “I am not aware of the charter arrangements by the Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire. On the isolation centres, I think the government can get more hotel rooms to accommodate returning Nigerians or discharge those in quarantine to make room for new arrivals.”