COVID-19: FG commences evacuation of Nigerians abroad
Idelposts
Federal Government has finally bowed to pressure from citizens and Nigerians who were trapped in different countries of the world following lockdown order by various government to curtail further spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, in a statement in Abuja, announced the commencement of evacuation of Nigerians abroad.
Nwonye asserted that the evacuees on arrival in Nigeria will undergo a mandatory 14-day supervised quarantine in a monitored environment.
The Ministry disclosed that the scheduled evacuation of the first batch of 265 Nigerians from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE would be conducted by Emirates Airline and the evacuees are expected to arrive Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday, 6th May, 2020 at 3.00pm.
According to the statement, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the Federal Government has commenced the process of evacuating willing Nigerian nationals outside the country. In accordance with global best practices and guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the evacuees on arrival in Nigeria will undergo a mandatory 14-day supervised quarantine in a monitored environment”.
The Ministry added that adequate arrangements for hotel accommodation, in Lagos and Abuja, have been made for the evacuation exercise.
The selected hotels, it said have been inspected and certified by the Port Health Services, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Office of the National Security Adviser and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Furthermore, discussions are ongoing with British Airways, through the British High Commission in Nigeria, to evacuate about 300 Nigerians from London on Friday, 8th May, 2020. The British Airways Flight 9155 will depart London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, at 07:10am and arrive Lagos at 1:10pm same day. Additional arrangements are equally being made with Ethiopian Airlines to facilitate the evacuation of another batch of evacuees from New York to Abuja on Monday, 11th May, 2020,” the statement further disclosed.
The Federal Government, however reassured Nigerians of its unwaivering commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of all citizens, both at home and abroad.