Two hundred and sixty-five Nigerians stranded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid the Coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International airport Lagos on an Emirates Airline.
The airline, which carried the first batch of Nigerians stuck abroad reportedly touched down the international wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, at about 7:40pm.
The Emirates flight is the first of at least two other flights scheduled to evacuate Nigerians within the next few days.
The flight had initially made U-turn after a pregnant woman reportedly went into labor.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa who confirmed the arrival of the evacuees said that the pregnant woman identified as Mrs. Kafayat Amusan has been delivered of a baby.
The NIDCOM Chairman said she developed complications on board, which resulted in the plane returning to Dubai after takeoff.
Dabiri-Erewa further disclosed that Mrs. Amusan is on admission at a Hospital, in Dubai adding that the Nigerian Ambassador in Dubai, Ambassador Rimi and staff of the embassy is in touch with the mother and child who she says are in good condition.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday had said returning Nigerians will be quarantined for 14 days in selected hotels on arrival.
The quarantine is required to ensure that the coronavirus-status of every returnee is ascertained.
According to the foreign ministry, discussions are ongoing with British Airways to airlift 300 Nigerians from London on Friday.
Arrangements are also being made with Ethiopian airlines for a flight from New York to Abuja next Monday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama on Monday said over 4,000 Nigerians are waiting to be evacuated across the world back home.
