- 167 arrive from South Africa on Friday
- Each batch to quarantine for 14 days
The Federal Government has continued its evacuation of Nigerians stranded abroad as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown with Sunday’s airlifting of 315 stranded Nigerians from the United Kingdom.
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said via its Twitter handle that the evacuees would arrive in Nigeria about 5pm on Sunday.
According to the tweet, “Air Peace flight conveying another batch of 315 Nigerians departs Heathrow Airport, London today.
“The flight is expected to depart at about 10:30 am and is expected to arrive in Nigeria at about 5 pm local time today Sunday 28th, June 2020.”
After their arrival in Nigeria, they are expected to proceed on a 14-day self-isolation as mandated by the Nigerian authorities.
While 45 passengers will disembark in Abuja, the remaining 122 passengers will disembark at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Under the agreement for the evacuation of the Nigerians from the United Kingdom, Air Peace will fly the first 315 Nigerians via Air Peace airlines on 28th June, 2020. The Nigerian High Commission to the United Kingdom will then commence arrangements with Air Peace for another flight to Abuja and Lagos on 13th July, 2020.
For the Air Peace flights, Business Class ticket would cost $1,400 (N644,000) while Economy Class would cost $700 (N322,000). In addition, Child fare is same as adult fare and infant under two years would cost 10 per cent of adult fare.
The Nigerian High Commission added that all prospective evacuees who could not be on the flight scheduled for 28th June, 2020, now have the opportunity to make payment for their interested ticket class to provided accounts.
The statement stated: “Payment in Naira is also acceptable at the going market rate of N460/USD. If payment is made by proxy, full names of the passenger and the payee must be reflected and forwarded to the WhatsApp number and email addresses above.
“Prospective evacuees are to note that the issuance of tickets shall be on a first come first served basis.”
Nigeria has also approved the evacuation of the third batch of its citizens stranded in the United States.
The Consulate General of Nigeria in New York said in a statement that Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. ET509 is scheduled to depart Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey on Friday, July 17, by 21:15hrs and arrive Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 13:25hrs on Saturday, July 18, 2020.
The Consulate General said that all prospective evacuees, duly registered with any of the three Nigerian Missions in the USA, should purchase their one-way tickets through www.ethiopianairlines.com at the cost of $1,250, 00 (N575,000) for Economy class and $2,800.00 (N1,288,000) for Business Class for adult/child fare, including all taxes, with the usual percentage reduction for infants under 2yrs.
The Consulate General however advised all prospective evacuees who purchased tickets, to forward their name, phone number and contact address of their Next of Kin in Nigeria to cgnny@nigeriahouse.com for confirmation, which will be done on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
The statement said in accordance with the Nigerian Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, all prospective evacuees must present an original Covid-19 negative test result (not older than 14 days) at the Airport of Departure and undergo a Temperature check 4hrs before departure.
The statement added: “Any intending evacuees without the stipulated test result, or a body temperature above 38 degrees centigrade, or any symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, would not be allowed to check in.
“While on board, all prospective evacuees are required to be in possession of a hand sanitizer for intermittent use throughout the journey and wear face masks. Furthermore, all returnees are enjoined to adhere strictly to all instructions of Port Health Services (PHS) officials and observe other entry screening protocols on arrival.”
