160 Nigerian Evacuees From U.S. Arrive Abuja

One hundred and sixty Nigerians who were stranded in the United States following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have returned to the country.

The Boeing 787 Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying the returnees arrived on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

This comes as the Federal Government commences the evacuation of hundreds of stranded Nigerians willing to return home from various countries.

According to an earlier update by the government, a total of 160 Nigerians are expected back in the country on Sunday morning.

In a tweet on Sunday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, confirmed that 160 Nigerians have returned safely to the country. They comprise 92 males, 60 females, and eight infants.

They are to go into isolation for 14 days to be tested for COVID-19, while the passports of all 160 passengers were kept with the Nigeria Immigration Service for the period.

Meanwhile, the government assigned five luxury buses and a coaster bus at the airport to move the returnees to isolation centres as soon as they disembark from the plane.

The exercise was conducted by the health and airport officials among others on the ground to receive the returning travellers.

Their arrival comes two days after 253 Nigerians stranded in the United Kingdom were evacuated by the government.

The British Airways plane carrying the evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday afternoon.

They were later airlifted to Abuja where they were taken into isolation to determine their COVID-19 status.

Source- Channels Television

Image- TVC News