It has been confirmed that 160
Nigerians, including eight babies, have made the first batch of evacuees.
Nigerians, including eight babies, have made the first batch of evacuees.
They are heading to the Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft under the special flight arrangements of the
Federal Government for citizens stranded abroad.
Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft under the special flight arrangements of the
Federal Government for citizens stranded abroad.
In line with the government’s
pre-departure infection prevention control guidelines, temperature checks were
conducted on the passengers by a special medical team.
pre-departure infection prevention control guidelines, temperature checks were
conducted on the passengers by a special medical team.
The plane departed the Newark
International Airport, New Jersey, on Saturday around 8:20 p.m. local time
(1:20 a.m. in Nigeria on Sunday). It is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around noon on Sunday.
International Airport, New Jersey, on Saturday around 8:20 p.m. local time
(1:20 a.m. in Nigeria on Sunday). It is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around noon on Sunday.
On entry, evacuees will be quarantined
for 14 days in Abuja before departing for their respective country
destinations.
for 14 days in Abuja before departing for their respective country
destinations.
Officials of the Nigerian consulate in
New York, headed by the Consul-General, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, were at the
airport to organize the departure operations.
New York, headed by the Consul-General, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, were at the
airport to organize the departure operations.
Also, around to bid the evacuees
farewell was Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande, President of the United Nations
General Assembly and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN. He was
joined by Amb. Samson Itegboje, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria
to the UN, among others.
farewell was Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande, President of the United Nations
General Assembly and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN. He was
joined by Amb. Samson Itegboje, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria
to the UN, among others.
Speaking to newsmen, Okoyen lauded the
evacuees for their cooperation and orderly conduct throughout the process.
evacuees for their cooperation and orderly conduct throughout the process.
He said it was successful and we are
happy that everything was orderly. As you must have observed, the boarding was
also orderly.
happy that everything was orderly. As you must have observed, the boarding was
also orderly.
Some of the passengers, who spoke to
NAN, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the special flight
arrangement.
NAN, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the special flight
arrangement.
Dr Jatto Ibrahim, a consultant
orthopaedic surgeon at the Federal
Medical Centre, Jigawa, said he was in the U.S. for a training programme in
February.
orthopaedic surgeon at the Federal
Medical Centre, Jigawa, said he was in the U.S. for a training programme in
February.
Ibrahim said that he had been stranded
since his return British Airways flight scheduled for April 10 was delayed
following the Federal Government travel restrictions on the United States and
12 other countries with a heavy COVID-19 pressure on March 18.
since his return British Airways flight scheduled for April 10 was delayed
following the Federal Government travel restrictions on the United States and
12 other countries with a heavy COVID-19 pressure on March 18.
Another evacuee, Mr. Chidi Ikegbu, a
businessman from Imo, said a business engagement took him to the U.S. in March.
businessman from Imo, said a business engagement took him to the U.S. in March.
However, Ikegbu, who travelled through
Ethiopian Airlines, said he had to pay for the special flight after the airline
refused to let him use his return ticket for the flight.
Ethiopian Airlines, said he had to pay for the special flight after the airline
refused to let him use his return ticket for the flight.
“I called the airline but they said
our return tickets were valid until December, and so we had to wait for the
return flight after the restrictions were lifted in Nigeria.
our return tickets were valid until December, and so we had to wait for the
return flight after the restrictions were lifted in Nigeria.
“They said but if we wanted to go now
through the special flight, then we had to pay for it,” he said.
through the special flight, then we had to pay for it,” he said.
Reacting to this, Mr. Million Legesse,
the Traffic and Sales Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, New York, said any of the
evacuees with a return ticket could use it for a U.S.-Nigeria flight in the
future.
the Traffic and Sales Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, New York, said any of the
evacuees with a return ticket could use it for a U.S.-Nigeria flight in the
future.
“But if the passengers are no longer
going to use the return tickets, we would refund them based on our refund
policy,” Legesse said.
going to use the return tickets, we would refund them based on our refund
policy,” Legesse said.
Dr Iwuozo Obilo, a U.S.-based Nigerian
medical doctor, who was part of the medical team that screened the passengers,
said their temperatures were normal.
medical doctor, who was part of the medical team that screened the passengers,
said their temperatures were normal.
“Temperature taking is one of the
criteria to determine COVID-19 symptoms.
criteria to determine COVID-19 symptoms.
“While that is not enough as
there are patients with the virus who are not symptomatic, it will provide us
an rundown of their wellbeing.
there are patients with the virus who are not symptomatic, it will provide us
an rundown of their wellbeing.
“Because they will be quarantined
for 14 days in Nigeria, we are at least confident that none of them will have a
fever that will affect them during the trip,” Obilo told NAN.
for 14 days in Nigeria, we are at least confident that none of them will have a
fever that will affect them during the trip,” Obilo told NAN.
