The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has confirmed the arrival of the 256 evacuated Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
They arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via an Emirates Airline about 07.40 pm.
Upon their arrival, the evacuees are expected to proceed into 14-day isolation.
“The flight conveying 256 Nigerians evacuated from Dubai has landed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” he said.
The returnees had been scheduled to arrive at the airport at 3.00 p.m. but one of the passengers went into labour.
According to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the plane had to make a U-turn to the United Arab Emirates.
A press statement from NIDCOm read, “A Nigerian lady, Mrs Kafayat Amusan, one of the stranded Nigerians travellers, returning from Dubai, UAE, has been delivered of a baby boy onboard Emirates airline departing to Lagos.”
EVACUATION: NIGERIAN WOMAN DELIVERS BABY ABOARD EMIRATE AIRLINE.
A Nigerian lady, Mrs Kafayat Amusan, one of the stranded Nigerians travellers, returning from Dubai, UAE, has been delivered of a baby boy on board Emirates airline departing to Lagos. pic.twitter.com/KBZQGWqLDW
— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) May 6, 2020
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The Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also confirmed the evacuees’ arrival in Lagos.
She also congratulated Amusan for another addition in her family and prayed she return safely to the country.
“Welcome home! They will be proceeding to a location for compulsory isolation. All 256 tested negative for COVID-19 before boarding from Dubai,” she added.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, over 4,000 Nigerians are waiting to be evacuated across the world back home.
