The United Kingdom Government has chartered three flights to evacuate nine hundred British citizens stranded in Nigeria.
The flights will bring the total number of people flown back to the UK from Nigeria on government charter flights to around 2,000.
Many Britons have been evacuated on arranged flights from Lagos and Abuja airports to London on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.
A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Friday said the flights would take off on April 28, Abuja-London; May 1, Lagos-London and May 5, Lagos-London.
It stated, “The additional charter flights have been arranged for British travellers and their dependents, whose primary residence is the UK. Priority is given to the most vulnerable travellers, for example, people with health conditions.”
I’m really pleased to update you on phase 2 of our return flights from Nigeria to UK. I am really grateful to @NigeriaGov for all their support and to my wonderful team who are working tirelessly to get you home. @UKinNigeria @fmaviationng @GeoffreyOnyeama https://t.co/mXi6TA1Q1S
— Catriona Laing (@CatrionaLaing1) April 24, 2020
The statement said charter flights had returned British travellers from India, the Philippines, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria and Peru.
Commenting on the evacuation, the Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, said, “Our next phase of UK Government charter flights will mean another 900 British travellers are able to return home from Nigeria. We appreciate this has been a difficult time and will continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities to support those wishing to return to the UK.”
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, thanked everyone who worked to make the flights possible.
