COVID-19: 160 stranded Nigerians depart US for Abuja

No fewer than 160 Nigerians stranded in the United States of America due to the COVID-19 pandemic are on their way home, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The stranded Nigerians including eight infants who made the first batch of evacuees will return aboard an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft under the special flight arrangements by the Federal Government for nationals stranded abroad, the report by NAN revealed.

Departure activities for the evacuees at the Newark International Airport, New Jersey, on Saturday around 8:20 p.m. local time (1:20 a.m Nigerian time on Sunday) were coordinated by officials of the Nigerian consulate in New York, led by the Consul-General, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kwara govt imposes curfew on state

Speaking to newsmen, Okoyen lauded the evacuees for their cooperation and conduct throughout the process.

“It was successful and we are happy that everything was orderly. As you must have observed, the boarding was also orderly,” he said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now