1,739 foreigners evacuated through Lagos airport amid coronavirus - FAAN
- Not less than 1,739 foreigners have been evacuated from Nigeria through the international airport in Lagos
- The evacuation exercise started about 10 days ago with the transportation of French and European citizens by Air France
- Several airlines, including two Nigerian carriers, have taken part in airlifting several foreign nationals out of the country
Since the evacuation of foreigners began in Nigeria following the outbreak and spread of coronavirus more than a week ago, no fewer than 1,739 foreign nationals have been evacuated from the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to The Nation, the numbers rose as Delta Air Lines on Tuesday, April 7, evacuated 200 Americans at the airport in continuation of the exercise.
The regional manager, southwest airport, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Victoria Shin-Aba, revealed this at the Lagos airport.
The evacuation of foreigners started back in March with the airlifting of French and European citizens by Air France. So far several airlines including two Nigerian carriers have evacuated foreign nationals out of Nigeria.
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Shin-Aba further said that the evacuation exercise which started about ten days ago had been going on smoothly with little or no hitches at all.
She said: “So far, the activities have been okay and well-coordinated. Since the closure of the airport, we have had about 10 evacuations with different nationals. We have had from Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Middle East Airline (MEA) with the Lebanese, Ethiopian Airlines has been on with Americans and Canadians. Then, we have a domestic charter too. Also, Jed Air did Liberia, Air Peace airlifted Israelis. Today, we have Delta Airlines on the ground that will take about 200 Americans."
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Legit.ng previously reported that amid the global pandemic called coronavirus in Nigeria, the United States embassy has listed considerations for its citizens seeking evacuation from Nigeria.
In a statement on its website on Sunday, April 5, the US said Americans leaving the country will be responsible for their medical bills not covered by insurance as many healthcare systems are overwhelmed.
The US further said citizens should note there are shortages of basic supplies across the country following the closure of many stores and restaurants.
In a related development, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, explained that the fact that foreigners are leaving Nigeria amid the spread of coronavirus is not an indictment on the country's health system.
Onyeama, in a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, April 3, said that nationals of other countries are leaving to their homelands because they are more familiar with healthcare operations in their places of origin.
Speaking further to back up this view, the minister revealed that the heads of mission, ambassadors and other staff from countries whose nationals are leaving still remain in Nigeria.
In other news, no fewer than 385 American citizens were evacuated on Monday, April 6, through the Murtala Muhammadu International Airport, Lagos, over the COVID-19 pandemic.
They left in an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-300 via Adiss Ababa to Washington DC. According to the report, the flight departed around 4:25 pm.
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Source: Legit.ng