An Air Peace aircraft is in the process of evacuating stranded Nigerians in Malaysia and Thailand, the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDO) has said.
The Commission revealed this in a tweet on Saturday.
“Chartered @airpeace flight APK-7813 conveying Stranded Nigerians from Malaysia and Thailand departing Kaula Lumpur to Abuja and Lagos today with Evacuees from Malaysia and Thailand onboard,” the tweet said.
BREAKING NEWS
EVACUATION UPDATE.Chartered @airpeace flight APK-7813 conveying Stranded Nigerians from Malaysia and Thailand depating Kaula Lumpur to Abuja and Lagos today with Evacuees from Malaysia and Thiland onboard.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/wUHngFLKzD— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) July 11, 2020
This is the first evacuation from both countries since the coronavirus pandemic instigated lockdowns across the world, according to NIDO.
The flight is expected to depart at 7am and first arrive at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, before proceeding to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to NIDO, all evacuees have tested negative to COVID-19 and will proceed on a 14-day self-isolation on arrival.
Thousands of Nigerians have been evacuated back home from across the world since the pandemic disrupted world travel.
In early June, the federal government said it has spent N169 million on the evacuation of Nigerians returning from overseas.
Since then, hundreds more have been returned to the country.
On July 4, at least 109 Nigerians stranded in India were welcomed back into the country.
