UK evacuates 213 citizens as Nigeria extends closure of airports

The United Kingdom yesterday evacuated 213 of her citizens from Lagos in continuation of the repatriation of its citizens stranded in the country following the restriction of flights imposed by the Federal Government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The British Airways flight BA9157, a B747 aircraft with registration number G-CIVO, landed at […]

The United Kingdom yesterday evacuated 213 of her citizens from Lagos in continuation of the repatriation of its citizens stranded in the country following the restriction of flights imposed by the Federal Government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Airways flight BA9157, a B747 aircraft with registration number G-CIVO, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos with 22 crew members on board at 1:22 p.m.

The flight departed with 213 passengers and was airborne at around 4 p.m.

It was the first flight organized to convey UK citizens in Nigeria back home with more flights expected this week.

The British High Commission in Nigeria had disclosed that over 4000 UK citizens who were on short term visit to Nigeria had indicated interest in returning home after the lockdown.

It was learnt that another flight is expected in Lagos on Wednesday; while the High Commission advised that only UK nationals who have received flight confirmation should be at the Lagos Airport.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has extended the shutdown of the airspace for another two weeks.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on his twitter handle.

“As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr. President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April, 2020. They will remain closed for a further 2 weeks. This is subject to review as appropriate, please,” Sirika wrote on his twitter handle, @hadisirika.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria initially restricted flights to two airports- Lagos and Abuja.

But a week after, the FG shut down all the airports to international flights while only granting exemptions to emergency and evacuation flights which are operated strictly in accordance with laid down protocols by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).