AJOKE PHILIP
The first batch of 2,090 Nigerians evacuated from neighboring countries bordering Ukraine will arrive Nigeria on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
In a press statement by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the chattered flights from Max and Air Peace will depart on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to pick up Nigerian evacuees back home.
Recall that the federal government said it will commence evacuation of 2,090 Nigerians stranded at neighboring countries surrounding Ukraine.
The Minister of foreign affairs, Godfrey Onyema, said out of 8,000 Nigerians in Ukraine, 5,000 were students, adding that the Federal Government had tipped Air Peace and Air Max to airlift the Nigerians who wanted to be evacuated.
Amb. Aduda said the records of evacuees received by Nigerian embassies are 650 persons from Hungary, 350 from Poland, 940 from Romania and 150 Nigerians from Slovakia.
The statement reads, “Furtherance to our efforts to evacuate Nigerians from the neighboring countries surrounding Ukraine, we can confirm that Chattered flights will depart on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to pick up Nigerian evacuees back home.
So far, we have the following records of evacuees received by Nigerian embassies. They countries are, Hungary (650 persons), Poland (350 persons), Romania (940 persons) and Slovakia (150 persons).”
He, however, stated that the first batch of evacuees are expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
“The capacity and route of the airlines are as follows: Max Air to Romania 560 persons. Airpeace to Poland 364 persons and Airpeace to Hungary 360 persons.
“The first batch of evacuees are expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
“Once again, we assure Nigerians that we are working round the clock to see that our citizens are brought back home safely.