The United States Mission in Nigeria says it has helped 997 Americans return home to reunite with family and friends since the repatriation exercise began.
The US Mission said from April 6 to 8, three US Consulate-organised chartered flights operated by Delta Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines repatriated 850 American citizens from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to the United States, in addition to the 147 who departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on April 4.
In a statement on Thursday, the US Consulate said “these repatriation flights were made possible by a tremendous effort by the US Consulate team and great cooperation from Nigerian partners.”
It added that the State Department’s effort to bring Americans home during the COVID-19 pandemic required a remarkable diplomatic and logistical effort.
“As of April 8, 2020, the Department of State has coordinated the repatriation of 50,339 Americans from 94 countries since January 29, 2020.”
The United States Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, was quoted as saying that in times of emergency, the United States Department of State had no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas.