The United Kingdom government yesterday evacuated the third batch of its citizens from Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The government deployed a Boeing B747 British Airways flight, BAW9116 with registration number G-CIVO, which airlifted a total of 213 Britons, including 26 crew members from Lagos, as part of the country’s repatriation efforts following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
The plane landed at 2.22 p.m local time and departed at 3.59 p.m local time.
The evacuation was the third by the UK government in two days.
According to the UK Mission in Nigeria, the fourth repatriation would take place on Wednesday.
On Saturday, a BA Boeing 747 had airlifted 301 Britons from MMIA while 242 were moved from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on the same day.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Catriona Laing had stated that to be eligible for all flights, primary residence has to be in the UK.
She added that the UK prioritised helping the most vulnerable and those who have an underlying medical condition placing them at greater risk of serious illness if they contact COVID-19.
The UK mission also said the nationals would pay under £500 for their seats, adding that the federal government had assured London that people who had exceeded their authorised visa stays as a result of travel restrictions linked to COVID-19 would not be penalised as over-stay when they depart.