The Indian Government today commenced the evacuation of its nationals who were held back here in Nigeria due to the covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
According to a tweet by the High Commission of India in Abuja, the repatriation flight was operated by Nigerian Air Peace in the early hours of Sunday, airlifting 312 Indian nationals from Murtala Muhammad International Airport(MMIA) back to their country in a 10-hours non-stop flight.
It is recorded, that the flight operated by a Nigerian airline Air Peace, was the first indigenous airline to fly directly to India. which departed today, May 31, 2020, from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, was operated with a Boeing B777 aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI. The flight, operated by 15 crew members, is expected to arrive Cochin International Airport in Kerala.
The Indians in Nigeria commended the Nigerian government, the Indian embassy in Nigeria and others that made the flight a reality.
The Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide, who expressed delight over the evacuation flight, thanked the Indian authorities for engaging Air Peace to operate the flight, while also giving kudos to the Nigerian government for supporting the airline in all its special flights during the lock down.
She added that the airline alongside other relevant government agencies ensured that all the passengers complied with established health protocols before boarding.