FG to evacuate 200 Nigerians in Canada

The Nigeria high commission in Canada says it is ready to evacuate 200 Nigerians stranded in that country.

There have been travel restrictions worldwide over the outbreak of COVID-19.

According to NAN, the mission said it received no fewer than 200 requests for evacuation.

It said a Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Air Peace had been specially arranged to fly the intending returnees home this Thursday.

The high commission said the flight may be the only one for Nigerian nationals stranded in Canada, adding that the aircraft would pick the prospective passengers from two locations in Canada.

According to the flight schedule, the aircraft is expected to pick the first set from the Pearson International Airport, Toronto.

From there it will fly to the Calgary International Airport, Alberta, a distance of 2,915 kilometres to load the second set of passengers.

The aircraft will then depart Alberta for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where the evacuees would be moved into isolation for 14 days.

The one-way flight will cost each evacuee between 1,130 dollars (N452,000) and 2,000 dollars (N800,000) depending on the class.

The development comes after 265 Nigerians were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday.

So far, 678 Nigerians have been brought back home by the federal government.