The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York has said about 700 Nigerians stranded in the United States of America will be evacuated, starting from Sunday, May 10.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), this was disclosed in a notice signed on Sunday, May 3, by Benaoyagha Okoyen, the Consul-General on behalf of the Nigerian Missions in the U.S.
From the notice, it was stated that the evacuation will be done in batches and the first group of 270 evacuees would be transported through an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 509 to Abuja.
The plane is expected to depart the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at 9.15 p.m. and fly directly to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
As earlier announced by the Federal Government, the flight is at the expense of the evacuees, who will all fly economy class, according to the notice.
“The projected cost for the one-way economy ticket is between 1,300 dollars (N488,800) and 1,700 dollars (N639,200) per adult.
“Please note that over 700 Nigerian nationals have registered with our missions in the USA to be evacuated.
“However, only 270 passengers shall be accommodated in this batch of evacuation.
“Missions will, therefore, attend to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis and shall prioritise the list of evacuees according to their immigration status.
“This includes the need to consider those stranded with proof of short-stay visas, the elderly, families with children and returning students,” it said.