Nigerians stranded in Canada to arrive Abuja on Friday

This was contained in a memo by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada

Some Nigerians stranded in Canada are expected to arrive in their home country on Thursday.

This was contained in a memo by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday.

The memo with reference no NHC/OTT/ADM.56/1 was titled ‘2nd evacuation flight from Canada to Nigeria’.

The high commission noted that the evacuees would depart Canada for Nigeria at 03 pm on Thursday.

It said, “The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved a second evacuation flight for the airlifting of Nigerian nationals who are stranded in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Boeing 787-Dreamliner, ET 553, operated by Ethiopian Airline is scheduled to depart the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 15:00 hours local time, to arrive the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on August 21, 2020 at 08:00 hours local time and thereafter, proceed to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

“The airfare is as detailed below: Economy class to Abuja is $1250 while Lagos is $1350; Business class to Abuja $2800 while Lagos is $2900; Children – $950 while infant – $100.

“The High Commission wishes to inform that in accordance with the guidelines of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, it is mandatory for all intending evacuees to undergo a COVID-19 test and produce an original COVID-19 negative result, not older than 14 days to departure.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday announced 410 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 49,895.

The NCDC, which made this known on its official twitter handle, said four deaths were recorded in the country.

The agency said till date, 49, 895 cases had been confirmed, 37,051 cases discharged and 981 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NCDC said that the new cases were recorded from 16 states of the federation with Lagos having the highest number.

“Lagos (210), FCT (45), Ondo (30), Plateau (21), Edo (19), Ogun (16), Oyo (13), Nasarawa (12), Bauchi (11), Enugu (10), Kwara (7), Kaduna (6), Anambra (4), Ebonyi (3), Abia (2), and Rivers (1),” it stated.