PHOTOS: 188 Europeans leave Nigeria via Abuja airport

At least 188 Europeans, including Germans and Austrians, have returned home on Friday after being evacuated via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

This comes after 495 Europeans were evacuated from the country on Thursday through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

While the evacuation may be as a result of the quality of Nigeria's health care system, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Geoffrey Onyeama, suggested that they're leaving to get closer the medical facilities which they are familiar with.

According to The Punch, the foreigners were evacuated via a Boeing 777 aircraft owned by Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.

“A total of 188 passengers were able to travel home from Nigeria’s capital Abuja today. Many thanks to the Austrian Foreign Affairs Ministry for the common support of European citizen wishing to return.

“We are grateful for the cooperation with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other partners in the organization of this essential flight after the closure of Nigerian airports for international flights,” the German Mission in Nigeria stated.

Punch reports that the UK, the US and Israel have started evacuating their citizens from Nigeria amid the coronavirus pandemic.

See pictures below: