Inconsolable: One of the Nigerians abandoned in Newark by US-Lagos flight for failing to present COVID-19 status paper

By Harrison Arubu/New York

Nine Nigerians have missed the special US-Lagos flight arranged to evacuate Nigerians from the United States.

They were dropped for failing to present COVID-19 test results.

Among them is a family of five, according to Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, who oversaw the second evacuation. The first evacuation was done on 10 May.

Okoyen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the airport that the family was not allowed to check in for failing to present coronavirus test result.

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The negative COVID-19 test result is one of the requirements for evacuation under the Revised Quarantine Protocol of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

One of the Nigerians, left, who missed the flight home

Okoyen said although the remaining four presented their results, they had to be dropped because they were on a family ticket with one of the defaulters.

He said one of the unidentified defaulters did not take the test at all in spite of being informed well ahead of time.

Meanwhile, 322 evacuees made the fully booked Ethiopian Airlines’ flight, which departed the Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, on Friday night.

They are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday afternoon.

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The first set of 160 stranded Nigerians were brought home from the U.S. on May 10.

No fewer than 700 stranded citizens registered with the Nigerian missions in the U.S. for evacuation, according to Okoyen, meaning more flights are coming.

In fact, The Consul General said the next one, also fully booked, had been slated for July 17 with the possibility of another, afterwards.

Okoyen told NAN that the nine persons that missed Friday’s flight would be placed on the waiting list for subsequent ones.

He appealed to intending evacuees to abide by the rules to avoid a repeat of Friday’s incident.

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“We had to turn them back because this is a regulation, and I am using this opportunity to advise those in subsequent flights to obey the rules,” he said.

The consul general commended the evacuees for their orderly conduct, while also thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity.

Some of the evacuees, who were visibly excited to return home, also thanked the Federal Government for arranging the flight.