Second batch of Indian nationals evacuated from Lagos

The second batch of Indian nationals was Thursday night evacuated to India from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

No fewer than 270 made the flight with the majority of them being employees of the Dangote Group working at the Dangote refinery.

• How a densely populated country will fight Coronavirus
• Inexcusable suspension of evacuation of Nigerians

Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, airlifted the Indian nationals with the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft.

It would be the second direct flight within a week the airline would operate to the Asian country after it was contracted by the Indian High Commission in Nigeria to repatriate stranded Indians in Nigeria in the wake of the flights restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first flight of 312 Indian nationals left for Cochin Airport in India on May 30.

However, the second flight left at around 9 p.m Thursday night.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika had in a letter dated June 2 approved the request by the Indian High Commission for the evacuation flight to repatriate 314 Indian nationals “employed by the various contractors at the Dangote Refinery site…”

“I’m further directed to request that you ensure the operation is strictly and diligently based on the protocol guiding this operation under COVID-19 as issued by the Nigerian aeronautical authorities most especially the Operators Letter issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)…” the approval letter by the Ministry of Aviation indicated.

The Indian High Commission in Nigeria confirmed the second flight on Thursday on its Twitter handle.

MMIA Manager and Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Victoria Shin’aba said the flight P47812 with aircraft registration no 5N-BVE was airborne at about 9 p.m.