376 US nationals evacuated from Lagos International Airport

376 US nationals who were to be evacuated from Nigeria have finally left the Lagos International Airport after being stranded for a few days.

An Ethiopian Airlines flight carrying 376 US citizens departed from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, April 6, 2020.

According to the US consulate in Nigeria, the chartered flight departed at 5:25pm Nigerian time.

The consulate said it is the first in a series of repatriation flights for American citizens out of Lagos, adding that more flights would depart Lagos within the next few days.

“Priority on repatriation flights is given to the elderly, individuals with serious health issues, unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and physically challenged citizens,” the consulate said in a statement.

“Before boarding, local health authorities conducted temperature checks on all of the passengers. Following the closure of Nigerian airports to all international commercial flights, many Americans have contacted the U.S. Mission requesting assistance to return home.”

Also, 137 Canadian nationals were eventually evacuated from Nigeria on Monday, April 6, hours after they expressed frustrations about the delay at the airport.