COVID-19: We have secured 1,300 beds in Lagos, Abuja for 4,000 Nigerians abroad willing to return – Minister
Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has disclosed that the government has secured 300 beds in Lagos and 1,000 in Abuja for about 4,000 Nigerians abroad that are willing to come home as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
He said if the Federal Government had its way and there were enough bed spaces at the isolation centres all Nigerians abroad willing to come home would be brought back.
The minister stated that government was in the process of repatriating Nigerians abroad who were willing to return and Emirates Airline had indicated interest to bring them back to Nigeria.
He added that the airline would operate on May 6, to bring Nigerians abroad back to the country and the returnees would be the first batch to be brought from abroad.
According to him, we have secured 300 beds in Lagos and 1,000 in Abuja, the Governor of Lagos has been outstanding in his support, he has done a great job and his leadership quality is exemplary.
Onyeama said that the British Airways would be coming to Lagos on Friday and since it would be coming empty, the government had negotiated with the British government that Nigerians in United Kingdom should be allowed to join the Airways.
