A total of 301 Chine nationals, including the controversial fifteen, were evacuated Thursday back to china. They were airlifted by Airpeace through the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos.
The Aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 with registration 5N-WI, with 24 crew members, departed from Lagos to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Guangzhou is the most populous commercial center of China.
There have been controversies over the whereabout of fifteen Chinese nationals who came with equipment meant for the treatment of Covid19. After their arrival and alleged quarantine, the disappeared below the radar until the media started asking questions. The relevant agencies started singing discordant notes.
The Minister of Health who received them from the airport claimed they were Medical experts, but later said he learned some were not. While Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, claimed that they were helping in isolation centers with their expertise, the minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said they are the staff of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC.
The evacuation was at the instant of the Chinese government.
The Airline was earlier billed to evacuate Nigerians from Canada but the Canadian government refused. they were also used for the evacuation of Israelis.
Though indications are that normal flights will resume early June, it is not yet clear when exactly. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, however, had announced guidelines for crew members during the phased reopening. The regulatory agency is said to have kickstarted the auditing of airlines preparatory for resumption.
