Just in: 900 stranded Britons in Nigeria to return on 3 flights

900 stranded Britons are to return from Nigeria to UK, on three flights, Vanguard reports. This was contained in a statement disclosed on the website of the UK government. Three flights chartered by the UK government would convey 900 more British travellers stranded in Nigeria back home, the statement read.

“Once completed, these additional flights will bring the total number of people flown back to the UK from Nigeria on government charter flights to around 2,000, following flights arranged last week from Lagos and Abuja to London.

Details of the new flights are as follows:

Tuesday 28 April: Abuja to London

Friday 1 May: Lagos to London

Tuesday 5 May: Lagos to London

“The additional charter flights have been arranged for British travelers, and their dependents, whose primary residence is the UK. Priority is given to the most vulnerable travellers, for example people with health conditions.

“Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, said: “Our next phase of UK government charter flights will mean another 900 British travelers are able to return home from Nigeria. We appreciate this has been a difficult time and will continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities to support those wishing to return to the UK.”

“The UK government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travelers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on 30 March – with up to £75 million available for special charter flights to priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travelers.

So far, charter flights have returned British travelers from India, the Philippines, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria, and Peru.”