Your evacuation from Nigeria at your own cost – US Govt

“The plane coming to both Abuja and Lagos should be subjected to the various anti-Coronavirus procedure and the entire airports and communities surrounding the landing and takeoff lines should be seriously disinfected and flushed with chemicals, before, during and after the evacuation of the Americans,” the source said.

If the roort coming Washington is correct, it means the United States of America’s economy has seriously plummeted as country worst hit by Coronavirus that has ravaged the world since December 2019.

The DEFENDER gathered on Tuesday that the United States’ Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria had said that its citizens would pay for evacuation flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

US, before last Friday’s telephone call by its President Donald Trump reportedly seeking help of Beijing in solving the Coronavirus in its country, had been accused severally by China as the originator of the deadly disease, undenied.

It has surpassed China in number of deaths now standing at 3,700 and about 800,000 to be the world’s highest confirmed cases.

A respondent, considering all of these calamitous experiences bedeviling it, is asking It what could have prompted the decision by Washington to evacuate its citizens from a less hit Africa’s country to home country that is now crying out loud for help having, for the first time, been clearly overpowered by the Coronavirus situation at hand in the country hitherto known to be super world’s power.

The source’s question is predicated on the background that America, known to have seen Nigeria’s going to doing business with and alligning with China as thing to be disliked, expected that the Coronavirus cases that are now 139 in the country is expected to increase in the coming days.

“To so wish Nigeria, which has no business with how the power play that gave birth to this very deadly and highly despicable disease, that its such cases would increase whereas we pray they decrease and stop is enough for our government to factor any eventuality into its plans as it fights on,” he said.

The DEFENDER’s insider information in the US Consulate in Lagos confided in it that “what happened especially in the Ikoyi quarters has been more or less self quarantine as we that are Nigerians working for them have been separated from them and they all stay without having contacts with us. We are just here without doing anything but we can’t go out.”

Through a report, it was gathered that a mail was sent to a US citizen in Nigeria which reportedly stated that evacuation flights had been confirmed for the week and that travellers would bear the cost for the flight.

“The U.S. Consulate in Lagos has confirmed evacuation flights for this week. Flights will depart from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and fly directly to Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia (Washington, D.C.),” the mail read.

The mission said US citizens who have space on the flight would receive a confirmation letter sent to the e-mail provided in the evacuation request form.

“Please DO NOT come to the airport unless you have received a letter indicating that you have a seat on the flight. You will be turned away and not allowed to enter the airport,” the mail further read.

“Please note that this evacuation flight is a one-way flight at the expense of the traveler(s). No money is required upfront. All individuals who choose to return to the United States on a flight organized by the U.S. Department of State will be required to sign a promissory note to reimburse the government for the full cost of each seat on the flight. The anticipated cost of the flight is between $1,300 and $1,400 per person.

“Travelers will be responsible for arranging and funding their own travel from the Washington, D.C. area to their final destination, and for any return flight to Nigeria. The U.S. Department of State is unable to assist with identifying resources or providing funding for housing, food, or transportation in Nigeria or within the United States.”

It also said pets would not be allowed to accompany travellers as either cargo or in-cabin on the flight.

“Additional information will be sent out by e-mail regarding baggage restrictions with your specific flight details,” it said.

The mail further read: “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja is working to arrange a similar flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Once a flight has been confirmed, the Embassy will release flight information and instructions.

“Those who are interested in returning to the United States via Abuja should click here and enter their information. If you plan to travel on the Lagos flight, please do NOT submit your information to the Embassy in Abuja.”

A tweet by the mission on Tuesday advised American citizens to abide by health rules provided by the Nigerian government.

“The U.S. Mission to Nigeria plans to continue to operate and continue the important work of representing the American people here. We ask Americans who remain in Nigeria to join us in abiding by the rules the Nigerian Government has established to keep us all healthy and safe,” it said.

In the meantime, Nigerian government has been advised to on its guard as, despite its shutdown of international airports and lockdown in the two major cities of Abuja and Lagos, American government appears to breach local rules by wanting to move its citizens from the shut airports.

“The plane coming to both Abuja and Lagos should be subjected to the various anti-Coronavirus procedure and the entire airports and communities surrounding the landing and takeoff lines should be seriously disinfected and flashed with chemicals, before, during and after the evacuation of the Americans,” the source said.