A Dubai-based airline, Tarco Aviation has been contracted by the Nigerian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan to evacuate 56 stranded Nigerians and 4 Pakistanis from the country.
The high commission had in circular, with Ref. No NEIC/NCP/VOL-1 informed prospective evacuees in the country that the carrier is expected to commence evacuation of passengers from the 18th June 2020 from Islamabad International Airport.
The commission said the airline which will be operating a B737-400 is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
It said each passenger is expected to pay the sum of $1350 not later than Monday 15th June 2020 at 10am to any of the under listed bank account of the airline’s agent.
The commission however stated that prospective evacuees domiciled in Islamabad are expected to pay the above mentioned amount in dollars and in person to the airline’ agent Mr Kashif Rehman.
It will be recalled that since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, foreign airlines have mostly been engaged by authorities to evacuate stranded Nigerians abroad willing to come back to the country.
According to atqnews.com, the Federal Government had repatriated the first batch of 265 Nigerian nationals from the United Arab Emirates, using Emirates Airlines on the 6th of May, 2020.
A schedule released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the first batch of evacuees of 265 from Dubai would arrive Nigeria Wednesday, May 6, 2020, while another 300 persons are to arrive from London on Friday May 10 on British Airways. On Monday, 11th May Ethiopian Airline would airlift those coming from United States of America.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison had condemned the decision by the government to engage foreign carriers to bring Nigerians home.
He said: “AON is shocked and disappointed by the decision taken to evacuate Nigerians back to our country with foreign airlines. So we are calling for government to identify those officials who took such unholy decision. At a time when government is searching for ways to boost its revenue, some officials are giving away the country’s meager resources to foreign countries.
“These foreign airlines are flying their local pilots and crew and are not going to create jobs for our teeming Nigerian youths. The Federal government has made a call to employers not to sack their staff in the face of the current economic crunch caused by the COVID19 pandemic. But how can the airlines cope when the opportunity for them to make money and pay their workers is taken away and given to foreign carriers?
“British Airways cannot, and will not, provide jobs for Nigerians; Emirates will not provide jobs for Nigerians; Ethiopian Airlines cannot provide jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths or contribute to Nigeria’s GDP. It is our airlines that can do that and employ Nigerians and contribute to Nigeria’s GDP. But sadly the support AON needs is being taken away by some officials and given to foreign carriers from whom we don’t gain anything as a country, except landing charges of about $20,000 in total out of about $2 millions,” he said.
