The Nigerian Mission in the US have made changes in the planned evacuation of Nigerians from the US due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York who announced the changes in a statement issued on behalf of the Nigerian Missions in the U.S, said the evacuation which was earlier scheduled for this Sunday May 10, has been moved forward to Saturday May 9th. Also changed is the flight number from ET 509 announced earlier to ET 8509 by the same carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.

The statement added that the list of evacuees would be prioritised according to their immigration status.

“This includes the need to consider those stranded with proof of short-stay visas, the elderly, families with children and returning students,” the statement read

According to the statement, 270 out of the 700 Nigerians who have shown interest to return home, will be evacuated on Saturday and then others will be evacuated in batches on a first come, first serve basis.

The Consulate indicated that the port of departure remains the Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey and departure time, 9.15p.m and that the plane is expected to arrive Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 10 at 11:15 a.m.

”Those already booked on Ethiopian Airlines ET 509 will now be transferred by the airline to the new flight ET 8509 on Saturday, May 9, 2020. The projected cost for the one-way economy ticket is between 1,300 dollars (N488,800) and 1,700 dollars (N639,200) per adult” the statement from the Consulate read