The first batch of Nigerians stranded in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic has arrived in Abuja .

160 Nigerians , including eight infants, made the first batch of evacuees.
They arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja , around 11. 05 am on Sunday.

They returned aboard an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft under the special flight arrangements by the Federal Government for nationals stranded abroad.

“ ET Flight 8509 conveying 160 Nigerian evacuees from the US has safely arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja , ” Minister of Foreign Affairs , Geoffrey Onyeama, said while confirming their arrival .

The plane departed the Newark International Airport, New Jersey, on Saturday around 8 :20 p. m . local time (1: 20 a .m . in Nigeria on Sunday).

Onyeama added that on arrival , the evacuees would be quarantined for 14 days in Abuja before leaving for their respective destinations in the country .
©Punch