By Kolawole Ojebisi
Efforts to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the United Kingdom backed to the country stalled on Sunday as the British government refused to grant Diplomatic Landing Clearance to Air Peace Limited.
This development comes in less two months after Canadian authorities denied Air Peace, the landing rights to airlift stranded Nigerians in the North American country.
According to a statement released by the Nigeria High Commission in London Sunday, the evacuation flight from the UK to Abuja and Lagos will now depart on Tuesday, July 14, using another airline.
It also noted that instead of the Heathrow Airport as earlier planned, the flight would be taking off from the Gatwick Airport, London.
The statement read in part, “This is to inform all prospective evacuees that have been issued tickets for the Air Peace flights departing on July 13, 2020, from London Heathrow to Abuja and Lagos, that due to landing clearance issues, the flights have been rescheduled to depart on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 10:00am from Gatwick Airport,”
The statement noted that to make the airlifting of the citizens possible, Air Peace had to, following an appeal by the government, engage the services of another airline, Global Air Charter, instead of refunding the fares made by the stranded Nigerians.
“Furthermore, Air Peace Airlines has contracted Air Partner, Global Charter, to operate the flight on its behalf and any other information will be communicated directly to the passengers.”
The Federal Government, however, commended the Chairman, Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, and the airlines’ management “for their commitment and patriotism in ensuring that our stranded nationals in the United Kingdom return home safely.”
“In light of the foregoing, the mission wishes to extend its appreciation to the Chairman and management of Air Peace Limited for ensuring that our stranded nationals in the United Kingdom return home safely,” the statement added.
“The Federal Government, however, regrets any inconvenience these changes might have caused,” the statement concluded.
Recall that the federal government has been airlifting nationals stranded in different countries across the world back home after several countries imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
On Saturday, 270 Nigerians and two Egyptian nationals were evacuated from Cairo; one amongst many evacuation flights that have already been carried out.
Recall Air Peace was also denied landing clearance in May by Canadian authorities to enable it airlift 319 stranded Nigerians in Canada, forcing Nigeria to engage the service of an Ethiopian airline instead.
The New Diplomat had reported that this may not be unconnected to some alleged subsisting issues concerning Airpeace and its CEO, Mr. Allen Onyema.
