Canadian nationals waiting to be evacuated from Nigeria express frustration after waiting for hours for a flight that is “not free” (photos)

Canadian nationals in Nigeria have expressed frustration as they wait at the International Airport in Lagos to be evacuated to Canada.

In a letter from the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, it was revealed that Canadian nationals in Nigeria will be repatriated to Canada via Ethiopian Airlines on Monday, April 6, 2020.

Canadian nationals arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to join the flight back to Canada but their experience hasn’t been good, according to a passenger who spoke to LIB.

People arrived as early as 5am and the flight was supposed to take off around 7:50am. However, hours after they were supposed to take off, passengers were still waiting on a long line at the airport.

A passenger who spoke to LIB blamed the Nigerian immigrations & Customs for this. 

The source said: “People are tired.

“They don’t give a damn about anybody. The Canadian officials are frustrated with them. Imagine what the Abuja passengers will go through too. It’s crazy and frustrating.”

“It’s not Canada punishing us. It’s Nigerian immigrations & Customs,” the source adde

It was also revealed that the flight back to Toronto, Canada, is not free.

A source told us: “This flight is not free. It’s 5,000 Canadian dollars per seat. If you don’t have 5k but you’re a citizen, the government will give you an emergency COVID 5k loan and you have 180 days to pay it back to the government.”

The source added: “And if you’re going to any other Canadian city outside Toronto, you’re on your own once we land in Toronto.”

When they eventually take off, the flight will go from Lagos to Abuja, through Addis Ababa and Dublin, before finally arriving at Toronto where passengers will be left on their own to continue to their various destinations.