. Sudan Crisis: Stranded Nigerians are Safe, Evacuation begins- FG
By Urube Peter, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has approved the immediate deployment of both
human and financial resources towards the evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the
ongoing crisis in Sudan.
This formed the outcome from the combined effort from the Ministers; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development convened at the Situation Room
on the Evacuation of Nigerian nationals from Sudan chaired by the Permanent
Secretary FMHADMSD, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who meets daily.
The federal government is utilising the window of the three day United States negotiated ceasefire in the war hit country.
They explained, the arrangement put in place by the federal government and made known to journalists are 40 buses, which have been secured in Sudan to convey the students
and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt, this was one of the identified safe reception borders.
According to the joint statement,
the first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum.
The Nigerian Mission in Egypt is liaising with the Egyptian Authorities to facilitate
the evacuation exercise, by providing emergency entry documents and holding
shelters, until the stranded Nigerian are airlifted back to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Peace and other Airlines have received clearance
to fly to Egypt.
The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja today, 28th April,
2023 to commence the airlifting of the evacuees
Similarly, arrangements are being
concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in
other countries neighbouring Sudan.
Some Nigerian students, the statement reads, who found their way to the Ethiopian border on 22nd April,
2023 and got stranded were allowed entry into Ethiopia on 24th April, 2023
following the intervention of some Nigerian leaders.
The students are safe and in
good condition and have already made personal travel arrangements to return to
Nigeria.
Also reported is another group of Nigerians assisted by the Government of United Arab
Emirates (UAE) who arrived Jeddah and are being taken care of by the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA) and our Nigerian Embassy in KSA. Arrangements are being made to
bring them back home safely.
This
followed the lingering crisis in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and
the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Members of the Situation Room include Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Federal
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development
(FMHADMSD), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National
Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI),
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH),
Office of the Chief of Staff, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Nigerian Air Force
(NAF).
Other members include the various Nigerian Foreign Missions relevant to the
evacuation exercise.
The initial hitches encountered during the commencement of the exercise,
including incidents of bus drivers stopping in the desert due to non-payment have
been settled. Agreement reached, buses have since continued the journey towards the Egyptian border.
The
evacuation exercise is progressing and Will continue until all stranded Nigerians are
brought back home safely
