Sudan: 2,518 Nigerians students safely Evacuated- Gwarzor

By Urube Peter, Abuja

Federal Government of Nigeria through its agencies has successfully evacuated 2,518 of her students out of a trouble Sudan Nation.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, on behalf of the Minister, Hajia Umar Farouk and Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the support of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari which yielded the necessary results with a no single soul lost or missing as the last batch of 140 on board arrived yesterday 13/05/23, 7:00pm at Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport Abuja Nigeria from Port Sudan.

The Permanent secretary said that the 140 Nigerians students were the last stranded Nigerian known which were airlifted from Sudan to Abuja by Nigeria government.

Receiving the returnees, Dr Gwarzo, informed them that a while ago both the ministers of foreign affairs, Dr Godfrey Onyema and humanitarian affairs minister, Hajia Umar Farouk has called to confirmed your safe arrival and sent their warm welcome.

He assured them of the mechanism in place by the government of their well being that no one will be left behind, that is search is still on going should in case there will be any missing student he/she shall be taken to a safe place for airlift thereafter to Nigeria.

He made reference to an incident of a student on admission in khautoun hospital with a statu asmastic condition who was later discovered and was airlifted among the 140 last batch of 15 flights yesterday.

He informed them that the psycho-social support is provided for all, they should make available their health status that different Gov’t agencies health experts are available for them.

Gwarzo said,”NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Ministry of Health, and the Dangote Foundation have put in place a robust plan to look at the psycho-social support related to the stress you have faced so that it will not persist, that the few of you one with injury at hand and the other on the head has been treated and okay.

He was categorical, ‘there was no Nigerian students again in Port Sudan and the Egyptian border for evacuation to the country.
He advised the returnees instead of going on to social media and gossip, if you’re aware of any one left behind anytime let’s know through your Sudan old students president or Hajia Yerima, known as the leader of parents facilitator between students, parents and government.

Gwarzo reiterated that no student to our knowledge was left behind but that the Federal government’s commitment to evacuating everyone, students, and non-students, in Sudan is successful with no life lost.

Gwarzo, finally cautioned the returnees to be very careful with their belongings as not to be stolen as it was reported of one incident recently. Even to be more careful and cautious the drivers on speed limits when finally going home.

The permanent secretary used the opportunity to asked for applaud from returnees for the great effort of all his colleagues from ministry of foreign affairs, health and other agencies of government; NEMA, Refugee Commission, NIDCOM and particularly media who escalated the situation that led to emergency wakening of government and private institutions to provide all the rescue support.

Also in a brief interview with the old student president, Abubakar Babangida who expressed delight for the quick response from the government and private institutions at the critical time of their lives and prayed Allah to reward all.

One of the student, Shehu LawuSalah, from Kano, 2nd degree student on education from the African university, Sudan. After appreciating the government and private person’s, equally thank God for their safe returned.

When asked how it happened, Shehu summarized the ugly situation on that faithful day of 15th April 2023 around 9:00am as they were in their hostels, how they beginning to hear sounds of gun shots and bomb explosions, people shouting and screaming. A peep, only soldiers you can see on the deserted streets and fighter jets flying. He said if given the opportunity even after war he won’t like to go back, although he was done with his studies only waiting for his project defence.

The 140 last batch of returnees were equally entertained and supported with N100,000 each, donated by the Dangote Foundation, MTN sim cards with recharge cards(N25,000) and data(1.5GB), plus school bags food and drinks upon arrival at the airport