Nigeria has successfully evacuated its citizens from Sudan, following difficulties faced by Nigerian officials at the Egyptian borders.
Reports indicate that Egyptian authorities had demanded visas before allowing entry, leaving thousands of Nigerian evacuees stranded at the border since last Thursday.
However, the situation improved on Sunday when the borders were opened, with conditions, to Nigerians, following efforts by top security and intelligence operatives in both countries.
According to reliable security sources, the Nigerian security and intelligence community deployed their contacts and connections with their Egyptian counterparts, which helped remove some of the hurdles that had frustrated Nigerian representatives’ efforts.
A highly placed source in the Nigerian security community, who spoke under conditions of anonymity, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had instructed the national security adviser, major general, Babagana Monguno, to reach out to his Egyptian counterpart, Faiza Abou el-Naga.
The Egyptian national security adviser graciously approved Nigeria’s request and facilitated the movement of Nigerians across the border into Egypt.
Coditions required for the evacuation plans included details and schedules of the aircraft, capacity of the aircraft, comprehensive list of the evacuees with passport numbers and valid travel documents and the presence of Nigerian government officials at the point of embarkation.
The conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has claimed more than 400 lives, with another 3,500 reported injured.
