Sudan: Federal Govt Evacuates 1,984 As Another Batch Arrives Abuja

Federal government has intensified efforts to evacuate more Nigerians fleeing the crisis in Sudan.

According to a statement from the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) the federal government has so far rescued 1,984 Nigerians fleeing the crisis in Sudan, as another batch of returnees numbering 128 arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday.

Over 1,500 returnees were airlifted last week beginning from Aswan, Egypt on Max Air and on Azman Air while another batch of Nigerian returnees were airlifted from Port Sudan on Tarco Aviation last week.

The returnees were welcomed at the airport by the representative of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr.  Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who is the chairman of the Situation Room on the Evacuation Exercise.

The government in an earlier statement, noted that all stranded Nigerians at the Sudan/Egypt border, have been repatriated and all efforts will now be channeled to Port Sudan where about 1,400 Nigerians are awaiting evacuation.

“To this end, two Air Peace aircrafts are in the final stage of obtaining clearance to join the Sudanese Tarco Aviation in airlifting the remaining stranded Nigerians in Port Sudan.

“The expectation, therefore, is that in the coming days, evacuation of all Nigerians fleeing the crisis in Sudan, including the 38 persons in Saudi Arabia, those in Ethiopia and Chad would have been concluded.

“It is worthy of note that in line with the Federal Government’s set priority of ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind,” he said.