Federal government has assured of the safety and evacuation of Nigerians stranded in crisis-ridden Sudan, saying it is “working round the clock” to evacuate them.
Foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama gave the assurance when he was featured on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics last night.
“So, we have been working round the clock for the last two days to try and get the Nigerians out,” he said on the programme, adding that the country’s embassy has been mandated to open a platform to register the nation’s citizens in Sudan.
His comment comes amid a wave of criticisms and backlash against the government many accused of being nonchalant in the evacuation of its citizens from the North African country.
But Onyeama said the situation is not as simple as being portrayed.
“Because the airport as you pointed out in your report is out of commission, the only viable way out is by road,” the minister added. “But of course, it is not totally safe so you are going to require the government to provide some security and a safe corridor out.”
The large number of Nigerians in Sudan, which he puts at 5, 500, makes the situation dicey.
He said of the number, 80 percent of them are students, adding that some countries have only evacuated their diplomatic staff and not all of their citizens as speculated online.
But he assured that “we are doing everything we can to get the requisite approval from the Sudanese government.”
The minister assured Nigerians in Sudan of the government’s quick response.
“Essentially, where we are at the moment is trying to get authorisation from the Sudanese government to undertake this long convoy journey and for them to provide some security,” he added.
