The Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, have begun the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from Sudan.
This was confirmed by the Nigerian government on Friday in a joint press statement issued to journalists by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janet Olisa, and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, in Abuja
This is coming few days after the government sent some luxurious buses to Sudan to transport its citizens to neighbouring country where it would be possible to airlift them back to Nigeria.
The statement reads: “The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja on April 28, 2023, to commence the airlift of the stranded students.
“Similarly, arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan.
“However, forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt.
“Which is one of the identified safe reception borders, as at time of this statement, the first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum,” the statement said.
The federal government however said the initial hitches during transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum where bus drivers stopped and dropped the students in the desert over non-payment transport fees had been resolved.
“Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders.
“The students are in safe condition. Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by the government of the United Arab Emirate have arrived in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and arrangements are being made to return them back home,” it assured.
The government has already established a Situation Room to monitor the evacuation drill.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is said to preside over the situation room.