It was gathered that the evacuees arrived at about 9.30am on Wednesday to prepare for their boarding back to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace, a private airline on Wednesday began the evacuation of at least 350 stranded Nigerians from Sudan who arrived at Aswan Airport in Egypt to be airlifted to Nigeria.
It was gathered that the evacuees arrived at about 9.30am on Wednesday to prepare for their boarding back to Nigeria.
“They will be airlifted by NAF C130 and AirPeace. 80 passengers in C130 and Airpeace 274 passengers,” a source told Daily Trust.
“Checking in has commenced following normal airport protocols. Boarding is ongoing,” the source noted.
The evacuees are anticipated to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at around 4:30 pm since Daily Trust research indicates that a standard flight from Cairo to Abuja takes five hours and a few minutes.
A NAF C130 will probably reduce it.
Additionally, Daily Trust learned that 20 of the evacuees were sent back to the Arqeen border crossing with Egypt because the flight was unable to carry them.
On Tuesday night, the Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt, Nura Abba Rimi gave an update about the makeup of those to be given priority.
“TeamCairo has successfully moved our students from the Sudanese side to the Egyptian side of the Arqeel border.
“Priority was given to female students in the orderly movement of the 449 students across the border.
“The students are now being prepared for their departure to Abuja through Aswan Airport”, said the Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt.
The first group of stranded Nigerians would be relocated at any moment, according to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
“It’s good news from Cairo. The Embassy did great and worked tirelessly.
“Air peace has landed. So, in a couple of hours, we should be receiving the first batch,” she said.
“The students are now being prepared for their departure to Abuja through Aswan Airport.
“With the arrival of AirPeace and the NAF Plane, the onward journey home begins soon after necessary documentation,” a government source added.
About the second group at the Egypt border, the NiDCOM boss said: “The team at Abusimbel will be evacuating the Wadi Halfa group tomorrow morning.
“Port Sudan border is the 3rd group that will be evacuated last because they just arrived today [Tuesday].
“These other 2 groups have been around for about 6 days now at the 2 borders.”