President Muhammadu Buhari has approve the immediate deployment of both
human and financial resources towards the evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
This is inview of the lingering crisis in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RAF) Members of the Situation Room include Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National
Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Office of the Chief of Staff, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Other members include the various Nigerian Foreign Missions relevant to the evacuation exercise.
According to a joint signed statement by Amb. Janet Olisa, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo,40 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.
The evacuation which is being implemented within the three day window United States negotiated ceasefire in Sudan, at the time of the statement had the first batch of buses already departed Khartoum.
The Nigerian Mission in Egypt,the statement indicated is liaising with the Egyptian Authorities to facilitate the evacuation exercise, by providing emergency entry documents and holding
shelters, until the stranded Nigerian are airlifted back to Nigeria.
Part of the statement reads: the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Peace and other Airlines have received clearance
to fly to Egypt. The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja 28th April, 2023 to commence the airlifting of the evacuees. Similarly, arrangements are being concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in other countries neighbouring Sudan.
Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border on 22nd April,
2023 and got stranded were allowed entry into Ethiopia on 24th April, 2023 following the intervention of some Nigerian leaders.
The students are safe and in
good condition and have already made personal travel arrangements to return to Nigeria.
Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by the Government of United Arab
Emirates (UAE) arrived Jeddah and are being taken care of by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Nigerian Embassy in KSA.
Arrangements are being made to
bring them back home safely.
The initial hitches encountered during the commencement of the exercise, including incidents of bus drivers stopping in the desert due to non-payment have been resolved.
The buses have continued towards the Egyptian border. The evacuation exercise is progressing and will continue until all stranded Nigerians are brought back home safely.
