The Federal Government has again evacuated another 131 stranded Nigerians in furtherance of its commitment to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the war torn Sudan.
The evacuees who are classified as the third batch of Nigerian returnees arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday at exactly 1:45 p.m., on board a TARCO aircraft from Port Sudan.
Receiving the returnees, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, who disclosed that psycho-social support would be given to all the returnees, hinted that more Nigerians are being profiled in Port Sudan and the Egyptian border for onward evacuation back to Nigeria.
Gwarzo said,”NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Ministry of Health, and the Dangote Foundation have put in place a robust plan to look at the psycho-social support related to the stress they have faced so that it will not persist.
This will be a service that will extend into the weeks ahead and I can tell you that the committee saddled with this responsibility are happy with how far we have gone,” he said.
Gwarzo reiterated federal government’s commitment to evacuating everyone, in the next few days.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed disclosed that two aircraft were already on ground at Aswan Airport in Egypt to evacuate more Nigerians.
“Our people are already on their way to the airport, so hopefully, they will take off tomorrow morning and by tomorrow afternoon, we will be back to receive a large batch of almost 800 students
“At Port Sudan, TARCO airline is going back to pick more returnees, even as Air Peace airline would be evacuating more returnees from that same point,” Ahmed said.
On her part, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri assured that another batch would be coming into the country on Sunday.
She said,”One thing is certain that no one will be left behind, but it is unfortunate that some people put some tribal colouration to this issue.
“The mission wanted the process to be orderly and priority was given to women and children, but it is important to note that no one will be left behind.”
She encouraged the evacuees yet to be airlifted to be patient, as she assured that all necessary procedures were being put in place to ensure their safe return.
Master Deen Shittu, a returnee and a 400-level medical student at the Al-Fajir College of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan, expressed happiness for their safe return.
“What we faced was a very bad experience, I can say that war is not an option and I do not pray we face that in Nigeria.
“It was difficult to eat, I also drank water that was bad which I know would hurt me health-wise, but there was nothing I could do.
“But I hope to go back when peace returns to the country to complete my education because I do not know where to start.
“Though if I get a university in Nigeria that would accept me in the same level and the same course, I would remain here,” Shittu said.
The returnees were given N100,000 each donated by the Dangote Foundation, MTN sim cards with recharge cards and data, food and drinks upon arrival at the airport.
