FG Says “We’re Still Planning How to Evacuate Nigerians in Sudan”
All Nigerian students and others who are stranded in Sudan due to the current hostilities have been offered plane evacuation by the federal government.
Sani Gwarzo and Janet Olisa, the permanent secretary in charge of the federal ministries of humanitarian affairs and foreign affairs, respectively, made this information public on behalf of the government.
The statement read, “We are currently making arrangements for the air transport evacuation of all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home.”
Parents were instructed by the federal government to warn their children against traveling on risky routes.
The government advised the students to try to keep their composure and be in close contact with representatives of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates while coordinated attempts are being made to evacuate them.
The statement said, “They can reach the embassy Officials at the following telephone numbers: +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, and 2349066663493.”
The government emphasized that although “we expect their calls,” “we also advised them to guard against undertaking the treacherous journey to the borders on their own, in view of the dangers involved,” because “some of these students are trying to find their way to contiguous borders of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, or Chad on their own.”
The continuous battle between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has raised concerns among the Nigerian authorities regarding the humanitarian issue.
To ensure the success of this operation, the statement said that “we are closely collaborating with organizations such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, as well as the Nigerian missions in countries bordering Sudan.”
