By Kazeem Akolawole
The federal government has disclosed that it has evacuated 506 Nigerians from the war-prone Sudan as of Friday.
It also disclosed that no fewer than 132 returnees comprising 124 adults and 7 infants are expected to arrive at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday aboard the Sudanese TARCO Airline No. B737-300.
A statement jointly signed by the Director overseeing the Permanent Secretary office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Janet Olisa, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo on Nigerians in Sudan stated that the evacuation exercise from Port Sudan will continue until the remaining 1,500 Nigerians are brought back home safely and in dignity.
The statement said: “The returnees will be received at the airport by senior government officials.
“It is to be recalled that the second batch of 130 stranded Nigerians airlifted from Port Sudan arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport yesterday, 2023 aboard a Sudanese TARCO Airline. The passengers included 128 women and children and two men.
“As part of their corporate social responsibility, the Dangote Foundation is supporting the evacuation exercise with survival kits and N100,000 as transportation fare to each returnee; while MTN is providing each returnee with a SIM card credited with N25,000 airtime and 1.5 GB data.
“The evacuation exercise from Port Sudan will continue until the remaining 1,500 Nigerians are brought back home safely and in dignity. In this regard, two Air Peace aircraft are on standby to join in the evacuation efforts in Port Sudan in the coming hours.”
The statement continues: Similarly, Azman Air and Max Air aircraft are already stationed in Aswan, Egypt waiting to airlift about 850 remaining evacuees from Aswan.
“So far, a total number of 506 Nigerians have been successfully evacuated back home. The federal government remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring the safe return of all afected Nigerians.”
