The Federal Government has announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will start airlifting Nigerian evacuees from Egypt on Friday, notwithstanding the situation roiling Sudan.
“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 tomorrow, 28th April 2023 to commence the airlifting of the evacuees,” said Amb. Janet Olisa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The government also said arrangements are being concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in other countries neighbouring Sudan.
The statement reads in part;
The Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development convened a Situation Room on the Evacuation of Nigerian nationals from Sudan chaired by the Permanent Secretary FMHADMSD, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, meets daily.
This followed 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.
Seizing the window of the three (3) day United States negotiated ceasefire in Sudan, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR approved the immediate deployment of both human and financial resources towards the evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
Consequently, forty (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. As at the time of the release of this statement, the 1st batch of buses had already departed Khartoum.
