The Federal Government on Friday said the Nigeria Airforce (NAF C-130H) plane and Airpeace plane have been cleared to fly Egyptian airspace for the evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Sudan.
The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Janet Olisa and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo in Abuja jointly gave an update last night in a statement.
“The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja on April 28, 2023, to commence the airlift of the stranded students.
“Similarly, arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan.
“Forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt, identified as one of the safe reception borders,” the statement read in part.
The initial hitches witnessed in the transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum where bus drivers stopped in the desert over non-payment transport fees have been resolved, the statement disclosed.
“Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders.The students are in safe condition.
“Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by government of United Arab Emirate have arrived Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and arrangement are been made to return them back home,” it assured.
The government has opened a Situation Room supervised by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to monitor the evacuation exercise.
