The statement confirmed that arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians who have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan. The statement further revealed that forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to the Aswan border in Egypt, which is one of the identified safe reception borders. The first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum.
The evacuation exercise was necessitated by the political crisis in Sudan, which has led to the closure of the country's borders. This has made it difficult for Nigerians in Sudan to leave the country, leading to widespread concern over their safety. The Nigerian government, therefore, took the initiative to evacuate its citizens from Sudan and bring them back home.
According to the statement, the initial hitches during the transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum have been resolved. The bus drivers had stopped and dropped the students over non-payment of transport fees. The government intervened and resolved the issue. Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were also allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders. The students are now in a safe condition.
Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by the government of the United Arab Emirates has arrived in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and arrangements are being made to return them back home. The Nigerian government has already convened a Situation Room to monitor the evacuation exercise. The Situation Room is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The government's effort to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan has received commendation from various quarters. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the Nigerian government for the timely evacuation of stranded Nigerian students and other citizens from Sudan. The NUJ President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, in a statement, said the union was impressed with the government's swift response to the plight of Nigerians in Sudan.
Isiguzo said, "The NUJ commends the Nigerian government for the swift action taken to evacuate our stranded citizens from Sudan. We are happy that the government has taken the welfare of our citizens seriously, and we urge it to continue in this direction. We call on Nigerians to cooperate with the government and security agencies to ensure a successful evacuation exercise."
Similarly, the Nigerian community in Sudan has expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for the evacuation exercise. The Chairman of the Nigerian Community in Sudan, Mr Sunday Olaoye, said the evacuation was a welcome development, as many Nigerians had been stranded in Sudan for months. He said, "We are grateful to the Nigerian government for coming to our aid. Many of us have been stranded here for months, and we didn't know when we will leave. We are happy that the government has come to our rescue."
The evacuation exercise is expected to continue until all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are brought back home. The Nigerian government has assured its citizens that it will continue to work towards ensuring their safety and security both at home and abroad.