Atbout 376 Nigerians stranded in Sudan have been successfully evacuated by the Federal Government to Abuja.They arrived the nations capital safely last night.
The first batch of 94 evacuees came in aboard a Nigerian Airforce Hercules C-130 while the remaining 282 persons came back on an Air Peace flight.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar who welcomed the evacuees back home thanked the federal government for the fruitful negotiations with the Sudanese government which led to the successful release and subsequent evacuation of Nigerians .
“We are happy that they arrived safely and no life was lost. They have gone through a very traumatizing period but thank God that they are back home.’
“We thank the federal government for the successful rescue operation of Nigerians in Sudan and pray that there is peace in Sudan and every other part of this country.”
” War is not a good thing. You can see that people who have gone to study have suddenly become refugees. This is not just an international crisis but a humanitarian crisis.”
“We are giving them a stipend of N100,000 each to transport themselves back to their families. Hotel accommodation has also been arranged for the evacuees until they reunite with their families while those who need medical attention have also been taken care of.”
Farouq said no Nigerian who wants to flee the situation in Sudan will be left behind.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the relevant MDAs like NEMA, NCFRMI, NIDCOM, NIA and the Nigerian Airforce are working with the Nigerian Missions in Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad to ensure that no one is left behind.” the minister said.
