By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, the Federal Government has confirmed the commencement of evacuation of Nigerians stranded in the North African country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Minister of State Zubairu Dada, confirmed it on Wednesday, 26 April, 2023 while briefing State House Correspondents on unfolding developments regarding the crisis.
Onyeama revealed that 40 luxury buses were already on ground in Sudan to pick up Nigerian nationals in the country to Egypt where they would be airlifted back home.
The Ministers said the evacuation efforts are being coordinated by the Nigerian embassy in Sudan as well as authorities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FERMA).
According to the Ministers, the buses conveying our citizens were hired at $1.2 million, noting that it also included the cost of providing security while conveying them to the Egyptian territory.
Both Ministers also noted that women and children will be given priority, including diplomats who are equally involved in the evacuation logistics.
They noted that the Nigerian government was leveraging on the 72-hour ceasefire deal to evacuate as many Nigerians as possible.
Ambassador Dada noted that the Saudi Arabia government had already evacuated some Nigerians through the sea to safety and that once the situation calms down arrangements will be made to move them back to Nigeria.
