FG Says It Needs Four Aircraft To Evacuate Remaining Nigerians In Sudan

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than 24 hours after the Flights that conveyed the evacuees from Sudan landed in Abuja, Federal Government has disclosed that it needs four Aircraft to bring back the remaining stranded Nigerians to the country.

The FG said that if the Aircraft was available at once it will fasten the evacuation of the victims of the Sudan crisis back home.

The first group of several Nigerians stranded in Sudan arrived in Abuja on Wednesday, after days of trying to escape persistent fighting.

Chairman, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said that the evacuation plan covers more than 3,500 nationals, but their total number could be more as about 5,000 Nigerians are believed to reside in Sudan, many of them students.

She added that if four aircraft can move at once, every Nigerian stranded in Sudan will be brought home.

“If four airplanes can move at once, everyone would definitely arrive, adding that another 3,000 stranded Nigerians were expected to return home.

“Egypt officials are insisting that the airplanes sent from Nigeria must be able to take the number of Nigerians available, otherwise they will not be allowed to evacuate anyone.

“So if four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. Most importantly, we hope those over there come back speedily.

“We are expecting that with the arrangements made by NEMA, it is going to be more planes because Egypt makes it difficult.

“Egypt says if the number of people you brought is let’s say 200 and the aircraft can only take 150, then nobody will leave.

“They want you to pick the number of people that you are bringing into their borders.

“At the Port Sudan, we are trying to get tickets because it is even more difficult to get flight to Port Sudan but they have an airline.

“So they are processing them now to get them tickets and then they come back home. And if other airlines get the landing permit, they will quickly go to help evacuate them.

“At least, they are coming back home and we are glad no life was lost and priority was given to students, women and children. So, let’s just set our eyes on that,” she said.

Nigerian commercial carrier, Air Peace, landed in  Abuja around 11:40p.m. yesterday with 260 passengers, while a Nigerian Air Force plane arrived a few minutes later with about 94 passengers.