The Nigerian government has described as practicable impossible the plans of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to evacuate Nigerian students in Sudan to Ethiopia.
The federal government has told Nigerian students in Sudan to ignore such move as it is still dangerous to take such decision.
This was revealed in a statement released by Sunday, H.Y Garko on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Khartoum.
Garko urged the students to remain peaceful and calm as plans to rescue them were ongoing.
This came as a reaction to the plan of NANS informing students to gather at three locations to ensure the evacuation of the students to Ethiopia.
He said it’s unsafe to cross the Sudanese borders without clearance.
The statement reads: “The embassy of the Federal Republic Nigeria Khartoum, wishes to inform all students in Sudan that they should disregard the notice circulated by the NANS in Sudan, calling students to converge at the three locations namely: African international university, NANS office and El-Razi University, for evacuation or to bring $100 or $200 for evacuation.”
“As the embassy had earlier informed students, you are therefore requested to stay calm and remain indoors, while the embassy is working on final approval to commence evacuation.
“It is still dangerous to embark on a journey toward the borders of Sudan without securing clearance and guarantee from Sudanese authorities.
“The embassy wishes to reassure the Nigerian students that their safety and wellbeing is of priority concern.”
The Informant247 recalls that the NANS media committee on Sunday April 23 called on the students to gather at Gadarif so as to be evacuated to nearby Ethiopia.
The students’ body announced that: “This is to inform all Nigerian students to gather at any of these three locations to proceed with the evacuation to Gadarif, then to Ethiopia. 1. Ifriqiyyah University 2. NANSS office or 3. El-Razi University,” NANS said.
“Those who don’t have the funds should contact either their school or state president. Come along with your passport original and photocopy or school ID card.
“Those that don’t have their passport at hand should also contact their state or school president.”
The federal government had earlier announced its readiness to evacuate Nigerian citizens from Sudan following a clash between Sudanese soldiers and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This was revealed by the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa who said the federal government was still making consultations with concerned stakeholders to ensure easy evacuation of its citizens from Sudan.
The Informant247 gathered that the violence has taken lives of over 270 persons.
The violent clash has made thousands of civilians moved to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
The Informant247 learned that foreign countries are considering the evacuation of their nationals as the crisis was running to the sixth day.
Dabiri-Erewa said she has taken note of the concern of Nigerian students who are living in Sudan.
She added that her Commission has gotten “the letter of solocitation” from the National Association of Nigerian Students in Sudan to ensure the evacuation of students in the foreign African country especially those living the capital city, Khartoum.
She implored Nigerian students residing in Sudan to be conscious of their safety and security.