Sudan: Nigeria mobilizes 3 flights to Egypt to evacuate stranded citizens

Three Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft have been mobilised to Sudan by the Nigerian government to evacuate its stranded citizens who are currently at the Egyptian border.

The popular Nigerian airline, Air Peace is also on ground to complement the effort of the federal government.

A source revealed that: “The plane landed a few hours ago at Aswan. The first set of evacuees will depart today.”

The Informant247 earlier reported that the Nigerian government had vowed to evacuate its stranded citizens from the war torn zone.

It was gathered that the Egyptian government did not agree to allowing Nigerians into their country despite persuasion.

The Nigerian government is doing everything possible to ensure that her citizens are allowed into Egypt where they will be transported home by air.

It was also gathered that Nigerian citizens who left the Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum on Wednesday were reportedly roaming aimlessly at the border between Sudan and Egypt.

“We have been here for four days now, no food, no water. The government should come to our rescue”, says one of the affected Nigerians.

FG reveals why $1.2m was spent on buses to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan

The federal government has given reason for spending the sum of $1.2m on buses meant to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan.

The Informant247 recalls that the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffery Onyeama on Wednesday said the federal government would spend the sum of $1.2m on 40 buses to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan.

This generated reactions from social media users as many faulted the amount to be spent on the buses.

While reacting to the reactions of social media users in a joint statement released by the ministries of foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs on Saturday April 29.

The ministries described the reactions of the critics as “uncalled for”.

They revealed that the government ”negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens”.

“The general public is also advised to discountenance unverified information being circulated on social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief,” the statement reads.

“The outcry over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.

“The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

“Therefore, the cooperation and understanding of all and sundry are required to complement ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of every Nigerian trapped in Sudan.”

The government also revealed that 637 Nigerians have been moved to the Egyptian border.