FG Begins Airlift of Stranded Nigerians in Sudan

The Federal Government has stated that its Nigeria Airforce (NAF C-130H) and Air Peace plane will commence airlift of Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

This was revealed on Friday in a joint press statement issued to journalists by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janet Olisa, and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, in Abuja.

It revealed that the initial problems encountered during transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum where bus drivers stopped and dropped the students in the desert over non-payment transport fees have been resolved and disclosed that forty buses were secured to convey Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt.

Reports by NAN revealed that the “The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja on April 28, 2023, to commence the airlift of the stranded students.

“Similarly, arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan.

“However, forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt.

“Which is one of the identified safe reception borders, as, at the time of this statement, the first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum,” the statement said.

“Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders.

“The students are in a safe condition. Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by the government of the United Arab Emirates have arrived in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and arrangements are being made to return them home,” it assured.

However, the stranded students confirmed that 13 buses released by the Embassy out of the 40 buses