The first batch of Nigerian evacuees from Sudan has landed in the country, following a long and bumpy journey from Sudan to Egypt by bus and subsequent airlift at the Aswan Airport in Egypt.
The returnees experienced hitches throughout their journey by road, with some waiting for a few days before being allowed passage through Egypt via the Sudanese border. The flight back home was equally delayed before the passengers were finally cleared to board.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs. Sadiya Umar-Farouq, disclosed that about 350 Nigerians were evacuated in the first batch, and further batches are expected in the coming days.
Allen Onyema, the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, has said that Nigerians abroad are stigmatised by their host countries, even when no evidence of crime has been established against them. The flights to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan were delayed for hours as the Egyptian authorities denied clearance to board because the numbers of passengers were far over the capacity of the flight.
As per information released by the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission’s Sudan Situation Room, “Egyptian authorities insisted no one will leave if the numbers are more than what the aircrafts can take.” The situation was, however, later addressed as the luggage was taken from the NAF aircraft into Air Peace cargo to create more space for passengers. Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, and the Nigerian Air Force were both used to evacuate the Nigerians.
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, thanked the Nigerian president and other agencies involved in the exercise, as well as Air Peace for the support.
