THE Federal Government announced today that it had successfully evacuated all Nigerians fleeing the turmoil in Sudan, adding that no Nigerian lives had been lost during the evacuation.
However, according to Daily Trust, some stranded Nigerians were left behind in Port Sudan yesterday.
According to a source who asked not to be identified but is familiar with the situation in Port Sudan, there are still 92 students left out.
He revealed that certain people who had spoken out against their predicament in Sudan were not permitted to board the trip back home.
The authorities, however, have disputed this.
In a joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), signed today by Amb. Janet Olisa and Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, for MFA and FMHADMSD respectively, the government said no stranded Nigerian is left behind in Sudan.
According to the statement, 15 flights were deployed by the Federal Government to airlift a total number of 2,518 Nigerian nationals from Sudan.
“In fulfillment of the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, that no Nigerian fleeing the crisis in Sudan should be left behind, the Federal Government has brought back home, the last batch of stranded Nigerians from Port Sudan.
“They arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday, 13th May, 2023 at 6:36pm aboard Tarco Aviation. This batch of returnees numbering 147 was the second Tarco Aviation flight received on Saturday. The earlier flight brought back 125 evacuees.
“As earlier indicated, this latest batch of returnees marked the end of the emergency evacuation exercise put in place for stranded Nigerians in Sudan,” the statement read in part.
The government stated that a clean-up operation would be organized for other Nigerians who may choose to return home hereafter.
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