FG plans evacuation to Egypt, Air Peace offers help
BY ORIAKU IJELE
Akin to what happened to African students at the onset of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Nigerians trapped in Sudan don’t seem to be having it easy. Posts from the social media handles of affected students and their relatives in Nigeria, pleading for evacuation indicate there are hostilities from the surrounding countries towards Nigerians particularly.
Whereas it is expected that visas should be waived for people in such conditions, the Ethiopian authorities are asking Nigerians trying to use their borders for escape for visa.
Daily Times gathered that this has dampened the morale of the affected Nigerians. “It is worrisome. How can they be asking for visa from people escaping from being hurt in a conflict? That was exactly what Africans suffered during the onset of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, where evacuation efforts tactically avoided black victims. That is sad to say the least and UN should look into issues like this”.
In spite of this development, help may be coming today, Tuesday if arrangements being made by the National Emergency Management Agency to evacuate Nigerians through the Egyptian border are anything to go by.
Daily Times, learned that the country’s Mission in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are working on a rescue plan.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama had said it was easy for America, Italy, France and co to evacuate quickly because “they don’t have 5,000 citizens like Nigeria.”
But the Director, Special Duties of NEMA, Dr. Onimode Bandele said: “The truth is, nobody has been evacuated yet. I just spoke to the Ambassador in Khartoum, Olaniyan some few minutes ago and the truth is, it is true that there are plans to get buses to start movement tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and as I speak with you, the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed is already in Cairo because that is the window that we are looking at.
We have a town called Luxor and another one. So, the movement is to perfected between the Embassy in Khartoum and the DG NEMA who is already in Cairo.”
Meanwhile, Air Peace on Monday offered to evacuate stranded Nigerians, according to a statement by its chairman, Allen Onyema.
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The airline asked the federal government to do its best to transport the citizens to a safe and secure airport in any neighbouring nation.
“Everything must not be left for the government. It will be a privilege that we will be out there to give every Nigerian stranded in Sudan a sense of pride.
“We are very ready to do it immediately. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace and unity, we are for it,” Onyema assured.
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