Sudan Crisis: NEMA begins evacuation of stranded Nigerians today

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday night unveiled plans to kickstart the evacuation of stranded 5,500 Nigerians from Sudan on Tuesday, 25th April, 2023.

According to the NEMA’s schedule which was disclosed by Director of Special Duties, Mr. Onimode Bamidele on Channels TV, disclosed that NEMA’s Director General, Mustapha Habib Ahmed has travelled to Cairo to coordinate the evacuation exercise.

Recall that the Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has offered to airlift the stranded Nigerian Citizens free of charge.

While assuring that the evacuation plan has reached advanced stage, he disclosed that: “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 be perfected between the Embassy in Khartoum and the DG NEMA who is already in Cairo.

“So, as confirmed by the Nigerian Ambassador in Khartoum, tomorrow, it is guaranteed that movement by road will start.”

While responding to question on the number of Nigerians to be evacuated, he explained that: “Our projection was both students and others, they are about 5,000 but my discussion with the Ambassador this morning, the plan is for about 2,650 to 2,800 to move immediately including families of embassy staff and as plans continue, the figures will be updated and the exact time of departure from Khartoum to Cairo will also be communicated.

“The population is worked by the number of buses and the number of buses will determine how many can move at a particular time.

“Like I said, if you are evacuating in a situation of internal crisis like we have in Sudan, you have to be mindful of the number of buses in your convoy so that you can easily manage it; security-wise.”

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