FG commences evacuation of Nigerian students in Sudan

The federal government of Nigeria has begun the evacuation of stranded Nigerian students and other citizens from the war-torn cities of Sudan.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission made this known on Wednesday, saying that the federal government has paid the money through the Central Bank of Nigeria via the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Also confirming the evacuation is Abdullahi Zari, a Nigerian student at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, while responding to a question from Channels Television, said that buses are on the ground to convey the students.

“The buses have arrived to evacuate the students to Egypt enroute Nigeria. Buses are moving some students already, and some students have crossed the border to Ethiopia, some others moved to Niger, Chad, and some other neighbouring countries,” he said.

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The Nigerian government had on Tuesday, April 25 assured Nigerians that the sum of N150 million was made available for the hiring of 40 luxurious buses to move the students and other Nigerians out of the war-torn country.

Before the arrival of the federal government buses, students were informed to gather at any of the following three locations to proceed with the evacuation to Gadarif, then to Ethiopia.

The locations are Ifriqiyyah University, El-razi University, and NANSS office.

According to a statement released by the National Association of Nigerian Students, Sudan (NANSS), “Those who do not have the funds should contact either their school or state president,”

Those that do not have their passport at hand were asked to also contact their state or school president.

The federal government buses arrived at the meeting point of the International University of Africa in Khartoum for the evacuation through Egypt.

The stranded students are carried out of Sudan by road as flight operations in Sudan have been difficult, according to the Nigerian government.