NEMA says FG ‘exploring all avenues to evacuate stranded citizens in Sudan’
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that the Nigerian government is still exploring all avenues to ensure its citizens stranded in Sudan are evacuated and returned home safely.
Director General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, who said this following widespread concerns raised by Nigerians on the back of an appeal written by Nigerian students trapped in the war-torn East African country, last week.
Over 300 people have been killed since the fighting erupted Saturday between forces loyal to Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The crisis, which began in Khartoum, the capital city, is gradually spreading to its environs, mostly Ithe residential areas in the capital, which could increase the number of casualties.
It would be recalled that the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had also explained that the Nigerian Mission in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have put in place arrangements to evacuate Nigerian students and other Nigerian citizens stranded in Sudan, but that the tensed situation makes it gravely risky and impossible for any flights at this point in time.
Dabiri-Erewa’s statement which was signed by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NIDCOM, noted that some aircraft parked at the Khartoum Airport in the country were burnt on Friday morning.
“The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said while the Nigerian Mission in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have put in place arrangements to evacuate Nigerian students and other Nigerian citizens stranded in Sudan, the tensed situation makes it gravely risky and impossible for any flights at this point in time., noting that Aircrafts parked at the Airport in the country were burnt yesterday morning.
“She therefore appealed to the fighting Parties to consider the Juba Peace Agreement enunciated by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as fundamental mechanism for the restoration of peace and tranquility in the country.”
Meanwhile, NEMA has said it is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the NIDCOM and security agencies.
“The current emergency in Sudan is very complex with fighting between warring factions going on and all airports and land borders closed.
“The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.
“A committee has been set up comprising professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neighbouring Sudan,” Ahmed said.
Last Wednesday, Nigerian students stranded in Sudan wrote a memo through their association, the National Association of Nigerian Students in Sudan (NANSS), appealing for evacuation as they decried the lack of access to basic needs.
According to a statement by NIDCOM, Nigerian students in Sudan have appealed for help by way of evacuation from the country.
“The Commission has received the letter of solicitation by the National Association of Nigerian Students in Sudan for possible evacuation of students, especially those in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.
NIDCOM, in the same vein, urged “all Nigerian students in Sudan and Nigerians living in Sudan to be security conscious and calm”.
