Sudan Crisis: NAF C130, Air Peace to Evacuate 350 Nigerians From Egypt to Abuja
- At least 350 stranded Nigerians in war-torn Sudan will arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja around 4:30 PM today, Wednesday, May 3
- It was gathered that 350 Nigerian evacuees boarded flights at the Aswan Airport in Egypt
- Further reports confirmed that the 274-passenger Air Peace plane and the 80-passenger NAF C130 aircraft did the evacuation
Aswan, Egypt - An emerging report has confirmed that at least 350 Nigerians who made it to the Egyptian borders from war-torn Sudan have begun to board flights from Aswan Airport to Abuja.
Sources confirmed that the stranded Nigerians who made it to the Egyptian boarders arrived at the airport at about 9:30 am on Wednesday, May 3.
Source: Getty Images
According to Daily Trust, the source said:
“They will be airlifted by NAF C130 and Air Peace. 80 passengers in C130 and Air Peace 274 passengers.
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“Checking in has commenced following normal airport protocols. Boarding is ongoing.”
It was further gathered all 350 evacuees are expected to touch down in Abuja around 4:30 pm.
In another development, it was confirmed that 20 other Nigerian nationals who made it to Egypt were returned to the border as they could not catch a flight coming to Nigeria.
Before they were returned to the border, Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt, Nura Abba Rimi, said:
“TeamCairo has successfully moved our students from the Sudanese side to the Egyptian side of the Arqeel border.
“Priority was given to female students in the orderly movement of the 449 students across the border.
“The students are now being prepared for their departure to Abuja through Aswan Airport.”
NiDCOM boss, Abike Dabiri reacts
Meanwhile, the CEO of Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that the first batch of evacuees would proceed to movement.
She said:
“Air Peace has landed. So, in a couple of hours, we should be receiving the first batch.
“The students are now being prepared for their departure to Abuja through Aswan Airport."
As reported by Channels TV online, parents of the 350 evacuees and officials of the federal government will be at the airport to receive them.
Sudan Crisis: FG reacts to spending $1.2m to evacuate Nigerians, gives strong reason
In another development, a report that the Nigerian government spent $1.2m for buses to evacuate at least 2,400 stranded Nigerians out of Sudan had sparked an uproar.
Following the controversy, FG explained that the huge sum was negotiated in a condition of war where there are competing demands for the same services.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Rhoda Iliya, cautioned Nigerians against unverified information being circulated on social media.
Source: Legit.ng
