Uyai-Abasi Etido
About 834 Nigerians who were stranded in insurrection at the Sudan/Egypt border have been evacuated by the Federal Government and brought back to Nigeria.
According to a press release jointly signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo and the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (MFA), Amb. Janet Olisa, OON, the 834 Nigerians are the fourth batch of the evacuees received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja on Sunday.
“Today’s batch of returnees airlifted from Aswan, Egypt is the last batch of Nigerians evacuees from the Algeen and Wadi Halfa border between Sudan and Egypt.
“Thus, having evacuated all the stranded Nigerians at the Sudan/Egypt border, all efforts will now be channeled to Port Sudan where about 1,400 Nigerians are evacuation…” the statement reads in part.
Sani-Gwarzo also stated that the total number of Nigerians evacuated and brought back to Nigeria from Egypt and Port Sudan in five days so far is 1,471.
Noting that The first batch, comprising 282 evacuees, arrived on Wednesday night from Egypt via an Air Peace flight.
The second batch, comprising 94 evacuees, arrived on Wednesday night from Egypt via CI30; while the third batch, comprising 130 evacuees, arrived on Friday from Port Sudan via Tarco Air.
The fourth batch, comprising 131 evacuees, arrived on Saturday from Port Sudan via Tarco Air; while the fifth, sixth and seventh batches of 876 evacuees arrived Sunday from Egypt and Port Sudan via Max Air (410 evacuees), Azman Air (324); and Tarco Air (102).
However, Sani-Gwarzo said that no Nigerian is left at the Egypt border, as all Nigerians at that point had been evacuated.
“I am very happy to announce that no single Nigerian is currently at the Egyptian border, we have completed the airlift from the Egyptian side.” Sani-Gwarzo said.
He noted that those in Port Sudan would all be evacuated in a few days.