Sudan crisis: FG to evacuate 5,500 Nigerians by road
…mulls evacuation through Egyptian border, Port Sudan, Ethiopian border.
…Nigerians stranded in Sudan giving us sleepless night – Presidency
…Remain calm, in-doors, we are working for your safety – FG tells Nigerian students
The Presidency has said it is worried over the fate of thousands of Nigerian citizens stranded in Sudan amidst crisis worsened by dangers posed to air travel in the North African Country.
About 4,000 Nigerians are listed to be trapped as a result of the fighting 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).
Reports have it that hundreds have been killed since the fight broke out between the forces of the two rival generals in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
The Presidency on Sunday said that the worries have posed to it challenges of “sleepless night” over the safety of Nigerians stuck in the Country.
It, however, disclosed that relevant officials are doing a lot, coordinating with the Embassy in Khartoum, the Sudanese and Ethiopian Governments in trying to ensure the safety of the large number of Nigerian citizens there.
Speaking on the incident via his Twitter handle, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu on Sunday said, “Nigerian government has been having sleepless nights following the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
“Our officials are doing a lot, coordinating with the Embassy in Khartoum, the Sudanese and Ethiopian governments trying to ensure the safety of the large number of our citizens there.
“Minister Geoffrey Onyeama who is coordinating these efforts is optimistic that they will start moving people to safety as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government (FG) has disclosed about 5,500 stranded students and other Nigerians in Sudan will be evacuated by road.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who gave the disclosure known on Sunday as update on the development after one week of war between Sudanese army and the paramilitary, said that his Ministry has been briefed that an estimated 5,500 Nigerian citizens, which include students, workers and others are ready for the evacuation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ Programme, the Minister, disclosed that the evacuation plan to use road travels became an option following the attack on the flight of the French rescue team in Sudan.
“We have been given the cost estimate and all the details. They gave us a figure of 5,500 who are ready for evacuation. Obviously, what you need in a situation like this is a place where everybody can congregate before you start moving them out.
“Because the airports, as you pointed out in your report, is out of commission. The only viable way out is by road. Of course, it’s totally safe. So, we want to require the government to provide some security and a safe corridor out.
“Our situation is particularly challenging because the numbers are so great. Some of the countries like the US and European countries have started evacuating. But what they’ve been evacuating were actually their diplomatic staff.
“They haven’t been able to start evacuating their citizens there. We can’t evacuate all our diplomatic staff at the moment because they need to also coordinate the evacuation of all those students that we’re talking about,” Onyeama said.
Adding that his Ministry is taking careful steps not to endanger the lives of stranded Nigerians by soliciting security protection from the Sudanese authorities, the Minister before the Nigerian Government were three options to accomplish the rescue mission through the Egyptian border, Port Sudan, and the Ethiopian border.
“So, essentially, where we are at the moment is trying to get the authorisation from the Sudanese Government to undertake this long journey and for them to provide some security.
“Now, we don’t want to take any risk or risk the lives of any Nigerian, because from what we saw yesterday, for instance, how the French in trying to evacuate their citizens came under fire. We don’t want to expose our brothers and sisters to that danger as well.
“We are doing everything we can to get the requisite approval for the Sudanese government at the very highest level. I was in touch today with somebody in the Office of the President and made a formal request to have a safe corridor to evacuate our people. And they confirmed that they had received it and they would be giving us attention.
“The three options available to us include the Egyptian border, Port Sudan and Ethiopian border,” he said.
The conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force, has claimed over 400 lives with about 3,500 injured.
The clashes have also displaced thousands of civilians who fled the capital, Khartoum, as the violence, which started on April 8, entered its 15th day on Sunday.
Until recently, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary group, headed by General Mohamed Dagalo, were allies.
They worked together in 2019 in a popular uprising that overthrew Sudan’s brutal Dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the Country for three decades.
…Remain calm, in-doors, we are working for your safety — FG tells Nigerian students
However, the Federal Government on Sunday gave a message of calm to Nigerian students in Sudan, directing them to remain indoors while it makes efforts for their safe evacuation from the crisis engulfed Country.
This was contained in a statement from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Khartoum, signed by H.Y Garko for Charge D’ Affairs on Sunday.
It advised the students to disregard the notice circulated by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Sudan, calling on students to converge at the African International University, NANS office and El-Razi University, for evacuation or to bring $100 or $200 for evacuation.
“As the Embassy had earlier informed students, you are therefore requested to stay calm and remain indoors while the embassy is working on final approval to commence evacuation,” it said.
According to the FG, it was still dangerous to embark on a journey toward the borders of Sudan without security clearance and guarantee from the Sudanese authorities.
“The Embassy wishes to reassure the Nigerian students that their safety and wellbeing is of priority concern,” it added.
