In continuation of the ongoing process of evacuating Nigerians from war torn Sudan, 130 Nigerians, including 128 women and two men, Friday afternoon, arrived Abuja from Port Sudan.
The the second batch of the returnees arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja on board B737-300 aircraft belonging to TARCO Airlines, by 3:45pm.
Upon arrival, the evacuees were received by top government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Habib Mustapha, officials of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants
and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), among others.
Addressing journalists at the airport, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said that one of the stranded Nigerians gave birth in Sudan, but that she’s in good health and will be evacuated as soon as her child is strong enough to make the flight.
He reiterated that Nigerians must not rely on mischievous and misleading posts on social media as the Federal Government is working round the clock to ensure that all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are evacuated.
“I am pleased to inform you that all Nigerians have been evacuated from the Egyptian border. We’re now operating from Port Sudan. More Nigerians are expected to be evacuated in the next few hours. In the flight today, 128 women with little children and two men were evacuated. We give priority to women.
“I will show you pictures and videos of the food we feed them. This will enable you filter the information you see on social media. All the stranded Nigerians have been evacuated from Khartoum. More will be airlifted in the next few hours we remain committed to ensure no one is left behind.”
Also speaking, the DG of NEMA, Habib Mustapha, said that the evacuees are already mentally distressed and should not be objects of ridicule on social media.
