The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said efforts to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan may have suffered set back with the burning of aircrafts in the country’s airport.
NIDCOM, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, made this known in a press statement tagged, NIDCOM: Update On Evacuation Of Nigerians in Sudan, Friday in Abuja.
The federal government had, Thursday, expressed concerns about the escalation of the conflict in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has brought death and untold suffering to civilians.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, in a press statement, said the non-adherence of the warring parties to numerous international calls for a ceasefire has worsened the plight of civilians and made it impossible to embark on their evacuation.
According to the ministry, it was in contact with the Sudanese authorities and has through the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, made an official request for permission to evacuate Nigerian students and other members of the Nigerian community who may wish to depart the country.
It further stated that the Nigerian Embassy had created WhatsApp and Telegram platforms for students and other Nigerians in Sudan for proper coordination and regular updates.
The federal government advised Nigerians in the country to remain indoors and contact the Embassy if the need arises on the following numbers: +234 90 765 0702; +234 803 698 1824; +249 90 132 5359; and +249 92 440 1217.
However, in a turn of events NIDCOM in the statement signed by Gabriel Odu disclosed that, “The Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, says 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.”
She disclosed that aircrafts at airport in the country were burnt Thursday morning, noting that humanitarian groups were seeking ways of getting food, water and medicals across to people.
The commission’s boss, therefore, appealed to the fighting parties to consider the Juba Peace Agreement enunciated by Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as fundamental mechanism for the restoration of peace and tranquility in the country.
