BARELY five hours after News Point Nigeria had exclusively reported that, the Federal Government had written to the Embassy of Nigeria in Sudan requesting for its 200-seater buses to evacuate 3500 trapped Nigerian students to Cairo tomorrow (Tuesday).
In a letter exclusively obtained by News Point Nigeria, signed by the Charge D’ Affairs, Haruna Yusuf Garko, dated 23rd April, 2023, with reference number: NEKM/POL/03/III, the government had stated that the buses will convey the students out of the North African country by 6am Tuesday.
An Embassy official, who spoke to News Point Nigeria on condition on anonymity Monday morning on this development said, there are about 7 of such buses available, therefore an estimated figure of 1,400 students will leave for Cairo Tuesday morning.
Confirming the story on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Monday, hours after the publication of the story by this newspaper, the Director, Special Duties, Onimode Bandele, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said, it is true the Federal government has written to the embassy requesting for these buses.
“It is true that there are plans to get buses to start moving tomorrow morning. And as I speak to you, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Habib, is already in Cairo because that is the window that we are looking at.”
According to him, the movement is to be perfected between the Nigerian embassy in Khartoum and the NEMA director general.
Asked how many Nigerians to be removed from the troubled North African country, Bandele stated that evacuation of a few thousand citizens are in the works.
“Our projection was that most students and others who want to evacuate are about 5,000. But with my discussion with the ambassador this morning, the plan is for about 2,650-2,800 to move immediately, including families of embassy staff.
“As these plans continue, we’ll be able to update you with the actual figure and the exact time of departure from Khartoum to Cairo,” he said.
Recall, last Friday, News Point Nigeria had also reported that, the Federal Government will begin the evacuation of trapped Nigerians in Sudan next week (this week) as the crisis in the country continues to deepen.
A senior official at the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) told News Point Nigeria exclusively that, the agency has had several meetings with the Embassy Of Sudan and all the relevant authorities within and outside the country over the unfortunate plight of Nigerians in Sudan.
The source added that all arrangements have been concluded towards the evacuation of all Nigerians in Sudan, the only setback is, all airports and means of transportation into the country are closed.
“We secured an approval for the evacuation of our people a while ago, we have met with all the relevant authorities and week have concluded all arrangements, the only setback is the airports and borders of Sudan are closed.