BARELY 24 hours after News Point Nigeria had exclusively reported that the Federal Government will begin the evacuation of trapped Nigerians in Sudan next week as the crisis in the country continues to deepen.
A senior official at the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) had exclusively told News Point Nigeria 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.
“We secured an approval for the evacuation of our people a while ago, we have met with all the relevant authorities and we have concluded all arrangements, the only setback is the airports and borders of Sudan are closed.
“There is a development though, there has been an agreement between the conflicting authorities and AU, and UN to provide a window for the evacuation of nationals. So hopefully, by next week will begin massive evacuation of our people in Sudan.”
Confirming this story, in a press statement on Saturday, the Head, Press Unit, NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel said, it has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies while seeking for an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner soon.
According to him, a committee has been set up comprising of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neigboring Sudan.
The statement read:
UPDATE ON SITUATION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS IN SUDAN
The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is drawn to the widespread public concern on the situation in Sudan especially in regards to the ongoing conflict and the safety as well as well-being of stranded Nigerian citizens including hundreds of students in various universities of the country.
It has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies while seeking for an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner soon.
The current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between waring factions going on and all airports and land boarders closed. NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.
A committee has been set up comprising of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neigboring Sudan.
The Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed has assured that NEMA is very much concerned and on top of the situation and is working on all possible options of bringing the stranded Nigerians back home to their loved ones in safe and dignified manner.
Manzo Ezekiel
Head, Press Unit, NEMA.
22nd April, 2023.
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