FG Says Plans Underway To Evacuate Nigerians Trapped In Sudan

The Nigerian government on Thursday, said plans are already underway to evacuate Nigerians in Sudan as the crisis in the country rages on.

The government’s move followed a plea by Nigerian students in the country, pleading that they should be evacuated from troubled Sudan.

Kanyi Daily reported that some civilian planes were last Saturday, set ablaze following the clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces continue.

According to reports, the Sudanese paramilitary forces claim to have seized the presidential palace and set the civilian aircraft ablaze in an apparent coup attempt.

The country is witnessing hostilities between two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In reaction to the request by the Nigerian students, the Federal Government through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says meetings are being held as to how best to handle the evacuation process.

A statement signed by NIDCOM spokesman, Gabriel Odu, said the Commission’s Chairman/CEO, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, says she has noted with concern the plight of Nigerian Students in Sudan over the escalation of hostilities.

The NIDCOM Boss further stated that the Commission has received the letter of SOLICITATION from the Sudan chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NAN), for the possible evacuation of students especially those in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

She assured that the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) which is in charge of emergency evacuations, is consulting with the Nigerian mission in Sudan and other relevant agencies.

Dabiri-Erewa urged all Nigerian Students in Sudan as well as Nigerians living in Sudan to be security conscious and calm.

In other news, Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and current Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu have been captured in a second viral video in which they were said to be visiting the former President of Guinea Conakry, Alpha Conde when the latter was still in power.