Air Peace has announced its willingness to evacuate Nigerian citizens who are stranded and wish to leave war-torn Sudan without charging any fees.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Mr. Allen Onyema, the chairman of Air Peace, expressed concern for Nigerian students and others who are currently stranded in the crisis-ridden country, emphasizing that they urgently require assistance.
However, Onyema noted that Air Peace would only be able to evacuate the stranded Nigerians if they could be moved to a neighboring country. This would enable the airline to fly to that country and safely evacuate them since Sudan’s airspace is currently closed to civil aviation flights.
Onyema explained that he felt compelled to provide help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose its citizens in Sudan. He pledged to ensure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.
He also highlighted the urgency of the situation, stressing that the government cannot be solely responsible for rescuing the stranded citizens.
He said: “Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if the government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighbouring countries bordering Sudan. Everything must not be left to the government and the government alone. It will be a privilege and honour of tremendous pride that we will be out there to give every Nigerian stranded in Sudan a sense of pride and oneness in their country.
“We are very ready to do it immediately. No time wasting. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace and unity, we are for it. Again, we have no apologies for believing in our nation and loving the nation despite certain national challenges. If they are moved to Kenya or Uganda or any other country, we will move in to get them out. Some parents have started calling on us to help. We are ready to do this again and again.”
What you should know
In 2019, Air Peace deployed flights to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa during the xenophobic attacks that endangered many Nigerians in the country.
Reports reveal that more than 4,000 Nigerians, including students, are currently stranded in Sudan as a result of the war that erupted in the country two weeks ago.
