The Nigerian Federal Government has welcomed a fresh batch of Nigerian nationals who had fled the violence-ridden Sudan.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this marks the second group of evacuees to arrive in Nigeria, just two days after the first batch returned via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had previously indicated that up to 3,000 more Nigerians were expected to return, and called for the deployment of four aircraft to ensure the safe evacuation of all those stranded in Sudan.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the Egyptian authorities have stipulated that Nigerian aircraft must be able to accommodate the full number of evacuees, failing which the evacuation process will not be allowed to proceed. She expressed hope for a swift resolution to the issue, with a focus on prioritizing the safe return of students, women, and children.
Dabiri-Erewa said, “If four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. Most importantly, we hope those over there come back speedily.
“We are expecting that with the arrangements made by NEMA, it is going to be more planes because Egypt makes it difficult.
“Egypt says if the number of people you brought is let’s say 200 and the aircraft can only take 150, then nobody will leave.
At Port Sudan, we are trying to get tickets because it is even more difficult to get a flight to Port Sudan but they have an airline.
“So they are processing them now to get them tickets and then they come back home. And if other airlines get the landing permit, they will quickly go to help evacuate them.
At least, they are coming back home and we are glad no life was lost and priority was given to students, women and children. So, let’s just set our eyes on that.”
