••• GOVT TO SPEND $1.2 MILLION ON BUSES
The Federal Government has said that the evacuation of stranded Nigerians from war ravaged Sudan has commenced through sea.
There are over 3,500 students who are stranded in Sudan since war broke out on April 15, 2023 between forces loyal to Sudan’s Army Chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zuberu Dada, told State House Correspondents that the Federal Government has already commenced evacuation of some stranded Nigerians through sea.
He said that the evacuation via sea was by the Saudi Arabian Government.
According to him, the evacuation taking place from the Port of Sudan was a joint operation involving friendly nations like Saudi Arabia.
“Let me also add that some Nigerians have actually been evacuated by ship, I guess from Port Sudan, by the government of Saudi Arabia. Don’t forget, this is a joint effort.
“We have friendly nations that are ready to assist, you know, so that we’re having to record that the Saudi authorities have been able to, pick up some Nigerians, they’re transporting them by ship, I guess to Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah in particular.
“From where, of course, again, we’ll link up and find a way of bringing them back from Jeddah those that succeed in going to Jeddah.”
Meanwhile the Federal has assured that no Nigerian has been killed in the worsening conflict.
Dada said that the Federal Government has reached an agreement with the Sudanese authorities to ensure safe evacuation of Nigerians from the troubled country.
“The evacuation is being done in batches to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. But the good news is that no Nigerian life has been lost so far. I think it’s important to stress that all Nigerians are very safe.
“And we’re very confident and hopeful that we shall not lose any Nigerian life Insha Allah shall in this exercise. All is well and we’re good to go.”
He said that the Federal Government was making intensified efforts to evacuate the stranded Nigerians during an agreed 72-hour window, for the purpose of evacuation.
He stated also that the Federal Government has made arrangement for security for Nigerians who are to be transported to the Egyptian border to safety.
Dada added that the government has also arranged for security support and transportation for the Nigerians to the Egyptian border.
“We have no problem about the 72 hour window. Because we’ve talked to all the authorities concerned and we’re on the same page. But talking about the window, we are making every effort to ensure that we make use of this window to evaluate as many Nigerians as we possibly can.
Speaking also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, said that preferences would not be given to diplomats in the process of evacuation.
Onyeama also said women and children will be given priority in the evacuation operation.
He stated also that the government is spending $1.2 million dollars for 40 buses for the operation.
“$1.2 million is what we’re being charged for all the 40 buses. We have huge transporter luxury buses made available to us to transport to the Egyptian border. Of course you know, because of the risks involved and so many other things, a lot of people are going to also take advantage, you’re going to hike up the price. We saw that the French convoy was attacked and so forth. It was difficult procuring these buses. But we had to do it because you know, Nigerian lives matters for us.”
“Our diplomats are there to coordinate. So obviously, they cannot be evacuated before the students and others. They have to be there to coordinate, maintain contact with the Sudanese authorities, ensure that there’s security being assured for the convoy for the journey, and and keeping in touch, as the Honorable Minister of State mentioned with other friendly countries with whom we are coordinating. So their presence is very important.”
“Now as regards the gender question. I think that’s obviously something we will have to look into in a bit more detail, but I think ordinarily, it will be appropriate that women and children should be given priority I think that goes without saying.”
