A total of 147 Nigerians evacuated from Sudan on board Tarco Aviation that was airlifted from Port Sudan and arrived at the pilgrim’s wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Saturday at 6:35 pm. 7 of them being infants.
The airlift, being the 15th flight in the exercise carried out by NEMA with relevant stakeholders in line with its mandates to evacuate Nigerians in danger from abroad back home in safety and dignity. This brings the total of the returnees to 2,518.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Dr Nasiru Sani Gwarzo welcomed the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government. He said the flight this evening marked the end of Student’s evacuation from Sudan as those profiled have been fully airlifted back from both Port Sudan and Aswan in Egypt. Though, he also said that this may not be the last of the evacuation as opportunities are still open for any Nigerian in Sudan that wants to leave because of the arms conflict in that country to report to the Nigerian Mission there for further consideration to be airlifted back to Nigeria.
He commended NEMA and other agencies involved in the evacuation for being committed to the operation.
The Permanent Secretary was joined in receiving the returnees by Director Special Duties NEMA Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele who represented the Director General NEMA, representatives of NCFRMI, NiDCOM, NSCDC, Port Health, and NAPTIP, while the Nigerian Immigration Service cleared the returnees. Dangote Foundation was also present in presenting tokens of support and dignity kits to them.
