Stranded Nigerians
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Another batch of Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan have returned to Nigeria.

The 131 evacuees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja at about 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.

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This was contained in a tweet on the Twitter account of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Saturday.

The evacuees comprise 124 adults and seven infants.

“Another batch of Evacuees: 131 Nigerian nationals (Evacuees) 124 Adults, 7 Infants that departed Port Sudan International Airport landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at 1:45 pm via Tarco Airline B737-300 Aircraft today Saturday, 6th May, 2023,” NiDCOM tweeted.

Receiving the returnees, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, said psycho-social support would be given to all the returnees.

READ ALSO: Sudan: Reps probe Egypt’s refusal to grant access to stranded Nigerians

“NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Ministry of Health, and the Dangote Foundation have put in place a robust plan to look at the psycho-social support related to the stress they have faced so that it will not persist.

“This will be a service that will extend into the weeks ahead and I can tell you that the committee saddled with this responsibility are happy with how far we have gone,” he said.

Gwarzo added that more Nigerians were being profiled in Port Sudan and the Egyptian border for onward evacuation to the country.

He said the Federal Government is committed to evacuating everyone, students, and non-students in the next few days.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, disclosed that two aircraft were already on the ground at Aswan Airport in Egypt to evacuate more Nigerians.

“Our people are already on their way to the airport; so hopefully, they will take off tomorrow morning and by tomorrow afternoon, we will be back to receive a large batch of almost 800 students.

“At Port Sudan, TARCO Airline is going back to pick more returnees, even as Air Peace Airline would be evacuating more returnees from that same point,” he said.

On her part, the NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said another batch of stranded Nigerians would return to the country on Sunday.

“One thing is certain that no one will be left behind, but it is unfortunate that some people put some tribal colouration to this issue.

“The mission wanted the process to be orderly and priority was given to women and children, but it is important to note that no one will be left behind,” Dabiri-Erewa stressed.

She further called on the evacuees yet to be airlifted to be patient, saying all necessary procedures were being put in place to ensure their safe return.

Speaking, Deen Shittu, a returnee and a 400-level medical student at the Al-Fajir College of Science and Technology in Khartoum, Sudan, expressed happiness for their safe return.

“What we faced was a very bad experience, I can say that war is not an option and I do not pray we face that in Nigeria.

“It was difficult to eat, I also drank water that was bad which I know would hurt me health-wise, but there was nothing I could do.

“But I hope to go back when peace returns to the country to complete my education because I do not know where to start.

“Though if I get a university in Nigeria that would accept me in the same level and the same course, I would remain here,” he said.

The returnees were given N100,000 each donated by the Dangote Foundation, MTN SIM cards with recharge cards and data, school bags, food, and drinks upon arrival at the airport.

The Star

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