KHARTOUM, Sudan – In an unfortunate twist of events, the evacuation of Nigerian students from war-torn Sudan has hit a major snag. Videos have emerged online showing buses, meant for the evacuation, stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert due to payment disputes with the drivers.
The video, obtained by The Trent, was initially posted on Twitter by a user named Dr. Ahmad Small, who reported that the drivers refused to continue the journey because they were not paid. The incident was further highlighted when it was shared by former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on his verified Twitter handle.
“The buses evacuating Nigerian students and non-students were stopped in the middle of the Sahara, and the drivers refused to continue the journey because they were not PAID,” Dr. Small tweeted, tagging various Nigerian government officials and entities in his post. “Students crying out in this video.”
The Buses evacuating Nigerian students and non-student
were stopped in the middle of the Sahara, and the drivers refused to continue the journey because they were not PAID. @abikedabiri @nemanigeria @FMHDSD @nidcom_gov @NigeriaMFAStudents crying out in this video pic.twitter.com/tbXSq1hUdY
— Dr. Ahmad Small (@dr_ahmadsmall) April 27, 2023
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had previously approved $1.2 million for the immediate evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Sudan. This budget included the hiring of 40 luxury buses to transport these individuals from Khartoum, Sudan, to Egypt, where they were to be airlifted back to Nigeria.
Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had indicated that the funds would cover the transportation costs. However, the current standstill in the Sahara suggests a grave discrepancy between the approved funds and the actual execution of the evacuation plan.
The video, which depicts anxious Nigerian students amid the vast desert landscape, has ignited a wave of concern and outrage on social media, pressuring the government to promptly resolve the issue and ensure the safe return of their citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on this unexpected hiccup in the evacuation process. As the night descends on the Sahara, the world watches and waits for the stranded Nigerians’ plight to be resolved.
