ABUJA, Nigeria — After days of struggling to escape intensifying conflict in Sudan, the first group of Nigerians stranded in the war-torn country finally arrived in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Nigerian authorities have initiated an evacuation plan, aiming to rescue more than 3,500 nationals, although the total number of Nigerians in Sudan is believed to exceed 5,000.
Two flights, one operated by Nigerian commercial carrier Air Peace and another by the Nigerian Air Force, arrived in Abuja late Wednesday night.
The Air Peace flight carried 260 passengers, while the Nigerian Air Force plane brought 94 passengers to safety.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), emphasised the urgency of the situation.
“If four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. Most importantly, we hope those over there come back speedily,” Dabiri-Erewa said while awaiting the arrival of the two aircraft from Egypt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed the challenges presented by Egyptian authorities, who insist that the aircraft sent from Nigeria must have the capacity to accommodate all the evacuees. She added that another 3,000 stranded Nigerians are expected to return home soon.
“At the 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,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She expressed relief that no lives were lost in the ongoing evacuation process and highlighted the priority given to students, women, and children.
