FGN successfully evacuates 2,518 Nigerians from Sudan crisis
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has successfully repatriated the last batch of Nigerians fleeing the crisis in Sudan.
A total of 2,518 Nigerians have been brought back to their home country, with the final group arriving at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 6:36 pm.
They were aboard a Tarco Aviation flight, consisting of 147 returnees. This was the second Tarco Aviation flight of the day, as an earlier flight brought back 125 evacuees.
Ambassador Janet Olisa, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development (FMHADMSD), jointly disclosed this information in a statement on Sunday.
They emphasized that the evacuation was carried out in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, ensuring that no Nigerian fleeing the crisis in Sudan was left behind.
According to the statement, the returnees were received at the airport by Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who represented the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development (FMHADMSD).
Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo is also the Chairman of the Situation Room on the Evacuation Exercise.
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The reception committee included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), along with other ministries, departments, and agencies involved in the evacuation exercise.
The joint statement further mentioned that this latest batch of returnees marked the conclusion of the emergency evacuation exercise organized for stranded Nigerians in Sudan.
However, the government stated that a mop-up exercise would be organized for any other Nigerians who may wish to return home in the future.
Here are the details of the various evacuation flights:
- 94 returnees from Aswan on May 3, 2023, via NAF C130.
- 274 returnees from Aswan on May 3, 2023, via Air Peace.
- 130 returnees from Port Sudan on May 5, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 131 returnees from Port Sudan on May 6, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 102 returnees from Port Sudan on May 7, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 410 returnees from Aswan on May 7, 2023, via Max Air.
- 322 returnees from Aswan on May 7, 2023, via Azman Air.
- 133 returnees from Port Sudan on May 8, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 127 returnees from Port Sudan on May 9, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 136 returnees from Port Sudan on May 10, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 128 returnees from Port Sudan on May 10, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 123 returnees from Port Sudan on May 11, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 136 returnees from Port Sudan on May 11, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 125 returnees from Port Sudan on May 13, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
- 147 returnees from Port Sudan on May 13, 2023, via Tarco Aviation.
This brought the total number of returnees to 2,518.
“In summary, 15 flights were deployed by the Federal Government to airlift a total number of 2,518 Nigerian nationals from Sudan. The Federal Government seizes this opportunity to commend and appreciate the efforts of all the personnel deployed towards the successful evacuation exercise.
“Special appreciation goes to the crew of the NAF C130, Officers and Airmen of 063 NAF Hospital, Personnel of the Nigerian Police Force & Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp Disaster Response Units, MOH Port Health Officers, Federal Airports Authority, Air Peace, Azman Airline, Max Air, Sudanese Tarco Aviation, Dangote Group of Companies, MTN, and the Media among other partners and stakeholders.
“The Federal Government is happy to announce that no Nigerian life was lost in the course of the evacuation exercise”, the statement concluded.
