As fighting intensifies in Sudan and the airports out of commission, the federal government has opted to evacuate Nigerians living in that Northeast African country by road.
Onyeama disclosed this yesterday in an interview on Channels Television programme, Sunday Politics.
Recall that fighting between forces loyal to Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), erupted since April 15, leaving behind charred tanks, gutted buildings and looted shops.
According to AFP, more than 420 people have been killed and thousands wounded amid fears of wider turmoil and a humanitarian disaster in one of the world’s poorest nations.
Addressing the issue of trapped Nigerians in Sudan, Onyeama said over 50000 were ready for evacuation.
“We have been given the cost estimate and all the details. They gave us a figure of 5,500 who are ready for evacuation. Obviously, what you need in a situation like this is a place where everybody can congregate before you start moving them out. The only viable way out is by road.
“But of course, it is not totally safe; so you are going to require the government to provide some security and a safe corridor out,” he said.
The minister further stated that the Nigerian situation “is particularly challenging because the numbers are so great.
“Some countries like the US and European countries have started evacuating.
“But what they’ve been evacuating were actually their diplomatic staff. They haven’t been able to start evacuating their citizens there. We can’t evacuate all our diplomatic staff at the moment because they need to also coordinate the evacuation of all those students that we’re talking about,” he added.
He said the evacuation would start “in the next few days” when “we would have gotten approval from the Sudanese government to start moving our people out.”
He also said he had been in touch with the Nigerian ambassador in Egypt “because Egypt is a country that is particularly close to Sudan to also help to facilitate for this corridor and also a reception when they arrive there.”
He dismissed claims that the federal government was not showing enough concern about the plight of Nigerians in the troubled country.
“Nobody anticipated the Sudan crisis will escalate,” he said.
Besides, Onyeama said agencies of government were working to get relief to those stranded.
“All the agencies of government are working together, including NEMA, and they are being contacted to find out what their needs are before evacuation and how to get it through to them,” he added.
Meanwhile, stranded Nigerian students in strife-torn country have announced their planned evacuation to Ethiopia.
This was announced yesterday in a statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sudan chapter.
The association asked its members to converge at three locations in Gadarif, the capital of the state of Al Qadarif in Sudan, before evacuation to neighbouring Ethiopia.
The association fixed the departure time for 1pm and transport cost $100.
“This is to inform all Nigerian students to gather at any of these three locations to proceed with the evacuation to Gadarif, then to Ethiopia. 1. Ifriqiyyah University 2. NANSS Office or 3. El-Razi University.
“Those who don’t have the funds should contact either their school or state president. Come along with your passport, original/photocopy or school ID card.
“Those that don’t have their passport at hand should also contact their state or school president,” NANS said.
Earlier yesterday, the Nigerian embassy in Khartoum asked Nigerian students in to remain indoors while it continued arrangements for their safe evacuation from the troubled country.
A statement from the embassy, signed by H. Y. Garko for the Charge D’ Affairs, advised the students to disregard the notice circulated by the NANS in Sudan, calling on students to converge at the African International University, NANS office and El-Razi University, or to bring $100 or $200 for evacuation.
Meanwhile, a former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa and Venezuela, Mr. Martins Cobham, has called on the Nigerian government to expedite action in evacuating stranded Nigerians from the troubled country.
Cobham said there are many Nigerians in Sudan, adding that some of them have lived there for many years and may not be willing to return home.
He advised the federal government to take a record of those willing to be evacuated and begin the process of rescuing them immediately.
He said the government could approach other countries for help if it is finding it difficult to effectively carry out the exercise.
