…15 flights deployed to evacuate 2,518 Nigerians
The Federal Government said it has brought back home the last batch of stranded Nigerians from Sudan. The last batch of returnees numbering 147 arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday, 13th May 2023 at 6:36 pm aboard Tarco Aviation.
This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD).
The returnees, according to the statement, were received at the airport by the representative of the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM who is the Chairman of the Situation Room on the Evacuation Exercise.
Also present was the representative of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior government officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI), and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) among other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies involved in the evacuation exercise.
The statement added that this last batch of returnees marked the end of the emergency evacuation exercise put in place for stranded Nigerians in Sudan, pointing out that a mop-up exercise will be organized for other Nigerians who may want to return home hereafter.
Recall that the airlifting of stranded Nigerians begins on May 3rd with the arrival of 94 returns via NAF C130 airplane and 274 returnees by Air Peace. This was followed by the airlifting of 102 returnees by Tarco Aviation, 410 returnees by Max Air, and 322 returnees by Azman Air on May 7, 2023. Tarco Aviation airlifted 795 returnees on the 10th, 11th, and 13th of May, 2023.
While appreciating the efforts of all personnel deployed towards the successful evacuation exercise, the Federal Government noted that a total of 15 flights were deployed by the Federal Government to airlift a total number of 2,518 Nigerian nationals from Sudan.
“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.”
