Sudan: FG Begs For More Four Aircrafts To Bring Back Stranded Nigerians

The Federal Government said it required four more aircrafts to be able to bring into the country all the stranded Nigerians in Suda.

On Wednesday, the first group of trapped Nigerians in Sudan were brough back to  Abuja, after days of attempts to return home from the crisis ridden Sudan.

Federal government are explaining that their initial plan was to cover over 3,500 nationals, adding that their total number could be greater, as more than 5,000 Nigerians are believed to reside in Sudan, many of them students.

 Air Peace dropped at capital Abuja around 11:40p.m. Wednesday, with 260 passengers, while a Nigerian Air Force plane arrived a few minutes later with about 94 passengers.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is suggesting that with four aircraft moving at once, every Nigerian stranded in Sudan would be brought home.

She stressed that if four airplanes caould move at once, everyone would definitely arrive, adding that another 3,000 stranded Nigerians were expected to return home.

Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that Egypt officials are insisting that the airplanes sent from Nigeria must be able to take the number of Nigerians available, otherwise they would not be allowed to evacuate anyone.

“If four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. Most importantly, we hope those over there come back speedily.

“We are expecting that with the arrangements made by NEMA, it is going to be more planes because Egypt makes it difficult.

“Egypt says if the number of people you brought is let’s say 200 and the aircraft can only take 150, then nobody will leave.

“They want you to pick the number of people that you are bringing into their borders.

“At the Port Sudan, we are trying to get tickets because it is even more difficult to get 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.

“At least, they are coming back home and we are glad no life was lost and priority was given to students, women and children. So, let’s just set our eyes on that,” she said.

Expaning thekir ordeals in Sudan, Nigerians that returned last night said they surferred in the war torn countries.

According to returnee female student,  they faced humiliation and slept in the open.

“We spent all the money we had. We were so hungry and thirsty. They were harassing us sexually. There was no food, no water to drink. It got to a point we picked things from shops and ran away,” she said.