Sudan: FG Warns Stranded Nigeria Students, Others Not To Take To Egypt, Eretria, Ethiopia, Chad By Road On Their Own
Federal government has warned stranded Nigerian Students and other Nigerian community trapped in crisis-ridden Sudan not to try self help by trying to escape through Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Chad, describing such move as treacherous journey.
Federal government has warned stranded Nigerian Students and other Nigerain community trapped in crisis-ridden Sudan not to try self help by trying to escape through Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Chad, describing such move as treacherous journey.
According to Federal government, such routes are not safe while appealing to the parents to caution their wards to remain calm, while expressing concern over the deadly humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
This was contained in a statement by joint Ministers- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
They empathized with the civilian population in Sudan, including the Nigerian students, and other members of the Nigerian community, who were caught up in the on-going crisis between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
In a joint statement by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, MFA , Amb. Janet Olisa, and Permanent Secretary, and FMHADMSD, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, on Tuesday, in Abuja, said the ministries are working earnestly to the directives of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, on the troubled issue.
The ministers disclosed that the President had mandated all the humanitarian sector to closely work together with the ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately evacuate the students and other affected Nigerian citizens.
The Ministers urged parents to advise their wards on the plans of the federal government in ensuring their safety and evacuation.
They stated that concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, stressing that the students should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates.
The Minister released hotline numbers for the students to use it reach out to the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates.
According to the Ministers, the students and Nigerians trapped in the war zone can reach the Embassy officials on the following telephone numbers +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, +2349066663493.
The Ministers reiterated the dangers against undertaking the treacherous journey to the borders on their own, in view of the dangers involved adding that parents should guard against it and rather advised their wards to remain calm.
The Honourable Ministers reemphasised that concrete plans are underway, to deploy air transport soon to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home to Nigeria in safety and dignity.
The full statement reads:
"The Honourable Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development express concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan and empathize with the entire civilian population in the country, including the Nigerian students, and other members of the Nigerian community caught up in the on-going crisis between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
"The Honourable Ministers note with concern that some of these students are trying to find their way to contiguous borders of either Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia or Chad on their own.
"In line with the directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Humanitarian Sector comprising FMHADMSD, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) is working very closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian Missions in the countries bordering Sudan, as well as with other relevant stakeholders especially the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Armed Forces, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and International Humanitarian Organizations such as International Organization for Migration (1OM) to immediately evacuate these Students and other affected Nigerian citizens.
"The Ministers, therefore, urge parents to advise their wards that while concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, the students should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates.
"They can reach the Embassy Officials on the following telephone numbers, +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, +2349066663493.
"Furthermore, they are also advised to guard against undertaking the treacherous journey to the borders on their own, in view of the dangers involved.
"On this note, the Honourable Ministers emphasise that concrete plans are underway, to deploy, very shortly, air transport to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home to Nigeria in safety and dignity.
"Signed Amb. Janet Olisa Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary MFA
"Signed Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni, NPOM
Permanent Secretary FMHADMSD
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