Nigeria’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development have expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.
In a joint statement by the two Ministers, Geoffrey Onyema and Sadiya Umar Farouq, they empathized 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 Ministers noted with concern how some of the students are trying to find their way to borders of either Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia or Chad on their own.
In line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Humanitarian and all its agencies comprising the Humanitarian Ministry and all its relevant agencies, are working 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 Organisations such as International Organization for Migration, IOM to immediately evacuate the 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.
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 Ministers emphasised 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.
They can reach the Embassy Officials on the following telephone numbers, +2348035866773,
+249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, +2349066663493.
Confidence Okwuchi
