The federal government has expressed readiness to evacuate by air all Nigerian students and other members of the Nigerian community stranded in Sudan owing to the ongoing conflict in the country.

The government disclosed this in a joint press statement by the permanent secretaries in the federal ministries of humanitarian affairs, Sani Gwarzo and foreign affairs, Janet Olisa.

“We are currently making plans to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens via air transport through the identified safe transit areas back home,” the statement said.

The federal government advised parents to caution their wards against taking dangerous routes.

“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,” the government said.

It added, “They can reach the embassy Officials on the following telephone numbers: +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, and 2349066663493.”

The government stressed that while “we expect their calls, we also advised them to guard against undertaking the treacherous journey to the borders on their own, in view of the dangers involved because some of these students are trying to find their way to contiguous borders of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia or Chad on their own.”

However, the Nigerian government expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

“We are working closely with agencies such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, National Emergency Management Agency, and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, as well as the Nigerian missions in countries bordering Sudan to ensure the success of this operation,“ the statement said. 

(NAN)