Abike Dabiri-Erewa with Nigerians fleeing Sudan as they arrived Abuja

‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja

 

DAILY COURIER – The First set of Nigerian evacuees from Sudan have arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

 

After over a week of assurances by the Federal Government, the Nigerian evacuees were finally airlifted home, escaping the deadly conflict in Sudan.

 

The Air Peace flight carrying over 270 Nigerian students from the Aswan Airport in Egypt has landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

 

The NAF C-130H jet also conveying about 80 persons also touched down moments later.

 

Since April 15, Sudan has been plunged into armed conflict with clashes between rival factions of the North African nation’s military government breaking out in western Sudan, in the capital city of Khartoum, and in the Darfur region.

 

Hundreds have since been killed while thousands of others have suffered injuries.

 

While recieving the evacuees at the Airport, the Director migration, National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally Displaced Displaced Persons, Mrs. Catherine Udida said 94 evacuees were flown in by the naval plane C130, while Air peace had evacuated 282 people.

 

The Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said it was a huge relief to receive the returnees, bearing in mind what they went through in Sudan.

 

Radio Nigeria correspondent Chinasa Ossai who kept vigil at the Airport reports that thr Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Director General of NEMA Mustapha Habib, security officials as well as some family members were at the General Aviation Ternimal of the airport to receive the returnees.

 

Farouq said the returnees would be given N100,000 each to enable them settle in, adding that a full press briefing on the issues surrounding the evacuation had been scheduled for later on Thursday.

 

The NEMA boss also noted that four aircraft were expected to arrive on Thursday, adding that they would convey almost 400 persons. According to him, Azman Air has joined Air Peace in the evacuation effort.