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Tag: Sudan

  • JAMB to integrate Nigerian students from Sudan into universities

    JAMB to integrate Nigerian students from Sudan into universities

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has promised to ensure that Nigerian students evacuated from war-torn Sudan are integrated into universities.

    The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known in Abuja when the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, visited the board.

    The visit was to to discuss modalities for integrating the affected students into the country’s tertiary institutions.

    Oloyede, who sympathised with the students, commended NIDCOM for the effective handling of their evacuation, promised that JAMB would provide the desired support to them.

    He advised the students not to tread the path of those who returned to the country over a year ago as a result of Ukraine’s war.

    The JAMB Registrar said the Ukraine returnees refused to comply with the stipulated procedures to continue their academic programmes in Nigeria.

    ”What we will do is that we will provide the necessary infrastructure, the necessary enablement to make you accommodate or return these students to our educational system,” Oloyede said.

    ”We must thank NIDCOM for making efforts that the students are brought into the Nigerian university system and we have given the Commission the process and procedure.

    “There are procedures (for transfer of students), the transcript, the rules and regulations.

    “Nobody should be under any illusion that Nigerian universities will award certificate with less than two years stay and residency in the university.

    ”The procedure is done legitimately and properly with the cooperation of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the individual institution.

    “The guideline from JAMB has already been handed over to the chairperson of the commission,” Oloyede added.

    He said that the students should follow the procedures for transfer to Nigerian universities.

    “For instance, if you are studying Medicine and you are in your 600 level, and if the Medical and Dental Council assesses what you have done; practical is okay, they will just move you to year 5, that is 500 level.

    ”You will do 500 level and 600 level, and you will have the certificate of the institution in Nigeria,” he explained.

    On her part, Dabiri-Erewa said 1,730 Nigerians had been evacuated from Sudan as of May 9, adding that majority of them were students eager to continue their education in Nigeria.

    She assured that the necessary procedures would be followed to integrate the affected students into Nigerian schools.

    ”The key thing is that there are processes to follow but they are not difficult processes and that is what we learnt from JAMB.

    “The institutions are already saying they want to give support, they want to admit them but the key thing is to follow the process as stipulated by JAMB.

    “All the information are in our website, process to follow, it should not be difficult to follow.

    ”The key thing is that JAMB has assured that it will provide the enabling environment and infrastructure.

    “If for instance a university admits you, after the admission, you need to get that letter from JAMB that says you have been admitted,” she said.

    The NIDCOM chairman added that information would be made available for the students so as not to make mistakes in getting things done.

    “I will also appeal to the students that there is a crisis, it is affecting them in one way or the other. How will this limit the impact or affect on them, whichever way, we must follow the process.

    “Most of them are hoping that the war will be over and they will go back, but what if it is not? What is the stop gap? That is why we are doing this with JAMB,” she said.

    One of the parents of the affected students, Asmau Yerima, commended NIDCOM and JAMB for ensuring that the students would not be abandoned at home doing nothing.

    “Our children are ready to go back to school, we don’t want to keep them at home and we don’t want them to be traumatised,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

  • Sudan crisis: 834 Nigerians arrive Abuja

    Sudan crisis: 834 Nigerians arrive Abuja

    A total of 834 Nigerians stranded in conflict-ridden Sudan, on Sunday arrived the pilgrims terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The airport terminal witnessed a large turnout of parents, as well as relatives of the returnees, welcoming them with happiness.

    Dr Sani Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, while receiving the returnees, said more stranded Nigerians would be back in the country in few days.

    He explained that three flights arrived the nation’s capital with a total of 834 returnees.

    “As of this morning, we received three flights, Azman Air brought in 322 persons, Max Air brought in 410 persons, while Tarco Airline from Port Sudan came in with 102 persons, making a total of 834,” he said.

    He said that the delay in the release of some of the returnees luggages in Wadi Halfa, in Sudan, had been settled and their luggages came in with them on their flights.

    He added that the sick ones among them had also been taken to the clinics for proper check-up, before releasing them to go to their respective homes.

    He added that a mop-up session had been put in place to bring back more stranded Nigerians in Sudan.

    “If you know any of your colleague that was left behind, kindly let us know,” he added.

    The returnees who were filled with joy, sang the national anthem in appreciation of the Federal Government’s efforts in bringing them back to the country.

    One of the returnees, Master Najeed Hassan, a medical student of Sudan International University, expressed appreciation to the government for their safe return.

    “I thank the Federal Government for taking care of our feeding over there and ensuring our safe return.

    “I, however, wish to return to Sudan once the war is over to complete my education, because I just have seven months to graduate,”  he said.

    Officials of the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, NEMA, NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Refugees Commission, Port Health officials, Police, among others, were all on ground to receive the returnees.

  • Sudan crisis: Another batch of evacuees expected today

    Sudan crisis: Another batch of evacuees expected today

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said another flight with a batch of evacuees is expected on Sunday, with conclusion ongoing on necessary clearance for take off.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM on Saturday.

    Balogun said this was part of the highlights of the inter-ministerial briefing on the return of the fourth batch of evacuees from Sudan at the Hajj Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    The 131 batch of evacuees comprised 123 adults and eight infants aboard Tarco Aircraft: B737-300 from Port Sudan International Airport, arrived at 2.35p.m in Abuja.

    Three of the evacuees, who sustained injuries, were moved to the hospital.

    One had an injury in the hand while another one had abdominal pain.

    All of them have been stabilised.

    The evacuees were, however, assured that no Nigerian would be left behind.

    Those who received them included Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman NiDCOM, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, and the Representative of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mustapha Habeeb.

    Others included Mr Mustapha Habib Ahmed, Director-General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Representative of Refugees Commissioner, Mrs Iman Ibrahim, and other stakeholders.

    They provided logistics support like Nigeria Immigration Service, Dangote Foundation, MTN, and Hajia Asmau Yerima Mohammed who represented the Association of Parents and Guardian of Students in Sudan.

    According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari gave the committee the necessary support to bring back any willing Nigerians.

    The committee also reiterated that there was no ethnic segregation as speculated in some quarters and it remained focussed in its mandate.

    Moreover, post trauma counselling and psycho social treatment was announced again.

    The post trauma counseling and psycho social treatment is planned by NiDCOM, with the Ministry of Health, and Refugees Commission in partnership with Aliko Dangote Foundation.

    In line with the traditional support laid down, each of the returnees were given N100,000 and a bag courtesy of Dangote Foundation while MTN supported with a SIM pack and call credit of N25,000, and 1.5 gigabytes of data.

    Both the NEMA and the Refugees Commission provided transportation and hotel accommodation for those of them whose families were not in Abuja, till they reunite with their respective families.

    The committee also assured them that there were plans to secure placement for them to continue with their education in their respective courses in Nigeria with the support of the Ministry of Education.

    Most of the students interviewed regretted the war situation in Sudan and thanked the Federal Government for coming promptly to their rescue.

    They also pleaded with the government to hasten the evacuation of their colleagues still trapped in Sudan.

  • FG has successfully evacuated all Nigerians stranded in Khartoum – Official

    FG has successfully evacuated all Nigerians stranded in Khartoum – Official

    The Federal Government on Friday said it successfully evacuated all Nigerians that were stranded in the crisis-ridden Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

    Dr Sani Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs disclosed this when he received the second batch of 130 evacuees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The evacuees arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the Airport at exactly 3:10 pm local time on Board TARCO Aircraft B373-300 from Port Sudan.

    ”I’m happy to announce that we have successfully removed everybody that needs to be removed out of Khartoum none of your colleagues today is in Khartoum, all of them have moved.

    ”You were the first batch to move out of Khartoum and sent to the Egyptian border, we still have a few of them, while some have already arrived in Nigeria.

    ”Though, majority of them will be arriving in the next eight hours or more, So by that time, no Nigerian would have been left in the Egyptian border” Gwarzo said.

    He said the second batch of the evacuees was airlifted from Port Sudan.

    ”But we have made adequate arrangements for everybody to be airlifted within the next few days.

    ”We have almost 1, 700 people over there and we have made adequate arrangements for flights to bring them back home.

    ”The good news is that no life has been lost” he said.

    Gwarzo said, among the 130 evacuees 2 are men while the rest are women and children.

    He assured the public that team will continue to prioritise women, children, and the ailing ones among them.

    ”We are going to continue to prioritise the return of women and children until every one of them is out” Gwarzo said.

    He, however, explained that the N100,000 stipend given to the evacuees was a life-saving support to the people coming from a distress situation.

    ”Some of you may have encountered difficulties or all of you, but it will soon be over you will be reunited with your families and the trauma will be over.

    ”So, we welcome you back home and we look forward to peace returning not only in Sudan but in the whole of Africa and the world at large” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said all Nigerians that needed evacuation had been evacuated to Port Sudan and Egypt waiting to be transported to Nigeria.

    “We have about 800 evacuees at the Egyptian side, heading towards Aswan, as we already have aircraft on the ground.

    “We have the Max Air with a capacity of 560 passengers and Azman Air with a capacity of 400 passengers, we have also activated Air Peace and we are waiting for their feedback today.

    “Air Peace would be taking two flights out of Port Sudan, while Taco Airline will continue with four flights as they promised us today.

    “The only problem we had was diplomatic issues which had been settled, as of now, all of them are safe in Port Sudan and Egyptian side,” he said.

    Speaking further, Mrs. Catherine Udoifa, Director, Migration Affairs, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said the commission would also be providing psycho-social support to the returnees.

    “We have started profiling of the students among them, we will do some referrals and liaise with the Ministry of Education to find placements for them in schools where necessary.

    “We have a team that will provide psychosocial support to all the students and follow up on them to ensure that they are properly settled in and able to leave a normal life,” he said.

    One of the returnees, Ms Sumaiya Yusuf, a student of Sudan International University, appreciated the federal government and all the agencies involved in their successful return.

    “The whole journey took us a week, going to the pick-up venues, waiting for the buses, staying in the sun, we were really tired.

    “However, we were not happy with the communication method of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan at some point because, we were stuck on the road to Port Sudan for like 24 hours, but I am happy to be back home,” she said.

  • Sudan crisis: 4 airlines decline to sign agreement with NAHCON

    Sudan crisis: 4 airlines decline to sign agreement with NAHCON

    Four Nigerian airlines on Thursday declined to sign an agreement with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to transport the 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

    The airlines are: Max Air with 16,326 allocation, Air Peace with 11,348, Azman Air with 8,660 and Aero Contractors with 7,833.

    However, only the Saudi Arabian designated airline Flynas that will transport 28,515 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia signed the agreement.

    Briefing newsmen at the venue of signing of the agreement at Hajj House in Abuja, the Chairman,  NAHCON, Zikrullah Hassan, said  that flynas would transport about 40 per cent of the Nigerian pilgrims.

    Hassan, however, said that the commission adjourned till Tuesday, May 9, to deliberate further with the Nigerian airlines that declined to sign the agreement.T

    He sad: “Their representatives did inform me that they will be coming to discuss with us, with their Chairmen or Chief Executives Officers where we intend to have more in-depth discussions before we come to agreement.

    “The reason why it is delayed is because of the Sudan crisis. We have been told that the Sudan airspace has been shutdown.

    ‘The airlines will have to go through another route which from all indications is longer than passing through Sudan.

    “We are hopeful that the Sudan conflict will abate and if it does, it means that we will go back to where we are.

    “We have planned our agreement prior to the Sudan crisis and we know that as we speak, there is a ceasefire in Sudan.”

    According to Hassan, although it is not however known how soon the crisis will end.

    “We will keep on working with the understanding that the the ceasefire will work and the crisis will come to an end so pilgrims from all over the world will able to transit through Sudan to Saudi Arabia,”he added.

    Earlier, the NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji-Hardawa, said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved a waiver of 65 per cent of all aviation related charges on the Nigerian airlines approved to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    This, according to him, is to cushion the effects of eventualities for the airlines.

    He said: “Nobody canvassed for that but as an organisation, we made the suggestion to the president and he graciously approved it.

    “Now the challenges of crisis in Sudan is confronting us and it is  threating the success of hajj operations.

    “The airlines are business entities and they are partners in this dispensation.

    “We want them to happily participate in the hajj operation and profitably.

    “We have seven airlines approved by Buhari for this year’s hajj. Two airlines are dedicated to the pilgrims under the Tour Operators.”

    According to Magaji-Hardawa, five airlines were for the 36 states and the FCT quota pilgrims.

    “Among the five, there is a Saudi accredited airline. They are here with us and they are under bilateral air service agreement.

    ” Therefore, their position is distinct in the agreement and different with the other Nigeria airlines.

    “We had a discussion with them and they are conscious of there diplomatic status, they listen and cooperated with us and they signed the transportation agreement,”he added.

    No fewer than 95,000 pilgrims from Nigeria are expected to perform this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

  • Sudan: Envoy narrates how Egypt let Nigerians go

    Sudan: Envoy narrates how Egypt let Nigerians go

    Ambassador Nura Rimi has narrated how Egypt allowed Nigerians fleeing hostilities in Sudan to be evacuated through the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Rimi, who the Ambassador of Nigeria to Egypt released the details in an interview on Thursday.

    He said Nigeria is being accorded top priority by the Egyptian government in the granting of evacuation approval for its citizens fleeing Sudan.

    Rimi disclosed that the feat was achieved because of the cordial relations between both countries.

    Recall that the sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, had left thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers, stranded in that country.

    Rimi said that many countries chose to evacuate their citizens through the southern part of Egypt because of their confidence in the government and the people of that country.

    Rimi added that foreign countries refused to use some of Egypt’s neighbours because of the instability in those countries.

    He explained that in offering assistance to the countries seeking evacuation approval, Egypt must first think of the security implication.

    ‘’It was not an easy decision as I said because security considerations were taken, but Nigerians were within the shortest possible time granted approval to be evacuated through Egypt.

    ‘’That’s why I kept saying those conditions and guidelines that were given were in good faith because Egypt has to preserve its own national security.

    ”If you look at the countries around Egypt, almost all of them are in one form of crisis or the other.

    ‘’So, it is always necessary for countries to safeguard their territorial integrity and to make sure that they guarantee their own security because if a country is not secured then nobody will want to leave in it.

    ”Even the citizens will run away and leave the country,’’ he told NAN.

    Rimi lauded the sincere efforts of the Egyptian government for the priority given in approving the use of its border to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

    ‘’I must thank President Abdulfattah el-Sisi for graciously accepting to opening the Egyptian borders to Nigeria.

    ”These borders were open first and foremost to Nigerians before any other nationality.

    ‘’I met my colleague ambassadors from other countries waiting and waiting for approvals to be able to bring in their citizens to be evacuated.

    ”Nigeria was, I believe, the first country to be given this approval and then other countries followed suit.

    ‘’I must also thank my friend, the ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria, Amb. Ihab, who not only facilitated the granting of this approval but also happened to be in Egypt at that time and worked hand in hand with me to make sure that this exercise succeeds,’’ he said.

    Rimi further said that the Nigerian embassy in Cairo liaised with its counterpart in Khartoum, Sudan, to arrange for the safe evacuation of citizens residing there.

    ‘’Colleagues in Khartoum were overwhelmed; so we helped by sending our staff of Sudanese origin from Cairo to go to Khartoum to assist them in evacuation,” he said.

    The envoy lauded the Nigerian community in Cairo for coming to the assistance of fellow citizens in dire need.

    ‘’Nigerians in Cairo assisted because they offered food, fruits and water to the victims.

    ”This shows the spirit of Nigerianness. It is a good gesture in the face of such emergency,” he said.

    He advised Nigerians living abroad to always be prepared in times of emergencies in order to make their passage easy.

    ‘’It is good to always have your traveling documents in places that are handy.

    ”I am sure the Sudan crisis did not start in one day. There was enough time for people to start making plans for leaving if it gets to an emergency,’’ he said.

    Rimi said that the embassy staff in Cairo offered the best service to its citizens and other government agencies involved in the evacuation process.

    ‘’We try our best within our available resources to give every citizen the best service delivery. And, so far things are going according to plans.

    ‘’The embassy facilitated the process but other agencies of government whose responsibility it is to arrange and execute the evacuation of Nigerians in war-torn countries and crisis situations were also involved, ” he said.

  • Sudanese ambassador, Yusuf appeals to Nigerian evacuees to return after the war

    Sudanese ambassador, Yusuf appeals to Nigerian evacuees to return after the war

    Muhammad Yusuf, the Sudanese ambassador to Nigeria, has appealed to Nigerian evacuees to return to the war-torn country after the crisis.

    The envoy made this known on Thursday after hundreds of citizens landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The first batch, about 376 evacuees, arrived via military jet C13. More are expected within the coming days.

    According to Yusuf, the evacuees should consider Sudan as their second country, saying that the situation in the country is already calming down.

    The ambassador also expressed optimism that the army will soon regain control of the whole territory.

    “I’m very happy to have these evacuees coming from Sudan safe, no life is lost. Nigerians are coming from their second country.

    “I hope that things will be controlled and safety will be back. You can come back and continue your studies, and businesses,” he said.

    Yusuf said although the government had proposed another truce, there would be no negotiations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

    The acceptance of the truce, he explained, is for only humanitarian purposes to enable people to get food, shelter, water, and medicine.

    Recall that many Nigerians were already caught up in the crisis in Sudan before the Nigerian government started making effort to evacuate them back to Nigeria.

  • Sudan evacuees receive N100,000, recharge cards, data

    Sudan evacuees receive N100,000, recharge cards, data

    Nigerian evacuees from Sudan have received the sum of N100,000 each upon their return to the country.

    The returnee from Sudan were given N25,000 worth of recharge cards and 1.5 Gigabytes of data in addition to the 100,000 naira given to them.

    Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, disclosed this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday morning.

    The Sudan returnees arrived in the country around 11:35 pm on Wednesday while more are still expected in the country.

    Farouq stated that the cash and other gifts given to the returnees were done to make them comfortable as they return to the country.

    She said, “Today, we are very happy to receive them. They have gone through a very traumatic period but we give thanks to Almighty Allah that all of them are back safely. No life was lost which is the most important thing. All the efforts put in place were not in vain. I thank every member of the Committee that has put all efforts to ensure that these people are brought back safely and with dignity. We thank the transport companies for their support.

    “There is N100,000 that would transport them back to their families which is supported by the Dangote Foundation by giving them the transportation fare as well as the dignity kits and also 25,000 recharge cards from MTN and 1.5 GB data courtesy of MTN. All efforts have been put in place and everyone has contributed to ensuring that at least these Nigerians have some comfort when they return home.”

    It was learned that the returnees were handed the N100,000 cash and the dignity kits at the airport after putting down their information.

    Giving the details on the returnees, she said a total of 376 persons arrived in the country from Eygpt.

    She said the Air Peace aircraft conveyed 282 persons while that of the Nigeria Air Force evacuated 94.

    Farouq said, “Today, we have received the first batch of the evacuees. The C130 aircraft of NAF brought about 94 of them while the Air Peace which I commend and appreciate the Chairman/CEO for the support and bringing back our nationals. They brought back about 282 Nigerians.

    “They will be in the hall and they will go through a process of profiling and after which they will go through the immigration and they will be given their dignity packs for them to get back to their respective destinations. Some of them, their family members are here to receive them while others would be under our care until they get to their families.

    She, however, warned against the consequences of war, urging Nigerians to pray for peace in the country.

    “War is not a good thing. People went to study and they became refugees all of a sudden. It is an international crisis and also a humanitarian crisis as people had no food, water, or where to go.

    “Nigerians should pray for peace and also not experience this kind of situation.”
  • PHOTOS: First batch of 376 stranded Nigerians in Sudan arrive in Abuja

    PHOTOS: First batch of 376 stranded Nigerians in Sudan arrive in Abuja

    The first batch of 376 Nigerian students trapped in war-torn Sudan has arrived in  Abuja.

    The students arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja
    at exactly 11:25pm via the Air Peace Plane and the Nigeria Airforce Jet with the number NAF C-130.

    The first batch of the students was evacuated from Aswan border of Egypt.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq; the Director General of NEMA; the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons were on hand to receive the returnees.

    Speaking shortly after their arrival, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management  announced the donation of a N100,000 stipend to each of the returnees courtesy of Dangote Foundation, while MTN Foundation doled out recharge cards worth N25,000 to each of the returnees.

    She said the N100,000 stipend donated by Dangote Foundation was for the returnees to use as transport fare to travel to their varous destinations with ease.

    The minister further said that MTN also donated 25GB of data to each of the evacuees.

    Also speaking, the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mohammad Yusuf,  said the situation in Sudan would soon be under control.

    Yusuf expressed happiness that Nigeria was able to evacuate its citizens safely.

    The envoy, who described Sudan as the second country to many Nigerians, said normalcy would be restored in the war-ravaged country soon.

    The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said that four more flights conveying Nigerians from Sudan are expected in Nigeria on Thursday.

    “The situation in Sudan is real and terrible but we pray peace returns to that country. I am happy our people have started coming back.

    “We are expecting about four flights tomorrow – three from Port Sudan and one from Aswan. So it is a process that has started and the tempo will keep on increasing.

    “This is something that nobody expected and so we had to swing into action immediately.

    “To get out of Sudan, we had to pay, to take our people to any other part, but we thank God that we are able to bring them back,” he said.

    He assured the returnees that the remaining evacuees waiting to be transported back home would soon arrive.

    Some of the evacuees who spoke to NAN expressed mixed feelings over the situation in Sudan.

    Mr Ibrahim Musa, a student who lived on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum said he was devastated when he first heard the sound of gunshots and grenade explosion.

    ”The first thing that came to my mind was to escape and I thank God this is where I am now – home,” he said.

    Another evacuee, Mrs Faith Stephen, a pregnant woman, said she would go back to Sudan once the situation in that country stabilised.

    Stephen said that she and her husband had invested so much in Sudan and were engaged in a thriving joint business.

  • Sudan: How Egyptian contacts helped perfect evacuation of Nigerians

    Sudan: How Egyptian contacts helped perfect evacuation of Nigerians

    Details have emerged on how the Nigerian security community used Egyptian contacts to perfect the evacuation of Nigerians escaping the war in Sudan.

    Following hostilities in Sudan, Nigerians in the Northeast African country had difficulties escaping from the hostilities. Nigerian officials involved in evacuating them faced difficulties as well.

    Eventually, the Nigerian government approved USD1.2 million to hire buses for the evacuation exercise. However, the fleeing Nigerians were denied entry into Egypt where they would be evacuated.

    Details emerged on Tuesday on how Nigeria secured a passage through the Egyptian borders for the citizens fleeing escalating hostilities in war-torn Sudan.

    Parts of the difficulties faced by the Nigerian officials include demand by Egyptian authorities for visas before entry, a situation which left thousands of Nigerian evacuees stranded at the border since last week Thursday.

    However, the situation turned positive on Sunday when the borders were flung open, with conditions, to Nigerians, following series of deft moves by top security and intelligence operatives in both countries, through some backdoor channels.

    According to reliable security sources, Egyptian authorities started admitting Nigerian evacuees on Monday after Nigerian security and intelligence community started deploying their contacts and connections with their Egyptian counterparts, to remove some of the hurdles that had frustrated Nigerian representatives’ efforts.

    A very highly placed source in the security community, who spoke under conditions of anonymity, told our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday that, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s instruction, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno, reached out to his Egyptian counterpart, Faiza Abou el-Naga, who pulled strings that have made the evacuation process smooth.

    Although the details of the arrangements were not made public, the source said “this initiative, which was broached and complimented by the Egyptian National Security Adviser (NSA), Faiza Abou el-Naga, and her Nigerian counterpart, General Monguno, has so far allowed a smooth movement across the border into Egypt.

    “Faiza told NSA Monguno that Nigeria’s request, which he submitted, had been graciously approved by President el-Sisi, who also sent his fraternal greetings to President Buhari. Consequently, the deployment of the NAF aircrafts and the one by Air Peace were to be allowed to proceed with evacuation plans.

    “Conditions required for the evacuation plans included details and schedules of the aircrafts, capacity of the aircrafts, strong pledge that once Nigerians depart the border, they would be conveyed to the designated airport, comprehensive list of the evacuees with passport numbers, valid travel documents, i.e passport or emergency travel certificate, and lastly, the presence of Nigerian government officials at the point of embarkation”, the source disclosed.

    It would be recalled that fighting broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

    The escalating conflict has claimed more than 400 lives, while another 3,500 persons have been reported injured.