After days of attempting to flee the ongoing conflict, the first group of several Nigerians trapped in Sudan landed in Abuja on Wednesday.
Yesterday around 11:40 p.m., 260 passengers from the Nigerian commercial airliner Air Peace arrived in Abuja, while 94 passengers from a Nigerian Air Force plane arrived a short time later.
According to NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, if four aircraft can take off at once, every Nigerian stuck in Sudan will be sent home.
She made this statement last night while waiting for the two Egyptian planes to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
She said that if four airplanes could take off simultaneously, everyone would undoubtedly arrive, and she added that another 3,000 stranded Nigerians were anticipated to go.
Officials in Egypt are urging, according to Dabiri-Erewa, that in order to be able to evacuate anyone, the planes dispatched from Nigeria must be able to hold as many Nigerians as are available.
She said: “If four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. Most importantly, we hope those over there come back speedily.
“We are expecting that with the arrangements made by NEMA, it is going to be more planes because Egypt makes it difficult.
Egypt says if the number of people you brought is let’s say 200 and the aircraft can only take 150, then nobody will leave.
“They want you to pick the number of people that you are bringing into their borders.
“At the Port Sudan, we are trying to get tickets because it is even more difficult to get flight to Port Sudan but they have an airline.
“So they are processing them now to get them tickets and then they come back home. And if other airlines get the landing permit, they will quickly go to help evacuate them.
“At least, they are coming back home and we are glad no life was lost and priority was given to students, women and children. So, let’s just set our eyes on that,” she said.
