The first batch of 376 Nigerian students trapped in war-torn Sudan has arrived in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Nigerian students arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 11:25 pm through the Air Peace Plane and the Nigeria Airforce Jet with the number NAF C-130.
The first batch of students was evacuated from the Aswan border of Egypt.
According to Nigerian authorities, the evacuation plan covers more than 3,500 nationals, but their total number could be greater.
More than 5,000 Nigerians are believed to reside in Sudan, many of them students.
The visibly happy returnees were recieved by the foreign ministry and emergency services.
The fighting in Sudan has killed at least 550 people, displaced tens of thousands and triggered an exodus of foreigners and international staff.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the Director General of NEMA, among others, were on hand to receive the returnees.
Speaking shortly after their arrival, Farouq 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 various destinations with ease.
Also speaking, the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammad Yusuf said the situation in his country would soon be under control.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, said that four more flights carrying Nigerians from Sudan are expected in Nigeria on Thursday.
“The situation in Sudan is real and terrible but we pray for peace to return to that country. I’m happy our people have started coming back.
“We’re expecting about four flights tomorrow – three from Port Sudan and one from Aswan. So it’s a process that has started and the tempo will keep on increasing,” he said.
