The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed has said that the Agency is currently seeking the best approach to evacuate all the stranded Nigerians back into the country .
Ahmed made this known in a statement on Saturday through Mr Ezekiel Manzo, NEMA’s Head of Press Unit on the ‘Update on the situation of Nigerian Citizens in Sudan’
He said that the Agency in collaboration with other bodies are searching for the best option to evacuate citizens in the war torn East African country.
The statement added that a committee of experts in search and rescue mission and others has been set up to evaluate the crisis and proffer the best tips for safe evacuation of Nigerians.
“The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is drawn to the widespread public concern on the situation in Sudan especially in regards to the ongoing conflict and the safety as well as well-being of stranded Nigerian citizens including hundreds of students in various universities of the country.
“It has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies while seeking an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner.
“The current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between waring factions going on and all airports and land boarders closed. NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.”
“A committee has been set up comprising of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neighbouring Sudan.
“The Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed has assured that NEMA is very much concerned and on top of the situation and is working on all possible options of bringing the stranded Nigerians back home to their loved ones in safe and dignified manner,” the statement added.
Over 300 persons are reported killed in the crisis which broke out last week in what is seen as Power struggle between two military factions, the Sudan Military and the Paramilitary wing in the country.
Each had claimed to be in control of critical facilities including the presidential palace and the International airport in Khartoum
Most countries were unable to evacuate their nationals yesterday as the situation appears to be dire. Reports indicate that the fighters burnt down aircrafts waiting to airlift stranded persons at the airport thus making evacuation impossible . However,a window of evacuation opened Saturday for a brief period before resumption of hostilities.
