By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The first batch of Nigerians who fled the war in Sudan has returned to the country late on the night of Wednesday, 3 May, 2023.
The Nigerians, who were airlifted on yesterday evening, Wednesday, 3 May, 2023, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, around 11:30pm, and each of them, according to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Farouk, would get the sum of N100,000 to enable them settle in.
Farouk in company of Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and the Director General of the National Management Emergency Agency (NEMA), Ahmed Mustapha, welcomed them back to the country.
Due to the closure of Sudanese Airspace, the Federal Government made arrangement for them to be conveyed to Egypt by road from where they were to connect flights back home.
However, there was a major setback when the Egyptian authorities denied them access over documentation issues.
The logjam continued for days until the Nigerian intelligence network struck a deal with its Egyptian counterpart.
There are at least three million Nigerians in Sudan, according to Dabiri-Erewa, who promised that the Federal Government would rescue as many citizens as possible.
It was gathered that Azman and Max Air planes are currently on their way to Egypt for more evacuation.
