The first batch of Nigerians who fled the ongoing war in Sudan in April, have returned to the country.
The QUEST TIMES had reported that a total of 350 stranded Nigerians who had been evacuated from Khartoum, Sudan, arrived at Aswan airport, Egypt, on Wednesday.
AbdulRahman Balogun, a spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), stated that “80 passengers would be airlifted by NAF C130 and 274 passengers would be airlifted by Air Peace.
“Checking-in has commenced following normal airport protocols.
“Boarding is ongoing,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Nigerian Air Force plane, NAF C130, and an aircraft belonging to Air Peace, with capacity of 274 passengers, were scheduled to depart by 1pm Nigerian time, but did not.
The Egyptian authorities had insisted that all the evacuees must leave their soil at once.
The evacuees were said to have not been allowed into the Egyptian airport between last night and early hours of Wednesday.
Air Force spokesman, Ayodele Famuyiwa, later confirmed that the evacuees were home bound.
“I am pleased to inform you that the NAF C-130H aircraft that went to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan has departed Aswan and is expected to touch down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja by 2340hrs (11.40 pm) tonight.
“Anyone interested may wish to be at the airport to cover the event. Grateful,” he said in a statement.
The returnees complete forms handed to them by government officials pic.twitter.com/D6KSXVXZNh
— Channels Television (@channelstv) May 3, 2023
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), later tweeted a video of the returnees.
The Nigerians were airlifted on Wednesday evening and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, around 11:30pm.