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Nigerian students evacuated from Sudan will not arrive in Nigeria as the government announced earlier on Friday, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively learn.
Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) who were not authorized to speak to the media told this newspaper that the evacuees would not return due to logistical and diplomatic issues.
According to the ministry source, “As of 07:00 on April 28, 2023, nine buses have arrived at the Arkin border with Sudan, and four buses have also arrived at the Wadi Halfa border. They are awaiting permission to cross from the Sudanese end to Egypt.
“Wadi Halfa border is accepted for our people, and this was reported to our Mission in Khartoum. However, as some drivers chose to go to another border post (about 200 km) away from the approved entry point, we have created another team to go there and help them.’
The source added that there are thousands of people at the borders and as a result there will be delays for Nigerians to enter Egypt.
In a similar tone, the NiDCOM source stated that there are no “serious” diplomatic issues at the border and the Nigerian Embassy in Egypt is trying to get diplomatic cover for the students.
“Egypt seems to want students to be profiled,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.
In another development, NiDCOM in a statement signed by Gabriel Odu said over 7,000 people fleeing Sudan, including Nigerians, have been denied access to Egypt since their arrival late Thursday.
According to the statement, the head of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on those involved in the movement and movement of people and services across the borders adjacent to Sudan to create a humane condition to allow unhindered access.
“He added that the Nigerian mission in Egypt has been working tirelessly because the Egyptian authorities are applying for visas for their fellow Africans to return to their countries,” Mr. Odu said.
None of the sources could say for sure when the challenges would be resolved and when Nigerians would return to their country.
ALSO READ: Sudan: First batch of 1,600 Nigerian refugees arrive in Nigeria on Friday – NEMA
However, the agencies involved expressed readiness to airlift the Nigerian refugees immediately after their arrival in Sudan.
NiDCOM and NEMA had announced at different times that about 1,600 Nigerian evacuees from Sudan were expected in Abuja on Friday.
Officially, the evacuation that began on Wednesday includes about 5,500 Nigerian students who are expected to arrive from Sudan.
According to NEMA, 13 buses took the first batch of evacuees from Khartoum in Sudan to Egypt and from there they will be taken to Nigeria.
Nigeria has contracted a total of 40 buses for the evacuation.
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