Nigerians fleeing war-torn Sudan can now return home after days of being stranded at the Egyptian border with the country, thanks to the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, an Airforce plane has already arrived in Aswan, Egypt, to start the process of evacuating the first set of Nigerians.
“UPDATE: With the intervention of President Buhari, Egypt has finally opened its border to Nigerians fleeing Sudan. With an Airforce plane already on the ground in Aswan, Egypt, the processing of the first set of evacuees will begin,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
The Nigerian students had been stranded at the Egyptian border for three days, with the Egyptian authorities insisting on clearing all 637 Nigerians before they could be allowed entry into their country. Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, spoke about the situation on Sunday, expressing his concern over the delay.
“The Egyptian authorities have not opened its border with Sudan for the students three days after their arrival. They have insisted on clearing all the 637 Nigerians before they could be allowed entry into their country,” Onyeama said.
The Nigerian government had planned to move the students to Port Sudan for evacuation if the Egyptian authorities continued to delay.
However, with the border now reopened, Nigerians in Sudan can return home amid the ongoing crisis in the country. This news comes as a relief to those who have been stranded and are eager to reunite with their families.
