By Adedapo Adesanya
* Gets N100,000 cash
** MTN supports with recharge cards, data
The first batch of Nigerians fleeing the conflict in Sudan arrived at the country’s capital, Abuja, late on Wednesday, May 3, and received N100,000 cash each for transportation to their various homes.
The batch comprised 376 persons out of the 5,500 disclosed by the federal government as against the expected 2,600 announced by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms Sadiya Farouq, received the evacuees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, May 4.
Besides the N100,000 cash, the Minister disclosed that the returnees also got other gift items.
“No life was lost, which is the most important thing. All the efforts put in place were not in vain. I thank every member of the committee that has put all efforts into ensuring that these people are brought back safely and with dignity. We thank the transport companies for their support.
“There is N100,000 that would transport them back to their families, which is supported by the Dangote Foundation by giving them the transportation fare as well as the dignity kits and also 25,000 recharge cards from MTN and 1.5 GB data courtesy of MTN,” she said.
Ms Farouq added that these were part of efforts being put in place to ensure that the returnees settle in comfortably.
It was disclosed that two aircraft arrived at the airport from Egypt around 11:35 pm on Wednesday, bringing in a total of 376 Nigerians.
According to Ms Farouq, the Air Peace aircraft conveyed 282 persons while that of the Nigeria Air Force evacuated 94.
The evacuation process began on Wednesday, April 26, when stranded Nigerians embarked on the journey from Khartoum, the Sudan capital, to Egypt by road.
Sudan has been engulfed in a conflict for the past three weeks (April 15) as General Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the armed forces, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces that grew out of Darfur’s notorious Janjaweed militias, seek to seize control of Sudan.
The fighting, which began as the country attempted to transition to democracy, has killed hundreds of over 500 people and left millions trapped in urban areas, sheltering from gunfire, explosions and looters.
Modupe Gbadeyanka