The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has successfully evacuated a total of 2,518 students from war-torn Sudan, according to the director-general of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed. The evacuation process started on April 15, 2023, when the crisis broke out in Sudan, and concluded on Saturday.
Despite the successful evacuation, the fate of the students in getting placement in Nigerian tertiary schools is beyond the jurisdiction of the agency, said the NEMA boss. While briefing journalists in Abuja on the evacuation process, Ahmed also stated that NEMA’s job stops at bringing the students home safely and successfully.
Out of the 2,518 students, 23 sick evacuees were received, and 10 were treated on arrival by officials of NEMA, Port Health and other medical personnel within the airport, while 13 were referred to the 108 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja. Among these is an eight-day old baby who was delivered while the mother was awaiting airlift from Port Sudan. The baby is currently being treated for jaundice at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, while a patient with a hand injury is being treated at Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
According to Ahmed, the evacuation process has come to an end after the federal government has successfully evacuated all those willing to come home. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya UMar Farouq, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama, and other ministries for their support towards the success of the operations.
However, the fate of the Nigerian students who were brought home and their school programme remains unclear as the responsibility falls under the Ministry of Education and other government parastatals. Meanwhile, 160 women and children claiming to be Nigerians but left behind in Sudan are being processed by the government. If there is proof that they are Nigerians, they will be evacuated.
In conclusion, the Nigerian government has successfully evacuated 2,518 students from war-torn Sudan, and while their placement in Nigerian tertiary schools remains uncertain, NEMA’s job was to bring them home safely. The government is processing the claims of 160 women and children claiming to be Nigerians left behind in Sudan.
