Drivers, who were hired to evacuate Nigerian citizens, mostly students, from Sudan, have stopped the journey due to non-payment by the Nigerian Government. As a result, the students, who are fleeing unrest in the troubled country, are now stranded in the desert before getting to Egypt. The drivers of the luxury buses have refused to continue the journey until they are paid by the Nigerian Government. The students are in a dangerous situation and have no water or supplies.
The Nigerian Government had claimed it spent $1.2 million to deploy vehicles to evacuate its citizens from Sudan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, explained that the high cost of the evacuation was to provide security cover for the journey from Luxor to Cairo and the trip from Aswan to Cairo, Egypt. Talks are also ongoing about alternative plans for continued education, especially for the students among the evacuees.
The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, expressed confidence that no Nigerian being evacuated would die as the journey to leave Sudan begins. The government is leveraging on the 72-hour cease-fire window given by the Sudanese government to evacuate as many Nigerians as possible. Women and children will be given priority before diplomats who are also involved in the evacuation logistics.
The stranded students are in a dire situation and need immediate help. It is the responsibility of the Nigerian Government to ensure the safe evacuation of its citizens and to provide them with the necessary support during this difficult time. The government should urgently address the issue of non-payment to the drivers and ensure that the students are safely moved to Egypt and airlifted back to Nigeria.