By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
Nigeria’s Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the on-going evacuation from the internal conflict in Sudan, evacuated the fifth batch (eighth flight) of 132 stranded Nigerian citizens.
Information obtained from nema.gov.ng said that the returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 9:15am on Monday.
NEMA said that the returnees included men, women, children and infants among them was a three weeks old baby.
They were airlifted via Tarco Aviation from Port Sudan.
On behalf of the Federal Government, the returnees were received at the Hajj Terminal of the Abuja Airport by a team of senior civil servants led by the Director, Special Duties NEMA Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele.
NEMA said that also present were the Head of Consular and Migration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, NCFRMI, NiDCOM, NAPTIP
After clearance by the Nigerian Immigration Service, the returnees were served with meals and given tokens to assist them travel to their various locations.
A philanthropic organization, Dangote Foundation distributed to the returned token worth N100,000 for cashing at bank and dignity kits for each of them.
Furthermore, telecom giant, MTN gifted each of them with sim cards with N25,000 worth airtime and 2GB data.
Also at the reception, the returnees sang the Nigerian National Anthem as they were excited over the Federal Government’s concerns and their successful airlifting back home to safety in dignity.
