The CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has expressed willingness to evacuate the 4,000 Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan free of charge.
Onyema, in a statement released recently, said the Nigerian students and others urgently needed help.
He stated further that if the Nigerians could be moved to a neigbouring country, the airline would fly there and evacuate them since Sudan’s airspace is closed from civil aviation flights.
Onyema said he is compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country, adding that it would be his own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.
According to the chairman of the airline, everything must not be left for government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.
His words: “Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighbouring countries bordering Sudan. Everything must not be left for government and government alone.
“It will be a privilege and honour of tremendous pride that we will be out there to give every Nigerian stranded in Sudan a sense of pride and oneness in their country.
“We are very ready to do it immediately. No time wasting. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace and unity, we are for it.
“Again, we have no apologies for believing in our nation and loving the nation despite certain national challenges. If they are moved to Kenya or Uganda or any other country, we will move in to get them out.
“Some parents have started calling on us to help. We are ready to do this again and again”.
Onyema made the statement after the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, reiterated the Agency’s resolve to repatriate all the stranded Nigerians back into the country in a dignified manner.
Mr. Ahmed gave the assurance via a statement on the ‘Update on the situation of Nigerian Citizens in Sudan’, issued by NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Mr. Ezekiel Manzo.
He, however, said the current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between waring factions going on and all airports and land boarders closed.
“NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.”
“A committee has been set up comprising of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neighbouring Sudan.”
