Allen Onyema offers to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan

Air Peace Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said he is willing to evacuate Nigerian stranded in Sudan.

Onyema in a statement on Monday said that Nigerian students and others stranded in war-ravaged Sudan have urgent “needs for our help.”

“Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if the government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighboring countries bordering Sudan. Everything must not be left for the government and government alone,” Onyema said.

“It will be a privilege and honor 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.”

The conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force (RSF), has claimed over 400 lives with about 3,500 injured.

The clashes have also displaced thousands of civilians, who fled the capital, Khartoum, as the violence, which started on April 8, entered its 15th day on Sunday.

Nigeria and countries said they have initiated actions to evacuate their citizens to safety.

Onyema suggested that Nigerians could be moved to a neighboring country the airline would fly there and evacuate them, as Sudan’s airspace is closed from civil aviation flights.

He said that everything must not be left to the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.

“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,” Onyema said.

“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.”