Sudan crisis: Ensure no Nigerian is left behind or discriminated against, Atiku tells FG

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has told the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind or discriminated against in the evacuation process from Sudan.

Atiku said this while expressing happiness over the return of the first batch of the stranded Nigerians in Sudan who arrived in Abuja on Wednesday night.

Reacting to their arrival, Atiku warned that no Nigerian should be left behind or discriminated against based on ethnicity or religion.

“I’m elated at reports of the safe return of the first batch of Nigerians evacuated from Sudan,” the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.

“While welcoming home the evacuees, I wish to congratulate again, the management of Air Peace Airline, the Nigerian military, and other MDAs involved in this rescue of our compatriots stranded in Sudan.

“Our appreciation also goes to the Egyptian authorities for granting Nigerians safe passage after the initial setback through their territory.

“Furthermore, I will charge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all agencies concerned with the evacuation to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind or discriminated against based on ethnicity or religion.

“It is the obligation of every responsible government to come to the aid of its citizens in periods of emergencies such as we are having with Nigerians stranded in the crisis in Sudan.”

The 376 returnees were airlifted by the Nigerian Air Force on the NAF C-130H aircraft and Air Peace from Aswan, Egypt, on Wednesday.

They landed in the country’s Federal Capital Territory at 11:35 p.m., against the 11:23 p.m. scheduled for a touchdown at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport.

According to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, Air Peace conveyed 282 evacuees, and NAF conveyed 96 evacuees.