..as FG explained why smaller planes are used for evacuation
The Federal Government on Saturday explained that only smaller planes can evacuate stranded Nigerians in Port Sudan for now.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management of Social Development, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, stated this after receiving the third batch of 131 evacuees from Port Sudan in Abuja.
The Tarco airline plane B737-300 that conveyed the third batch of returnees touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport at 1.45 pm on Saturday.
Sani-Gwarzo said efforts are still on to get permits from the Sudanese government and other neighbouring countries so as to send bigger planes.
Speaking at the reception for the evacuees, Sani-Gwarzo also gave the assurance that more planes will be going to Sudan.
The first batch of 376 evacuees arrived Nigeria from Egypt on Wednesday night.
The second batch of 130 evacuees arrived in the country from Port Sudan on Friday.
The Spokesperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdulrahman Balogun, had said the Tarco aircraft took off at 7.20am Sudanese local time from Port Sudan with 132 Nigerian nationals; 124 adults and eight infants.
Balogun also disclosed that “the seven hours flight is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 1.30-2pm.
“The plane is to have a one hour stop over at Juba, South Sudan.”
The Punch
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