FG Resumes Evacuation Of Nationals From Sudan, Pays Aggrieved Bus Drivers Who Stopped Abruptly In Saharan Desert

Posted by Samuel on Thu 27th Apr, 2023 - tori.ng

It had earlier been reported that a female student was heard in the video complaining that the drivers insisted that they would not leave the desert unless they were paid.

Nigerian students

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has provided some update on the evacuation of Nigerians from Sudan.

She stated that the buses sent to evacuate thousands of stranded Nigerian students and other nationals from warring Sudan have resumed their journey after the National Emergency Management Agency resolved payment issues with the drivers.

The chairman said this in response to a viral video on Twitter in which some students raised the alarm about the sudden stoppage of buses in the middle of the Sahara Desert by drivers who claimed they had not been paid by the Nigerian government.

“I have just spoken to @nemanigeria dg. He confirmed the buses have continued their Journey and said whatever issues have been resolved,” she said.

SaharaReporters earlier reported how a female student is heard in the video complaining that the drivers insisted that they would not leave the desert unless they were paid.

She said, “Before we started this journey, we had to go on several fightings. Can you even imagine, we are stuck in this desert for five hours. We don’t even know the situation we are. Our money has finished.

“Can you even imagine? The vehicle drivers said they are not moving their buses if they don’t give them money.”

This comes a day after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama said the Nigerian government would be spending $1.2 million to hire 40 luxurious buses to be used for the evacuation of Nigerians trapped in Sudan.