Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge as fierce fighting continues to rage in Khartoum, the Chairman of Nigeria’s largest domestic airline, Allen Onyema, has said.
Clashes broke out in the North-Eastern African nation on April 15 as rival factions of the military government of Sudan battled for control of the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.
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Amid the devasting war that has killed at least 400 people, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada among others have evacuated their citizens due to safety concerns. However, many Nigerians especially students are stranded in the war-racked nation and have faulted the inability of the Federal Government to come to their aid.
But in a statement on Monday, Onyema said the stranded Nigerians in Sudan need urgent assistance. He stated that Nigerians could be moved to a neighbouring country the airline would fly there and evacuate them, as Sudan’s airspace is closed from civil aviation flights.
“I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe,” he stated.
“Everything must not be left for the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.
“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 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.”