The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has evacuated a total of 2,518 students from the war-torn Sudan, but their placement in Nigerian tertiary schools remains uncertain. According to the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, it is beyond the jurisdiction of the agency to secure placements for the returnee students.
The evacuation process began on April 15 when the crisis broke out in Sudan. NEMA successfully evacuated all those willing to come home, and the 15th flight marked the conclusion of the evacuation of the stranded students that indicated intention and were profiled for airlift back home.
Ahmed revealed that out of the 23 sick evacuees, 10 were treated on arrival, while 13 were referred to the 108 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja. Among the sick evacuees was an eight-day-old baby who was delivered while the mother was awaiting airlift from Port Sudan. The baby is currently being treated for jaundice at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, while a patient with a hand injury is being treated at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Ahmed expressed gratitude that no life of any Nigerian was lost during the crisis so far and during the evacuation. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the evacuation operation, and the ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and Foreign Affairs for their support towards the success of the operations.
However, Ahmed clarified that NEMA’s job ends at bringing the students home safely and successfully. The fate of the Nigerian students who were brought home and their school programme lies with the Ministry of Education and other government parastatals, who would be saddled with that responsibility.
Meanwhile, 160 women and children claiming to be Nigerians were left behind in Sudan as they don’t have any passport to prove that they are from Nigeria. However, the government is processing their claims, and if there is proof that they are Nigerians, they will be evacuated.
NEMA successfully evacuated the students from Sudan, the fate of their education remains uncertain, and the responsibility lies with the Ministry of Education and other government parastatals.