The Federal Government on Saturday evacuated
474 Nigerians from the crisis-ridden Central
African Republic.
The evacuees, mainly women and children,
arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja at about 5.30pm.
Our correspondent gathered that three flights
were sent by the Federal Government to ferry
down the citizens from the troubled nation.
Arik Air had two flights while one was by the
Nigerian Air Force.
A total of 199 persons joined Arik’s first flight,
168 came with the second, while the NAF flight
evacuated 107 Nigerians.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to CAR, Prince Roland
Omowa, told journalists at NAIA that the
evacuation became vital following the prolonged
crisis in the Central African nation.
He said, “We had hoped that the crisis in CAR
would calm down but it did not and this made
many Nigerians rush to the Nigerian Embassy.
“We had to contact the Federal Government and
requested for evacuation and since yesterday
the exercise has been going on.”
Omara stated that no casualty had been
recorded since the commencement of the
evacuation process.
The Director-General, National Emergency
Management Agency, Mr. Sani Sidi, said the
evacuees would be sent to their respective
states through their state emergency
management agencies.
Before Saturday’s evacuation exercise, a total of
365 persons were flown into Abuja from CAR on
the preceding day.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of
foreign Affairs, Dr. Martins Uhomoibhi, and
officials of NEMA were on ground to receive the
returnees.
Uhomoibhi stated that over 2000 people were to
be repatriated from the troubled country.
Copyright PUNCH.

www.punchng.com/news/474-nigerians-arrive-from-bangui/

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