Victor Ezeja
Chairman of Air Peace, Barr Allen Onyema, has said his airline is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the crisis-hit Sudan free of charge.
The Air Peace chairman noted that the Nigerians stranded in the conflict-ridden Northeast African country, urgently need help.
He said his airline is willing to go immediately and evacuate them if the government can move them to a safe neighbouring country, adding that everything must not be left for the government to alone.
He added that such gesture would give the affected citizens a sense of pride in their country.
Onyema said: “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.
“Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighbouring countries bordering Sudan.
“Everything must not be left to the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.
“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.”
Continuing, he said: “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.”
In 2019, Air Peace deployed flights to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa when xenophobic attack against Africans living in that country threatened the lives of Nigerians.
Nigerians, especially students stranded in the country have been lamenting as the conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the paramilitary rages on. It has led to death of over 400, while many have been injured.
The Nigerian government has been contemplating options to adopt in rescuing the citizens as no flight operation is going on in the war-torn country currently.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday disclosed plans to use buses to evacuate the Nigerians there to Cairo in Egypt.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
