The Federal Government has disclosed why it decided to give students evacuated from Sudan N100,000 each.
The government said the N100,000 stipend given to the evacuees was to ameliorate the effect of the trauma they went through, make them settle and find their feet in Nigeria as they were coming from a war-ravaged enclave.
Speaking on Friday While addressing the evacuees, Dr Sani Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, explained that the money was a life-saving support for the people coming from a distressing situation.
Gwarzo said, “Some of you may have encountered difficulties, or all of you, but it will soon be over; you will be reunited with your families, and the trauma will be over.
“So, we welcome you back home, and we look forward to peace returning not only in Sudan but in the whole of Africa and the world at large,” he told NAN.
Also speaking, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said all Nigerians that needed evacuation had been evacuated to Port Sudan and Egypt and were waiting to be transported to Nigeria.
“We have about 800 evacuees at the Egyptian side, heading towards Aswan, as we already have aircraft on the ground.
“We have the Max Air with a capacity of 560 passengers and Azman Air with a capacity of 400 passengers. We have also activated Air Peace, and we are waiting for their feedback today.
“Air Peace would be taking two flights out of Port Sudan, while Taco Airline will continue with four flights as they promised us today.
“The only problem we had was diplomatic issues, which had been settled. As of now, all of them are safe in Port Sudan and [on the] Egyptian side,” he said.