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Confusion, protests in Khartoum as Nigerian officials handling evacuation of stranded citizens ‘flee Sudan’

April 28, 2023

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The fate of many Nigerians stranded in Sudan is hanging in the balance as a result of controversy involved in the evacuation process.

A source privy to the evacuation exercise told Daily Trust that the some Nigerians billed to be evacuated had been abandoned by the embassy officials, who allegedly joined their families to Cairo, capital of Egypt.

As a result of the shutting down of Sudanese airspace, flights meant to convey people leaving Sudan have been landing in Egypt and neighbouring countries.

The Federal Government had made arrangement for Sudan evacuees to be moved to Cairo by road from where they would join flights back home.

The evacuation process began after the warring factions in Sudan agreed to a three-day ceasefire.

Some Nigerians were stranded en route to Cario, but the issue was resolved following intervention of top government officials.

However, the Sudanese warring factions extended the ceasefire by three days, starting from Friday.

But the evacuation process could not continue as officials had reportedly fled Sudan.

This led to a protest at the venue of evacuation in Khartoum.

The protesters reportedly held one Ibrahim Abdallah, a bureau de change operator ransom, beating him mercilessly.

In addition to receiving a cash transfer meant to finance the journey, Abdallah was said to have been involved in bus provision.

In video and audio clips made available to Daily Trust, Abdallah was heard saying that the amount sent as deposit was $250,000 which has been exhausted.

He said the balance is yet to be sent, disclosing that about 25 buses billed to evacuate other stranded Nigerians have since withdrawn participation in the exercise and the officials were not responsive.

On Wednesday, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), had said there were at least three million Nigerians in the East African country, but the Federal Government would evacuate as many as it could.

Dabiri-Erewa did not respond to inquiry on the latest situation in Sudan as here phone line rang out and she did not reply a text message sent.

The Spokesperson for NIDCOM, Gabriel Odu, said he did not have the authority to comment on the issue and asked our correspondent to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for comment.

But a senior NEMA official, who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said it was not possible the officials abandoned the stranded Nigerians.

“NEMA DG is on the ground to oversee the evacuation. So it is not possible that the officials working under his supervision would flee when he is on the ground,” the source said.

Recall that the federal government had said, through Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, that it released a humonguous sum of $1.2m to hire 40 buses only to evacuate the stranded Nigerians only to bring 10 buses.

Not only that, there were video files being circulated of how the bus drivers stopped “in the middle of the desert” saying they would no longer proceed with the evacuation until they were paid.

The stranded persons said they had to handover their international passports as collateral to the dr8vers before they could proceed further with the journey.

The NIDCOM/NEMA officials equally resorted to all forms of subterfuge, including asking for the disclosure of State of origin before the stranded citizens could be selected to board the 10 buses.

Reports had disclosed that over 10,000 Nigerian nations are stranded in the strife stricken country.

meanwhile, the fate of those left behind could not be ascertained, no thanks to always resorting to corruption through implanting confusion by Nigerian government officials, encouraged by the syndicated pr9cesses and lack of willingness to probe and punish eventually.

Meanwhile, Chief Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, a private airline operator who volunteered to evacuate the stranded Nigerians for free, has complained of tardiness on the part of Nigerian officials in obtaining necessary clearance as demanded by the Egyptian government before Air Peace could be granted landing permit in the country. (Main report by Daily Trust)

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2027: NDC fixes October 20 for Campaign Council inauguration, Presentation of Certificates of Return

by Myke Uzendu

October 10, 2026

By Myke Uzendu, Abuja The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed October 20, 2026, for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates for the 2027 general elections and a strategic dinner for candidates contesting various elective positions. The party also disclosed that its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively, would participate in consultations to determine key appointments in the campaign council. National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, announced this on Saturday at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. He said the campaign council’s organisational structure and timetable had been ready since the end of August, but its inauguration was being delayed to allow Obi and Kwankwaso to conclude consultations and recommend nominees for strategic positions. According to him, the activities scheduled for October 20 would follow a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), where key decisions concerning preparations for the 2027 elections are expected to be considered and ratified. Cleopas said the delay did not indicate inactivity or internal division, explaining that the party was committed to establishing a properly constituted campaign structure capable of coordinating its nationwide electoral activities. He added that appointments would reflect national spread, competence, capacity and the ability of nominees to contribute meaningfully to the campaign. The NDC chairman disclosed that Obi and Kwankwaso were expected to recommend nominees for several strategic positions in the Presidential Campaign Council, including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller. The candidates are also expected to nominate two additional officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, will oversee the campaign council’s separate and dedicated bank account. Cleopas said the arrangement was intended to ensure that the presidential and vice-presidential candidates were actively involved in decisions affecting the organisation, financing and direction of their campaign. He maintained that the party leadership, the candidates and the National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, were united in their preparations for the 2027 elections. The chairman said the campaign council would be formally announced after the national leadership received the candidates’ nominations and recommendations. He argued that constituting the council without the active participation of the presidential candidate and his running mate would be inappropriate, given their central roles in the presidential contest. Cleopas also dismissed reports suggesting that the party was divided or struggling to organise itself ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the press conference was partly convened to address concerns raised by party members, supporters and Nigerians over the apparent delay in establishing the presidential campaign structure. The chairman maintained that the National Working Committee (NWC), NEC, National Leader and party structures at the state, local government and ward levels remained committed to the party’s candidates. He equally rejected suggestions that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the NDC presidential ticket. Questioning the basis of the allegation, Cleopas said it would have been easier for Dickson to join the APC than to undertake the more demanding process of establishing and registering a political party if his objective had been to work for the ruling party. He urged journalists to exercise caution in reporting political allegations and speculation, warning that misinformation could create unnecessary distrust and mislead the electorate. ...