Nigerian evacuees from crisis-ridden Sudan barring any hitches are expected to touch down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja by 11:40pm on Wednesday.
They had a delayed flight as they were not allowed to board for hours as the Egyptian authorities denied the prospective passengers clearance to board as the numbers of passengers were far over the capacity of the flight.
Information made available to journalists on the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)‘s Sudan Situation Room stated that: “There was hours of delays in boarding as the number of passengers did not match the capacity of the plane. The
Egypt authorities insisted no one will leave if the numbers are more than what the aircrafts can take.”
The situation was however addressed after some time as the luggage were taken from the NAF aircraft into Air Peace cargo to create more space for passengers.
The information on the Situation Room read: “Took hours to address but now sorted, and the flight have airlifted the evacuees.”
According to a source the Nigerians have been airlifted from Aswan airport in Egypt in Nigerian Air Force plane, NAF C130, and an aircraft belonging to Air Peace, with capacity of 274 passengers, were earlier scheduled to depart by 1pm Nigerian time did not work out.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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