Contrary to the Federal Government’s claim that thousands of Nigerian students who studied in war-torn Sudan were evacuated today, Master Abubakar Sadiq, a student at the Sudanese capital Khartoum University, said only 588 students were evacuated today.
More than 1,500 students are still in Sudan, Sadiq revealed in a live interview from Khartoum on Channels Television Politics Today, monitored by INFO DAILY on Thursday, April 27.
He added that the Nigerian students who remained in Sudan did not know when the Federal Government would come to their rescue.
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When asked what criteria was used to screen the first batch of 588 students, Sadiq said students were screened based on the state quota, but it was only for the first bus that picked up students, after which it was ‘survival for the fittest. ‘
His words: “About 588 students were evacuated today. I got that number because there were 45 students on board in one bus, and when you multiply that number by the total number of buses, you get that number.
“We still have more than 1,500 students in Khartoum, and we don’t know our fate because we have not received any information from the Nigerian embassy here.
READ ALSO: Sudan Conflict: Trapped Nigerian Students Yet To Take Off To Cairo
“The embassy has not contacted us so we don’t know what they are doing and what they plan to do. We don’t really know their plans for us.”
When asked about the future move of the students who remained in Sudan, Sadiq said that the students who remained in Khartoum decided to act by pooling money so that they could catch the next bus going to Egypt.
“We are putting heads together and donating money so that we can be transported to Egypt early in the morning tomorrow, where we will make our next plans,” he added.
Asked if the students evacuated from Khartoum were indeed stranded during the journey, Sadiq confirmed this, adding that the drivers were protesting against the Federal Government and that they had not yet been paid for the services.
READ ALSO: Sudan Crisis: FG Sends Message To Nigerian Students Trapped
“Yes, before leaving here they were angry and said that they were yet to be paid. That is why they seized the international passports of the evacuees with they promise to return them when (the drivers) are paid in full.”
He also complained that domestic inflation had become unbearable due to the crisis.
“Imagine a piece of Maggi currently sells for 50 Sudanese pounds, which is about 80 naira in Nigeria. I bought one so I speak from experience.
“Yesterday I bought the Coca -Cola bottle m at a price of 650 Sudanese pounds, and if this amount is converted to Nigeria it was about 1000 Naira. I bought one yesterday. This is the current market situation in Sudan. Prices for Sudanese produce have risen,” he lamented.