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Sudan: Evacuation Of Over 2,000 Nigerians Begins Today

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The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has confirmed plans to evacuate over 2,000 Nigerians in crisis-hit Sudan this morning.

This came on a day management of Air Peace expressed its willingness to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the Horn of Africa country free of charge.

This is even as Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also yesterday encouraged Nigerian students in the war-torn country to remain in their universities to avert danger.

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Recall that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, had in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday night, said the only option remaining for Nigerians to be evacuated out of Sudan was through land, as the airport in the capital, Khartoum, had been shut, adding that the federal government was working with the Egyptian authorities to make this possible but didn’t say when the evuacuation would commence.

But speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, the Director, Special Duties, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Onimode Bandele, said: “The truth is nobody has been evacuated yet. I just spoke to the ambassador, Olaniyan, in Khartoum a few minutes ago.

READ ALSO: Sudan Crisis: FG Sends Message To Nigerian Students Trapped

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“It is true that there are plans to get buses to start moving tomorrow morning (today). And as I speak to you, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Habib, is already in Cairo because that is the window we are looking at.”

According to him, the movement is to be perfected between the Nigerian embassy in Khartoum and the NEMA director-general.

On how many Nigerians to be evacuated from the troubled country, Bandele stated that evacuation of a few thousand citizens was in the works.

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Our projection was that most students and others who want to evacuate are about 5,000. But with my discussion with the ambassador this morning (yesterday), the plan is for about 2,650-2,800 to move immediately, including families of embassy staff.

“As these plans continue, we’ll be able to update you with the actual figure and the exact time of departure from Khartoum to Cairo,” he said.

READ ALSO: FG Uses Vehicles To Evacuate 5,500 Students, Others From Sudan As Crisis Worsen

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Air Peace seeks FG’s nod to evacuate Nigerians

Also yesterday, The management of Air Peace expressed its willingness to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge.

The airline noted that Nigerian students and others stranded in Sudan needed help and would receice same should the federal government give it the nod to conduct the airlift.

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It would be recalled that the airline in 2019, deployed flights to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa during the heat of the xenophobic attack against Africans living in that country.

Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who disclosed this, said Nigerians stranded in the crisis-ridden country could be moved to a neigbouring country where the airline could evacuate them.

“I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to make sure the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.

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READ ALSO: Sudan Crisis: NEMA Hints On Planned Evaluation Of Nigerians

“Everything must not be left for government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.

“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.

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“Everything must not be left for government alone. 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.

‘’Again, we have no apologies for believing in our nation and loving the nation, despite certain national challenges.

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READ ALSO: Why We Can’t Evacuate Nigerian Students In Sudan Now – FG

“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,’’ Onyema said.

Dabiri-Erewa urges Nigerian students to remain on campus

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Meanwhile, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, yesterday cautioned Nigerian students in Sudan to remain in their universities to avert danger.

Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television, said: “The issue of those students that gathered together, took a bus somewhere, here’s the thing: they’ve all had to go back to their universities because it was very risky of them.

“Just imagine in a war situation, you just see 20 buses moving without any permission from the military authorities, we’ll endanger the lives. So, that is why they’ve had to return.”

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The NIDCOM boss also cautioned against certain mobilisation efforts of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, involving the pooling of funds to facilitate the transportation of Nigerian students in the North African country away from their campuses.

“NANS, which I understand came up with this thing of ‘pay $100, come somewhere, the things is, move to where? So, there’s no point taking you from one danger to another danger.

READ ALSO: Sudanese Power Struggle Erupts Into Violence

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“There were some people that were leaving, that actually had to turn back because they would have been killed. So, now, they’ve returned to their various campuses,” she said.

She explained that the Nigerian mission had informed the students of a point of connection where buses would convey them.

The most likely places, according to her, would be some borders in Egypt from where the students would be transported home by air.

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Dabiri-Erewa argued that there had been “tremendous progress”, noting that every Nigerian student now had a point of contact.

She added: “Buses will take them to a location. We’re looking at places in Egypt – Luxor and some other place there.

‘’So, really, there’s been tremendous progress, Mr President has given his nod immediately this happened, so there’s a lot.’’

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More countries, including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan and Korea, among others, deployed aircraft to Djibouti where they had started evacuating their citizens back home. Those trapped had earlier been airlifted to Djibouti.
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Edo deputy gov warns MOWAA Against encroachment

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Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has warned management of Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) to adhere strictly to laid-down demarcation between the museum and the Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH).

Idahosa, who gave the warning when he visited the site on Thursday, expressed displeasure over MOWAA’s alleged encroachment on ESH land despite earlier directives.

The deputy governor stressed that governor Monday Okpebholo had mandated him to ensure compliance with the demarcation lines.

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“Governor Okpebholo asked me to advise and also warn the MOWAA management to stick to the demarcation lines between the ESH and the MOWAA institution,” the deputy governor said.

READ ALSO: Idahosa Hails Insurance 1-0 Thrashing Of Niger Tornadoes

During the visit, Idahosa supervised the demolition of parts of the obsolete tuberculosis building at the hospital and monitored debris clearance to facilitate the hospital’s expansion project.

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Recounting earlier efforts, he said: “Few weeks ago, we were here to give demarcation on the boundary between MOWAA and the ESH.Apparently, the MOWAA management decided to encroach on the land given to ESH.

“We came to let them know that the Edo State Government is firm on it, and we have given them the right coordinates. We have also sealed the part that belongs to the ESH, so MOWAA, at this point, can no longer encroach.”

Idahosa emphasized that the government’s priority remains the security and health of Edo people, noting that compliance with lawful boundaries is in the interest of both institutions.

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READ ALSO: Idahosa Lauds Edo Specialist Hospital Facilities

This is not a witch hunt. The governor is fair enough to allow MOWAA to continue with whatever we met on ground. He has not encroached or done anything contrary to the law. Hence, they should also stick and abide by the law,” he said.

The Chief Medical Director of ESH, Dr. Anthonia Njoku commended Okpebholo for protecting the hospital’s expansion interest.

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Similarly, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Mr. Imoisili Igabali noted that negotiations had been ongoing with MOWAA over the demarcation and that a temporary perimeter wall had been set up in the meantime.

As an agency, our responsibility in the state is to ensure that development in the state is done according to laid down rules and regulations,” Igabali stated.

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Police Begin Enforcement Of Tinted Glass, Siren Regulations In Edo, Delta

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The Zone Five Police Command have begun enforcing the ban on the unauthorised use of sirens and tinted glass permit regulations.

NAN reports that the zone five command located in the South-south Geo-political Zone comprises Edo and Delta.

This is contained in a statement by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tijani Momoh, in Abuja.

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The exercise, the command said, is in line with the existing laws and directives of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, which apply to all vehicles with tinted glasses, whether factory or non-factory fitted.

READ ALSO:Edo Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers In Gun Duel

Momoh quoted the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Salma-Dogo Garba, as saying that the enforcement would also affect the subsisting ban on the unauthorised use of sirens.

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According to Garba, there will also be strict enforcement on the use of revolving lights, Police SPY and unallocated official number plates, as well as the use of unregistered vehicles.

“In view of the above, motorists yet to register their vehicles with tinted glasses are strongly advised to do so at www.possap.gov.ng.

“Thereafter, they should proceed to their state command headquarters for physical verification.

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READ ALSO:Six Arrested For Alleged Killing Of Police Constable In Bayelsa

Those who are not desirous of obtaining the tinted glass permit are advised to remove such tints or replace the factory-fitted glasses with transparent ones, as legally provided by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act 2004.”

The AIG warned field operatives and their supervisory officers to ensure that the exercise was carried out with utmost professionalism, devoid of any form of harassment or extortion of motorists.

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He stressed that any officer found wanting would be duly sanctioned, while the concerned supervisory officer would be held liable.

Garba further urged motorists to cooperate with the Police during the exercise in order to ensure public safety and national security.

READ ALSO:Police Rescue Mother, Baby, Five Others From Kidnappers In Kwara

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He also charged residents to promptly report any form of harassment, extortion, or other unprofessional conduct to the nearest police station, the commands CRUs, or the ZPPRO.

NAN reports that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced that strict enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit requirement will begin across Nigeria on Thursday.

The directive comes under the authority of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, a law intended to bolster security and curb criminal behaviour.

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Under the new mandate, all vehicles with tinted windows are expected to carry valid and verifiable permit documents, which must be presented whenever requested by law enforcement.

NAN

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Brazil Slams Israel’s Gaza Aid Interception, Demands Detainees’ Safety

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Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a ceremony where Judge Edson Fachin took office as Chief Justice and Alexandre de Moraes as Deputy Chief Justice, in Brasilia on September 29, 2025. (Photo by Evaristo Sa / AFP)

Brazil condemned Israel on Wednesday after the Israeli navy intercepted a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, with several Brazilian nationals on board including a lawmaker.

The Global Sumud Flotilla — involving around 45 vessels carrying politicians and activists — left Spain last month, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says famine has set in after nearly two years of war.

Israeli forces stopped more than a dozen boats as they were sailing through the Mediterranean Sea in international waters, organisers said.

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READ ALSO:Brazilian Jazz Legend, Hermeto Pascoal, Is Dead

Brazil “deplores the Israeli government’s military action, which violates rights and endangers the physical well-being of peaceful protesters,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel,” it added.

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Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira earlier said his government had communicated “directly” to Israel its concern for the 15 Brazilians taking part in the flotilla, who include deputy Luizianne Lins.

Brasilia is one of many governments worldwide that have called on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has repeatedly denounced what he calls an Israeli “genocide” against Palestinians in the war, which was sparked by an October 2023 attack on its soil by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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AFP

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