By Kamil Opeyemi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government excuse for the delay in the evacuation of Nigerian citizens trapped in Sudan amid a raging war between two major military factions.
Recall that, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had said the authorities were experiencing challenges, particularly with regards to airlifting Nigerian nationals from Sudan.
Reacting, NLC in a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, on Saturday, described as unacceptable, the government’s “excuse that attempting to evacuate our nationals through the Airport is risky”.
The union warned that no Nigerian must be allowed to die in Sudan because of the negligence of the Nigerian government.
It said that all options must be explored including working out a safe corridor to neighbouring countries to allow Nigerian citizens safe passage and evacuated through the various land borders.
“At this point, we are not specially concerned about the history and immediate causes of the war but are worried because many Nigerians have become unwitting victims of the war and are stranded in that country and unable to get out.
“They have cried out for help to escape the horrors which the war has continued to mete out to persons still trapped in Sudan,’’ the statement read
“We believe that it remains the responsibility of any government to ensure the safety of their nationals.”
He said this includes making sure that in the event of a war in foreign countries, their citizens are protected in whatever way possible.
He noted that this was one of the central reasons of governance: the safety of lives and properties.
“We are at a loss as to why the federal government of Nigeria finds it difficult to guarantee the safety of the lives of our citizens in that country.”
He said that this was beyond the tokenism effort at protection through an advisory to all Nigerians in that country to either seek refuge in Nigeria’s embassy in Khartoum or stay indoors which they believed was safer.
“We do not understand whether other possible options at evacuating our citizens have been explored before relapsing to this seeming helplessness and apparent abandonment of our citizens who are obviously in great distress and are afraid for their lives on daily basis?
“It is trite diplomacy that in such a situation, serious governments will reach an understanding with the warring parties for the removal of their nationals from the theatre of war which drastically reduces the risk of loss of lives and that of the equipment used in such operations.
“If the airports are not safe as suggested by the government, can we not work out a safe-corridor to neighbouring countries to allow our citizens safe passage and evacuated through the various land borders,’’ he asked.
According to Ajaero, government should work out an arrangement with the international community to create a safe heaven for all foreign nationals in that country.
“Our concern is that while our government resorts to the usual lethargy and excuses, the lives of our nationals in Sudan already exposed to serious danger may begin to experience losses or injuries.
“We urge the federal government through the concerned agencies and Ministries to take urgent step to avoid death and injuries to our citizens in that country.
“Nigerians must not be allowed to die in Sudan because of negligence. No effort should be spared in ensuring their safety and ultimately evacuation to Nigeria if the war persists and escalates into a full blown war.
“It remains the duty of the government and we urge the federal government to make this happen.
“As we await a quick and positive action towards evacuating our citizens, we would want measures to be put in place to make their lives comfortable on arrival, especially for those who own businesses in the Sudan and have suffered loss of businesses as a result,’’ he said.
Ajaero, however, commiserated with the people of Sudan, while calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow for a peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute that led to the war.