Category: Lead

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has dismissed the petition by the Action Alliance (AA).

The court’s decision was sequel to a motion moved on Monday by petitioner’s lawyer, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), with which the petitioner sought to withdraw the petition.

Read Also: PEPC: Atiku, PDP seek live broadcast of court proceedings

Lawyers to the respondents did not object to the withdrawal, following which Justice Tsammani, in a ruling, dismissed the petition, marked: CA/PEPC/01/2023.

The petition had, as respondents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and Hamza Al-Mustapha.

The court has moved to the petition by the Action Peoples Party (APP), marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023.

The Supreme Court has scheduled judgment for 2pm on Tuesday in the appeal filed by former Osun Governor, Gboyega Oyetola against the election of Ademola Adeleke.

Oyetola is, by his appeal, seeking the reversal of the March 25 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which affirmed Adeleke’s victory in the last governorship election in Osun State.

Read Also: Osun guber: Frank must apologise over allegations against Supreme Court justices – CSO

The Appeal Court had, in its judgement, set aside an earlier judgment by the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which held in favour of Oyetola and sacked Adeleke.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court announced the time and date for judgment after taking arguments from lawyers to parties on Monday.

Details Shortly…

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has announced that it would commence its pre-hearing session today with three petitions.

They are the petitions by Action Alliance (AA) marked: CA/PEPC/01/2023; 

Action Peoples Party (APP) marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023 and Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023.

Justice Tsammani, who made the announcement a moment ago, said the court has scheduled hearing on the other two petitions – by Allied Peoples Movement (APM) marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023, and Atiku Abubakar & the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023 – for Tuesday.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Lawyers at entrance of Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC)

He sought the cooperation of all lawyers in the five petitions to enable the court decide the cases on time.

Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Chris Uche (SAN), Levy Uzoukwu (SAN) and Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), who are leading the legal teams of petitioners and respondents, agreed to work with the court to ensure prompt determination of the petition and to achieve justice.

Justice Tsammani, who heads the panel, currently serves as the Presiding Justice (PJ) of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal

Other members of the panel are Justice Stephen Adah (the PJ of Asaba division); Justice Monsurat O. Bolaji Yusuf (from Asaba division);  Boloukuromo Moses Ugo (from Kano division) and Justice Abba Mohammed (from Ibadan division).

The court, which stood down proceedings briefly, is to reconvene by 10:30am.

• APC Northwest chairmen oka Akpabio/Barau
• Yari ‘won’t support consensus candidate
• Southeast senators-elect reject zoning to Southsouth

A major step to zone leadership positions in the 10th National Assembly will be taken today by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has slated a meeting to decide the geo-political zones where top positions – Senate President, Deputy Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker and Deputy Speaker – will come from.

The APC with 59 senators-elect out of 109 seat,  controls the majority. 

It also has 178 House of Representatives members-elect out of 360, becoming the party with the single largest members.

Leaders of the party, such as governors, senior figures and caucuses, have made their recommendations.

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also been consulted by the NWC leadership.

Today’s meeting is expected to ratify the zoning arrangement and the plan to have a consensus around the choice of candidates.

It was learnt that on Friday, the leadership of the NWC met with the President-elect, where understanding and agreement were reached on the sharing of the six offices in each of the two chambers.

The remaining offices are Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip. 

For the House of Representatives, the offices are House Leader, Deputy Leader, House Whip and Deputy Whip.

APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, told reporters after last week’s NWC meeting on Wednesday that the party plan a consensus arrangement for the National Assembly’s top offices.

He added that there will be consultations with a broad section of party leaders, stakeholders and the President-elect to enable the party and all aspirants to be on the same page.

It was also gathered that the Friday meeting directed the party’s leadership to ensure compliance with the arrangement by all the aspirants in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Those who attended the meeting are Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Deputy National Chairmen, Senator Abubakar Kyari (North) and Chief Emma Enuokwu (South) as well as the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Others are Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo- Agege.

National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka last night confirmed today’s meeting, but declined to make available the agenda. He merely said the meeting will take “critical decisions”. 

Morka said: “Yes, an NWC meeting holds on Monday (today) at about noon.” 

When asked if the zoning of the National Assembly leadership is slated for deliberations, he simply said: “The issue may be discussed, but no further information on that for now. 

“You can be assured that we shall brief the press after tomorrow’s meeting.”

A source close to the party, however, said: “This is a one-point agenda meeting. The Chairman is expected to brief the committee on the outcome of the meeting held with the President-elect on Friday on the zoning of the NASS leadership position and get the buying-in of NWC members to the arrangement.

“The NWC will also consider a date for a meeting with all the major aspirants jostling for one position or the other in the two chambers of the National Assembly to ensure a rancour-free electioneering process in filling the leadership positions of the National Assembly.”

The zoning of these offices is already generating ripples among the would-be legislators and some leaders of the party.

The Northwest chairmen of APC have thrown their weight behind a possible Southsouth/Northwest zoning of Senate President/Deputy Senate President.

But Senator Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he would not support any consensus arrangement.

Also yesterday, Southeast senators-elect rejected any plan to zone the Senate Presidency to Southsouth.

Northwest APC okay Akpabio, Barau

The Northwest APC chairmen welcomed the planned consensus zoning arrangement, saying the choice of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Jibrin Barau is “a perfect step taken to ensure good democratic governance in the country.”

“We see the joint ticket of Sen. Akpabio and Sen. Jibrin as a wise leadership for the 10th National Assembly who will work assiduously for the betterment of Nigeria,” Chairman of the APC Chairmen Forum, Aminu Sani, told reporters in Kano at the weekend.

Sani urged the senators-elect to rally around the choice of the president-elect and the party’s national leadership for national growth.

They added that Tinubu had through his actions shown that he would check religious/ethnic politics.

The APC chairmen appealed to Akpabio and Jibrin to know that the President-elect and the party’s national leadership decided to go for them “because they have the conviction that they will be a part of the progressive government in tackling the problems bedevilling Nigeria.”  

Due process must be followed, says Yari 

Senator-elect Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West) vowed not to step down for anyone in the race.

Yari, who described the race as “Senators’ business”, said that due process should be followed in electing the leadership of the Senate.

“The Senate presidency is senators’ business and on the D- day’ when we are going to elect our president, we will do the needful,” he told the executive members of the Tinubu-Shettima Network (TSN) in Abuja at the weekend.

He added: “When we do that, we are not for anybody. We are doing what the Constitution says: choosing our leaders within ourselves.

“That is what the sections of the Constitution stated very clearly. What will happen that day will happen based on the provisions of the Constitution and not for anyone. 

“So, we are going to exercise our constitutional rights there.”

Southeast Senators-elect kick 

Yesterday, senators-elect from the Southeast kicked against the move to zone the Senate President position to the Southsouth by the APC. 

It said in a communique after a meeting hosted by Young Peoples Party (YPP) Senator Ifeanyi Ubah that the move would amount to injustice against the Southeast. 

Senators-elect who signed the communique are: Orji Uzor Kalu (APC), Victor Umeh (LP), Osita Izunaso (APC), Tony Nwoye (LP), Patrick Ndubueze (APC), Okey Ezea (LP), Kelvin Chukwu (LP) and Osita Ngwu (LP).

The caucus called on the APC national leadership to uphold “the principle of natural justice and equity which it preaches” by zoning the seat to the Southeast.

Besides, it urged Tinubu to extend the same democratic opportunity he received from the outgoing administration “which gave all aspirants equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental and constitutional rights during the APC presidential primaries”.

It also urged the APC to rise above primordial and political interest, shun the winner-takes-all syndrome and pursue ethnoreligious inclusivity.

The communique reads: “We have observed with dismay the antics of persons with vested selfish interests who have planted themselves around the President-elect, Asiwaju Tinubu, and have vowed to shut out the Southeast from the Senate Presidency of the 10th Senate.

“Beyond ethnic and religious considerations in the forthcoming 10th Senate, the Southeast is blessed with ranking Senators-elect including members of the APC who have the cranial capacity, competence, influence, experience and political followership to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber.

“It becomes imperative that the APC upholds the principle of natural justice and equity which it preaches, founded on reasons, and zone the seat of Senate President to the Southeast.

“The President-elect should be conscious of the grave implications of zoning and endorsing a candidate from the Southsouth without any regard for the Southeast. Such a move will no doubt serve as a recipe for injustice. 

“We implore the President-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the part of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones.

“The incoming administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu must correct this anomaly by ensuring that the Southeast is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.”

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) will begin its sitting in Abuja today with a pre-hearing session.

Five petitions are pending before the court.

The first petitioner, the Action Alliance (AA), is planning to withdraw its petition, it was learnt.

The other remaining four petitions are listed for the pre-hearing session.

Pre-hearing session entails preliminary proceedings during which lawyers agree on how to proceed with the actual hearing session.

Such preliminary proceedings include ascertaining the number of witnesses to be called, the volume of exhibits to be tendered and how to treat them, how to treat witnesses and what time to be allocated, among others.

The Nation learnt that it is after the pre-hearing session, which may last days, that the hearing proper will commence, during which witnesses will be taken and exhibits tendered.

Although the identity of members of the five-member panel is not yet public, such information will be revealed during Monday’s sitting.

The motion for withdrawal filed by the AA on May 3 will be treated first, according to the court’s schedule.

Listed as respondents to the petition marked CA/PEPC/01/2023 filed by the AA, are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Hamza Al-Mustapha. 

The AA, in its petition, claimed that its presidential candidate, Solomon Okanigbuan, was excluded from participating in the election.

It argued that the ground was sufficient to void the February 25 presidential election.

Those calling for the determination of presidential election petitions before May 29 are “plainly ignorant or crassly mischievous,”  Minister of State for Labour and Employment  Festus Keyamo has said.

Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that for such to happen, an amendment to some sections of the Constitution and court rules must be undertaken.

“In the future, it is possible to amend our laws and rules of court to accommodate such an idea, but it is clearly impossible under our present circumstances,” he explained in a statement yesterday.

In Keyamo’s view, it is not in the opposition parties’ interest for their petitions against the victory of President-elect Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be rushed.

If that happens, he argued, the cases of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)   and  Peter Obi  of the Labour Party(LP) before the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal  could be destroyed because “justice rushed is justice crushed.”

Atiku and  Obi are seeking to overturn the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential poll at the tribunal.

The tribunal will today begin a pre-trial conference today.  It has 180 days to complete the task. The appeal will last 60 days.

Keyamo argued in the statement that those who call for the conclusion of the cases before the May 29  inauguration date “do not realise that they are, in fact doing great harm to the cases of the petitioners.

“It is the petitioners that need more  time to prove their cases and not necessarily the defendants,” he said in the statement titled: “ Those calling for a quick determination of election petitions before May 29 under our present laws actually want to destroy the cases of petitioners.”

The statement reads partly: “Those calling for the determination of the election petitions before the swearing-in ceremonies on May 29t  under our present electoral laws and Rules of Court and/or procedure are either plainly ignorant or crassly mischievous.

“They do not realise that they are, in fact doing great harm to the cases of the petitioners. It is the petitioners that need more time to prove their cases and not necessarily the defendants.

“That is why the petitioners are given 21 days to file and the defendants have 14 days to respond. And the petitioners have a further seven days to reply, making a total of 30 days as against the 14 days of the respondents.

Read Also: Keyamo, Melaye fault Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi

“It follows that in leading evidence in court/tribunal in support of the petitions, the Petitioners would also take more time. It is more arduous to prove an election petition than to defend it.

“If these characters say a single point (let’s say the FCT 25 per cent storm-in-a-teacup issue) should be set down for determination immediately, would the Petitioners’ lawyers agree to withdraw and abandon all other issues raised in their petition and proceed only with that issue? Will they take that risk?

“Ask them privately. They know better. This is because the rules of election petitions do not allow petitioners to prove their cases piecemeal.”

The senior lawyer added that a petitioner cannot pursue a single point up to the Supreme Court and after losing, return to the tribunal or court and say he wants to now prove other aspects of the case.

He said: “Even that single point alone cannot be determined by the Supreme Court before May 29  because of the time given by the rules for parties to file their notices of appeal and exchange their briefs.

“It is indeed only the respondent that can raise a preliminary objection that can determine the petition in limine (that is, at the threshold). Even at that, the rules allow the court/tribunal to take the objection together with the Petition itself and give one judgment at the end in order to save time.

“So, this is free advice to the advocates of pre-May 29th determination of the election petitions: they are doing the cases of their principals (the petitioners) great harm. They should realise that just as we say ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, we also say ‘justice rushed is justice crushed.”

There was panic yesterday evening, following the emergency landing of a Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to Max Air at the runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The aircraft blocked the runway for many hours.

The emergency landing, around 2.50pm, according to officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was due to a burst tyre suffered by the aircraft.

The officials said other aircraft could not land at the runway because airplane, forcing FAAN to close it for some hours.

The officials said since the aircraft made the emergency landing, the airport authority and other agencies, despite the heavy downpour, doubled efforts to evacuate the passengers and their luggage.

However, the airport, which was closed, was reopened for flights at 8.50pm after the incident aircraft was removed around 8.30pm, the facility cleared and certified for flight by NCAA inspectors.

An official said the aircraft was towed out of the runway before it was reopened for normal flight activities.

He said FAAN and other agencies deployed heavy duty equipment to clear the runway to enable other airplanes utilise the facility.

Confirming the incident, Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Faithful Hope Ivbaze said the authority scaled up efforts to ensure the runway was put to use as soon as the Max Air aircraft was removed.

She said: “There was no crash landing of any aircraft in Abuja Airport. What happened was an emergency landing involving a Max Air aircraft. There was no harm to the passengers on board. They have all been evacuated. We are speeding up efforts to remove the aircraft from the runway, so that the airport could reopen to normal flights.”

Sources at the airport said that the Max Air aircraft had arrived from Yola, Adamawa State, when the incident happened.

The source said immediately the tyre burst after landing, officials of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS)  at the airport were swiftly mobilised to handle the situation.

A passenger who was onboard the aircraft said: “We thank God. We are still on the runway and the pilot briefed us on the development.

 ”The pilot called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall.

“We bless God because we had witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into a prayer session.”

Read Also: Air Peace makes history, orders 10 brand new 737 MAX planes

He expressed gratitude to God for the safety of the 144 passengers and six crew members.

The passenger said the airline would officially inform the appropriate authorities to carry out an investigation into the incident.

The management of Mar Air confirmed that its flight experienced tyre burst during landing.

The airline on its official Twitter page @MaxAirLtd posted: “On May 7th, 2023, a Max Air flight with 143 passengers and one infant on board, departing from Yola at around 14:05, was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 15:00.

“However, the aircraft experienced two tire bursts on landing in Abuja, and the emergency response team quickly responded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound.

“The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time.

“They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings. The aircraft tires are being replaced and the aircraft will taxi to the ramp for further investigations before being released for future flights.

“Max Air is committed to providing safe and reliable air travel to all its passengers. We thank all the passengers for their patience and understanding of what transpired.

“The airline would like to extend its appreciation to the airport authorities, emergency services, and all relevant agencies who responded promptly and professionally to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.

“Max Air will continue to provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available.”

Following the incident, Air Peace Airline announced the cancellation of eight of its flight due to the closure of the runway.

The notice which was signed by the management of the airline was posted on its official Twitter page @flyairpeace.

It reads: “Dear Esteemed Customers, the following flights have been, regrettably, canceled due to Abuja runway closure caused by another airline’s aircraft that got stuck on the runway.

“Owerri-Abuja 14:20hrs, Abuja-Owerri 16:00hrs, Abuja-Benin 15:45hrs, Calabar-Abuja 14:40hrs, Abuja-Calabar 16:10hrs.”

Benin-Abuja 16:20hrs, Abuja-Owerri 14:40hrs, and Warri-Lagos 16:20.

“The runway closure has also led to the delay of other flights into and out of Abuja. We empathise with passengers affected and seek their understanding and cooperation.”

For more information on flight schedules and other customer-related concerns, the airline asked customers to contact it via callcenter@flyairpeace.com.

President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the Dangote Refinery on May 22.

Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, stated this yesterday.

He tweeted: “Efforts by the Federal Government to make Nigeria self-sufficient in local refining of crude oil and save the scarce foreign exchange used in the importation of petroleum products have received a boost.

“The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery, is set for inauguration on May 22nd, 2023, by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

General Manager, Corporate Communications at the Dangote Group, Sunday Esan, told The Nation that invitations have been sent out for the event.

Dangote Oil Refinery is a 650,000 barrels per day (BPD) integrated refinery project in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos. 

Read Also: Fed Govt expects Dangote Refinery to start Q1, 2023

It is expected to be Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility.

The Pipeline Infrastructure at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is the largest anywhere in the world, with 1,100 kilometres to handle three billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The Refinery alone has a 435MW Power Plant that can meet the total power requirement of Ibadan DisCo.

The Refinery will meet 100 per cent of the Nigerian requirement of all refined products and also have a surplus of each of these products for export.

It is a multi-billion dollar project that will create a market for $21 Billion per annum of Nigerian crude.

The refinery is designed to process Nigeria’s and other crude.

  

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria and other commodities-producing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to seize Russia’s energy market in Europe.

Geo-political tension persists as the Russia/Ukraine war continues after one year of military attacks.

Europe and the West have isolated Russia, which they considered as the aggressor in the war.

Russia is under economic sanctions, including non-purchase of oil and other commodities from the country.

The most significant potential of the market takeover lies with established exporters, and countries with available facilities like Nigeria, Angola, and Ghana, among others.

Nigeria’s oil production is about 1.3 million barrels per day; Angola’s oil production is 1.1 million barrels per day; Ghana’s oil production is about 420,000 barrels per day.

In a report titled: Geopolitical Divisions Threaten Growth, IMF economists Qianqian Zhang and Ivanova Reyes said commodity exporters in the region could potentially displace much of Russia’s energy market share in Europe.

The IMF said the countries could rely on trade promotion agencies to help identify potential opportunities, build the necessary skills and capacity for exports, and eventually re-orient production to take advantage of new trade flows. “Improving the business environment, such as by lowering entry, regulatory, and tax barriers could also help,” the Fund said.

“What the exact outcomes will be from fragmentation and polarization, and whether these trends will continue are uncertain. What is clear, however, is multilateral institutions will need to continue to facilitate dialogue among nations to promote economic integration and cooperation,” it added.

The IMF said economic growth in Sub-Saharan African economies could permanently decline including a $10 billion loss of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) if geopolitical tensions escalate.

It said economic and trade alliances with new economic partners, predominantly China, have benefited the region but have also made countries reliant on imports of food and energy more susceptible to global shocks, including disruptions from the surge in trade restrictions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The IMF said sub-Saharan Africa stands to lose the most if the world splits into two isolated trading blocs centred around China or the United States and the European Union.

These losses could be compounded if geopolitical tensions cut off capital flows between trade blocs, with the region losing about $10 billion in foreign direct investment and official development assistance.

“Economic and trade alliances with new economic partners, predominantly China, have benefited the region but have also made countries reliant on imports of food and energy more susceptible to global shocks.

“If geopolitical tensions were to escalate, countries could be hit by higher import prices or even lose access to key export markets—about half of the region’s value of international trade could be impacted.

IMF said the reduction in FDI, in the long run, could also hinder much-needed technology transfer. It added that for countries looking to restructure their debt, deepening geo-economic fragmen­tation could also worsen coordination problems among creditors.

Read Also: Russia’s cut may boost Nigeria, others’ oil revenue

IMF said if geopolitical tensions were to escalate, countries could be hit by higher import prices or even lose access to key export markets—about half of the region’s value of international trade could be impacted.

“The losses could be compounded if capital flows between trade blocs were cut off due to geopolitical tensions. The region could lose an estimated $10 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance inflows, which is about half a per cent of GDP a year (based on an average 2017–19 estimate),” the report stated.

The Fund said countries will need to build resilience to manage the inevitable shifts in trade and foreign direct investment.

It said that in this severe scenario, sub-Saharan African economies could experience a permanent decline of up to four per cent of real gross domestic product after 10 years—losses larger than what many countries experienced during the Global Financial Crisis.

The IMF advised that to better manage shocks, countries need to build resilience. 

This, it said, can be done by strengthening the ongoing regional trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will require reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, strengthening efficiency in customs, leveraging digitalization, and closing the infrastructure gaps.

Also, deepening domestic financial markets can also broaden sources of financing and lower the volatility associated with relying too much on foreign inflows.

The IMF advised that to take advantage of the potential shifts in trade and FDI flows, countries in the region can try to identify and nurture sectors that may benefit from trade diversion, for example, in energy.

• ‘No more Nigerians left at Egyptian border’
• Fourth batch of 834 citizens back

Nigerians in Sudan should not self-evacuate to the Egyptian border, the Federal Government warned yesterday.

It said the border crossing between both countries was dangerous because of the war.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, stated this while receiving 834 evacuees from Egypt and Port Sudan.

He said there were no more Nigerians left at the Egyptian border as they had all been airlifted, adding that the focus had now shifted to the Nigerians at Port Sudan.

Sani-Gwarzo said the government was prepared to evacuate anyone that indicates interest rather than going to the Egyptian border all alone.

He said: “They will not meet anybody because it is not the normal border situation. You don’t go there on your own. It’s a border that has three crossings.

“You exit from Sudan and this costs eight dollars. Then enter Egypt and pay an entry fee of $25 per person. Then you ride on the Nile River, which is a one-and-a-half-hour journey. The entire bus enters a ferry and it takes the entire bus across.

“So, it’s not a normal border crossing that you just walk to that place and find yourself stranded. You have to be taken there in the first place. We do not have any fears about that. The information we have sent out to everybody who still needs to be evacuated is to proceed to Port Sudan.”

He also explained that the luggage of some of the evacuees was impounded by bus drivers, who were demanding additional charges for the extra days they spent on the road to Egypt.

He, however, assured that the money had been paid and the impounded luggage had been released.

Sani-Gwarzo said: “The rumour you had that they kept your luggage because money was not paid is not true. It is because even after paying the money, they charged us what they call ‘garama’.

“We made an agreement and hired vehicles to bring them to the border and we paid for that but they (bus drivers) said they spent an additional 10 to 11 days waiting. So they charged additional penalties per day, per bus, and we had to pay for them. For each day that the bus stayed with the evacuees, they kept increasing the charges and that is what caused the delay. We concluded everything a few days ago, we paid them and they released the impounded luggage.

“Those buses have returned the luggage and they have now been brought back in the two aircraft. So you will wait and receive all your luggage and by the grace of God none of them is going to be affected.”

On the numbers that came, he said: “I am happy to announce that 834 persons have arrived from the Egyptian border and Port Sudan. Azman Air brought in 322 persons, Max Air brought in 410 and 102 from Port Sudan.”

The Nation reports that this brings to 1,471 Nigerians that have been evacuated from Sudan since the last Wednesday.

Giving an update on those still waiting to be airlifted, he said: “No single Nigerian currently is at the Egyptian border. We have completely concluded all the airlift from the Egyptian side. What remains now is the Port Sudan side and that will be completed in the next few days probably”.

On the number of people still waiting at Port Sudan, he said: “Initially they are about 1700 but the number has continued to reduce with the three flights. In the next one hour or two or less, we are expecting another flight from Port Sudan that will reduce the number of people to just above 1000 and by the time we do additional shuttles of 125 per trip, we will get them out in two to three days but we are also making arrangements with large-bodied aircraft to increase the number of people that will come per flight.”

Meanwhile, one of the evacuees expressed disappointment with the Egyptian authorities.

Abdulnasiru Suleiman, a final year medical student at Sudan International University, said: “It was a very stressful journey and we faced a lot of difficulties because I have never experienced such things before in my life. No food, no water on the way but with the help of embassy officials when we got to the border, they provided much water for us.

“Before we got to the Waldi Halfa border from Khartoum, the journey was two days. We had a lot of terrible experiences such as sleeping on the bus, no food because I was out of money. However, our driver was nice. He bought some of us food which sustained us.

“Getting to the border, the Egyptians were very strict. They treated us anyhow. I was not comfortable with the way we were treated. I pray that peace is restored in Sudan because I want to go back.”

Jemila Azara, whose immediate younger brother Jemilu is stranded in Sudan, lamented that she had been visiting the airport daily since the announcement of the arrival of evacuees with the hope that he would be amongst those airlifted.

Azara said: “I came from Nasarawa State. We were here on Thursday from morning till the early hours of Friday because he told us that they were boarding but he was not on the flight and that was disappointing for us. We had to go and stay at our aunt’s house here in Abuja. He called again in the evening to explain why he was not onboard the aircraft.

“He said they told him that they wanted the females and children because the team believes the boys are stronger than the females. We have been coming to the airport since Thursday to wait with the hope that he will be amongst those returning.

“Today being Sunday (yesterday), he called us again that they were boarding, so we are hoping that he will be amongst those returning today. We are hoping that he will be on the next flight.”

Another family member of a returnee, Rashida Shittu, who was also at the airport for two of her brothers who were studying in Sudan, said the news of the war had been traumatizing.

She said: “When we learnt about the war, it was not easy, especially for my 54-year-old mother. She was really traumatised, we just had to keep encouraging her that all would be well and giving her hope because we all cannot be down at the same time. We know it is not easy to hear that war has broken out where one member of your family is but we prayed to God and thank God they have arrived”.

Meanwhile, senior UN aid envoy Martin Griffiths arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia yesterday to discuss the worsening crisis which experts fear could leave 2.5 million people without enough food and spark a wave of mass migration, of nearly one million.

Griffiths, the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, was in Jeddah “to engage in humanitarian issues related to Sudan,” UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said.

Saudi Arabia has been working with the US and allies to secure a ceasefire since fighting began in Sudan on April 15, but rival generals Mohammed Dagalo and Abdel Fattah Al Burhan have shown little desire for compromise as the war enters its fourth week.

Riyadh and Washington have supported the “pre-negotiation talks” and urged the rivals to “get actively involved”.

A ceasefire is vital for safely moving aid into the country where health, water and electricity services have collapsed.

Griffith’s visit came as the kingdom announced more than $100 million in additional aid for Sudan.

The Sudanese Doctors Union said the fighting had killed at least 700 people, many of whom are civilians, wounded thousands and led to millions of Sudanese and foreigners fleeing the country.

Many have fled to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan for safety, while others fled to Port Sudan and were then taken across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.

In Khartoum, residents remain trapped in their homes and makeshift shelters with little food, medicine and water as fighter jets pummel the city.