Jonathan Orders Immediate Evacuation of Nigerians Stranded In Egypt
President Jonathan who is currently in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia for the 16th session of the African Union (AU) General Assembly has directed that Nigerians who are currently trapped in Egypt as a result of the continuous protests against the country’s leadership should be evacuated home immediately.
This was revealed by Ima Niboro, the Spokesman of the President. The President, Niboro told journalists in Addis Ababa, has also directed that General Owoeye Azazi (retd) the National Security Adviser and Odein Ajumogobia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the evacuation and ensure that the stranded Nigerians are immediately brought back home.
Reports indicated that about 200 Nigerian made up of students, businessmen, government officials, and those on medical visits have been stranded at Cairo International Airport as a result of the unending protests in that country.
The stranded Nigerians were also reported to have found it difficult contacting their relatives as a result of the restrictions placed on mobile telephony and internet services by the Egyptian authorities since the commencement of the mass action. The stranded Nigerians were also said to be finding it difficult to return home as Egypt Air has suspended its flights to African cities such as Lagos, Kano, Accra, Nairobi, Entebbe without any excuse.
There have been upheavals across Egypt in the past few days with hundreds of thousands of youth gathering daily in protest of the continued stay in office of President Hosni Mubarak who has been ruling the country for about three decades.
This has led to disruption of socio-economic activities, violence and looting in different areas of the country as the protesters seemed to have overwhelmed the security forces.
—Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja
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