The federal ministries of foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development have said that outrage by Nigerians over the amount allocated for the evacuation of its citizens trapped in Sudan is uncalled for.

In a joint statement released on Saturday morning, they said the negotiation was based on the competitive demands for the bus services by other African countries also willing to evacuate their citizens.

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“The outcry over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for. The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens,” they said in the joint statement.

“Therefore, the cooperation and understanding of all and sundry is required to complement ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of every Nigerian trapped in Sudan.”

The ministries also noted that the first 637 Nigerians evacuated from the crisis in Sudan have arrived at the Egyptian border, awaiting airlifting to Nigeria.

“The ministers noted that the first batch of 13 buses conveying 637 evacuees had arrived the identified safe borders at Aswan, Egypt and are undergoing necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Imran Umar, a Nigerian student who is among those to be evacuated, confirmed in a video that 13 buses have arrived the International University of Africa, Sudan, to convey the Nigerians to the Egyptian border.

“As you can see, the buses are arriving here, and we thank everyone who made it possible,” he said.

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“I think we are going to depart this place now because there are lots of buses outside. Some people are already in the bus while others are waiting to board.”