Romania, Poland okay free passage to Nigerians in Ukraine

 28.2.2022

The Presidency yesterday said at least 4,000 Nigerians were stranded in Ukraine.

In a statement Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) Garba Shehu, it noted reports of Ukrainian security refusing to allow them to board buses and trains heading towards the Ukraine-Poland border.

But many Nigerians fleeing Ukraine have been able to enter through Poland as of yesterday evening, The Nation learnt.

It was learnt that stranded Nigerians were granted visa-free entry to Romania and Hungary.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Nigerians in Ukraine to move to the Hungarian Zahony border and Romanian Suceava, Tulcea, Satu Mare County & Maramures borders.

Thousands of Africans fleeing Ukraine, especially students, have lamented the maltreatment encountered and passport seizure by Ukrainians at the borders.

They accused officials of racial discrimination, alleging that they were not allowed to cross the borders.

But, the Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdul-Rahman Balogun, said there have been a lot of improvements at the Poland end of the border.

He also said the commission was abreast of situations.

“The commission is following the situation and is getting feedback from the country’s embassy in Ukraine and from Nigerians,” Balogun said.

He blamed the initial situation on the rush at the borders, adding that everybody wanted to enter the border at the same time.

Balogun also urged others still held back to use the Romania side of the borders.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said the arrangement at the border posts was a result of the discussions between Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Ukraine.

The statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully abreast of all the challenges Nigerians crossing into countries bordering Ukraine, especially the Polish border, are facing and we are taking adequate measures to assuage these challenges.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken with his counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine on this unsavoury development and both are working on alleviating the suffering of Nigerians, including deploying the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to the border to ensure easier access to all Nigerians and other nationals.

Romania, Poland okay free passage to Nigerians in Ukraine | The Nation (thenationonlineng.net)