Stranded Nigerians are denied entry into Egypt.
The Federal Government has stated that hundreds of Nigerians who were evacuated from Sudan, were now stranded as they were not allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival on Thursday evening.
As the leadership crisis in Sudan persists, the Nigerian government had previously announced its intention to evacuate Nigerian citizens from Egypt back to their home country.
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In a recent statement released by the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that a significant number of Nigerians were among the 7,000 nationals who were refused entry into Egypt. The Egyptian authorities reportedly denied these individuals entry due to their insistence on visas, which are required for Africans to transit to their respective countries.
In a recent statement, the Commission Chairman urged individuals responsible for overseeing the movement of people and services across Sudan’s borders to prioritise creating humane conditions that enable individuals to reach their intended destinations.
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According to her statement, the Nigerian mission in Egypt has been actively addressing the matter at hand. She further implored the Egyptian authorities to grant the travellers passage to their respective African destinations.
Nigerian students who were being transported to the Egyptian border in buses arranged by the Federal Government have reported being stranded in the desert. The incident occurred on Wednesday when the drivers of the buses refused to continue the journey, citing non-payment for their services.
According to reports, a crisis erupted in Sudan on April 15th, pitting the Sudanese army against the paramilitary RSF, both of which are led by army generals.
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In recent news, both the National Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have made separate announcements regarding the arrival of approximately 1,600 Nigerian evacuees from Sudan. These individuals are expected to arrive in Abuja on Friday. As of Wednesday, an estimated 5,500 Nigerian students are scheduled to be evacuated from Sudan, according to official sources.
In a recent development, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that a total of 13 buses were utilised to transport the initial group of evacuees from Khartoum, Sudan to Egypt. From there, they are set to be airlifted to Nigeria.
According to sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of nine buses have reportedly arrived at the Sudanese side of the Arkin border, while four buses have also been reported to have arrived at the Wadi Halfa border as of 0700hrs on April 28th, 2023. At present, the individuals are awaiting official clearance from the Sudanese authorities in order to proceed with their crossing to the Egyptian side.
According to the statement made by the individual, the Wadi Halfa border has been officially approved for their people and this information was conveyed to their Mission in Khartoum. In light of the drivers’ decision to opt for an alternate border post located approximately 200 kilometres away from the designated entry point, a supplementary team has been dispatched to provide aid and support at the new location.
According to a source, the situation at the borders is causing significant delays for Nigerians attempting to enter Egypt, with thousands of people currently waiting. According to a source at NiDCOM, there have been some diplomatic challenges at the border, albeit not of a serious nature. The Nigerian embassy in Egypt is reportedly working to secure diplomatic protection for the affected students.
