The FG advised Nigerian students to travel in groups and take all their documents along with them. As the Russian forces continue their advancement into the Ukrainian territories, the Federal Government has identified four borders safe for Nigerians seeking to cross into Poland.
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Orewa, said in a viral video on Saturday, February 26, 2022, that out of the eight borders between Ukraine and Poland, four have been marked safe for Nigerians to use.
She encouraged Nigerians to travel in groups so that they could keep track of one another as they journeyed toward the borders.
“For Nigerians in Ukraine trying to cross to Poland, there are eight borders between Poland and Ukraine, four borders are recommended; these are the four borders: Hrebenne – Rava Ruska; Korczowa – Krakovets; Medyka – Shehyni; Budomierz – Hurszew,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a travel advisory, also enjoined Nigerians in Eastern Ukraine to do their best to move closer to the border in Western Ukraine, using train or bus.
She however, hinted that moving towards the border could pose some dangers but stressed that students should make sure to take their passports and students visas along with them as they navigate their way to the borders.
The advisory read, “Students should make every effort to get to the Ukrainian- Polish border or Ukrainian – Romanian border. It is vital that students move in groups. There is power in number. Groups should ensure that they are safe and accounted for. Students from Eastern Ukraine should make their best effort to reach a city in Western Ukraine. The closer you are to the border, the better.”
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Dabiri-Erewa also disclosed that Nigerian volunteers groups as well as staff from the Nigerian Embassy have been deployed to the borders to help them out.
She cautioned that Nigerians in parts of Ukraine that were not affected by the war should remain calm and stay where they were, while also urging them to visit the commission’s website for all relevant information, including numbers to call.
“When going to the border, your options are via train or bus. Both routes come with risk factors. Trains from Lviv to the Polish border are free. However, there are many people trying this route. Do not be discouraged but try your best to enter the right train.
“Coaches/buses from Lviv can take you to Poland. You will need to have all your documentation with you. Please continue to stay in groups. Keep your passports and student visa on you at all times.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, has issued a public notice assuring Nigerians that the government had put in place necessary arrangements with their Polish counterpart in order to smoothen the admission of Nigerians into Poland.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Poland, Christian Ugwu, said, “The embassy staff and volunteers are stationed at the Polish – Ukrainian Border with bus and vans to pick up Nigerians from the border points.”
The Nigerian government had earlier stated that it’s too risky to evacuate roughly 5,600 Nigerians currently caught up in the Russia military action in Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the government is concerned with the safety of Nigerians currently in Ukraine but dowsed any hopes of an immediate evacuation saying it’s impossible for such operations to take place until airports are reopened in the war-torn country.
