FG directs fleeing Nigerians to head for Romania, Hungary
The government of Hungary has extended a hand of fellowship to Nigeria by waving aside the presentation of visas for all Nigerians in Ukraine seeking entrance into or passage through the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, disclosed this on Sunday via his Twitter page in a Public Travel Advisory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the early hours of Thursday, ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
The invasion was marked by shelling and rocket attacks on several Ukrainian major cities, including the capital, Kyiv, leading to dozens of deaths.
The invasion created widespread panic and saw many fleeing Ukraine.
However, the core requirement for admission into Hungary from Ukraine included a valid Nigerian passport and Ukrainian resident permit.
The Federal Government also advised that interested persons should carry some Euro currencies along.
Similarly, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, on Sunday, announced that the Nigerian Embassy in Romania was ready to receive Nigerian students from Ukraine.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Commission on Sunday.
According to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were no fewer that 5,600 Nigerian residents in Ukraine, the majority of whom are students.
Ukraine is a choice destination for many Nigerian students, especially for those in medical-related fields.
Meanwhile, the Presidency, on Sunday, kicked against the denial of Nigerians and other Africans safe passage into neighbouring Poland and other safe territories, saying, “all who flee conflicts have an equal right to safe passage under UN Convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference”.
The Presidency’s position was made known in a statement signed late Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘Statement on Nigerian and citizens of other African countries in Ukraine’.
Citing video evidence, first hand reports and those in contact with their wards and Nigerian consular officials, the Presidency noted that there had been unfortunate reports of Ukrainian police and security personnel refusing to allow Nigerians to board buses and trains heading towards the Ukraine-Poland border.
