About 7,000 nationals, including Nigerians, have been stranded at the border of Egypt over visa-related issues to return to their home country from Sudan. On Friday, 28th of April, the Federal Government of Nigeria urged the relevant authorities along the contiguous borders of Sudan to provide a humane environment for approximately 7,000 nationals, including Nigerians, to travel to their respective destinations without hindrance.
According to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the nationals were prevented from crossing the border into Egypt since they arrived on Thursday evening. Dabiri-Erewa had previously announced the arrival of the first group of stranded Nigerians in Sudan at the Aswan border in Egypt on Thursday, but due to the border closure, they were unable to proceed to their destination until the following morning when they would be taken to the airport.
However, in a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, Publicity Unit, NiDCOM, the chairman said “The Nigerian mission in Egypt has been working tirelessly on this as the Egyptian authorities are insisting on visas by fellow Africans to transit back to their countries. She appeals to the Egyptian authorities to kindly allow the already traumatised travellers to transit to their final destinations in various countries in Africa.”
Additionally, a photo attached to the news article shows stranded Nigerian students who are also among those affected by the border closure. The situation has caused major inconvenience and distress for the stranded individuals, who are now urging authorities to find a swift resolution to the issue.
