close
Saturday, February 26, 2022

Ukraine-Russia Crisis: Buhari regime expresses worry as Nigerians are denied entry into Poland

Foreign affairs minister said that information gotten from citizens indicated that Polish authorities were refusing Nigerians fleeing Ukraine entry into Poland.

• February 26, 2022
Geoffrey Onyeama
Geoffrey Onyeama (Credit: dw.com)

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has raised concerns over Poland’s refusal to grant Nigerians entry into the country from Ukraine.

Expressing concerns over the development on Friday, Mr Onyeama, while at a meeting with envoys of European Union countries over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, said the Nigerian government was receiving emergency calls from its citizens fleeing Ukraine by road.

He said that information gotten from citizens indicated that Polish authorities were refusing Nigerians fleeing Ukraine entry into Poland.

“And we have had a number of calls, desperate calls and that there are cases of women and pregnant women and so forth,” Mr Onyeama said.

The government’s concerns come as Nigerians fleeing Ukraine to seek refuge in Poland continue to lament over ill treatment as they attempt to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

Twitter user @nzekiev in a tweet disclosed that he alongside two other Africans were asked out of a train while attempting to flee to Poland from war torn Ukraine.

“Train to Poland got here, I and other two Africans entered first, few mins later, the police came in and dragged us down from our cabin. Only Ukrainians are allowed. I don’t blame them, though. I blame African leaders,” he tweeted.

Another Twitter user @Amypebbles_ tweeted that Nigerians were being denied entry at the Polish border.

“Nigerians are being turned back at the borders. Who is the Nigerian ambassador to Poland and how can we reach him?” she wrote.

Earlier on Friday, the President, Nigerian Students Union, Anjolaoluwa Ero-Philips, who is among the few Nigerians to have successfully entered Poland told Sun Newspaper that eight students are about to enter Poland through another border.

Mr Ero-Philips said he and six students set out on foot to the entry border point at 8:00 p.m. and arrived at the border by 3:00 a.m. He said they were left in the cold for about two hours before being allowed into Poland.

However, Mr Onyeama said that he raised the issue with the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawska, and has been assured that the situation will be addressed.

More from Peoples Gazette

Economy

Buhari regime will continue to borrow without subsidy removal: Femi Adesina

“You know how much could have been saved if the subsidy was removed and how it could have been diverted to other areas and spheres of national life.

A polling unit

States

Ondo By-election: Voters laud INEC on early commencement of exercise

Election commenced at about 8:30 a.m. in most polling units visited in the Oba-Ile area of Akure North Local Government.

World

We’ve killed 3,500 Russian soldiers, destroyed 102 Russian tanks, 14 planes: Ukraine Military

However, Russia has continued to claim that it has not suffered any significant losses.

Sport

Poland withdraws from World Cup playoff with Russia amidst Ukraine occupation

Poland has withdrawn from World Cup playoff against Russia following Moscow’s ongoing hostilities against Ukraine.

Minister of youth and sports development Sunday Dare

Sport

FG to recommend Sokoto stadium for international events: Sports Minister

The minister was in Sokoto to inspect the state’s modern sports arena currently under construction.

Politics

I don’t need physical health to be president; I’m not a bricklayer: Tinubu

“If you hear them saying, can I do it? I am not applying for the job of a grave digger; not race running, I am not a horse. I am not applying for bricklaying.”