Nigerians evacuated from Sudan stranded at Egyptian border over visa: Officials

By Olanrewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - About 2,000 Nigerians evacuated from Sudan are stranded at the Egyptian border, officials said Friday.

The head of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said more than 7,000 nationals in total are stuck at the Egyptian border because of the refusal of immigrations official to allow them to access the country's airports where they will be airlifted.

“Over 7,000 nationals, including Nigerians, are not being allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival late Thursday," Dabiri-Erewa said in a statement on her behalf by NIDCOM spokesperson Gabriel Odu.

She said Egyptian officials insisted that nationals, who are in transit back to their countries, must have a visa to proceed.

The Nigerian government announced Thursday that nearly 2,000 nationals, mostly students, have been evacuated from Sudan and were headed to the Egyptian border in 13 buses.

The first batch was initially scheduled to arrive Friday, according to the federal government.

Thousands have fled Sudan since Monday as fighting between the military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has escalated.