The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that free visa arrangements are in place for Nigerians arriving from Ukraine through the borders in Romania and Hungary.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, who made this known in a statement yesterday, 27th February 2022, said due to the challenges faced by Nigerians crossing into countries bordering Ukraine, especially the Polish border, the government has arranged accommodation and feeding, pending evacuation.
“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken with his counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine on this unsavory development and both are working on alleviating the suffering of Nigerians including deploying the International Organisation for Migration to the border to ensure easier access to all Nigerians and other nationals”, he said.
He further stated that for now, the movement of Nigerians to the Hungarian Zahony border and Romanian Suceava, Tulcea, Satu Mare County & Maramures borders is advised, as they have approved visa-free access to all Nigerians coming from Ukraine and arrangements for accommodation and feeding before evacuation is arranged.
The Permanent secretary appealed to parents, guardians, and wards of Nigerians in Ukraine to remain calm as the Federal Government of Nigeria is working very hard to get them all home safely.
“Similarly, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Budapest, Hungary in a Public Travel Advisory said, it wishes to inform Nigerian nationals arriving from Ukraine, that the Government of Hungary has enacted Decree 56/2022 (24.11), which permits third-country nationals with valid Ukrainian resident permits to enter Hungary on a temporary basis, without a Schengen visa.
“As such, Nigerians arriving at the Hungary-Ukraine border can enter Hungary, either on transit to Nigeria, or to temporarily reside in the country.”
Aduda further stated that arrangements are underway for the transportation of Nigerian nationals, to enable them stabilize.
“To that effect, therefore, affected Nigerian nationals wishing to be admitted into Hungary are advised to have their travel documents (valid Nigerian passport and Ukrainian resident permit with some money in Euros and cooperate with the Hungarian border authorities.
Affected Nigerian nationals are advised to send their names, phone numbers, email addresses, and a copy of their passport biodata page to the Embassy’s consular email: secretary@nigerianembassy, to enable the facilitation of the aforementioned arrangements.
Story: Ene Ken-Yawe
Media: Aljazeera.com
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