(Meet again : African nationals trapped in Ukraine
But the accusations of racist behavior are multiplying. The Nigerian government on February 28 urged customs authorities in Ukraine and neighboring countries to deal “with dignity” its citizens.
“It is essential that everyone is treated with dignity and without favor”
Garba Shehu, Spokesperson for the Nigerian Presidency
“There have been regrettable reports (that) Ukrainian police and security personnel are refusing to let Nigerians on buses and trains” for Poland, said Nigerian presidential spokesman Garba Shehu.
“In a video circulating widely on social media, a Nigerian mother with her young baby was filmed being physically forced to give up her seat to another person”he continued in a press release.
He refers to videos tweeted by Damilare Arah, a Nigerian fashion specialist, who echoes these testimonies shared tens of thousands of times on social networks.
Nigerian presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said that according to other reports, Polish officials have refused entry into Poland to Nigerian citizens coming from Ukraine.
“It is essential that everyone is treated with dignity and without favor”he insisted.
A group of South Africans, mostly students, remain stranded on the border between Ukraine and Poland, and are victims of “bad treatments” South African Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said.
SA students & other Africans have been badly treated at the #Ukrain/Poland border. Amb J Mngomezulu has driven from Warsaw (5 hours) to go deal with the matter, receive our nationals & offer further support. Amb G Tsengiwe in Hungary is also attending to SANs on his side.
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) February 27, 2022
After many vicissitudes, the South African ambassador to Poland took her car and drove for five hours to the border, to assist two students who were finally able to reach Polish soil.
Ambassador Mngomezulu with students that are now safely in Warsaw & those who crossed into Hungary. 2nd pic credit @ExpatSouth. Other South Africans crossed today whilst others are still being assisted. Work continues. pic.twitter.com/Eyq4QGgIx6
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) February 28, 2022
These accusations of racism were dismissed by Poland’s ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawska.
“Everyone receives equal treatment. I can assure you that according to the information I have, some Nigerian nationals have already crossed the border into Poland”she told local media.
The Polish MEP of the center-right group Renew, Roza Thun, denounces these actions which “if they are true, are shocking”.
According to the Polish ambassador to Nigeria, invalid identity documents are accepted to cross the border and restrictions related to Covid-19 have been lifted. Nigerians have 15 days to leave the country, she added.
Accusations of racism
Some Nigerians, who managed to cross the border, described their journeys in darkness to crowded borders where officials prioritized Ukrainian women and children.
Among them, Stéphanie Agekameh, a medical student now in Poland, affirm that the officials at the Medyka border post dealt first with the Ukrainians. “One of the officers came and told us that it is harder for us foreigners because they have to contact our government in different countries”she explained by telephone message.
Testifying from Korczowa in Poland, Agantem Moshe, a Nigerian management science student, says Ukrainian police are pushing Africans out of the way to make way for women and children. “On the Polish side (of the border) it went smoothly, they were professional. In Ukraine, they left us outside in the cold”he explained.
Since the beginning of the Russian offensive, more than 500,000 Ukrainians have reached neighboring countries, half of which have joined Poland, according to the UN.
So far, more than 260 Nigerians have been received by embassies, scattered between Romania, Hungary and Poland. Nearly 200 more are expected on February 28, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We assure Nigerians that all resources are being mobilized and arrangements are in place to effectively evacuate our citizens in safety and dignity.“said Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama
1/2 We understand how difficult things are at the border. We are reaching high authorities in those countries and the International Organization for Migration to assist our people suffering at the borders.
— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) February 27, 2022
The director of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, communicated the points on the border with Slovakia which were open to Nigerian nationals and transmitted the telephone numbers of personnel who must come to the aid of the hundreds of students trying to flee Ukraine via Poland and Hungary.
Solutions are in place
The Ghanaian government meanwhile said it would meet the parents of students stranded in Ukraine and sent embassy officials to border crossings to help them.
Côte d’Ivoire, which has about 500 nationals in Ukraine according to local media, also said it was making arrangements for their evacuation.
The Malian government also affirms its concern about the situation of its nationals who are trying to leave Ukraine, as can be read in this press release published on Sunday.
According to the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 201 Kenyans are in Ukraine, mostly students. He said last week that they were all safe, although some are still stuck at the Polish border due to visa restrictions.
Lukmon Busari, a Nigerian accountant, is relieved that his son, a medical student, was able to cross the border after waiting overnight.
“The Polish authorities have done a wonderful job. He left on Thursday the 24th, arrived at the border the same evening, and entered Poland on the 25th. We are trying to see how we can get a flight for him to come back. in Nigeria”.
A Nigerian student expresses his relief to have arrived in Poland and thanks the authorities for their help.