Sudan: Egypt gives Nigeria tough conditions to cross border

Egypt has given Nigeria stringent conditions for stranded Nigerians to cross its border, The PUNCH has learnt.

The first set of 637 Nigerian students evacuated from Sudan are stranded at the Egyptian border with the war-torn country.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, who spoke Sunday, said the Egyptian authorities had not opened its border with Sudan for the students three days after their arrival.

Onyeama said the Egyptian authorities had insisted on clearing all the 637 Nigerians before they could be allowed entry into their country.

He explained that the Federal Government might move the students to Port Sudan for evacuation if Egypt delayed further.

Meanwhile, in a message sent by Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt, Nura Rimi, and sighted by our correspondent on Monday, the approval to be granted for the evacuation of Nigerians through Egypt, with stringent conditions and guidelines are: “Details and schedule of the aircraft; capacity of the aircraft; a strong pledge that once our citizens depart the border, they will be conveyed directly to the designated airport.”

Others are: “Comprehensive list of the evacuees, with passport numbers; valid travel documents (passport or ETC); the presence of Nigerian government officials at the points of embarkation; and standby buses that will immediately convey them to the airport.” Punch