The timely evacuation of Nigerians who fled Sudan may have suffered a blow and embarrassed the country as some citizens tried to sneak into Egypt without passports or alternative travel documents.
Reports reaching us on Friday, say the the authorities sent hundreds of students back to the war-torn country after checking passports or Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs).
Though those without the documents were asked to wait pending when an ETC will be generated, two students tried to beat security checks at the airport.
In a voice note on the situation, a Nigerian official said citizens got impatient, forcefully joined their colleagues and disappeared.
The official noted that the attitude had “spoiled the efforts that the Federal Government is putting in place to airlift them”.
“Students with passports were allowed to move to the Egypt airport. Those that do not have were asked to wait…an ETC will be issued as a formal document for them to travel.
“Out of impatience, two students without passports or ETC sneaked in. They were discovered at the Aswan airport. Egyptian authorities are angry.”
The update added that over 500 Nigerians have been turned back. They now need to get an exit permit and then get another permit back to Egypt.