Russia-Ukraine crisis: FG directs fleeing Nigerians to four Polish borders, over 100 escape war - Newstrends
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Russia-Ukraine crisis: FG directs fleeing Nigerians to four Polish borders, over 100 escape war

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Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Amid Russian military’s continued invasion of Ukraine on the orders of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, the Federal Government has directed Nigerians fleeing Ukraine to four Polish borders for their safety.

Some officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Poland, Warsaw, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that over 100 Nigerians had crossed into the Polish border.

The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a viral video on Saturday said out of the eight borders between Poland and Ukraine, four had been recommended for Nigerians to use.

She also advised Nigerians to move in groups so they could account for one another in the journey towards the border. She asked those in Eastern Ukraine to endeavour to move closer to the border, especially Western Ukraine, through train or bus.

She cautioned that moving towards the border could come with its own dangers, but that it was important for affected Nigerians to keep their passports and their student visa as they ply the routes towards the border.

Dabiri-Erewa added, “For Nigerians in Ukraine trying to cross to Poland, there are eight borders between Poland and Ukraine, four borders are recommended; these are the four borders: Hrebenne – Rava Ruska; Korczowa – Krakovets; Medyka – Shehyni; Budomierz – Hurszew.”

She stressed that Nigerian volunteer groups as well as staff of the Nigerian Embassy would be at the borders to help them out. She noted that Nigerians in parts of Ukraine that were not directly affected by the invasion should stay where they were, adding that the commission’s website contained all relevant information, including numbers to call.

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In the advisory she issued, she stated, “Students should make every effort to get to the Ukrainian- Polish border or Ukrainian – Romanian border. It is vital that students move in groups. There is power in number. Groups should ensure that they are safe and accounted for. Students from Eastern Ukraine should make their best effort to reach a city in Western Ukraine. The closer you are to the border, the better.

“When going to the border, your options are via train or bus. Both routes come with risk factors. Trains from Lviv to the Polish border are free. However, there are many people trying this route. Do not be discouraged but try your best to enter the right train. Coaches/buses from Lviv can take you to Poland. You will need to have all your documentation with you. Please continue to stay in groups. Keep your passports and student visa on you at all times.”

Similarly, a public notice by the Embassy of Nigeria in Warsaw, Poland, assured Nigerians that the government had made necessary arrangements with the Polish government in order to ease the admission of Nigerians into Poland.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Poland, Christian Ugwu, stated, “The embassy staff and volunteers are stationed at the Polish – Ukrainian Border with bus and vans to pick up Nigerians from the border points.”

Some embassy officials told one of our correspondents on Saturday evening that the embassy was in the process of moving Nigerians from the borders to the Poland’s capital city.

An official said, “What we are currently working on is to get Nigerians from the crowded borders to safety in Warsaw. Too many people are moving into the country from Ukraine, including Nigerians and other nationalities.”

Another credible source at the Nigerian Embassy in Warsaw said although he could not ascertain the total number of Nigerians that had moved from Ukraine into Poland, estimates showed that there were over 100 of them.

He added, “We cannot ascertain the total number of Nigerians that have entered Poland from Ukraine at the moment, however, from our observation, we could infer that there are hundreds of them scattered across the various borders between Poland and Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, in addition to the efforts made by the Federal Government on the issue, officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Poland, also noted that no fewer than 100 Nigerians have made their way through the Polish borders.

The Chairperson of NIDOP, Dr Tade Omotosho, said the organisation was working closely with the Federal Government to accommodate Nigerians who had successfully crossed the border.

He said in a brief phone interview with one of our correspondents that the government had established an arrangement that had given Nigerians in Ukraine access to Poland.

He added, “As I speak to you I have about 20 (Nigerians) in my house. By my count, there are still 20 that I know but there are still more. It is tense, it is difficult but we are ensuring that every Nigerian seeking solace is being attended to.

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“Nigerians in Poland have been very helpful. The Nigerian government has been helpful, but in my opinion the response was quite late. The passports were stamped at the border; I believe they were granted entry on humanitarian grounds. We are also talking to lawyers to get them legalized (stay) in Poland.”

An official of NIDOP, Frank Okonkwo, also noted that over 100 Nigerians have crossed the border into Poland.

He said, “It is a full-blown war, we are doing our best to help our people who are stranded in Ukraine to be able to exit to Poland, Romania, Sloviakia and Moldova. I particularly advise that they should try other countries instead of Poland because the country’s (Poland) border is saturated at the moment. We have more than 150,000 refugees including Nigerians and other nationalities.

“I could say tentatively over 100 or more have been able to cross (into Poland), but some people are not staying very close to the border. Most of them are struggling to find their way to the border. A lot of them are still in Kyiv and are asking questions about how they will get to the border. It is pertinent that they use their Google map. The bombing is getting too much, else they would stranded in the city.”

He asked the Federal Government to assist the stranded citizens to book a hotel before they can get a connecting flight to Nigeria.

An executive member of NIDOP, who identified himself as Remi, also stressed that fleeing Nigerians would have to make efforts to cross from the Ukrainian side to Poland before NIDOP could pick them up.

He noted that there was no form of racial discrimination from the Ukrainian Immigration as all Africans were allowed to go through.

He added, “They were not focused on ethnicity. We discovered that at 12pm, they started giving priority to women and children which is normal during a crisis of such. Children of 16 years and below are allowed to go through.”

He noted that NIDOP had made arrangement for accommodation and feeding and that those who have crossed to Poland would be sheltered for two days after which they are expected to be on their way to Lagos.

In its response to the crisis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said Nigerians who were stuck in Ukraine would be evacuated through the embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

It was earlier reported that the Speaker, House of Representatives called on a private airline, Air Peace, to help in evacuating stranded students from Ukraine.

A high-rise apartment block was hit by a missile overnight in Kyiv as fighting raged between Russian attackers and Ukrainian forces, officials said Saturday.

Emergency services said the number of victims was “being specified” and that an evacuation was underway.

The Polish Deputy Interior Minister, Pawel Szefernaker, said 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine.

However, Ukrainian Health Minister, Viktor Lyashko, said that 198 people, including three children, had died since the Russian invasion into the country on Thursday, February 24, adding that 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded.

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Fleeing citizens allege racism at bus, train stations

Meanwhile, some of the fleeing Nigerians and their relatives who spoke Sunday PUNCH have alleged racism and passport seizure by Ukrainians also trying to flee.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, had said that while the country was concerned about the safety of the 5,600 Nigerians in Ukraine, rescuing them in the middle of the Russian aggression might be risky. He added that Ukrainian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kirdoda Valerii, assured him that there was no discrimination between Ukrainians and foreigners in the safety measures.

But some fleeing Nigerians in separate interviews with our correspondent on Saturday stated otherwise. One of them, who preferred to be identified as Omotoyinbo, said he found it difficult to enter a bus en route to the border as children, women, Ukrainians and other white people were prioritised.

“It has actually not been easy. Imagine having to struggle with racism during a war. My friends and I were trying to board a bus because the driver of the car we hired at first said he could not get to the borders. The first bus we tried boarding; we were told children and women were being prioritised until we saw white folks entering and we the black folks were left behind.

“Things are getting intense and everyone is trying to escape. This is the moment when humanity should prevail but we can’t even get out of here because of racism. Some Nigerians in Poland have contacted us but we need to get out of here first.”

Another affected person, Blessing Inyang, said, “I am stranded at Lviv train station right now.

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NNPCL Slashes Petrol Price By Up To ₦80, Sells At ₦1,325 Per Litre In Abuja

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NNPC Petrol Discount: Motorists Must Download App to Save ₦66 Per Litre

NNPCL Slashes Petrol Price By Up To ₦80, Sells At ₦1,325 Per Litre In Abuja

 

ABUJA — Motorists in Abuja have received some relief following a downward adjustment in petrol pump prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with its retail outlets now dispensing the product at ₦1,325 per litre in parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

 

The reduction, which followed a recent adjustment in the petrol pricing structure by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, represents a decrease of between ₦45 and ₦80 per litre compared with the previous prices charged by NNPCL retail outlets.

 

According to a report by DAILY POST published on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, a market survey showed that NNPCL filling stations in Abuja and neighbouring areas had adjusted their pump prices from between ₦1,370 and ₦1,405 to ₦1,325 per litre.

 

The new price was reportedly implemented at the company’s retail outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway.

 

A fuel attendant at one of the affected NNPCL filling stations confirmed the development, explaining that the downward adjustment took effect on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The latest reduction comes amid renewed movements in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, where changes in the prices of petrol supplied by domestic refineries and depot operators continue to influence retail pump prices.

 

Barely two days before the adjustment, Dangote Petroleum Refinery reportedly reduced its petrol gantry price to ₦1,215 per litre, prompting expectations that filling stations would review their retail prices downward.

 

The development had raised hopes among motorists that the reduction in the refinery’s wholesale price would translate into cheaper petrol at filling stations across the country.

 

However, the impact has not been uniform across locations, as petrol prices continue to fluctuate among different marketers.

 

In Lagos, for instance, separate market checks reported by Vanguard showed that NNPCL and MRS filling stations were selling petrol at approximately ₦1,360 per litre, while some independent marketers charged between ₦1,365 and ₦1,370.

 

The differing prices highlight the competitive and changing nature of Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market.

Although the latest adjustment offers some relief to motorists patronising the affected NNPCL outlets in Abuja, it remains unclear whether the company will extend the new price to all its filling stations nationwide.

For now, motorists in Abuja can take advantage of the reduced price at the affected outlets, while consumers elsewhere will have to monitor developments in their respective locations as petroleum marketers continue to adjust their pump prices.

 

NNPCL Slashes Petrol Price By Up To ₦80, Sells At ₦1,325 Per Litre In Abuja

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Dogo Gide Throws Spanner in Islamic State’s Expansion Plans, Forces Terrorists to Retreat in North-West Nigeria

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Dogo Gide

Dogo Gide Throws Spanner in Islamic State’s Expansion Plans, Forces Terrorists to Retreat in North-West Nigeria

 

A notorious Nigerian bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide, has reportedly emerged as a major obstacle to the expansion of the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) in north-western Nigeria, after confronting the terror group over attempts to establish control in territories dominated by armed bandit groups.

 

The development represents another significant dimension of the increasingly complicated security situation in northern Nigeria, where criminal bandit groups and internationally affiliated terrorist organisations are competing for territorial influence, recruits and control of local communities.

 

According to a report published by Daily Post on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, security analyst Brant Philip disclosed that Dogo Gide had frustrated the Islamic State’s expansion efforts following a confrontation with its fighters around the middle of 2026.

 

Philip, in an analysis shared on X, reportedly explained that ISSP had spent the past two years attempting to establish stronger relationships with armed groups operating across Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger states.

 

The organisation reportedly approached several bandit groups, seeking to persuade their members to abandon their existing criminal networks, embrace its extremist ideology and become part of its wider terrorist campaign.

 

While some groups in Zamfara and Sokoto reportedly accepted the overtures and joined the Islamic State’s network, others resisted the attempts to bring them under its control.

 

Philip further disclosed that ISSP fighters had defeated several bandit groups in northern Zamfara, subsequently taking over their camps, weapons and vehicles.

 

However, the group’s expansion reportedly encountered a formidable challenge when its fighters came into confrontation with Dogo Gide, one of the most influential bandit warlords operating in north-western Nigeria.

 

According to the analyst, Gide’s resistance presented one of the most significant obstacles to the Islamic State’s efforts to extend its influence into the region.

 

Dogo Gide’s confrontation with ISSP is particularly significant given his previous associations with jihadist groups operating in Nigeria.

 

A January 2026 research publication by the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at the United States Military Academy, West Point, examined the complicated relationship between powerful bandit leaders and jihadist organisations seeking to expand their influence in Nigeria.

 

The study, titled Kachallas and Kinship: Understanding Jihadi Expansion and Diffusion in Nigeria, identified Dogo Gide as an influential warlord whose relationship with extremist groups had historically been opportunistic rather than based on firm ideological commitment.

 

Researchers explained that Gide had previously maintained relationships with jihadist factions, including Ansaru and the faction led by Sadiku, while using such associations to strengthen his influence among fellow bandits and in his dealings with local communities.

 

However, the relationship eventually deteriorated as the jihadist groups attempted to extend their authority over territories controlled by his fighters.

 

The research documented confrontations between Gide’s group and Ansaru in 2024, as well as clashes with Sadiku’s faction in early 2025.

 

According to accounts cited by the researchers, the jihadists wanted Gide to embrace their ideology and surrender control of his territory, but he rejected the demands, insisting that outsiders could not take over areas controlled by local armed groups.

 

The study further explained that Gide had become increasingly determined to protect his territorial influence against jihadist encroachment.

 

The Islamic State Sahel Province is an affiliate of the global Islamic State terrorist organisation, with its traditional operational strongholds across parts of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

 

However, the group has increasingly sought to extend its activities into north-western Nigeria, exploiting insecurity, weak border controls and existing networks of armed groups.

 

Security assessments by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have also identified the growing activities of ISSP in Nigeria, particularly through its connections with militant networks operating around the Niger-Nigeria border.

 

The group’s activities have raised concerns about the possible convergence of Sahel-based terrorist organisations and Nigeria’s longstanding banditry crisis.

 

Research by the Combating Terrorism Center has similarly highlighted how jihadist organisations attempt to establish relationships with local armed groups to gain access to territory, recruits, resources and logistical support.

 

However, the researchers cautioned that powerful bandit leaders are not necessarily willing to surrender their independence or territorial authority to foreign or externally based extremist organisations.

 

The reported confrontation involving Dogo Gide illustrates the complex relationship between banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s north-west.

 

Although both criminal bandits and jihadist organisations engage in armed violence, kidnapping and attacks on communities, their objectives and interests are not necessarily identical.

 

For powerful warlords such as Gide, maintaining territorial control and influence over local armed networks remains a major consideration.

 

Consequently, attempts by jihadist organisations to impose ideological authority or absorb independent bandit groups can trigger violent resistance.

 

Nevertheless, resistance from powerful bandit leaders does not automatically eliminate the threat posed by jihadist organisations.

 

The January 2026 West Point study specifically cautioned that although Dogo Gide has the capacity to complicate jihadist expansion in core bandit territories, extremist networks could continue establishing themselves in other parts of western Nigeria.

 

For Nigeria’s security agencies, the emerging situation presents another challenge in the fight against insecurity: confronting criminal banditry while preventing internationally affiliated terrorist organisations from exploiting existing armed networks to establish deeper roots in the country.

 

The reported confrontation between Dogo Gide and ISSP therefore underscores an important reality: the battle for influence in north-western Nigeria is no longer simply between security forces and bandits, but increasingly involves competing armed organisations seeking control of the region.

 

 

Dogo Gide Throws Spanner in Islamic State’s Expansion Plans, Forces Terrorists to Retreat in North-West Nigeria

 

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₦50,000 Relief Fund: FG Reveals Criteria for Selecting Beneficiaries

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₦50,000 Relief Fund: FG Reveals Criteria for Selecting Beneficiaries

₦50,000 Relief Fund: FG Reveals Criteria for Selecting Beneficiaries

The Federal Government has explained how beneficiaries will be selected for its ₦50,000 cash relief programme, clarifying that the intervention is targeted at poor and vulnerable households identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register (NSR).

The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to provide financial support to households struggling with rising living costs.

Under the initiative, selected beneficiaries will receive a one-off grant of ₦50,000 directly into mobile wallets operated by approved payment providers.

According to the government, the selection process involves screening information from verified national identity records and the National Social Register to identify households that meet the programme’s vulnerability requirements.

The National Social Register is a database of poor and vulnerable households across the country, while national identity records are used to verify the identities of prospective beneficiaries.

The government said the exercise is based on need and is designed to cover Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

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However, it stressed that inclusion in the relevant databases does not automatically mean that everyone will receive the payment in the first phase, as disbursement will be carried out in batches.

The government also clarified that there is no public application process for the ₦50,000 grant. Individuals cannot independently register or pay to be included in the beneficiary list, and no official or intermediary is authorised to sell access to the programme.

How selected beneficiaries will receive the ₦50,000

The Federal Government outlined a four-step process through which selected Nigerians will access the financial support.

First, beneficiaries will receive an SMS notification from one of the five approved payment providers: ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint.

Recipients will then be required to confirm their willingness to participate by following the instructions in the message. The government said payment will not be made without the beneficiary’s consent.

After confirmation, a mobile wallet will be opened and linked to the beneficiary’s phone number and National Identification Number (NIN).

The sum of ₦50,000 will subsequently be credited to the wallet, after which the recipient can withdraw the money through a Point of Sale (POS) agent, access it at a bank where applicable, or spend it directly from the wallet.

The government said beneficiaries do not need a smartphone or internet connection to access the funds, as the approved providers have USSD options that work on basic mobile phones.

The designated codes include 94523# for ALAT, 6710# for MoMo PSB, 72600# for NairaGram, 95520# for OPay and 557327# for Moniepoint.

Beneficiaries are expected to follow the instructions sent by their respective providers.

FG warns Nigerians against fraud

The government has warned Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters seeking to exploit the relief programme by demanding money or sensitive personal information.

It emphasised that participation in the programme, acceptance of the grant and receipt of the ₦50,000 payment are free.

According to the official guidelines, genuine notifications will come from the approved payment providers and will not ask recipients to pay a fee, disclose their Personal Identification Number (PIN), share a One-Time Password (OTP), or click suspicious links.

The government urged Nigerians never to disclose their PINs, OTPs or passwords to anyone, including payment agents or individuals claiming to be programme officials.

It also warned that anyone offering to add a person to the beneficiary list, speed up payment or release the grant in exchange for money is attempting to defraud them.

Beneficiaries who are unsure about the authenticity of a message have been advised to contact the programme’s official helpline on 0700-022-2222.

Why some Nigerians may not have received the money

The government explained that the payments are being made in phases, meaning selected beneficiaries will not necessarily receive their notifications at the same time.

It also clarified that the programme is supporting a limited number of households in each phase, so not everyone will be selected immediately.

Those who have not received an SMS should therefore not automatically conclude that they have been excluded from every future phase.

The Federal Government said the full ₦50,000 grant would be credited to selected beneficiaries without deductions. The money is a grant, not a loan, and recipients are not required to repay it.

The intervention is part of the government’s efforts to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable households amid continuing economic pressures.

 

₦50,000 Relief Fund: FG Reveals Criteria for Selecting Beneficiaries

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