Reps Call For Immediate Evacuation Of Nigerians In Ukraine

The House of Representatives has demanded an immediate evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine following the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday a military operation in Ukraine with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning that a “full-scale invasion” was underway.

Lawmakers are, however, concerned that there are many Nigerian students in Ukraine who could be caught in the crossfire.

At plenary on Thursday, the lower chamber of the National Assembly mandated the leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano), the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Buba Yakub (APC, Adamawa) to liaise with the ministry of foreign affairs on the issue.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Ahmed Munir (APC, Kaduna) at the plenary.

Munir said the lives of Nigerians are at risk as the war might escalate in the coming days, putting Nigerians there in a more precarious situation.

He said: “We have a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students currently studying in Ukraine of which a portion are under government scholarships.

“This is in addition to a number of Nigerian diplomats and their families in the Kiev embassy and Nigerian expatriates across Ukraine.

“If a strategic plan is not put in place to secure and provide safe passage for our citizens, they may be trapped or worse, harmed”.

However while some lawmakers fear that it may be too late as the evacuation should have been done long ago, speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila directed that the House Leader and the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs to be ready for a possible trip to Ukraine.

Femi Gbajabiamila also told the lawmakers to interact with the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema to evacuate Nigerians from Ukraine on or before Monday, February 28.