A few days after the Romanian and Hungarian governments granted visa-free access to Nigerians in Ukraine, the federal government of Nigeria has scheduled Wednesday, February 2nd march for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Ukraine amidst Russia’s bombardment, killings, and destruction of properties.
This was disclosed shortly after a joint meeting with the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, and members of the House of Representatives, chaired by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
However, the Federal Government had earlier announced that indigenous Nigerian airlines, Air Peace and Max Air, would begin evacuating Nigerians who have safely crossed from Ukraine into neighboring countries this week.
It will be recalled that the war tie between Russia and Ukraine began when Ukraine, an Eastern European country, proposed joining NATO, a military alliance founded in 1949 by the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and eight other European nations.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin of Russia demanded that NATO prohibit Ukraine from joining its alliance, claiming the action is to protect its interests and territory from NATO forces. Both parties, however, rejected the demands.
However, many countries, organizations, and businesses around the world have threatened to boycott Russia, while others have imposed sanctions to halt the current invasion, which is causing deaths and property destruction in Ukraine.
Therefore, it will be dangerous for Nigerians to be in the country as Russia’s defense ministry has urged residents of Kyiv to flee, threatening to strike unspecified areas used by Ukraine’s security services and communications. Russia refers to its attack on Ukraine as a “special operation” rather than an invasion-seeking territory.
