FG Summons Russia and Ukraine Envoys as stranded Nigerians seek evacuation

By Yusuf Adua

Owing to the ongoing blitz of major Ukrainian cities and essential facilities, Nigerian residents in the country have appealed to the government of Nigeria to evacuate them as quickly as possible.

News Live Nigeria understands that Russia declared a military offensive against Ukraine on Thursday, 24th February 2022, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said more than 137 civilians had lost their lives.

According to The UN’s refugee agency, over 90,000 Ukrainians have been displaced while tens of thousands have to scurry for safety to neighboring European nations.

Consequently, it looks like the world powers’ generality has stood against Russia lately; NATO has announced sweeping sanctions on Russia, and the UEFA Champions League final billed for St Petersburg has been moved to Paris.

Nigerians plying their trades or earning a living in Ukraine have cried for help.

In the last couple of days, bombs and missiles have incessantly dropped on military armory and residential buildings, particularly in Kyiv and Kharkiv, where the majority of Nigerians live.

A Nigerian who abides with Ukraine, Obinna Ezugwu, told journalists that though his city of residence (Sumy City) has not been affected, he, alongside other Nigerians, lives in sheer panic and sleep in basements to avoid Russian bombs.
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‘At the moment, we survive with the cash in our hands and worry that once the money runs out and supplies stop coming, our evacuation plight might be ridiculous,’ he further said.

Obinna added that they were set to depart for Poland, but it looked as though the border was closed, and cars were not moving because of the state of emergency imposed:

The president of the Nigerian Students Union in Lviv, Anjola Ero-Phillips, told Al Jazeera that despite the severity of this international aggression, the government of Nigeria or its embassy in Ukraine had shown no genuine interest in their safety.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday requested the presence of the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to Nigeria, Alexei Shebarshin and Kirdoda Valerii, respectively, for the evacuation of Nigerians from both countries.

Also, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said after holding separate meetings with the envoys of the two nations that the Government of Nigeria could not condone as a country, the violation of the territorial integrity of a United Nations member state, a country with which Nigeria has diplomatic relations.