Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Thursday, offered to fund the immediate evacuation of citizens and students from Ukraine.
The House of Representatives committee chairman of foreign affairs, is scheduled to be in Ukraine on Friday.
A message from the official Twitter handle of the parliament said “@HouseNGR offers to shoulder immediate evacuation of Nigerians, students from Ukraine.
“@HouseNGR leader, Chair, committee on @NigeriaMFA affairs to jet out to Ukraine, Friday.”
Eldrenna Nwachief, a Nigerian student in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, tweeted and said: “I’ve packed my emergency bag up.
“Internet has gone down. Some services are not working. Refugee camp hasn’t been set up yet, but we’re waiting for a signal to move.”
The Nigerian government has issued an advisory to its citizens in Ukraine, saying they are “responsible for their personal security and safety.”
The Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine said: “The embassy urges Nigerian nationals resident in Ukraine to remain calm, but be very vigilant and be responsible for their personal security and safety.”
The statement also asked students seeking temporary relocation to seek proper clearance and guarantee from their respective institutions, authorities/agents.
“In case of students seeking such temporary relocation, they are enjoined to seek proper clearance and guarantee from their respective institutions, authorities/agents on the way forward in respect to their studies during this period and/or thereafter,” the embassy told students.
“For those who still consider it appropriate to remain in the country, be assured that the embassy remains open for its consular duties and responsibilities at all times.
“It will always avail you of updates when necessary”, it said.
It also advised Nigerians, who do not feel safe in their current locations, to make private arrangements to move to places they consider safer.
“The embassy wishes to add that should any Nigerian nationals consider the situation as emotionally disturbing, such nationals may wish to temporarily relocate to anywhere considered safe by private arrangements. They should, however, ensure that they do all the needful to validate all their resident documents for ease of return to the country when desired.”
The notice comes as Russian President, Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a “full-scale invasion” was underway.
There are thousands of Nigerians living in Ukraine, many of whom are students in various higher institutions in the country numbering into 4,000, according to official records.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science in 2020, of the 76,548 international students in Ukraine, 4,227 are Nigerians, the fifth highest international student population.
It could be recalled that, Russian forces launched a major military assault on Ukraine, with reports of explosions near major cities across the country.
The development followed failure of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.
