The Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine has urged citizens in the country to remain calm and be responsible for their own personal security.
It advised those who want to relocate to a safe place to ensure that they validate all their resident documents for ease of return to Ukraine when they desire.
This was contained in a statement, yesterday, following the declaration of State of Emergency and Martial Law by the Ukrainian government over the invasion by Russia.
The statement read, “The attention of the Embassy has been drawn to a declaration of State of Emergency, and Martial Law on the entire territory of Ukraine, except the Donestk and Luhansk regions by the government of Ukraine, effective from mid-night of February 23, 2022, for a period of 30 days as well as the latest development on the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
“With this, regional (OBLAST) Commissions are to decide on the necessary security measures to adopt in strengthening the protection of public order and facilities for the safety of the citizenry and the running of the economy in their domain. It can be restriction of movement, an additional inspection and verification of certain documents of individuals among others. These are preventing measures aimed at ensuring that the country remains calm and the economy continues to function uninterrupted while it lasted.
“In view of the development, the Embassy urges Nigerian nationals resident in Ukraine to remain calm but be very vigilant and responsible for their personal security and safety.
“The Embassy wishes to add that should any Nigerian national consider the situation as emotionally disturbing, such national may wish to 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.
“In addition, 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 the period and/or thereafter.
“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 updates when necessary.”
However, the Federal Government has said measures to keep Nigerians in Ukraine safe and to evacuate those who wish to leave the war-hit country are ongoing.
This was disclosed in a statement titled, ‘Federal Government Reassures Of Its Commitment To The Safety Of Nigerians In Ukraine,’ signed by the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, yesterday.
It read, “The Federal Government has received with surprise, reports of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been reassured by the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine of the safety of Nigerians in that country and measures being undertaken to keep them safe and facilitate the evacuation of those who wish to leave.”
“In the meantime, the Nigerian Mission has confirmed that military action by the Russians has been confined to military installations,” the statement added.
Earlier, the House of Representatives had urged the Federal Government to immediately commence the evacuation of Nigerian citizens living in Ukraine.
This is coming on the heels of the invasion of the country with military onslaught by Russian government.
To this end, the House directed its Majority Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa; and Chairman Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yakub Buba; to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Intelligence Agency and Ukrainian embassy to achieve the purpose.
The House resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved at the plenary, yesterday by Hon. Ahmed Munir.
In his motion, Munir said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was deteriorating.
He said “There is a worsening conflict between Russia and of which the situation is deteriorating by the hour
“We have a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students currently studying in Ukraine of which portions 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”.
The lawmaker then prayed the Committees on Foreign Affairs and diaspora in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of foreign Affairs to ascertain the exact figures of Nigerians affected by this conflict and put in place a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and evaluation mechanism.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila suggested an interface with the ministry, NIA and embassy for immediate evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine.
Gbajabiamila also suggested that should the meeting fail to take urgent decision, the House should immediately contact the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, regardless of the cost and head to Ukraine tomorrow (Friday) and evacuate the students (Monday).
“This is a very important motion that we discussed. Time is of the essence. A state of emergency has been declared, I listened to the news yesterday, and even America said it’s not going to be bloodless. We should be more proactive and I think it’s better late than never. It’s important that at this point to forget all the bureaucratic bottlenecks, and look out for our citizens, especially students.
“Action needs to be taken now and my thought is that leader of the House Hon. Ado Doguwa and Chairman Foreign Affairs, Hon. Buba Yakub should liaise with the ministry foreign affairs, NIA and embassy in Ukraine and if nothing positive comes out of it, then we should liaise with chairman air peace. Whatever it’s going to cost the House, you need to leave this country latest tomorrow and come back on Monday with many of our students”, he said.
Adopting the motion, the speaker mandated the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
However, the House of Representatives is offering to “shoulder immediate evacuations of Nigerian citizens and students from Ukraine” after the Foreign Ministry urged nationals in the country “to be responsible for their safety.”
A message from the official Twitter handle of the parliament said “@HouseNGR offer to shoulder immediate evacuation of Nigerians, students from Ukraine. @HouseNGR leader, Chair, committee on @NigeriaMFA affairs to jet out to Ukraine, Friday.”
A Nigeria student in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, Eldrenna Nwachief, tweeted and said: “I’ve packed my emergency bag up.
“Internet has gone down. Some services are not working. Refugees 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 had 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.”
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.
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 of 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.”
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.