Ukraine: FG speaks on measures to evacuate Nigerians

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, on Thursday.

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.”

Earlier, the Federal Government had called for calm after failure to evacuate its citizens in the war zone of Ukraine.

Recall that the United States, France, and the United Kingdom had earlier evacuated some of their citizens after giving a strict order that their nationals should leave immediately.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema began to call for calm on Thursday.

Onyema said: “We are not going to be taking chances and we’ve agreed to ask all Nigerians to stay in their residences. What we’re going to be doing is that when the air space opens, the [Nigerian] embassies assist in helping those who are ready and willing to leave the country…”

Recall that Ukraine already closed its air space on Wednesday after declaring a national state of emergency.