The Federal Government has disclosed that about 2,090 Nigerians will return home to Nigeria from Ukraine on Thursday, following the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian government.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that these stranded Nigerians had indicated interest to return to their country after escaping to neigbouring Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, disclosed that the chartered flights will depart on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to pick up Nigerian evacuees back home.
He said: “The capacity and route of the airlines are as follows: Max Air to Romania 560 persons, Air Peace to Poland 364 persons and Air Peace to Hungary 360 persons.
Mr Aduda also assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is working round the clock to bring back Nigerians home safely.
Recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffey Onyeama, intimating him on the need to hurriedly evacuate Nigerinas out of the troubled region.
Responding, Mr Onyeama, assured that things were under control in Ukraine, as the Federal Government had put necessary arrangements in place to ensure the safe return of Nigerians.
He disclosed that in the last few days, the ministry in conjunction with the missions had completed formalities for Nigerians to move to safe border points from where they would be transported in buses to the airports in neighbouring countries.
He listed Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and even Russia, among the countries to be used as exit points.
The minister, who said there were about 5,600 Nigerian students in Ukraine, added that there were also non-students, some of whom might not have been legally documented.
Mr Onyeama dismissed reports that Africans, particularly Nigerians, were not allowed to leave Ukraine or granted access into the neighbouring countries, blaming the chaos at some of the borders on “panic” and the fact that so many people were rushing at the time on hearing the sound of bombs and artillery fire.
“Where we are now is the point of ascertaining the exact number we are dealing with and to agree on the location for the evaluation.
“We are thinking Bucharest; but all of this is being sorted out and we are constantly working to ensure that everything goes on very smoothly,” the minister added.
Mr Onyeama also explained that the delay in evacuating Nigerians wasn’t because the government wasn’t ready or didn’t know what to do.
According to him, “80% to 90%” of countries and people did not believe that Russia would indeed invade Ukraine.
“I was in touch with our ambassador early enough and he assured us that there was no need for evacuation. The students even said there was no problem at all.
“Also, the Ukrainian government did not want people to leave, and especially because most of our people are students, who will not be able to go back to Ukraine again, should they leave,” Mr Onyeama further stated.
