House of Reps demand immediate evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine

Following the ongoing row between the Russian and Ukrainian governments, the House of Representatives has demanded an immediate evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine.

ROYAL NEWS earlier reported that Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine earlier today.

During plenary today February 24, the lower chamber of the National Assembly mandated the leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano), the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Buba Yakub (APC, Adamawa) to liaise with the ministry of foreign affairs to effect the evacuation of Nigerians, offering to foot the bill for the evacuation.

This decision came after the house adopted the motion moved by Ahmed Munir (APC, Kaduna) at the plenary on Thursday. Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said, there is need for Nigeria to evacuate its citizens from the country.

Munir said the lives of Nigerians are at risk as the war might escalate in the coming days, putting Nigerians there in a more precarious situation.

“We have a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students currently studying in Ukraine of which a portion 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” he said.

Responding, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, directed that the House Leader and the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs to be ready for a possible trip to Ukraine.

The Speaker said the House will make an arrangement with Air Peace for possible evacuation of Nigerians particularly students from Ukraine.

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The House, therefore, mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of foreign Affairs to ascertain the exact figures of Nigerians affected by the conflict and seek ways to safely evacuate them.