The Nigerian House of Representatives has mandated its committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ascertain the exact numbers of Nigerians affected by the conflict in Ukrain.
The House also demanded the institution of a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and evaluation mechanism to avert any unforeseen circumstances.
Urgent public importance
These were the resolution of a motion under matters of urgent public importance on the need to evacuate Nigerian Students in Ukrain.
Presenting the motion, Ahmed Munnir from Kaduna State expressed concern that if a strategic plan is not put in place to secure and provide safe passage for Nigerians in Kiev, they may be trapped or harmed.
“Notes that 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.
Early morning military offensive
Concerned that 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,” Munnir stated.
The motion followed an early morning military offensive against Ukrain by the Russian Forces, seen as a major war in Europe.
There are over four thousand Nigerians living in Ukraine, many of whom are students in various higher institutions in the country.
Lateefah Ibrahim
