Ukraine: Evacuated Nigerians arrive Abuja, recount ordeal

By Innocent Duru and Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

• We’ll continue to devote resources for safety of Nigerians – Buhari

• Soyinka, 167 other Nobel Laureates condemn invasion

• UN Rights Council approves probe of Russia

A total of 630 Nigerians including three infants stranded in Ukraine arrived at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday in two batches.

The first batch, comprising 450 evacuees who are mostly students, landed at the private jet terminal of the airport by 7:10 am from Romania via a Max Air flight.

The second batch comprised 180 returnees and three infants.  They arrived via Air Peace from Poland.

They were received by government officials and are expected to undergo documentation after which they will head home and self-isolate in line with the COVID-19 protocols.

A statement by the Head of Media and Public Relations, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abuja, by Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, says the Federal Government on Friday gave all returnees from Ukraine $100 (about N48,000) to ameliorate their sufferings.

Balogun, however, said that the evacuees from Poland could not return on Thursday because their flight was rescheduled for Friday, to arrive Abuja at 2.30p.m

Some of the evacuees from Poland recounted their ordeal escaping from Ukraine. They relived their experiences in a chat with newsmen before departing the Warsaw International Airport, Poland.

One of them, Joseph Chikwado said what was most important to him was his successful crossing from Ukraine into Poland amidst all the challenges as he looked forward to returning to Nigeria.

“It was a very bad experience trying to get across the borders from Ukraine into Poland because of the weather.

“It was very bad and very cold, very long distance, no vehicle to convey us to the borders, we got there pretty late we had to find a way to warm ourselves.

“We are happy we are safe now and getting back to our country, I feel relieved,” Mr Chikwado said.

A student of Dnipro Medical Institute, Ukraine, Kella Wengu, said she was lucky to be on the flight, explaining that the cancelled flight of March 3, gave her the opportunity to make the trip.

She explained that she would have missed the flight as she did not register with the Nigerian Embassy in Poland upon arrival.

“Leaving Ukraine was very tough. I had left my city for over two weeks to go to the capital because there were warnings on the invasion from Russia on social media.

“Coming here, I do not know how I got here, I was going to miss this flight because I did not go to the Embassy to write my name, I got here and was told the plane was filled up, I waited to see if any opportunity arises.

“It is mixed feelings for me, I am not quite happy I am leaving school, Ukraine is my home now because since I arrived it has been great.

“But at the same time, I am safe, I am going home to my loved ones, thank you for the opportunity.”

Another student, Eniola Badejo, appreciated the government’s efforts, but appealed for more information and better coordination as the exercise continued.

“We thank the Federal Government of Nigeria because it has been really tiring, we went through a lot of stress, many of us travelled all the way and we have barely slept.

“We want them to give us more information because we were not given enough information.

“I am just happy to be going back to my family, I feel happy and grateful that I am going back to my parents,” Ms Badejo said.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Poland, Christian Ugwu appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his swift intervention and release of funds to get all stranded Nigerians in Ukraine back home.

Mr Ugwu said the embassy in Poland was on top of the situation and had successfully coordinated the first batch who were being evacuated already.

The ambassador, however, urged all Nigerians who had made it to Poland to ensure they got ready to be evacuated home rather than remain in Poland.

“We have been trying our best to convince the Nigerian students that there is no need to remain here in Poland to constitute nuisance and that the Federal Government is trying their best to make them comfortable.

“And that is why they have made provisions for them to be comfortable in hotels and provided aircraft to convey them back home.

“For those who refused to go, they will be remaining at their own risk.

“We advise parents to try as much as possible to counsel their wards and children that they should come back, when the crisis in Ukraine subsides they can return.

“Remaining in Poland will be a difficult thing for them.

“It is kudos to Nigeria that the President has granted an urgent flight evacuation to these students, he has sent funds and things are moving accordingly.

“And the Nigerian students from Ukraine are happy that they are being treated well and being taken care of,” Mr Ugwu said.

Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, leader of the evacuation exercise from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a chat with newsmen on arrival said:  “There are Nigerians that are left behind because they did not come yesterday.  So some of them thought the flight was not going to come.  So by the time their colleagues were telling them they were already on their way, the reality dawned on them.

“We appeal through the media that parents should tell their children to come. Poland gave them 15 days grace.  They didn’t have visa to Poland but they allowed them and at the same time, you must not abuse that privilege.  The 15 days was going to lapse very soon and they wouldn’t know what will be the next step. So we told them, if you are ready, we would pick you. We had more than 50 that joined us later but we could only take about 25 out of that.”

A Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, made this known on Friday while receiving some Nigerian student escapees from Ukraine at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

He said that the Federal Government was already talking with the government of Poland, Greece, Romania and Hungary to see if the students in their fifth and sixth medical year could go back to the universities in those countries to complete their studies.

Other flights are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as nations battle to evacuate their citizens. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier said about 5, 000 Nigerians are eligible for evacuation from the warring region. The country will spend $8.5m on the exercise.

We’ll continue to devote resources for safety of Nigerians – Buhari

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that his administration would continue to defend the interest of Nigerians wherever they may be.

Buhari made this assertion Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya at a Townhall Meeting with a group of Nigerians resident in the country.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari said his administration had risen up to its responsibility of looking out for distressed Nigerians and their welfare, wherever they are.

His words: “On our part as a government, we shall continue to defend the interests of all Nigerians wherever they may be. We have demonstrated this over time, as we have had cause to evacuate our citizens in harm’s way abroad.

“We did it in Libya, South Africa and we have just commenced doing the same in Ukraine, where thousands of our citizens, especially students, are trapped by the on-going war between Russia and Ukraine,” the President said.

He commended the diasporans in Kenya for the unity that exists among them and peace with their host communities, urging them to respect the laws and be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

President Buhari who was represented at the event by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, reiterated that it was the determination of the current administration to forge a partnership with the ‘Ambassadors-at large’ towards building the country together that led to the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

He expressed delight that the commission had been engaging the diasporans and had also come up with laudable programmes that would appeal to them.

According to the President, as part of his diasporan agenda, “we expect your willingness to ‘give back’ to Nigeria, some of your resources, talents, skills and global exposure in the development of our great country, Nigeria.”

He, therefore, encouraged the ambassadors to key into the programmes of NiDCOM especially the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund whose mandate is holistic for all Nigerians abroad adding that the platform would assist them to expeditiously contribute to the development of their fatherland.

The President assured them that the administration is forging ahead with the provision of critical infrastructure for the collective prosperity of all despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and activities of terrorists.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, appreciated the ambassadors for honouring the invitation, urging them to register with the Commission in order to have an up- to-date database of them for easy interface, adding that working with them, the Nigerian government will build the country of our dreams.

Dr Nicholas Ozor, the president of Nigerians in Diaspora (Kenya) on behalf of the diasporans expressed his appreciation to the President for always meeting with them when he is in the country as this boosts their morale.

UN Rights Council okays probe of Russian invasion

The UN Human Rights Council Friday, voted to launch an investigation into violations committed in Moscow’s Ukraine war.

“The message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has been clear: You’re isolated on a global level and the whole world is against you,” Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko told reporters after the overwhelming vote.

AFP reports that thirty-two of the council’s 47 members voted to establish the highest-level probe possible, in a bid to hold perpetrators responsible.

Only Russia itself and Eritrea voted against, while 13 countries abstained, including Moscow’s traditional backers China, Venezuela, and Cuba.

The heavy blow to Russia came after the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday issued its own powerful rebuke, with a 141-5 vote to deplore Moscow’s invasion and demand an immediate withdrawal.

The council in Geneva also condemned “in the strongest possible terms the human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law resulting from the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”

The text, presented by Kyiv, called for the “swift and verifiable withdrawal of Russian Federation troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine.”

Most importantly, Friday’s vote opens the way to create an independent international commission of inquiry — the highest level probe that can be ordered by the council — “to investigate all alleged violations and abuses… in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”

Soyinka, 167 other Nobel Laureates demand immediate end to Ukraine invasion

Prof. Wole Soyinka and 167 other Nobel Laureates have called for an immediate halt to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The Nobel Laureates, in an open letter, voiced their support for the Ukrainian people and the free and independent state of Ukraine as it faced Russian aggression.

“In a move that recalls the infamous attack of Nazi Germany on Poland in 1939 (using similar tricks of feigned provocation) and on the Soviet Union in 1941, the government of the Russian Federation, led by President Putin, has launched an unprovoked military aggression — nothing else but a war — against its neighbor, Ukraine.

“We choose our words carefully here, for we do not believe the Russian people have a role in this aggression. We join in condemning these military actions and President Putin’s essential denial of the legitimacy of Ukraine’s existence,” they said.

According to them, there is always a peaceful way to resolve disputes, saying that the Russian invasion blatantly violated the United Nations Charter, which says “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

“It ignores the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which obligated Russia and others to respect the sovereignty, independence, and existing borders of Ukraine.

“Russia’s security concerns can be addressed within the framework of the UN Charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, and the 1990 Paris Charter. To make war, as President Putin and his collaborators have done, is an unwarranted, bloody, and unproductive way to a future,” they added.

The Nobel Laureates said the Russian invasion would stain the international reputation of the Russian state for decades to come and that it would pose barriers to its economy and inflict hardships on its population.

They said the sanctions imposed would restrict the ease of movement of its talented and hardworking people in the world.

“Why raise this fence between Russia and the world now? Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers, Russian soldiers, and Ukrainian civilians, including children, have died already. It’s so sad, so unnecessary. We gather in this appeal to call upon the Russian government to stop its invasion of Ukraine and withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

“We respect the calm and the strength of the Ukrainian people. We are with you. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all, Ukrainians and Russians, who have died and been injured already. May peace come to this piece of our beautiful world,” the letter stated.