Reps intervenes as embassy washes hands off 4,000 Nigerian students in Ukraine

The Federal House of Representatives has risen to the occasion as the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine has literally washed its hands off Nigerians in the embattled European country.

Ukraine earlier Thursday came under artillery bombardment by its war-mongering Russian neighbour, following a diplomatic face-off.

While many countries have evacuated, and some still evacuating, their citizens from the endangered nation, the Nigerian government, through the embassy in Ukraine, merely issued an advisory telling Nigerians they were solely responsible for their individual security and safety.

The embassy wrote in the advisory: “The embassy urges Nigerian nationals resident in Ukraine to remain calm, but be very vigilant and be responsible for their personal security and safety.”

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM understands that there is a huge population of Nigerians living in Ukraine, of which no fewer than 4,000 are students in various higher institutions.

“In case of students seeking such temporary relocation, they are enjoined to seek proper clearance and guarantee from their respective institutions, authorities/agents on the way forward in respect to their studies during this period and/or thereafter.

“For those who still consider it appropriate to remain in the country, be assured that the embassy remains open for its consular duties and responsibilities at all times.

“It will always avail you of updates when necessary,” the embassy advised.

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It further encouraged Nigerians, who do not feel safe in their current locations, to make private arrangements to move to places they consider safer.

“The embassy wishes to add that should any of Nigerian nationals consider the situation as emotionally disturbing, such nationals may wish to temporarily relocate to anywhere considered safe by private arrangements they should, however, ensure that they do all the needful to validate all their resident documents for ease of return to the country when desired.”

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science in 2020, of the 76,548 international students in Ukraine, 4,227 are Nigerians, the fifth highest international student population.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is offering to “shoulder immediate evacuations of Nigerian citizens and students from Ukraine”.

A message from the official Twitter handle of the parliament said “@HouseNGR offer to shoulder immediate evacuation of Nigerians, students from Ukraine.

“@HouseNGR leader, Chair, committee on @NigeriaMFA affairs to jet out to Ukraine, Friday.”

Following on the heels of the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine’s advisory, some of the students have taken their fate in their hands.

Eldrenna Nwachief, a Nigeria student in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital tweeted: “I’ve packed my emergency bag up. “Internet has gone down. Some services are not working. Refugees camp hasn’t been set up yet, but we’re waiting for a signal to move.”