The Federal Government has declared that Air Peace and Max Air will begin evacuating Nigerians from Ukraine on Wednesday.
Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, mentioned this during a meeting with Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Monday.
According to Onyeama, the evacuation will go place after President Muhammadu Buhari has given his consent.
Because Ukraine is currently at war with Russia and has a no-fly zone in place over the nation, the evacuation is expected to take place from neighboring countries.
Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Nigerian embassies in Poland, Hungary, and Romania had welcomed hundreds of Nigerians.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, Nigerians have continued to leave the country.
On Monday, all parties began talks, although fighting has continued in Ukrainian cities.
Many Nigerian students in Ukraine have asked for assistance in getting out of the crisis zone.
The country’s embassy in Ukraine encouraged citizens to take responsibility for their own security at first but has subsequently changed its mind.
The Nigerian embassy in Romania hosted 130 Nigerians on Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry said in a statement that it has also supplied them with lodging while plans are being made to transport them back home.
“Also, officials at Budapest, Hungary have received and accommodated 74 Nigerians safely, where they are being documented for subsequent travel arrangements back to Nigeria,” the statement, signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda read
He claims that another group of roughly 200 Nigerians will arrive in Budapest later today. He further stated that 52 people were received in Warsaw, Poland. At the Polish Government Reception Point in Hala Kijowska, 23 of them are being processed.
“The camp is well-organized,” the statement continued, “with mattresses and beddings, food, heating, clothing, and medical services for evacuees.”
“We tell Nigerians that all hands are on deck, and plans are being put in place to safely and dignifiedly evacuate our compatriots.”
The Federal Government’s recent action was in response to Russia’s five-day invasion of Ukraine. The ministry announced on Sunday that the Hungarian and Romanian governments had agreed to allow Nigerians from the Eastern European country to enter the country without a visa.
“For now, movement to the Hungarian Zahony border and Romanian Suceava, Tulcea, Satu Mare County & Maramures borders is advised, as they have approved visa-free access to all Nigerians coming from Ukraine and arrangements for accommodation and feeding before evacuation is arranged,” Aduda said.