MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, says some of the Nigerians who are trapped over the crisis between Russia and Ukraine are not willing to return to the country.
Onyema disclosed this when he met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday.
He said: “We hope to start evacuation hopefully Wednesday although some do not want to come back. We are doing everything possible to ensure that come Wednesday we will dispatch planes for evaluation.”
A few hours after the war began on Thursday, some Ukraine-based Nigerians told Daily Trust via telephone that they knew those who were unwilling to return to Nigeria.
Treasure Chinenye Bellgam, a medical student in Kiev, said the government’s gesture is good but, “I am a believer in Christ Jesus and I have to ask God for direction whether to return to Nigeria or not.”
“Most Nigerians who are here on hustle are not willing to leave, they prefer to die here. It’s like after God has lifted you one step higher you want to go two steps backward, it’s like being demoted.
“But you need a lot of humility to go back to Nigeria because some people sold lands, cars, and the rest to come here and they have amazing stories.”
At Monday’s meeting, Onyema told Gbajabiamila that Nigerians who were taking refuge in the neighbouring countries were been given accommodation and feeding pending their evacuation.
Earlier, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who lamented the situation said, Nigerians trapped in the conflict needed to be evacuated back to the country.
He reiterated that one day was long for the Nigerians that are now stranded and looking for help.
He said: “One day is long enough for our brothers and sisters who are caught up in this crises. we can easily address this situation and get over with it.
“It is the moral thing to do. Therefore if there is anything the House can do to accelerate their (Nigerians) safe return”.
Gbajabiamila, while commending the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the steps taken so far to ensure the safety of Nigerians, the majority of who are students, however, stated that the country must find ways to quicken its response time to emergencies.
He noted that response mechanisms, including funds, aeroplanes and other equipment, must readily be on standby to respond to life-threatening situations such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and how they affected Nigerians.
“We must be in a state of readiness at all times. We should have our own planes and necessary funding to respond quickly to such emergencies”, the Speaker stated.
He stated that measures the National Assembly would take included legislation to address such emergencies and supplementary appropriations among others.
Gbajabiamila recalled how the House was left with no choice but to pass a resolution on Thursday last week, mandating its Majority Leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep.Yusuf Buba, to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proceed to Ukraine by the weekend to facilitate the air-lifting of students home.
He added that this was the last resort as members were bombarded with telephone calls by their constituents, coupled with the viral videos and pictures of Nigerians caught in the conflict, appealing to the Nigerian Government to come to their aid urgently.
