First Batch of Nigerians Arrive From Ukraine

The first batch of Nigerians stranded in Ukraine has arrived in the country. They arrived from Romania on Friday morning. The evacuees are mainly students.

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, confirmed this in a tweet.

She said, “First batch of Nigerians from #Ukraine arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja from Romania at 7:10 am.”

Nigeria joins a list of African nations that have evacuated their citizens in the wake of the Russian invasion.

More Nigerians are expected to be evacuated from the warring region in the coming days.

The passengers, numbering 416 from Romania, landed at the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by 7:10 am (WAT) via a Max Air flight on Friday. They are mostly students who fled Ukraine to Romania following Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country.

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. The Federal Government said they will be given some money to enable them to get to their destinations.

Asides from Romania, the pickup flights will evacuate Nigerians from Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary.

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.

The government says the evacuees will be given some money to enable them to get to their destinations.

Other flights are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as nations battle to evacuate their citizens.