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Against the backdrop of the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine, the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has ordered the timely evacuation of Nigerian students in Ukraine.
The speaker announced this at the plenary on a motion of urgent public importance moved by a member, Ahmed Munir.
Following the unity of the motion named “Urgent Importance to Evacuate Nigerian Students in Ukraine,” Gbajabiamila pleaded with the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Buba Yakub, to vacate Nigeria tomorrow and bring back Nigerian students in Ukraine at the cost of the House by Monday.
Reacting, Gbajabiamila said, “This is a very important motion that we discussed. Time is of the essence. A state of emergency has been declared. I listened to the news yesterday; even America said it is not going to be bloodless. We should be more proactive and I think it is better late than never.
“It is important at this point to forget all the bureaucratic bottlenecks and look out for our citizens, especially students. Action needs to be taken now and my thought is that leader of the House, Hon. Ado Doguwa and Chairman (of the Committee on) Foreign Affairs should liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIA (Nigerian Intelligence Agency) and (Nigerian) Embassy in Ukraine.
He said if no positive is gotten, the House will have no other option than liaise with Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.
“And if nothing positive comes out of it, then we should liaise with Chairman of Air Peace (Allen Onyema). Whatever it is going to cost the House, you need to leave this country, latest tomorrow, and come back on Monday with many of our students.”
Ahmed Munir who moved the motion remarked that there is a deteriorating conflict between Russia and the United States of America over Ukraine, of which the situation is getting worse.
Munir said, “The House is concerned that if a strategic plan is not put in place to secure and provide safe passage for our citizens, they may be trapped or worse, harmed.”
“The House should mandate its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ascertain the exact figures of Nigerians affected by this conflict and put in place a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and evaluation mechanism.”
