**As reps call for supplementary budget to cater for such emergencies
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Goeffrey Onyeama has assured of the imminent and unrelentless evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Ukraine in the ongoing hostility occasioned by the invasion of the country by Russia
The Minister said that arrangement has been made by the Ministry with the management of an indigenous airline Air Peace to evacuate Nigerian who have crossed the Ukrainian-Polish borders on Wednesday March 2, 2002.
He gave the assurance at a meeting convened by the Speaker House of Representatives Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila to determine and assess government preparedness and responses to the crisis in Ukraine which has affected both the country’s citizens and other nationals’.
The top government official who told the lawmakers that there are high level of engagement of the Nigerian government with the Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine on the matter said that the evacuation is taking off on Wednesday.
He told the House that there are 5,600 Nigerian students and about 8,000 Nigerian citizens living in the troubled nation adding that se of them have crossed the border between the country and other neighboring countries
He also said that the Ministry has gotten the approval of the President to evacuate the stranded citizens adding that some of them are not willing to leave the country.
The Speaker who said that the House and the Nigerian who are the respected constutients the 360 lawmakers represent are worried over the crisis said that the government should ensure the speedy evacuation of stranded Nigerians
He told the august visitor that many Nigerians did not beleive that Russia will invade Ukraine until the crisis erupted in that European nation.
He assured the Minister of the readiness of the House to approve any suplementary budget that the executive may send to parliament to cater for such emergencies.
The Speaker also called for a closer working relationship between the Foreign Ministry officials and the House to ensure the safety of Nigerians living abroad saying that security and welfare of citizens is the primary purpose of any government.
