.As U.S. threatens to shutdown gas pipeline project if Russia invades Ukraine.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Sunday called on Nigerian citizens living in Ukraine to remain calm, amid growing fears that Russia could invade Ukraine.
The call is contained in a statement by Mr Gabriel Odu, a Media, Public Relations, and Protocol Officer at NiDCOM.
The statement made it clear that Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM had earlier urged Nigerians in Ukraine to be calm and security conscious in view of the strained relations between Ukraine and Russia.
“Dabiri-Erewa has assured that the Nigerian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine is doing all it can to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians in that country.
“The NiDCOM boss also urged Nigerian citizens in Ukraine to visit the embassy’s website and duly follow the registration processes (available there).
“Meanwhile a statement from the Nigerian Embassy in Kiev has further provided information and necessary action with regards to emergencies and concerns,” the stayement quoted Dabiri-Erewa as saying.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced the increase of U.S. troops in Europe to strengthen North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO’s) eastern flank as a response to the build-up of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.
A total of 1,700 troops will be redeployed from the U.S. to Poland, while a further 300 troops are to be sent to Germany.
In turn, some 1,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Germany will be redeployed to Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine.
However, The U.S. government is once again threatening Russia with the shutdown of the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued the threat in an interview with broadcaster NBC on Sunday.
“If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another Nord Stream 2 will not move forward and Russia understands that we [have] co-ordinated with our allies,” Sullivan said.
Asked if German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would publicly pledge such a measure during his inaugural visit to Washington on Monday, Sullivan said: “I’ll let the German chancellor speak for himself.”
Doubts over the trans-Atlantic alliance have emerged in part due to Berlin’s adherence to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia, which the U.S. and Eastern European nations have strongly criticised.
