TUE 01 MARCH, 2022-theGBJournal- Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking on Channels Television last night said there are currently 1,000 Nigerians who have now crossed into Romania from Ukraine, promising that they will be airlifted back to Nigeria in the coming days.
Another 150 have successfully crossed into Poland from Sumy, Ukraine, close to the Russian border, after enduring harsh weather conditions, long hours of wait on the line at the borders and racist abuse in hands of Ukrainian security and police personnel. This is in contrast to the easy access provided to Ukrainian citizens and Caucasians fleeing the war.
Many of them paid exorbitant fees and travelled for eight hours in freezing conditions to reach the borders after being denied access into trains provided for refugees because they are black.
The Minister said the federal government will arrange chartered flights from Air Peace and Max Air Ltd to airlift the Nigerians home from the countries around Ukraine, in the coming days.
The Federal Government gave assurances that Air Peace will begin evacuation from Wednesday, after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Minister, there about 5,000 Nigerian students and a total of about 8,000 Nigerians in Ukraine who are caught up in the harrowing war in the country.
More than 520,000 refugees have fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries, says UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi.
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