*Says safety of 4,000 Nigerians, other Africans paramount to it
*’We support every diplomatic effort to end Ukrainian war’
“In one video widely circulating on social media, a Nigerian mother with her young baby was filmed being physically forced to give up her seat to another person. There are also separate reports of Polish officials simply refusing Nigerian citizens’ entry into Poland from Ukraine.”
While efforts to begin talks between Russia and Ukraine are underway, paramount on our minds is the safety and human rights of some four thousand Nigerian citizens and many others from friendly African nations today stranded in Ukraine, Nigeria’s Presidency says.
According the a statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, dated Sunday 27 February, 2022 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, “There is a long history dating back to decades of Nigerians and other Africans studying in Ukraine, particularly medicine. The majority of Nigerian citizens in the country today are university-enrolled students.”
Shehu continued that from video evidence available to government of the country, first-hand reports and from those in contact with their wards and/or Nigerian consular officials, there had been unfortunate reports of Ukrainian police and security personnel refusing to allow Nigerians to board buses and trains heading towards the Ukraine-Poland border.
“In one video widely circulating on social media, a Nigerian mother with her young baby was filmed being physically forced to give up her seat to another person.
“There are also separate reports of Polish officials simply refusing Nigerian citizens’ entry into Poland from Ukraine.
“One group of Nigerian students having been repeatedly refused entry into Poland have concluded they have no choice but to travel again across Ukraine and attempt to exit the country via the border with Hungary,” he said.
The Presidential Spokesman said: “We understand the pain and fear that is confronting all people who find themselves in this terrifying place.
“We also appreciate that those in official positions in security and border management will in most cases be experiencing impossible expectations in a situation they never expected.
“But, for that reason, it is paramount that everyone is treated with dignity and without favour, he said.
To the Nigerian Presidency, “All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under UN Convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference.
“As a nation, we are proud of those educated in Kyiv and Kharkiv and other cities and centres of learning who have returned to Nigeria to perform great service for our nation and our people.
“Without the generosity of spirit of the Ukrainian people that would never have been possible.
“We pray for those directly affected by this conflict.
“Nigeria, with our 200 million people, support all and every diplomatic effort to bring this war to an end,” Nigeria’s Presidency said in the Garba Shehu’s statement on Sunday.
The DEFENDER reports that citizens of other countries including United States of America have been having easy passage fleeing the war-torn country of Ukraine and, many Nigerians have said, citizens from Africa should also be allow equal right.
