First batch of Nigerians stranded in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion have arrived in Abuja.
The development was confirmed on the official Twitter handle of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Bibian Anekwe News understands that the citizens, numbering 416 from Romania, landed at the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 7:10 am (WAT) on Friday.
Most of the returning citizens are students studying in the warring zone.
Chairman of the Commission, Abike Dabiri, has also confirmed their arrival in a post on her microblogging platform, Twitter.
She tweeted: “First Batch of Nigerians from #Ukraine arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja from Romania at 7:10 am.”
See below a tweet from the commission
Meanwhile, the federal government of Nigeria has distanced itself away from reports in certain quarters that it was considering imposing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama who made the clarification said some people have misinterpreted his statement about the activities of the United Nations (UN) in the current saga to mean Nigeria will impose sanctions on Russia.
Speaking via a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Sarah Sanda, the Minister clarified that what he said is that should there be any need, Nigeria would act within the framework of the United Nations (UN) in taking steps against Russia in the ongoing war.
The statement however added that there would be no UN action as Russia is sure to veto any such move, Bibian Anekwe News reports.
The statement reads in part: “We would act in the framework of the UN, and if there was a UN Resolution, we would be obliged, but there would not be because Russia has a veto power”.
