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  • Another Batch Of Nigerians From Ukraine Arrives In Abuja

    Another Batch Of Nigerians From Ukraine Arrives In Abuja

    Another set of Nigerians fleeing the crisis in Ukraine, have been successfully evacuated by the Nigerian Government.

    The 306 Nigerians arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday morning.

    They were brought home via an Air Peace flight from Budapest, Hungary where they had crossed over to safety from Ukraine.

    Read Also: Nigerian Students Trapped In Ukraine Appeal For Urgent Evacuation

    This is the 4th batch of returnees in the on-going evacuation approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies are presently attending to the returnees.

    While welcoming the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, informed them that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the evacuation back home to safety and also provided a sum of USD$100 to be given to each of them in aid of their transportation to their various locations.

    The DG NEMA who was represented by the Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore Edward Adedokun, further informed the returnees that arrangement has also been made for a night’s accommodation for them to rest before continuing to their homes.

    However, those whose relatives had come to pick them up were free to go.

  • Russia Declares Partial Ceasefire to Allow Civilians Leave Two Ukrainian Cities

    Russia Declares Partial Ceasefire to Allow Civilians Leave Two Ukrainian Cities

    Russia has declared a partial ceasefire to allow civilians leave the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha in Ukraine.

    According to the Russian defence ministry, the ceasefire on Saturday will give room for humanitarian corridors out of the strategic port of Mariupol in the southeast and the eastern town of Volnovakha.

    The truce, which will see the safe evacuation of thousands of civilians from the war, is expected to last until 4pm local time.

    “From 1000 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha,” the defence ministry stated.

    Pavlo Kirilenko, governor of the Donetsk Oblast region where the two cities are sited, confirmed the ceasefire on Facebook.

    “We are negotiating with the Russian side to confirm the ceasefire along the entire route of evacuation for civilians from Mariupol,” the governor said.

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian president, said the temporary ceasefire will allow women and children to leave the area.

    “We managed to get an agreement to provide assistance to those cities in Ukraine that are in the dire and worst situation, Mariupol and Volnovakha, to save children and women and older people. To provide medication and food to those who stay there in those places,” the president said.

    “Those people willing to leave these places should be able to do so now using the humanitarian corridor, but those who can should continue fighting.

    “We do everything we can on our side to make sure this agreement works, regarding the humanitarian corridors and we will see if we can move even further about our negotiations with Russia.”

    The United Nations said about 1.3 million civilians have fled Ukraine since Russian declared war on the country.

    On Friday, hundreds of Nigerians evacuated from Ukraine arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

  • Ukraine-Russia: Third Batch Of Nigerian Evacuees Arrive From Hungary

    Ukraine-Russia: Third Batch Of Nigerian Evacuees Arrive From Hungary

    The third batch of Nigerian evacuees following the Ukraine-Russia war arrived in Abuja late last night.

    They were evacuated from Hungary and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 11:25 pm on Friday.

    According to the official figure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of evacuees from Hungary was 174 in number and they were brought aboard Air Peace.

    These evacuations follow the attack by Russia on Ukraine which has left scores of people killed and many displaced.

    Over 5,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom are students studying in Ukraine have been caught up in the conflict.

    Many of them have reportedly fled to neighbouring countries to Ukraine including Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

    Also on Friday, the first batch of Nigerian evacuees, numbering 416 arrived in the country from Romania, aboard Max Air.

    Meanwhile, as the country ramps up efforts to evacuate citizens stranded after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to continue to defend the interest of Nigerians wherever they may be.

    “On our part as a Government, we shall continue to defend the interests of all Nigerians wherever they may be. We have demonstrated this over time, as we have had cause to evacuate our citizens in harm’s way abroad,” the President said.

    “We did it in Libya, South Africa and we have just commenced doing the same in Ukraine, where thousands of our citizens, especially students, are trapped by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine,” the President was quoted to have said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina.

  • BREAKING: First Batch Of Stranded Nigerians From Ukraine Arrives Abuja

    BREAKING: First Batch Of Stranded Nigerians From Ukraine Arrives Abuja

    The first batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine has arrived in Abuja.

    This is according to an update by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on its Twitter handle.

    The evacuation followed the conflict that broke out in Ukraine.

    The passengers, numbering about 450 from Romania, landed at the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by 7:10 am (WAT) via a Max Air flight on Friday. They are mostly students who fled Ukraine to Romania following Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country.

    They were received by government officials and are expected to undergo documentation after which they will head home and self-isolate in line with the COVID-19 protocols.

    Details later…

  • Ukraine: FG Postpones Evacuation Flight From Poland To Nigeria

    Ukraine: FG Postpones Evacuation Flight From Poland To Nigeria

    An Air Peace charter flight scheduled to evacuate Nigerians fleeing Ukraine from Poland on Thursday has been postponed.

    According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Bolaji Akinremi, the flight was postponed due to a delay in preparing passengers for the check-in process.

    The flight has now been scheduled for Friday morning.

    About 2,000 Nigerians have fled Ukraine, amid a Russian invasion, to neigbouring countries, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said it has approved $8.5m for the evacuation of citizens.

    According to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, the countries where the pickup flights would be headed include – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

    Two flights from Air Peace and one from Max Air are expected to carry out the evacuation exercise.

  • First Batch Of Evacuees From Ukraine Expected To Arrive In Nigeria On Thursday

    First Batch Of Evacuees From Ukraine Expected To Arrive In Nigeria On Thursday

    The first batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.

    This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda.

    According to the statement, chattered flights will begin picking up Nigerian evacuees back home from the neighbouring countries surrounding Ukraine on Wednesday.

    “So far, we have the following records of evacuees received by Nigerian embassies at: Hungary (650 persons), Poland (350 persons), Romania (940 persons) and Slovakia (150 persons),” the statement read in part.

    “The capacity and route of the airlines are as follows: Max Air to Romania 560 persons, Air Peace to Poland, 364 persons and Air Peace to Hungary 360 persons”.

    Aduda assured Nigerians that the government is working round the clock to see that citizens are brought back home safely.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved $8.5m dollars to the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian, Disaster Management, and Social Development, towards the evacuation of over 5,000 (registered and unregistered) Nigerians stranded in Ukraine.

  • Okonjo-Iweala: WTO Saddened By Suffering, Trade Implication Of Russia-Ukraine War

    Okonjo-Iweala: WTO Saddened By Suffering, Trade Implication Of Russia-Ukraine War

    The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday said the organisation was “deeply saddened by the continued suffering and loss of life” as a result of the war in Ukraine.

    She said this in a statement on Wednesday, as the war which has shocked the world and threatened global stability entered its seventh day.

    The WTO had hoped that war would be averted but that hope was dashed.

    With the battle raging on and talks between Ukraine and Russia yet to yield results, the WTO is concerned about the implications.

    “We are also concerned about the trade implications of the conflict, especially trade in agriculture and food products and the rise in energy prices and their effects on the impacted population,” Dr Okonjo-Iweala said.

    The WTO is praying for “a peaceful and quick resolution” to the crisis.

    On Friday, Dr Okonjo-Iweala warned about the “economic impacts” of the war in Ukraine, a major wheat exporter, saying it would hurt consumers around the world.

    “There’s going to be a big impact with respect to wheat prices and prices of bread for ordinary people as well,” she said at a virtual event with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.

    Dr Okonjo-Iweala noted that Ukraine “is one of the largest wheat exporters of the world.”

    Georgieva echoed her previous warnings about the “significant economic risk” of the conflict for the global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “the impact is going to go beyond Ukraine.”

    She highlighted the added pressure on inflation which is likely to accelerate amid rising prices for energy and wheat.

    Oil prices on Thursday briefly topped $100 for the first time since 2014.
    The United States and Europe slapped sanctions on Moscow, targeting the financial sector but largely sparing the oil and agriculture sectors for now in an effort to mitigate the impact on their own people.

    The sanctions “add to the economic impact of this crisis, and will transmit primarily through energy prices, as well as grain prices, adding to what has been a growing concern of inflation and how it can be countered,” the IMF chief said.

    The conflict adds to the “high uncertainty” about the global economy that also is reflected in financial markets, and undermines confidence in other emerging markets causing an exodus of capital at a time when those countries need more funding.

    “We see outflows from emerging markets when we need exactly the opposite,” she said.

    Georgieva, who is Bulgarian, said she had a personal connection to the crisis, as her brother is married to a Ukrainian and they are in a city near the border with Russia.

    “I know right now it’s so difficult to see a pathway to peace, but peace must be pursued and we must find a way to bring that peace that people are so desperate for.”

  • Abramovich To Sell Chelsea With ‘Net Proceeds’ Going To Ukraine War Victims

    Abramovich To Sell Chelsea With ‘Net Proceeds’ Going To Ukraine War Victims

    Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich said on Wednesday he had made the “incredibly difficult” decision to sell the Premier League club, pledging that proceeds would go to victims of the war in Ukraine.

    The billionaire believes it is in the “best interest” of the Champions League holders if he parts ways with the club he has transformed since he bought it in 2003.

    The dramatic development comes days after Abramovich said he was handing over control of Chelsea to trustees of its charitable foundation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart,” Abramovich said in a statement.

    “In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.”

    It is a seismic moment for English football after nearly two decades during which Abramovich’s team has consistently challenged for the sport’s top honours.

    Chelsea have won 19 major trophies in the Abramovich era, including their first two Champions League crowns and five Premier League titles.

    But the 55-year-old’s reign will come to an end in the fall-out from Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.

    Abramovich, alleged to have close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has not been named on a growing British sanctions list targeting Russian banks, businesses and pro-Kremlin tycoons.

    Bu the Chelsea owner’s concern about potential seizing of assets is understood to have sparked his move to off-load the Blues.

    Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and US investor Todd Boehly, a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, are reported to be two of the parties now preparing a joint bid for the Premier League giants.

    Wyss, 86, told Swiss newspaper Blick he had been offered the chance to buy the London club because Abramovich wanted “to get rid of Chelsea quickly” before potential political sanctions took hold.

    It is believed Abramovich’s asking price for Chelsea will be around £3 billion ($4 billion), with American bank the Raine Group reported to have been asked to handle the sale.

    – Privilege of a lifetime’

    Chelsea’s debt to Abramovich currently stands at around £1.5 billion but he will not ask for loans to be repaid, while he is also said to be set to sell his London property portfolio.

    Abramovich, who made a rare appearance to watch Chelsea win the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last month, has pledged to donate any net proceeds from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.

    “The sale of the club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process,” he said.

    “I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club.

    “Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated.

    “The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.”

    Abramovich paid £140 million to buy Chelsea and the shrewd appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager helped shatter Manchester United and Arsenal’s stranglehold on the Premier League.

    He announced the impending sale less than an hour before Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Championship side Luton.

    Speaking before the match, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, told the BBC: “There are some things around the club and within the club we can not influence, so we were pretty busy preparing this game.”

    Abramovich said he hopes to make one more visit to Stamford Bridge to say goodbye before the curtain falls on his 19-year reign.

    “Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the club in this manner,” he said.

    He added: “It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements. Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.”

  • FG begins airlifting of Nigerian Students from Wartorn Ukraine

    FG begins airlifting of Nigerian Students from Wartorn Ukraine

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has announced that the Federal Government has commenced the airlifting and safety of stranded Nigerian students trapped in the Ukraine war.

    In a press statement signed by Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, Deputy Director Information, Minister stated that Mr. President has approved the immediate evacuation of Nigerian Citizens from the conflict areas and has directed the Ministry to work with all relevant agencies to ensure this is done quickly and expeditiously.

    According to the statement the relevant agencies under the Ministry which comprises the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have been directed to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure smooth evacuation.

    The National Emergency Management Agency is the leading the evacuation process while the Ministry is providing the coordination and necessary support.
    Furthermore the ministry has urged all parents to remain calm as the Federal Government is doing all it can to ensure that Nigerians are returned in safety and dignity as soon as possible.

    She confirmed that three flights are leaving Abuja for Romania, Hungary and Poland for this purpose on Wednesday 2nd March, 2022 while other flights will be arranged as the situation progresses.

    She called on all Nigerian in Ukraine to be guided by the advisories regularly issued by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs at all times.

  • We’ve lost 498 troops in Ukraine – Russia

    We’ve lost 498 troops in Ukraine – Russia

    Russia said Wednesday that 498 Russian troops had been killed in Ukraine, its first announced death toll since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of the country last week.

    “Four hundred and ninety-eight Russian servicemen have died in the line of duty,” defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement broadcast on state television, adding that “1,597 of our comrades have been wounded.”

    Meanwhile, before the announcement, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations accused Russia of seeking to commit genocide in his country, speaking at a rare General Assembly debate on Wednesday, more than a week after Moscow’s invasion.

    “They have come to deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist,” Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Assembly ahead of a vote on a resolution demanding Russia withdraw its forces from the eastern European country.

    “It’s already clear that the goal of Russia is not an occupation only. It is genocide.”

    Russia’s envoy Vassily Nebenzia, speaking shortly after, accused Ukraine of “rampant neo-Nazism” and the West of using “open and cynical threats” to persuade other countries at the UN to vote in favor of the resolution.

    A vote by the 193 members of the UN on whether to deplore the invasion and demand Russia’s withdrawal will follow shortly. The resolution needs a two-thirds threshold of those voting to pass.

    The resolution, led by European countries with the support of Ukraine, is non-binding but would serve as a powerful rebuke of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Moscow has pleaded “self-defense” under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    But that has been roundly rejected by Western countries who accuse Moscow of violating Article 2 of the Charter, requiring UN members to refrain from the threat or use of force to resolve a crisis.

    AFP