The Nigerian Embassy has informed its citizens living in Ukraine to avoid unnecessary travel within the country.
It also urged them to take their individual and collective security seriously and ensure they always carry requisite identification.
This is contained in a release issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine on January 26.
The release was re-shared on Saturday by Chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa on her official Twitter handle.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa re-shared the release while responding to a question by a Twitter user @TheFavoredWoman who asked about plans for Nigerians in Ukraine amid fears about the escalation of crisis on the Russia/Ukraine border.
“What’s the plan for Nigerians in Ukraine to come home? We have lots of Nigerian students over there . . . ” the Twitter user asked.
The NIDCOM boss in response re-shared the press release and said, “@TheFavoredWoman, kindly note that the Nigerian Mission in Ukraine has since Jan 26th issued a statement asking Nigerians in Ukraine, particularly students, to follow the process stipulated in the release below.
“Please be informed that the Embassy will make periodic announcements as the need arises.”
When contacted by Channels Television for an update on the safety of Nigerians in Ukraine, Dabiri-Erewa replied with a text message stressing the information on the January 26 press release.
“Nigerians in Ukraine have been duly advised by the Embassy to contact the mission and register appropriately as indicated in Jan 26 PR,” she said in a text message.
Due to the tension in Ukraine, Britain on Friday urged its nationals to “leave now while commercial means are still available.”
Also on Friday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called on Americans to immediately leave Ukraine, warning a Russian attack “is likely, to begin with, aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians.”
Several EU countries have also asked their nationals to leave Ukraine. Notably, Belgium, Estonia, and Lithuania advised their nationals to leave Ukraine for fear war breaks out.
UK, US, Other Countries Tell Nationals To Leave Ukraine
Also, Britain on Friday urged its nationals in Ukraine to “leave now while commercial means are still available” amid fears about an escalation of the crisis on the Russia/Ukraine border.
The Foreign Office “now advises against all travel to Ukraine. British nationals in Ukraine should leave now while commercial means are still available”, it said in an update on its website.
Also on Friday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called on Americans to immediately leave Ukraine, warning a Russian attack “is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians.”
Earlier, The United States also updated its travel advisory on Ukraine to a level 4, the highest in its four-tier system, on Thursday. The U.S. Department of State urged Americans not to travel to Ukraine “due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19.”
Americans currently in Ukraine were told to leave immediately via private or commercial means.
The U.S. travel advisory also stated that the U.S. government will be unable to evacuate Americans if Russian military action occurs in Ukraine.
The White House issued a warning Friday that any U.S. citizens still in Ukraine should leave in the next “24 to 48 hours.”
Belgium joins the US and several European countries, who have called on their citizens in Ukraine to leave the country for fear war breaks out.
“Nationals who are currently in Ukraine and whose presence is not strictly necessary in the country are strongly advised to leave the country,” the Belgian foreign ministry said on its website.
It said it strongly advised against travel to the country, adding that an evacuation could not be guaranteed.
The ministry said that in case of a “sudden deterioration, communication links includinginternet and telephone lines could be seriously affected” and air links hampered.
The European Union has told non-essential staff from its diplomatic mission in Ukraine to leave the country but has not issued an evacuation order. Channels Television & AFP