TheCable

The federal government says the first batch of Ukraine-based Nigerians who will be evacuated will arrive Nigeria on Thursday.

Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, many residents, including Nigerians, have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries.

The federal government had earlier said its diplomatic mission received Nigerians in Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Giving an update on the development, Gabriel Aduda, permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, in a statement, said a total of 2,090 Nigerians from Ukraine have been received by embassies in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

“Furtherance to our efforts to evacuate Nigerians from the neighbouring countries surrounding Ukraine, we can confirm that chartered flights will depart on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to pick up Nigerian evacuees back home,” the statement reads.

“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 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.

“The first batch of evacuees are expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

“Once again, we assure Nigerians that we are working round the clock to see that our citizens are brought back home safely.”