I’ll continue to defend Nigerians, says Buhari on evacuation of citizens in Ukraine

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to defend the interest of Nigerians wherever they may be.

The president said this as the evacuation of Nigerian citizens in Ukraine begins.

According to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari spoke on Thursday, in Nairobi, Kenya at a town-hall meeting with a group of Nigerians resident in the country.

The president was represented at the event by Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs.

“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,” he 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 commended Nigerians in Kenya for the unity that exists among them.

He asked them to respect the laws and be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

Buhari said the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) was established as a result of the determination of the current administration to forge a partnership with the ‘ambassadors-at large’ towards building the country together.

According to the president, as part of his diasporan agenda, “we expect your willingness to ‘give back’ to Nigeria, some of your resources, talents, skills and global exposure in the development of our great country, Nigeria”.

He asked the ambassadors to key into the programmes of NiDCOM, especially the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund of which mandate is holistic for all Nigerians abroad.

The president added that the platform will assist them to expeditiously contribute to the development of their fatherland.

He also assured them that his administration is forging ahead with the provision of critical infrastructure for the collective prosperity of all despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and activities of insurgents.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chief executive officer of NiDCOM, appreciated the ambassadors for honouring the invitation, asking them to register with the commission in order to have an up-to-date database for easy interface.

On his part, Nicholas Ozor, president of Nigerians in Diaspora (Kenya), expressed his appreciation to the president for always meeting with them whenever he is in the country.

Ozor asked the president to intervene in some of the challenges confronting them, such as the stoppage of visa on arrival for Nigerians; delay in getting student permit; obstacles to ease of doing business, and undue negative profiling of Nigerians.