NiDCOM welcomes first batch of Nigerians evacuees in Ukraine fleeing through Romania

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), welcomed the 411 first Nigerian evacuees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This morning, 411 Nigerians, including students and consulate employees, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The Nigerian aircraft Max Air, which was evacuating the citizens, arrived in Abuja at exactly 7:11 a.m. today.

“To God be the glory, Max Air Evacuation flight VM602 from Bucharest touched down in Abuja,” NiDCOM’s head said in response to the development.

“Stranded Nigerians in Ukraine soon to arrive,” NIDCOM said Tuesday, implying their arrival.

The federal government had on Wednesday, approved $8.5 million for the immediate evacuation of 5,000 Nigerians stranded as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The government earlier scheduled the arrival of the first batch of evacuees for Thursday. But the flight was rescheduled.

The evacuees were received at the airport in Abuja by Edward Adedokun, director search and rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).