As Federal Government of Nigeria begins the evacuation of its citizens stranded in Ukraine today, chartered flights will depart neighbouring countries surrounding Ukraine today to pick up Nigerian evacuees who have opted to return home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this in a statement.
The number of evacuees so far received by Nigerian embassies has risen to 2,090 – 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 statement said, making a total of 1,334 evacuees expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday March 3.
Many Nigerians and other Africans fleeing Ukraine had been barred from crossing the Ukrainian borders to safety on account of their colour, raising questions about racism even during a time of emergency.