The residents, in a letter signed by the President
of United Nigerians Kiev, Ukraine, Martins Dele Lawani, noted that the move was
not in their best interest as well as Nigerian as a country.
According to them in the letter, aside the large
number of Nigerians currently studying in one field or the other in Ukraine,
there are over 8,000 currently working and doing business there.
They further stated that Nigerian Government
decision, if carried out, would jeopardise on-going plans by the government of
Ukraine to establish Inter-Governmental Joint Commission for Trade and Economic
Cooperation between the two countries.
Part of the letter reads: "Our attention has
been drawn to a decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to close down the
Nigerian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine.
"We the entire Nigerian community in Ukraine,
including Nigerian students studying here, sincerely believe that the reasons
given for this decision is not in the best interest of our country;
particularly with respect to large number of over 10,000 Nigerian students that
are currently studying and doing brilliantly well.
"Also, we have
over 8,000 Nigerians currently working and doing legitimate business in Ukraine
as well as the growing economic and military collaboration between the two
countries."
They said
they are aware of plans by the Ukrainian Government to establish an
Inter-governmental Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation between
the two countries, and expressed the belief that the Nigerian Government plan
is capable of derailing these laudable intentions of Ukrainian Government for
Nigeria.
Lawani added that the move would also impact
negatively on the wellbeing of Nigerians residing and currently studying in
Ukraine.
The letter also indicated that over the years, Ukrainian
public educational institutions have provided cheap, affordable and quality
education for Nigerians, especially those studying medicine, aviation, science
and engineering.
The group equally recalled the assistance offered by
Ukraine in the height of Boko Haram activities, and urged the Nigerian Government
to sustain their relationship rather than destroy it.
"During the height of Boko haram terrorism and
the blockage of sales of arms to Nigeria by United States and other European
countries, it was only Ukraine that took the risk of selling military armament
to Nigeria which helped in curbing terrorists’ expansion.
"The
closure of Nigeria Embassy in Kiev could also be reciprocated by the Ukrainian
Government through the closure of Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria. "This will not augur well for our
country because Ukraine remains the most acceptable destinations by Nigerians
travelling to Eastern Europe because of their friendly visa and entry
procedures.
"It
will also bring untold hardship to our people who have to travel to Russia to
undertake embassy related activities," they said.
The group
however pleaded with the Nigeria Government to reverse its decision in the
interest of her citizens in Ukraine.
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