By Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Ukrainian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Dr. Valerii Aleksanruk, has urged the federal government to review its proposed plans to shut down its mission in Kyiev, Ukraine, noting that the move apart from being capable of jeopardising bilateral relations between the two countries can endanger the interest of the large number of Nigerian students in Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had earlier this year hinted of plans by the federal government to shut down some of its missions abroad in line with its ongoing reforms and restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for efficient management.
A lot of Nigerians are currently studying in fields such as medicine, Information Technology and engineering and the plan of the federal government to shut the mission in Ukraine according to the ambassador, might adversely affect the wellbeing as well as the interest of Nigerians in the country.
Aleksanruk advised that rather than shut the mission in Ukraine, which he said is a strategic Nigerian interest in Europe, the federal government should speed up the conclusion and signing of intergovernmental agreement on cooperation that would be of mutual benefits to the two countries.
The envoy, who was speaking recently in Abuja at an event to celebrate the 26th independence anniversary of Ukraine, said his country has a lot to offer Nigeria, and is ready to support Nigeria in particular to overcome her challenges of insecurity and terrorism as well as support the development of Nigeria’s industrialisation.
Details later…
