Nigerian fighters must provide $1000 for ticket, visa- Ukraine
The Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria says Nigerians who are willing to travel to Ukraine to fight Russian forces must be willing to provide $1000 for ticket and visa.
The embassy stated this when scores of Nigerian men converged on its premises in Abuja on Thursday to express their readiness to join the Ukrainian side.
The Second Secretary of the Ukrainian Embassy to Nigeria, Bohdan Soltys, confirmed that $1000 would be needed by Nigerians volunteers.
The announcement did not go down well with the Nigerians, who lamented that the price is too high.
The Second Secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy to Nigeria, Bohdan Soltys said it would be difficult for Nigerians to travel to Ukraine now since the airspace had been shut due to the war.
He said since Nigerians needed visas to visit Romania and Poland, it would be difficult for them to use the land borders.
“It is normal practice when people want to volunteer and join the army of another country. It is normal international practice. Of course, for us it is an expression of support which we really appreciate. For now, no one has gone. We have received hundreds of applications from people who said they are willing. We have sent lists to the government but i cannot tell you what will happen next.
“In this particular case, you cannot fly to Ukraine. The only way you can fly is to countries that border Ukraine. All these countries are part of the EU and Nigerians will need visas to visit these countries. So, it is a big obstacle.
You cannot fly directly to Ukraine. You will have to go to Poland and Hungary”, Soltys said.
The diplomat said Ukraine was not recruiting mercenaries but volunteers. He, therefore advised Nigerians not to focus on the money. He, however, promised that Nigerian volunteers would be paid the same as Ukrainian soldiers.
On why $1000 was being demanded from Nigerian volunteers, the Ukrainian diplomat said, “Yes, $1000. That is what i paid the last time i visited Ukraine”.
While thanking Nigeria for siding with Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly, he pleaded with Nigerian citizens who may have been victims of racism during the evacuation in Ukraine not to feel offended, adding that war situations sometimes force people to act out of character.
He, however, advised Nigerians also not to fall for Russian propaganda.
