Nigeria is not safe for them for now….says Coalition of Parents



By

Desmond Olatunji

Senior Reporter

Abuja

 

Concerned Stakeholders, the Coalition of Parents of Students Studying in Ukraine(CPSU) as well as members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria, have called on the Global Community especially the European Union (EU) Nations to step up more efforts in assisting Students of Ukrainian Universities who were displaced by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in order to save their future and academic carrier.

They thanked the Countries of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other Nations of the World for the helping hands so far extended to these students saying that a good number of them need more urgent help and assistance now.

It would be recalled that Russia had invaded Ukraine in February 2022 leading to war and the attendant loss of lives, displacement, and large-scale destruction in addition to a huge humanitarian crisis.

Greatly affected by the sad development were thousands of Students from various Countries across the World who were forced to abandon their studies and seek refuge somewhere else.

Speaking with newsmen on behalf of the distressed Parents in Abuja, Mr. Osayande Joseph who said his daughter narrowly escaped death in Ukraine said the renewed call for more assistance becomes necessary in view of the recent development in Nigeria and the African Region.

He said, “On behalf of all families and individuals whose Children were in Ukraine when the war broke out in 2022, I want to sincerely thank the European Union and other nations that assisted the students. We thank Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Uk, France, Italy, the US, Hungary, Switzerland, and other nations too numerous to mention for the help rendered to these students. We greatly appreciate your efforts.

“It is on a note that many of them who ran out of Ukraine last year had to go back to neighboring Countries like Poland following the resumption of their academic activities.

Unfortunately, they are being persecuted again now and therefore, they need desperate help and assistance from the European countries.

“We as Parents and concerned Stakeholders are greatly worried that these innocent children who have seen War in Ukraine, have trekked several kilometers barefooted without food or water in deadly cold weather in a bid to escape death,  are facing fresh challenges now.

“Coming to Nigeria is not an option for them at all due to the following reasons. At this moment, many of them who ran back could not leave for their studies due to serious financial situations as their parent had literarily mortgaged their valuables to send them to Ukraine and could not raise further money.

“Secondly, the imminent war in Nigeria involving the neighboring Niger where Military men staged a coup, is another huge challenge. Mali and a few other countries are warming up to invade Nigeria should it leads ECOWAS to attack Niger. The truth is that due to the close shave these youngsters had in Ukraine the very week Russia invaded the Country with torrents of bombs and rain of missiles, a good number of them are still been traumatized and can be allowed to witness another of such.

“it is painful to point out that many of them who came back to Nigeria are in hospital now. I visited about 6 of them in one of the hospitals in Benin City, Lagos, and even here in Abuja a few weeks ago. They went into depression because of the situation and also because they were not absorbed by the already congested University system in Nigeria.

“More importantly, many of them, in a bid to come back to Nigeria have fallen into the hands of human traffickers with the attendant exploitative consequences.

“The situation in the South East region of Nigeria is another factor that demands that they should be further assisted to stay in Europe. Just yesterday, the residence of a serving member of the National Assembly, Hon Pascal Agbordike represented Ihiala Federal constituency of Anambra State. This is in addition to the daily restriction of movement imposed by some unknown gunmen and agitators in the region.

“Infact, the entire nation is seriously endemic at the moment and it is just right for them to stay in a calm and safe environment where they will not experience any further crisis. They have had more than enough.

“In a nutshell, we are concerned Parents and Stakeholders of Students displaced from Ukraine, are pleading with the European Countries to further support them with the necessary effort so that they can settle there pending cessation of hostilities in Ukraine”, Mr. Osayande said amidst tears.

Also, a member of the Civil Society Organization, Mr. Douglas Nwadike said the displaced students need urgent assistance to stay. He said, “They need to be granted the necessary permit to stay in a safe place like Europe for now. They have seen war and we should not allow them to be further traumatized” he pleaded.