The Federal Government has declared its opposition to Nigerian people registering to join the Ukrainian Army in order to fight Russia's invasion of the country.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged people all over the world to join the fight, over 150 Nigerians volunteered to be recruited.
However, Francisca Omayuli, a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a statement on Monday that the Federal Government would not permit the recruitment. She stated that the Federal Government would work with the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria as well as other appropriate authorities to prevent this from happening.
"The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to an alleged ongoing registration of Nigerian volunteers into the fighting force of Ukraine at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.," the statement said.
"To check the rumors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Embassy." The Ukrainian Embassy denied the claim, but admitted that a number of Nigerians had approached it to express their willingness to fight alongside Ukraine in its continuing struggle with Russia.
"Furthermore, the Embassy stressed that the Ukrainian government does not accept foreign volunteer fighters and, as a result, distanced itself from the idea that each Nigerian volunteer will be charged $1,000 for a plane ticket and visa."
"As a responsible member of the international community and in accordance with our international law commitments, Nigeria opposes the employment of mercenaries anywhere in the world and would not accept the recruiting of Nigerians as mercenaries in Nigeria to fight in Ukraine or elsewhere."
The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”
