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In a statement released by Special Adviser on Media to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sarah Sanda on Wednesday, said: ” Nigeria would act in the framework of the United Nations”.

Sarah said: “the attention of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has been drawn to an online publication where he was reported to have said in an interview that Nigeria was ready to impose sanctions on Russia for Invading Ukraine.

The Minister clearly said, We would act in the framework of the UN, and if there was a UN Resolution, we would be obliged, but there would not be because Russia has a veto power.

For clarity, that portion of the interview is reproduced below:

Que: “Several countries have imposed sanctions on Russia. Is Nigeria making any practical move in that direction?

Ans: This is going to be a collective action. The UN has to act, and we are going to act and engage within the framework of the United Nations. So if UN, for instance, adopts and imposes sanctions on Russia, we will comply with UN resolutions on any matter.

Que: How detrimental would that be to our investments concerned with Russia?
Ans: Certainly, it will have an impact, I’m not sure that we have huge investments in Russia. It’s not a country in which we have huge investments. We have good relations with Russia, but as I said, Russians vetoed the Security Council. They are chairing the Security Council. So it’s gone to the General Assembly.

Que: Can we bear the anger of Moscow based on our relationship, Nigeria we go the way UN goes?
Ans: You won’t have sanctions because Russia has the veto power in the Security Council, so you will not have a situation when the Security Council is going to accept to impose sanctions on Russia, because Russia has the veto power and is chairing the Security Council.”

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Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in Abuja on Thursday, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a “full-scale invasion” was underway.

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been reassured by the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine of the safety of Nigerians in that country and measures being undertaken to keep them safe and facilitate the evacuation of those who wish to leave.

“The Federal Government wishes to assure the families with loved ones in Ukraine that as soon as the airports in the country are opened, it would assist in facilitating the evacuation of Nigerians who are willing to leave.

“In the meantime, the Nigerian Mission has confirmed that military action by the Russians has been confined to military installations.”

Earlier, the House of Representatives had called for the immediate evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine.

The lawmakers were concerned there are many Nigerian students in Ukraine who could be caught in the crossfire.

The motion was moved by representative Ahmed Munir during the plenary on Thursday.

But some lawmakers feared that it may be too late as the evacuation should have been done long ago.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, agreed with a lawmaker, Leke Abejide, to interact with the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema to evacuate Nigerians from Ukraine by Monday, February 28.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs was then mandated to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, inaugurated the members in Abuja.

The SGF recalled that within the framework of Nigeria’s bilateral relations with the Russian Federation, a number of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) were signed between the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and Russia’s State-owned Nuclear Corporation (ROSATOM) for cooperation in the design, construction and decommissioning of nuclear power plants on the territory of Nigeria.

He noted that JCC was put in place to allow for effective negotiations, particularly focused on ensuring that Nigeria is not subjected to any unfair trade agreements during the process of Nigeria’s engagement and discussions with ROSATOM and on the implementation of the various elements of the agreement.

The SGF emphasized that the reconstituted JCC was informed by the need to bring in new people with ideas that will guarantee the effective implementation of the various elements of the agreements that have been signed.

He charged them thus:
“As JCC members, a lot is expected from you in the discharge of this onerous task. Considering the calibre of people that have been assembled here today, I am optimistic that the committee will succeed.”

Speaking earlier, Acting Chairman/CEO of NAEC, Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, disclosed that Nigeria’s tremendous feat has secured the country a seat for the 16th time as one of the four African countries on the 35-member Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the highest policy organ of the IAEA.

In order to sustain the feat, Prof. Ahmed Yusuf, revealed that NAEC has continued to reorientate the public on the general misconception of nuclear and its applications in different human endeavors. He said: “Nigeria must begin to work towards diversifying her energy resource base to include nuclear in order to ensure the country’s energy security.”

In his acceptance speech on behalf of JCC, Dr. Nasir Bello, assured the government of the preparedness of the members to collectively bring into the assignment their vast technical and professional expertise.

The terms of reference of the committee include:
1 To provide a broad framework for Cooperation with the Russian Federation in the Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy.
2 To participate in the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of both NPP and MPRR.
3 To ensure dynamic monitoring and implementation of all agreements with the Russian Federation.
4 To supervise the activities of the Joint Working Groups in the following thematic areas:
i. Nuclear Power Infrastructure,
ii. Human Resources Management,
iii. Financing and Contracting Scheme,
iv. Technical Aspect of Construction,
v. Nuclear Technology Applications,
vi. Nuclear Regulatory Framework

5. To ensure that Nigeria is not subjected to any unfair trade agreement during the process of negotiation with ROSATOM.

6. To work hard and to make sure that the interest of Nigeria is paramount, and to ensure that Nigeria plays its role in the implementation of various elements of the agreements.

7. To have a unity of purpose during negotiation in order to ensure that Nigeria is not defrauded in the implementation of the agreement.

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