By Ismail Auwal
The Nigerian government has finally urged the iron-fisted Russian leadership to suspend all current aggressions in Ukraine and embrace the option of dialogue as a means of addressing the hostilities between the two neighboring nations.
This position was disclosed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, shortly after a meeting with envoys of the G7 countries in Abuja.
Onyeama said that the Nigerian government calls for peace and the use of diplomacy in resolving all differences.
He noted that the Federal Government had clearly stated that Nigeria does not condone the approach of aggression by Russia, calling on Russia to pull back.
“Peace and diplomacy to be prioritised by both sides. We support every effort being made to stop the aggression and Russian troops to return to Russia,” Onyeama said.
Speaking with newsmen after the closed-door meeting, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Birgitt Ory, who is also chair of the G7 Group, appreciated the African Union on its statement on the situation, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Ory, who also commended Nigeria for putting in its weight, said Nigeria is a very important voice that the world needed to hear.
He said that what is also clear is the unanimous condemnation of the attacks by all United Nations member states in the light of Russia’s military action.
Ory said there will be resolutions in the United Nations Security Council, as well as the General Assembly and other United Nations fora such as the Human Rights Council where Nigeria is a very important voice and member.
Also in attendance were; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing; Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi.
