At a time Nigerians in Ukraine are struggling to return home, about 115 young men, yesterday, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, offered to join Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

The men, who besieged the Ukraine Embassy in Abuja, also put down their names in a register provided by the embassy.

Although this reporter was barred from taking their photographs, the Second Secretary, Ukraine Embassy, Bohdan Soltys, confirmed the development, adding that no step had yet been taken to that effect.

The volunteers may have been responding to a recent call by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urging people around the world to join the fight.

In a statement released last Sunday, the President accused the Russian army of killing civilians and praised Ukrainians for having the courage to defend themselves.

He said that the assault by Russia was not just “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” but also the beginning of a war against democracy and basic human rights.

Zelensky had called on anyone who wished to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world to come and fight side by side with Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, Russia on Wednesday morning intensified its attacks on key Ukrainian cities – with fighting raging for a seventh day in the north, east and south

Russian paratroopers have landed in Kharkiv in the north-east, Ukraine says, with heavy fighting reported.

In the south, Russia says it has taken control of the port of Kherson but its mayor says it’s still held by Ukrainian forces

A 40 mile-long convoy of Russian armoured vehicles is about 15 miles north of the capital Kyiv (Based on reports byThe Guardian, Nigeria, and BBC)

*PLS USE FORWARDED PHOTO

Angry women storm NASS, block gate over failedbill

Various women groups on Wednesday occupied the gate of the National Assembly in protest against the failure of a bill meant to create ‘special seat’ for women.

The women gathered early morning at the three arm zone and marched to the National Assembly gate chanting songs of solidarity.

The groups demand that the Federal lawmakers take another look at the requests for 111 seats for women, citizenship, 35% representation in party leadership, more appointive positions in government, and vote in favour of these amendments.

The groups gathered for the protest include the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWA), Women Organisation for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), Women In Business (WIMBIZ), Action Aid, Yiaga Africa, the Islamic Youth League, among others.

The protest comes less than 24 hours after the bill seeking to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly failed.

The Bill titled ‘Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters,’ failed after most of the lawmakers voted against it.

The lawmakers during the plenary on Tuesday voted on 68 Constitution Amendment bills.

The bill for special seats for women was defeated in the Senate with 58 votes out of 91 while in the House of Representatives 208 out of 290 lawmakers voted against it. (Credit, excluding headline: Channels TV)