Ukraine: Buhari Approves Release Of $8.5m For Evacuation Of Stranded Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved $8.5 million for the evacuation of Nigerians trapped in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

This was disclosed to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Disclosing this to journalists at the post-FEC media briefing, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, said the memo raised for the response purpose was jointly raised between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Also speaking on the approval, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, said the amount is to evacuate at least 5000 nationals stranded as a result of the crisis.

Dada disclosed that Air Peace and Max Air airlines have been contracted to provide three aircrafts and run as many shifts as possible to facilitate the evacuation.

He also said those to be evacuated include 940 from Romania, 150 from Slovakia and 350 from Poland who have registered for evacuation.

“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs wrote a memo to the president seeking for funding to enable us conduct this exercise. The memo was in the tune of $8.5 million which Mr. President has graciously approved. That provision entails arrangement to evacuate not less than 5,000 Nigerians.

“Whatever happens, you can be rest assured we are going to run any number of shifts that it will involve. Don’t forget it will also involve taking care of those Nigerians that may decide not to come back.