JUST IN: Buhari approves $8.5m to evacuate Nigerians from Ukraine

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have approved the sum of $8.5 million to evacuate at least 5,000 Nigerians caught up in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Zubairu Dada, disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dada said a joint memo on the money meant for the evacuation of Nigerians now in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland were presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as that of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and approved by FEC.

According to him, the Federal Government has contracted Air Peace and Max Air airlines to avail three aircraft to facilitate the evacuation.

The two airlines will run as many shifts as possible to facilitate the evacuation of those who were currently on the ground, the minister said.

He said the evacuees include 940 from Romania, 150 from Slovakia and 350 from Poland who have registered to leave.

READ: JUST IN: Over 250 Nigerians fleeing Ukraine arrive Romania, Hungary, Poland

On the amount approved, Dada explained that: “The ministry of humanitarian affairs wrote a memo to the president seeking funding to enable us to conduct this exercise. The memo was to the tune of $8.5m which Mr. President has graciously approved. That provision entails an arrangement to evacuate no less than 5,000 Nigerians.

“It also includes some assistance for the feeding that may have been done by the missions under whatever arrangements. Even the missions themselves are also in dire situations.”

Asked about when the funds will be released Dada said, “That is why the evacuation flights will begin today (Wednesday).”

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM reports that President Buhari is currently away in Kenya, where he attended the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) on Tuesday.

The president is expected to proceed to United Kingdom for a a two-week medical check-up, before returning to Nigeria.