Russian Invasion: Buhari Approves $8.5m To Evacuate 5000 Nigerians From Ukraine

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of $8.5 million for the immediate evacuation of 5,000 Nigerians from Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

KanyiDaily had reported how Russian President, Vladimir Putin ordered a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine on Thursday, February 24, killing hundreds of people and wounding thousands.

Following the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia, many residents and immigrants, including Nigerians, have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries.

On Sunday, February 27, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama announced that Nigeria will soon begin the evacuation of citizens its diplomatic mission received in Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

Buhari Approves $8.5m For Evacuation Of Nigerians

The President has directed the release of $8.5m to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to facilitate the immediate evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the Russia, Ukraine war.

The directive came following the approval of a joint memo presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting, the Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, joined by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, said the amount is to evacuate at least 5,000 nationals stranded as a result of the crisis.

Ambassador 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 in four countries – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, has began the evacuation of Ukraine-based Nigerians in Polish borders.