President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the release of $8.5 million 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, Wednesday, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Briefing newsmen after Council, the Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, joined by her counterpart, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, said the amount is to evacuate at least 500 nationals stranded as a result of the crisis.
Ambassador Dada disclosed that Air Peace and Max Air airlines have been contracted to provide three aircraft and run as many shifts as possible to facilitate the evacuation.
