Benjamin Ogbaini & Associates. Suites 75 &80 (3* Floor) Ide Plaza,
Plot184 (No.25)/jose Adcogun Street, OfF Augustus Aikhornu Way. Utako-DistricL, Abuja.
Attention: Principal Counsel
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMAION ACT 2011: REQUEST FOR DETAILS OF
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE IN RESPECT OF THE SUM OF USD
8,523,599.00 APPROVED FOR THE EVACUATION OF NIGERIANS IN UKRAINE
Yours above subject matter refers,
We are ni receipt of your letters dated 7th July, 2022 and reminder dated to August, 2022
INTRODUCTION
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine Ieading to the escalation of hte Ukrainc-Russian conflict. The attack created immediate humanitarian crisis with more
than 6.3 Ukrainians and one third of the population feeing the country. This resulted ni loss ol lives, displacement and trauma which necessitated the immediate evacuation of Nigerian citizens from the trouhled region. Consequently, on 2* March 2022, Mr President through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian AlTairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (HMHADMSD) tasked the National Fimergency Management Agency (NEMA) to handle the evacuation in line with its operational mandate.
ROLE OF NEMA
To facilitate the immediate evacuation of at cast 5,000 Nigerians fleeing from the Russia-L/kraine war to Poland, Romania. Ilungary and Slovakia, the Honourahle Minister FMHADMSD ni conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened astrategic
Address: No. 8Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Maitama P.M.B 357, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria. Website: www.nema.gov.ng, E-mail: info@nema.gov.ng
NEMA/DFA/85/T 15th August, 2022
level inter-ministerial coordinating meeting to discuss the suitable course of action. articulate the requirements and appoint an Incident Commander from NEMA ot coordinate the evacuation, especially the reception at the Port of Arival at theNnamdi Aikwe International Airport, Abuja. The reception team drew members form the NCKMI, NAPTIP, DSS, the Police, NSCDC, NCDC/PIIS, NAF and NIS,
.2 Subsequently, NEMA ni concert with other critical stakeholders embarked on operational-level coordinating conference and designated the halls/ work stations to be used to receive the returnees. The reception included profiling of the evacuecs and empowering them to travel to their home locations ni Nigeria with a token of $100, disbursed dircetly by NEMA at the Airport. The Agency subsequently generated periodic reporting of progress recorded ot the IM FMITADMSD and the joint strategic level fort.
.3 Although joint operational-level teams were constituted and prepared to proceed to Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia to ensure smooth profiling, cvacuation and logistics, the constraint of VISA Processing stalled that part of the Mission. Therefore, sclected Agency designated staff conducted the reception fo relumees at the Nigeria end while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Nigeria’s High Commissions and Embassies continued with the processing of the evacuation from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. Within the 10 days that the Operation lasted from 3rd – 31 March 2022. 1,500 returnces mostly students were successlully ollicially returned through the Abuja Port of Arrival being conveyed by 3airlines: Max Air, Air Peace and Axman Airline. A summary of the reception as well as details of receipt and
disbursement of funds through the Agency shal be discussed subsequently.
- The table below shows a summary of distressed Nigerians received from Poland, Romania and Hungary as at 13 March 2022:
S/N
Date
Шд 2022
Country Departure March, Romania
of Flight Max Air
Time of No of Arrival Returnces
2
March.
Poland
Air Peace
6.30pm 181 2022
3
4 t
March.
Hungary
Air Peace
11.13pm 174 2022
4
March,
Hungary
Air Peace
12.40am 306 2022
5
March.
Poland
Air Peace
1.20am 123 2022
б
124
March,
Hungary
Arman
8.40pm
301 2022
Airline
Total Number of persons received sa at 12* March, 202
1,500 - lam
415 - The
Agency received the sum of $8,523,599.00(USD) and made following payments:
PAYMENT FOR THE AIR LIFT OF STRANDED NIGERIAN RETURNEES:
( i
Air Peace Limited
S1.224.000.00 (USD) (1)
Axman Air Limited
$500.000.00 (USD) (11D)
Max Air Limited
$500.000.00 (USD) Total
S2,224,000.00(USD) DISBURSEMENT T O STRANDED NIGERIAN RETURNKES:
1.497 Returnees@( $100 USD each $149.700.00(USD) PAYMENTS FOR LOGISTICS AND OTHERS
(i) Payment to Refugees Commission (Logistics) S82.737.34(USD)
Fquivalent (N33,770,900.00)
(ii) Payment to Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Ministry (Logistics) $14,318.51(USD)
Equivalent(N5,925.000.00)
(iff) Payment to Foreign Affairs Ministry (Foreign Mission) $1,076.156.63(USD) (iv) Payment ot Foreign Affairs Ministry (Forcign Mission) C84,952.00(Euro)
(v) Payment to National Limergency Management Agency (NEMA) for
(Logistics)
Summary of Payments: (i) USD
(in) Euros
(in)Naira
N36,480,000.00
53,546,912.48 €84,952.00
36,480,000.00 - Allached herewith are the mandates sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the payment and the disbursement sheets duly signed by the Returnees.
1.
Lawal Hassan Legal Adviser
Please, accept the assurances of the Direetor-Gencral’s highest regards.
