The group maintained that despite NEMA’s outrageous spending during the Ukrainian evacuation, there is still $4,793,504 (N1,983,551,999.256) left unspent by the agency.
A civic group, Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, said the National Emergency Management Agency still has a balance of $4,793,504 (N1.98 billion) from the money budgeted to evacuate Nigerian nationals from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Dr. Frederick Odorige, the group’s coordinator, disclosed this in a Wednesday press release made available to SaharaReporters.
He insisted that the NEMA did not require any additional funding to evacuate Nigerians trapped in warring Sudan.
The group maintained that despite NEMA’s outrageous spending during the Ukrainian evacuation, there is still $4,793,504 (N1,983,551,999.256) left unspent by the agency.
The statement reads: “The Evacuation of Nigerians from Sudan and the Cost of Evacuation from Ukraine: The National Emergency Management Agency still has at least $4,793,504 (N1.98b) from unspent Funds from Evacuation from Ukraine. No new budget is needed for the evacuation of Nigerians from Sudan.
“The quick evacuation of Nigerians from Sudan is paramount. We salute the efforts of the agencies working towards the actualization. We specially salute Mr Allen Onyeama, Chief Executive Officer of Peace Airline for his inestimable magnanimity and patriotism for our country.
“At a very critical period when Nigeria is deep in debt while spending over 90per cent of her revenue on debt servicing, it is pertinent to guard our common resources. During the evacuation of Nigerians from the war in Ukraine through Hungary, Romania and Poland, President Muhammadu Buhari released $8,523,999 (N3,527,065,266.2 at the exchange rate of N413.8) for the intervention.
“Based on the Freedom of Information Act, we asked our lawyer to request from the concerned authorities, how the fund was spent. From the documents received from the National Emergency Management Agency dated 15 August 2022, it showed that 1,500 Nigerians were evacuated as of 12 March 2022. The cost of evacuation and logistics was $3,546,912.48 (N1,467,712,384.224 at the exchange rate of N413.8), 84,952 euros (N39,320,882.72 at the exchange rate of N462.86) and N36,480,000. The total amount spent, converted in naira, was N1,543,513,266.944).
“From the above, it means that $4,793,504 (N1,983,551,999.256) was not spent. We wish to state that from the remaining amount, funds could be used for the evacuation of our compatriots from Sudan and the balance of the money refunded to the national treasury.
“We note, that from the expenses made by NEMA which is an agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, some disbursements were made which are quite outrageous.
“$1,076,156.63 and 84,952 Euro was paid to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign missions. What were such monies spent for? Though the Nigerian embassies in Hungary, Romania and Poland were on ground to give logistics support, the various Nigerian associations and the host countries practically took care of the integration process. All we heard from the embassies was that they had no money!
“Why was $82,737.34 (N33,770,900) paid to the Refugee Commission in the name of logistics? How is the business of that office in Nigeria related to evacuating Nigerians from abroad?
“How could NEMA have spent N36,480,000 for so-called logistics? They have national budgets before the war in Ukraine.
“How could the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development have spent $14,318.5 (N5,925,000) for the same logistics? They have national budgets before the war in Ukraine.
“Apart from the $100 given to each of the returnees which was put at $149,700 (N61,945,860), it means that, from the stated expenditures, the average cost of evacuating each Nigerian from the War in Ukraine was N987,711.60 or $2,380. That amount was not in tandem with the facts.
“At the period under review, the highest average cost of a return ticket on economy class, between Hungary, Romania, Poland and Nigeria was $800. If we assume - based on prudence and accountability, that airfare, logistics and stipends given to the returnees may have amounted to $1,000 each, total expenditures ought to be around $1,500,000 (One million, Five hundred thousand dollars).
“A figure of 5,000 persons was presented to the Presidency being number of Nigerians that needed to be evacuated from Ukraine. Since the final number of evacuees was far less than budgeted, there should be a refund of public money.”
“It is our expectation that monies budgeted for activities related to Nigerians in the diaspora are properly accounted for,” the statement added.