The groups stated in the letter that they observed that unspent monies from the evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine had not been returned to the coffers of the federal government, noting that at a very difficult economic period in Nigeria’s history, it had become imperative to raise the issue as it concerned the country’s common resources.
The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN) has called for accountability over the funds allocated for the evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine following an invasion by Russia in February 2022.
The coalition wrote to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, about the alleged failure by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to refund to the Nigerian government the sum of $4,793,504 left from the $8,523,999 released by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the evacuation.
The open letter dated February 25, 2024 and titled ‘The Evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine: The National Emergency Management Agency still has at least $4,793,504 from unspent Funds to Refund to the Nigerian Government’, was signed by Comrade Frederick Odorige, Global Coordinator of GCSDN and Chairman Emeritus of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, NIDO Hungary.
The coalition stated in the letter that it observed that unspent monies from the evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine had not been returned to the coffers of the federal government, noting that at a very difficult economic period in Nigeria’s history, it had become imperative to raise the issue as it concerned the country’s common resources.
The coalition said, “During the evacuation of Nigerians from the war in Ukraine through Hungary, Romania and Poland, former president Muhammadu Buhari released $8,523,999 (N3,527,065,266.2 at the previous exchange rate of N413.8) for the intervention in 2022. He was informed that the money was needed to evacuate 5,000 Nigerians.
“Based on the Freedom of Information Act, we asked our lawyer to request from the concerned authorities how the fund was spent. In the attached documents received from the National Emergency Management Agency dated 15 August 2022, it shows that 1,500 Nigerians were evacuated as of March 12, 2022.
“The cost of evacuation and logistics was $3,546,912.48 (N1,467,712,384.224 at the exchange rate of N413.8), 84,952euro (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).”
The coalition further stated, “From the above, it means that $4,793,504 was not spent. 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. They include, but not limited to the following:
“’$1,076,156.63 and 84,952 Euros were paid to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign missions,” questioning “What were such monies spent for?’”
The coalition further said: “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.”
The coalition further raised some questions: “Why was $82,737.34 paid to the Refugee Commission in Nigeria in the name of logistics? How is the business of that office in Nigeria related to the evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine? How could NEMA have spent N36,480,000 for so-called logistics to evacuate Nigerians in Ukraine when they already claimed that monies have been paid to Nigeria`s foreign missions? How could the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development have spent $14,318.5 for the same matter of logistics?”
The coalition further noted, “Apart from the $100 given to each of the returnees which was put at $149,700, it means that, from the stated expenditures, the average cost of evacuating each Nigerian from the War in Ukraine at that period was N987,711.60 or $2,380 (based on previous exchange rate). 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, that air fare, 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 the number of Nigerians that needed to be evacuated from Ukraine. Since the final number of evacuees was far less than budgeted, there ought to have been a refund of public money.”
The coalition however stressed that its letter had not accused anyone of corruption.
“Rather, it is calling for investigation and accountability of public funds. We are particularly interested because it relates to issues bordering on Nigerians in the diaspora,” it said.