Sudan crisis: FG dismisses outcry over $1.2m spent on 40 buses

Nigeria’s Federal Government has said the outcry over the spending of the sum of $1.2 million it spent for the hiring of the 40 buses to evacuate Nigerians from war torn Sudan was unfounded.

“The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

Therefore, cooperation and understanding of all and sundry are required to complement ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of every Nigerian trapped in Sudan,” the Federal Government said in a joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The statement was signed by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, MFA, Amb. Janet Olisa, and Permanent Secretary, FMHADMSD, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.

“The general public is also advised to discountenance unverified information being circulated on social media as some of it is either due to ignorance or sheer mischief. The outcry over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.

It was also stated in the statement that the Central Bank of Nigeria paid the money directly to the transport company account on Tuesday noon through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).