Sixth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrives in Lagos
A total of 40 stranded Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks have arrived in Lagos.
The arrival of the sixth batch of returnees was announced on Friday in a post on X by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving their immediate evacuation.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and the chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, were on hand to receive the returnees.
Government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and security agencies, were also on hand to receive and document the returnees.
NiDCOM also announced various financial support packages for them. It said returnees from Imo State received ₦1 million each, courtesy of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
It added that MTN donated free SIM packs with data valued at ₦50,000 and would also pay ₦100,000 into each returnee’s bank account.
NiDCOM said officials of the Edo and Delta state governments also announced support packages for returnees from their respective states.
The JAAL Foundation pledged to provide empowerment support to 50 female returnees.
Meanwhile, the general overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, Chibuzor Chinyere, offered free accommodation to about 52 Nigerian returnees.
He also promised skills acquisition programmes for the families and free education for their children up to the university level.
Similarly, Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church donated ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees, while Cruxstone, a real estate firm, also provided cash support to the first batch of returnees.
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