FG Evacuates Additional 66 Nigerians From South Africa
Another batch of stranded Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as the Federal Government continues efforts to bring affected citizens back home.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed in a statement that the second batch of 66 returnees touched down in Lagos at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to the commission, the evacuation followed the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
The returnees were airlifted with the support of ValueJet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Otunba Kunle Soname, and were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
The latest evacuation comes barely two weeks after the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in the country on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mr. Dipo Onabowale commended President Tinubu for facilitating the safe return of the evacuees.
He stated that challenges encountered during the first phase of the evacuation exercise were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who has assured that all registered Nigerians seeking evacuation would be brought back home.
The returnees expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, Otunba Soname, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, NiDCOM and other government agencies involved in the exercise for their intervention and support.
As part of efforts to support their reintegration, MTN Nigeria distributed free SIM packs loaded with data and provided financial assistance to the returnees. In addition, the Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, donated ₦100,000 to each evacuee.
Imo State indigenes among the returnees also received ₦1 million each through the support of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Officials of 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 other security agencies were present at the airport to receive and assist the returnees.