More More Support Greets Stranded Nigerians Returning from South Africa as 266 More Arrive in Lagos
Oru Leonard
Another 266 stranded Nigerians have returned safely from South Africa, bringing the total number of evacuees to 852 in four evacuation operations approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The latest batch arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard an Air Peace flight at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday, accompanied by two officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
The returnees received a range of reintegration support packages from government and private sector partners. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) announced that Governor Hope Uzodimma had approved a ₦1 million grant for each returnee from Imo State. MTN Nigeria also donated free SIM cards with data worth ₦50,000 to each returnee and pledged an additional ₦100,000 to be paid into their bank accounts.
Officials from Edo and Delta states unveiled support packages for their indigenes, while the JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment assistance for 100 female returnees to aid their reintegration.
Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Commission’s representative, Dipo Odebowale, urged other state governments and corporate organisations to emulate the support shown by Imo, Edo and Delta states. He also commended ValueJet Airline for flying 66 stranded Nigerians home free of charge, Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Christ Church for donating ₦100,000 each to the first batch of 66 returnees, and Cruxstone Real Estate for supporting the initial group of evacuees.
The evacuation exercise, funded by the Federal Government, followed President Tinubu’s directive to ensure the safe and dignified return of willing Nigerians facing hardship abroad.
On arrival, the returnees expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the evacuation. They also thanked the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa,
Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for coordinating the evacuation and reintegration process.
Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other security agencies were on hand to receive, profile and provide support to the returnees.
“With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, more support continues to come their way. We commend the Federal Government, state governments, corporate organisations and partner agencies whose collective efforts are ensuring the safe return and successful reintegration of Nigerians in distress abroad,” said Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM.
