Emmanuel Obi
The second batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as the Federal Government continues efforts to bring home citizens affected by recent developments in the country.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) announced that the group of 66 returnees landed in Lagos at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
Their evacuation followed the arrival of an earlier batch of 258 Nigerians on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
According to NIDCOM, the evacuation was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
The latest operation was facilitated by ValueJet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kunle Soname, while officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees.
Speaking on behalf of NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the commission’s representative, Dipo Onabowale, said the government was addressing logistical issues encountered during the first evacuation.
He added that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had assured that all registered Nigerians seeking evacuation would be brought home.
On arrival, the returnees expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, Soname, officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, NIDCOM, and agencies involved in the operation, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migration and Internally Displaced Persons, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
As part of the reintegration support, Imo State indigenes among the returnees received ₦1 million each from the Imo State Government.
MTN Nigeria also provided free SIM cards loaded with data worth ₦50,000 and credited ₦100,000 to each returnee’s bank account, while Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre donated ₦100,000 to each person.
Government agencies and security officials were on hand at the airport to receive, document and provide immediate assistance to the returnees as they began the process of reintegration into the country.
