66 More Nigerians Return as South Africa Evacuation Continues

Author: Gist Correspondent

A second batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, bringing the total number of returnees under the ongoing government-backed exercise to more than 300.

The latest group of 66 evacuees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday night as part of efforts approved by President Bola Tinubu to assist Nigerians affected by recent attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.

The arrival follows an earlier evacuation flight that returned 258 Nigerians to the country.

Officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees on the journey, while the flight was facilitated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Kunle Soname.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation exercise remains open to Nigerians who registered and wish to return home from South Africa.

To support the returnees' reintegration, several assistance packages were announced. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed that evacuees from Imo State would receive N1 million each from Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Telecommunications company MTN Nigeria also provided free SIM cards, N50,000 worth of data and credited N100,000 into the bank account of each evacuee.

In addition, the founder of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Pastor Bolaji Idowu, donated N100,000 to each returnee.

The evacuees expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and other stakeholders for facilitating their return and providing support upon arrival.

Representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service and other relevant agencies were on hand at the airport to receive and document the returnees.