Another batch of 66 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos as the Federal Government continues efforts to repatriate citizens affected by recent developments in the country.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:50pm on Wednesday.
According to NiDCOM, the evacuation, approved by President Bola Tinubu, forms part of the Federal Government’s intervention to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
The commission said the latest returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
The development comes two weeks after the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Nigeria aboard a chartered Air Peace flight on June 11.
NiDCOM stated that while the first evacuation was facilitated by Air Peace, the second batch was supported by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Otunba Kunle Soname.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the agency’s representative, Dipo Onabowale, commended President Tinubu for approving the evacuation of stranded Nigerians.
He also disclosed that logistical challenges encountered during the first evacuation were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who had assured that all registered Nigerians in need of evacuation would be brought home.
As part of efforts to ease the returnees’ reintegration, NiDCOM said several organisations and government agencies provided support packages.
According to the commission, Imo State indigenes among the returnees received ₦1m each from Governor Hope Uzodinma, while MTN Nigeria distributed free SIM cards loaded with data worth ₦50,000 and credited ₦100,000 into the bank account of each returnee.
It added that the Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, donated ₦100,000 to each of the evacuees.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies were on hand to receive, document and provide immediate assistance to the returnees.
NiDCOM said the evacuees expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, Kunle Soname, government agencies and other donors for facilitating their safe return and providing support for their reintegration into society.
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