As part of the Federal Government’s ongoing evacuation exercise, the second group of trapped Nigerians who were evacuated from South Africa has reached the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to information obtained by Naija News, the 66 returnees arrived on a ValueJet-facilitated trip on Wednesday at approximately 8:50 p.m.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s permission of the homecoming of stranded Nigerians preceded the evacuation; the Federal Government claimed this action demonstrated its dedication to the security and well-being of its residents overseas.
Two weeks have passed since the first group of 258 returnees landed in Lagos on a chartered Air Peace flight on June 11.
Alongside representatives of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, the returnees thanked President Tinubu for authorizing the evacuation.
They also expressed gratitude to Otunba Kunle Soname, the chairman and CEO of ValueJet, for making the travel possible.
The National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migration, and Internally Displaced Persons, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope (Alexander) Ajayi, and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, were among the other people and organizations they recognized.
Mr. Dipo Onabowale, speaking on behalf of the NIDCOM Chairman, praised President Tinubu for what he called a “citizen-centered approach to the welfare of Nigerians abroad.”
He stated that Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was handling logistical issues that arose following the initial evacuation.
He claims that the minister has promised to evacuate all registered Nigerians who want to go back home.
In an attempt to facilitate the returnees’ reintegration, NIDCOM also provided support packages.
The commission claims that Governor Hope Uzodinma gave each Imo State returnee ₦1 million.
MTN Nigeria gave away free SIM cards with ₦50,000 worth of data and credited each returnee’s bank account with ₦100,000.
Additionally, each of the returnees received ₦100,000 from Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Center.
NEMA, the Refugee Commission, FAAN, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and security agencies were among the government organizations available to accept, record, and offer the refugees prompt aid.
