The second batch of stranded Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing evacuation exercise.
Naijaonpoint gathered that the 66 returnees touched down at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday aboard a flight facilitated by ValueJet.
The evacuation followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the repatriation of stranded Nigerians, a move the Federal Government said underscores its commitment to the safety and welfare of citizens abroad.
The latest evacuation comes two weeks after the first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
The returnees, who were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the evacuation.
They also thanked the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Otunba Kunle Soname, for facilitating the flight.
Other individuals and organisations they acknowledged included the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope (Alexander) Ajayi; the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; 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; and other government agencies involved in the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the NIDCOM Chairman, Mr Dipo Onabowale commended President Tinubu for what he described as a citizen-centred approach to the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
He said logistical challenges encountered after the first evacuation were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
According to him, the minister has assured that all registered Nigerians who wish to return home will be evacuated.
NIDCOM also announced support packages for the returnees as part of efforts to aid their reintegration.
According to the commission, returnees from Imo State received ₦1 million each from Governor Hope Uzodinma.
MTN Nigeria distributed free SIM cards with data worth ₦50,000 and credited ₦100,000 to the bank account of each returnee.
Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre also donated ₦100,000 to each of the returnees.
Government agencies, including NEMA, the Refugee Commission, FAAN, the Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies, were on hand to receive, document and provide immediate assistance to the evacuees.
