The sixth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday night, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,174.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
According to the commission, the latest batch comprised 40 Nigerians who arrived aboard a chartered flight.
NIDCOM said the evacuation exercise involved four Air Peace flights, which conveyed 258, 266, 262 and 282 returnees respectively, while a ValueJet flight brought back 66 Nigerians.
The returnees expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving their evacuation from South Africa.
They also thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi; and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Officials of the commission were at the airport to receive the returnees and announce financial and other forms of support for them.
NIDCOM said returnees from Imo State received ₦1 million each through the intervention of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Government agencies present at the airport included the National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and National Identity Management Commission.
Security agencies were also present to assist with the documentation, reception and processing of the returnees.
NIDCOM said the returnees expressed gratitude for the warm reception and support offered by the Federal Government, state governments, religious organisations and private institutions.
