The Federal Government has successfully evacuated an additional 66 Nigerians from South Africa as part of efforts to assist citizens affected by the recent wave of xenophobic violence in the country.
The returnees, who make up the second batch of evacuees, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
Their return forms part of the emergency evacuation programme approved by President Bola Tinubu in response to renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
The latest group arrived weeks after the first batch of 258 Nigerians was flown back home on June 11 through a chartered Air Peace flight.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that 66 Nigerians were brought back during the second phase of the exercise.
Speaking on the operation, the Head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Lagos Office, Mr. Dipo Onabowale, explained that the evacuation flight was facilitated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Mr. Kunle Soname.
He added that officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees throughout the journey back to Nigeria.
Representing the Chairman of NiDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Onabowale praised President Tinubu for authorising the evacuation initiative aimed at protecting Nigerians abroad.
He noted that issues experienced during the first phase of the operation were being addressed through the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has assured that all Nigerians who have registered and expressed willingness to return home will be evacuated.
NiDCOM also announced a number of support initiatives designed to assist the returnees in their reintegration process.
The commission revealed that evacuees who are indigenes of Imo State would receive ₦1 million each through a package approved by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
In addition, telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria provided free SIM cards and data packages valued at ₦50,000 for each returnee.
The commission further disclosed that every evacuee received a cash support package of ₦100,000 deposited directly into their bank accounts.
Founder of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Pastor Bolaji Idowu, also extended financial assistance by donating ₦100,000 to each of the beneficiaries.
The returnees expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating their safe return and ensuring the continuation of the evacuation exercise.
They also appreciated the contributions of Kunle Soname, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, NiDCOM Chairman Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and other individuals and organisations that supported the initiative.
Several government agencies were present at the airport to receive and process the returnees upon arrival.
Among them were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), as well as security agencies involved in the documentation process.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad, particularly in countries experiencing unrest and hostility towards foreign nationals.
