The final group of 40 stranded Nigerians has returned from South Africa, completing the Federal Government’s sixth evacuation exercise that brought a total of 1,174 citizens back home.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday night aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
According to a statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the latest arrival concluded six evacuation flights coordinated by the Federal Government. Previous flights had returned 258, 266, 262, 282 and 66 Nigerians through Air Peace and ValueJet.
The evacuees thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the evacuation and commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Acting Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for facilitating their return.
NiDCOM said several individuals, organisations and state governments announced support packages for the returnees. Governor Hope Uzodimma approved ₦1 million for each returnee from Imo State, while MTN donated free SIM packs with data worth ₦50,000 and pledged ₦100,000 to every evacuee.
The commission added that the Edo and Delta State governments also announced support for their indigenes.
The JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 50 female returnees, while the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinwe, provided accommodation for about 52 returnees, skills acquisition opportunities and free education for their children up to university level.
Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church donated ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees, while real estate firm Cruxstone also provided financial assistance to the first batch of evacuees.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission and other security agencies received and documented the returnees on arrival.
NiDCOM said the evacuees expressed gratitude for the financial assistance and warm reception they received after returning to Nigeria.
