The Federal Government has evacuated an additional 66 Nigerians from South Africa as part of ongoing efforts to assist citizens affected by recent xenophobic attacks in the country.
The returnees, constituting the second batch of evacuees, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
Their return is part of the emergency evacuation programme approved by President Bola Tinubu following renewed attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
The latest evacuation comes weeks after the first batch of 258 Nigerians was repatriated on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the 66 returnees were brought home during the second phase of the evacuation exercise.
Speaking on the operation, the Head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Lagos Office, Dipo Onabowale, disclosed that the evacuation flight was facilitated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Kunle Soname.
According to him, officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the evacuees throughout their journey back to Nigeria.
Representing the Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Onabowale commended President Tinubu for approving the evacuation initiative aimed at safeguarding Nigerians abroad.
He added that challenges encountered during the first phase of the operation were being addressed through the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Onabowale further stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had assured that all Nigerians who registered and indicated willingness to return home would be evacuated.
To support the reintegration of the returnees, NiDCOM announced several intervention packages. The commission disclosed that evacuees from Imo State would receive ₦1 million each under a support scheme approved by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
In addition, MTN Nigeria provided free SIM cards and data packages valued at ₦50,000 for each returnee, while every evacuee also received ₦100,000 credited directly to their bank accounts.
Founder of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Pastor Bolaji Idowu, also donated ₦100,000 to each of the beneficiaries as part of efforts to support their resettlement.
The returnees expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for facilitating their safe return and ensuring the continuation of the evacuation exercise.
They also thanked Kunle Soname, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and other individuals and organisations that contributed to the success of the operation.
Several government agencies were on ground at the airport to receive and process the returnees. These included 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), and relevant security agencies.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare and safety of Nigerians abroad, particularly in countries facing unrest and growing hostility towards foreign nationals.
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