Another batch of 40 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, bringing the total number of returnees under the sixth phase of the evacuation exercise to 1,174.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the latest group arrived aboard a chartered flight on Friday night.
According to the commission, the returnees came through Air Peace in four different flights of 258, 266, 262, and 282, Value Jet 66, and the sixth batch came in a chartered flight with 40 Nigerians
The latest group expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving their immediate evacuation and thanked all stakeholders who facilitated their return to Nigeria.
They also commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi; and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whose team received them on arrival and announced financial support packages.
NiDCOM said returnees from Imo State received ₦1 million each through the support of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The commission added that MTN donated free SIM packs with data worth ₦50,000 and pledged to pay ₦100,000 into the bank account of each returnee.
It further disclosed that officials from Edo and Delta states also announced support packages for their indigenes among the returnees.
In addition, the JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 50 female returnees.
NiDCOM also acknowledged the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, Chibuzor Chinwe, for providing free accommodation to about 52 returnees, skills acquisition opportunities for their families and free education for their children up to university level.
The returnees also appreciated the founder of Harvesters Church, Bolaji Idowu, for donating ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees, while real estate firm Cruxstone was recognised for providing financial support to the first batch of evacuees.
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), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and other security agencies were on hand to receive and document the returnees.
