Another group of 40 stranded Nigerians has arrived in Lagos from South Africa, bringing the total number of citizens evacuated under the sixth phase of the repatriation exercise to 1,174.
The latest batch landed on Friday night aboard a chartered flight, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The Commission said the returnees expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving their immediate evacuation, as well as everyone who contributed to making the exercise successful.
NiDCOM disclosed on Saturday that the evacuation was carried out using four Air Peace flights, which conveyed 258, 266, 262 and 282 passengers respectively, one ValueJet flight with 66 returnees, and the final chartered flight that brought back the remaining 40 Nigerians.
The returnees also appreciated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Acting Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi; and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whose officials received them on arrival and announced financial support packages.
According to the Commission, returnees from Imo State received ₦1 million each, courtesy of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
MTN also donated free SIM packs with data valued at ₦50,000 and pledged ₦100,000 to be paid into the bank account of each returnee.
NiDCOM further stated that the governments of Edo and Delta states also announced support packages for their indigenes among the returnees.
The JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 50 female returnees, while the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, Chibuzor Chinwe, was commended for providing free accommodation for about 52 returnees, as well as skills acquisition opportunities for families and free education for their children up to university level.
The returnees also expressed appreciation to the Senior Pastor of Harvesters Church, Bolaji Idowu, for donating ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees. They equally thanked real estate firm, Cruxstone, for providing financial assistance to the first batch of returnees.
Government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and other security agencies, were on hand at the airport to receive, document and process the returnees.
