Xenophobia: How FG facilitated return of 852 Nigerians from South Africa - Official - Blueprint Newspapers Limited
Spread the wordThe federal government has successfully airlifted 852 Nigerians from South Africa following recent anti-migrant attacks, even as Nigerian returnees continue to receive more. . .
Spread the wordThe federal government has successfully airlifted 852 Nigerians from South Africa following recent anti-migrant attacks, even as Nigerian returnees continue to receive more support. Blueprint. ngreports that the fourth batch of 266 stranded Nigerian nationals arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Friday, bringing the number of Nigeria has transported to 852. A press statement by the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, weekend in Abuja, said while receiving the returnees, NIDCOM officials on ground announced a grant of ₦1 million each to all returnees from Imo state on behalf of Governor Hope Uzodimma as part of their support packages. He said the officials from the commission also announced that MTN Nigeria donated free SIM packs with data valued at ₦50,000 for each returnee and pledged an additional ₦100,000 to be credited into the bank accounts of all the returnees. Officials of the Edo and Delta state governments also announced support packages for their respective indigenes, while the JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 100 female returnees to aid their reintegration. The spokesperson noted that Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,, speaking through the Commission’s representative, Mr Dipo Odebowale, called on other states to emulate the gesture of Imo, Edo and Delta states, as well as other corporate offices like MTN Nigeria; Value jet Airline which brought in 66 Nigerians back from South Africa free of charge; Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Christ Church gave ₦100,000 each to the 66 returnees who arrived on June 22 and Cruxstone , a real estate firm which gave cash support to the first set of returnees. Balogun said yhe returnees were accompanied by two officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa; just as he discloaed that rhe evacuation exercise, funded by the federal government, was in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, to ensure the safe and dignified return of willing Nigerians facing difficulties abroad. He said on arrival, the returnees expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for approving their evacuation; just as they also thanked the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and the NIDCOM boss, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, whose team was on ground to receive them and coordinate their reintegration. The Spokesperson noted that government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other security agencies, were on hand to receive, profile, document and provide necessary assistance to the returnees. The returnees expressed heartfelt gratitude to the federal government, state governments, corporate organisations, partner agencies and all stakeholders for the warm reception, generous donations and support extended to them upon their arrival. “The NIDCOM commends all partners whose collective efforts continue to ensure the safe return and successful reintegration of Nigerians in distress abroad,” he added. Spread the word