A total of 1,174 Nigerians have now returned home from South Africa in the sixth batch of evacuations, with the latest group of 40 arriving at Lagos Airport on Friday night aboard a chartered flight.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said the sixth batch arrived across six flights, four Air Peace services carrying 258, 266, 262 and 282 returnees respectively, a Value Jet flight with 66 passengers and the final chartered flight with 40.
The returnees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and security agencies, who were on hand to document their arrival.
NiDCOM staff also attended to announce financial support for the returnees.
The returning Nigerians thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving their evacuation.
They also praised the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria's Acting Ambassador to South Africa Temitope Alexander-Ajayi and NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa for facilitating the process.
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Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma provided N1 million each for returnees from the state, while MTN donated a free SIM pack with data worth N50,000 and an additional N100,000 to be paid into each returnee's bank account.
Edo and Delta state officials also announced incentives from their respective governments.
The JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 50 female returnees.
Pastor Chibuzor Chinwe, General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) Worldwide, was commended for providing free accommodation for approximately 52 returnees, skills acquisition support for families and free education for their children up to university level.
Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church gave N100,000 each to 66 returnees, while Cruxstone, a real estate firm, provided cash support to the first set of returnees.
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