Another batch of 40 returnees has arrived at the Lagos Airport from South Africa, bringing the total number of returnees in the sixth batch to 1,174.
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 Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said on Saturday.
The returnees, who arrived on Friday night, thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving their immediate evacuation as well as all the facilitators.
They also appreciated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Nigerian Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi; and the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whose staff were on hand to receive them and announced some financial support for them.
NiDCOM said that the returnees from Imo State, courtesy of Governor Hope Uzodimma, received ₦1 million each while MTN donated a free SIM pack (with data) worth ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 to be paid to the bank account of all the returnees.
“Similarly, Edo and Delta state officials announced incentives from their respective state governments to the returnees.
“Also, JAAL Foundation promised empowerment support for 50 female returnees.
“In the same vein, Chibuzor Chinwe, General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, was appreciated for his selfless gesture of providing free accommodation to approximately 52 Nigerian returnees as well as skills acquisition for families and free education for their children up to university level.
“The returnees also thanked Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church, who gave ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees. They equally thanked Cruxstone (a real estate firm), who gave cash support to the first set of returnees,” the statement added.
Government agencies, including NEMA, Refugees Commission, Nigerian Immigration Service, FAAN, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and security agencies were on hand to document and receive the returnees.
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