馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
1,174 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa as final batch returns
via Punch Nigeria9 min read
The final group of 40 stranded Nigerians has been evacuated from South Africa, arriving at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the Federal Government's evacuation program to 1,174. The returnees expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving their evacuation, and also thanked Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Acting Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for their assistance. Officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission received the evacuees and announced financial support. Returnees from Imo State received N1m each through Governor Hope Uzodimma, while MTN provided free SIM packs with data worth N50,000 and pledged N100,000 to each returnee's bank account. Edo and Delta State governments also announced support packages for their indigenes. The JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment support for 50 female returnees, and Apostle Dr Chibuzor Gift Chinwe of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide provided free accommodation for about 52 returnees, skills acquisition, and free education for their children. Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church donated N100,000 to 66 returnees, and Cruxstone, a real estate firm, offered financial support to the first group of evacuees. Various government agencies were present to document and receive the returnees.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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