Second batch of Nigerians fleeing xenophobic violence arrives in Lagos

THE second group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa touched down in Lagos on Wednesday night, bringing relief to families and renewed attention to the Nigerian government’s ongoing efforts to bring home citizens affected by the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in the country.

The 66 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 8:50 p.m. under the evacuation programme approved by President Bola Tinubu. Their return came just days after the first batch of 258 Nigerians landed in the country on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace aircraft, marking the continuation of a coordinated rescue effort for Nigerians who had been stranded and distressed by the violence in South Africa.

At the airport, emotions ran high as officials, support organisations and family representatives waited to receive the returnees. Many of the evacuees stepped off the aircraft with visible relief, grateful to be back on Nigerian soil after what had been a tense and uncertain period abroad.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Head of the Lagos office of NiDCOM, Dipo Onabowale, said the latest flight was facilitated by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Mr Kunle Soname. He noted that officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa also accompanied the returnees, helping to ensure that the process was orderly and safe.

Onabowale, who represented Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised President Tinubu for authorising the evacuation and for ensuring that Nigerians affected by the attacks were not abandoned. He said the administration had shown concern for the welfare of citizens abroad and had acted quickly to respond to the crisis.

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According to him, some of the challenges encountered during the first phase of the evacuation exercise are already being addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had assured that every Nigerian who registered for evacuation in South Africa would eventually be brought home.

The Nigerian government’s intervention was not the only source of support for the returnees. NiDCOM announced several donations and welfare packages aimed at helping them settle back into life in Nigeria and begin the process of reintegration.

Among the beneficiaries were indigenes of Imo State, who were promised N1 million each by Governor of the state, Mr Hope Uzodimma. The gesture was described as part of efforts to cushion the impact of their sudden return and help them rebuild their lives.

Telecommunications company MTN Nigeria also extended support to the evacuees by providing free SIM cards and data worth N50,000 to each person. In addition, the company credited N100,000 into the bank accounts of the returnees, a move that drew appreciation from many of those who had just arrived.

Founder of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Mr Bolaji Idowu, contributed to the relief effort by donating N100,000 to each evacuee. His donation was presented as part of a broader effort by private individuals and organisations to support Nigerians returning from difficult circumstances abroad.

The evacuees expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the evacuation and thanked Soname for facilitating the flight that brought them home. They also appreciated Temitope Ajayi, acting Nigerian high commissioner to South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa and other donors who contributed to the exercise.

For many of the returnees, the journey home represented more than a flight. It was the end of days of fear, uncertainty and displacement, and the beginning of a new chapter in familiar surroundings. Their arrival in Lagos was met with a sense of national solidarity, as officials and donors alike worked to ensure that they were not left to face the aftermath alone.

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Officials from several government agencies were present at the airport to receive and document the evacuees. These included personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

Together, they coordinated the arrival process, recorded the details of the returnees and ensured that the exercise was carried out smoothly. For the 66 Nigerians who stepped off the plane on Wednesday night, the welcome was not just administrative. It was a reminder that, after hardship abroad, home was waiting.