The second batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos as the Federal Government continues efforts to bring home citizens affected by recent xenophobic attacks in the country.

The group of 66 returnees landed in Lagos at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday under the government’s evacuation programme approved by President Bola Tinubu. Their arrival follows the return of the first batch of 258 Nigerians, who were flown back on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.

Speaking at the airport, Dipo Onabowale, the Lagos representative of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), said the latest evacuation was made possible through the support of Kunle Soname, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet. He noted that officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the evacuees on the flight.

Onabowale, who represented NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised President Tinubu for approving the evacuation exercise and ensuring the safe return of stranded Nigerians.

He explained that challenges encountered during the first phase of the operation are being addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has assured that all registered Nigerians willing to return home will be evacuated.

NiDCOM also unveiled several support packages for the returnees. According to the commission, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State donated N1 million each to evacuees from the state.

In addition, MTN Nigeria provided free SIM cards, data worth N50,000 and credited N100,000 into the bank accounts of each returnee. Founder of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, also donated N100,000 to every evacuee.

The returnees expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating the evacuation and thanked Kunle Soname, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa Temitope Ajayi, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other donors for their support.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other agencies were on hand to receive and document the evacuees upon arrival.