Xenophobia Evacuations: Nigerians return from South Africa with government and MTN support

The first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks arrived in Lagos on Wednesday, receiving a mix of financial and material support.

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The people you see here today are our fellow Nigerians who have decided to come back home to escape the irresponsible violence that has been taking place in South Africa. They are in good spirits and have been looking forward to returning home since we started this process.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State approved a grant of N1 million for each indigene of his state among the returnees. Telecommunications company MTN pledged N100,000 and N50,000 worth of airtime, along with starter packs and phones, for every repatriated Nigerian in this initial group. The evacuees arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) were present to receive the evacuees, commencing documentation and profiling for their reintegration into society. NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa announced the support packages, highlighting MTN's contribution and the governor's financial assistance.

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MTN is here. We have been working with them. They are going to transfer N100,000 to your accounts each, and they are also going to give N50,000 airtime each with starter packs and phones for you to use when you get home.

Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, characterized the returnees' ordeal as traumatic but noted their relief at being back home. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for personally driving the evacuation initiative, which was established in response to escalating anti-immigrant violence in South Africa. The president had set up a direct communication channel to monitor the crisis and coordinate the government's response.

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Secondly, Governor Hope Uzodimma said his office should get your account numbers. He will transfer N1 million each to Imo State indigenes among you.