Another group of stranded Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, bringing the total number of returnees under the ongoing government-backed repatriation exercise to 324.
The latest batch of 66 Nigerians touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Wednesday night following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the immediate evacuation of affected citizens from South Africa.
The returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Nigeria on June 11, 2026, while the latest group was airlifted through the support of ValueJet Airlines Chairman, Otunba Kunle Soname.
The returnees expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for facilitating their return, while also commending Soname for providing the flight that brought them home.
They equally acknowledged the efforts of Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, in ensuring the success of the evacuation exercise.
They further thanked the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whose team received them on arrival and announced financial assistance to support their reintegration.
Representing Dabiri-Erewa at the reception, Mr. Dipo Odebowale lauded President Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad and ensuring their safe return.
He noted that challenges encountered after the first evacuation exercise were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, who has assured that all Nigerians registered for evacuation would be brought back home.
In a show of support, returnees from Imo State received N1 million each through the intervention of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Telecommunications company MTN also provided free SIM packs with data valued at N50,000 and pledged an additional N100,000 to be paid into the bank accounts of each returnee.
Similarly, the Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, donated N100,000 to every evacuee to assist with their resettlement.
Officials of several government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the Federal Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and security agencies, were present to receive and document the returnees.
The evacuees expressed gratitude for the warm reception and various support packages provided upon their arrival, describing the assistance as timely and encouraging as they begin a new chapter back home.
