187 Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa have arrived in Nigeria yesterday after the CEO of Air peace Allen Ifeachukwu Onyema set to evacuate them from South Africa on his own account.
They were promised N40,000 Naira worth of air time, 9GB of data valid for 2 months as well as a soft loan from the Bank of Industry by the Federal government.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission,( NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa led a team of government officials to receive the returnees while commending the management of Air Peace for the kind gesture.
Dabiri-Erewa said a “total of 187 Nigerians were evacuated, amongst whom over 30 were children.” About 317 were initially billed to return on the flight which experienced over 15 hours delay by the South African authorities.
The development follows a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa willing to return home due to renewed xenophobic uprisings.
President Mohammadu Buhari gave the order after receiving the report of the special envoy whom he dispatched to South Africa over the xenophobic attacks.
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Hon Dabiri-Erewa told the returnees that “apart from transport stipend to convey them to their various destinations, for ease of communication, they are to receive a SIM card park with N40,000 Naira worth of air time, plus 9GB of data valid for 2 months as well as a soft loan from the Bank of Industry to support those interested in small trade and businesses.”
Hon Dabiri said a programme of reintegration will also be put in place subsequently. The returnees were thankful to President Buhari, the Chairman and management of Air Peace as well as the Consul-General in South Africa and the High Commission in Pretoria for their efforts in ensuring their successful return to Nigeria.