Fresh batch of 67 Nigerians returns from South Africa

A fresh batch of 67 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Wednesday night aboard a South African Airways flight.

Their arrival came about a week after another group of 83 Nigerians was repatriated from South Africa.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the latest repatriation, like the previous one, was funded by private individuals.

The development brings to 150 the number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa in the two batches.

“This group is also facilitating this latest exercise amidst unrelenting concerns over the safety and welfare of our nationals in South Africa occasioned by reports of continuing xenophobic incidents and protests by groups calling for the deportation of foreign nationals,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the new batch comprised 30 adults, 34 children, and one infant from Lagos, Enugu, Kogi, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Anambra, Osun, Benue, Abia and Kwara states.

“We continue to appeal to state governments to complement the federal government’s repatriation efforts by coming to the aid of their returnees, many of whom left South Africa, abandoning livelihoods and properties, and to assist towards alleviating the trauma their returning indigenes have endured by assisting them with relocation and resettlement,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said Ikem Ume-Ezeoke, coordinator of the exercise, and Charles Mba, a businessman, addressed the returnees and gave each of them N50,000.

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