No fewer than 258 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos yesterday from South Africa. The returnees, including males, females, and minors, were brought back aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777 chartered flight that landed around 10:30 a.m.
Reception and Support
The returnees were welcomed by the Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They left South Africa due to recent violent attacks targeting foreigners accused of taking jobs. Upon arrival, they underwent card registration, immigration processes, and other checks. Each returnee will receive N50,000 airtime from MTN and N100,000 from the Federal Government, along with offers from state governments and NGOs.
South Africa's Statement
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs stated that the first repatriation flight departed on June 11 with 268 Nigerians, and a second flight is scheduled for June 15. All returnees were issued Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission. The department noted that the repatriations followed South Africa’s Immigration Act, and all affected individuals have been declared undesirable persons, barred from re-entry for five years. Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber emphasized commitment to enforcing immigration laws and modernizing border management through the Electronic Travel Authorisation programme, Smart ID cards, and a planned Digital Identity system.
Nigeria's Response
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, challenged claims that the returnees were undocumented migrants, stating that many faced administrative delays in permit renewals. NIDCOM welcomed the returnees on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who approved and funded the evacuation flight. NIDCOM Chairman announced that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma approved N1,000,000 for each Imo State indigene among the returnees, MTN Nigeria donated N100,000 per returnee, and NIMC will fast-track National Identity Numbers (NIN) for all evacuees.
