• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Updated: Air Peace airlifts second batch of Nigerians from South Africa

Nigerians-South Africa-returnees

Air Peace has evacuated 315 Nigerians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

The Air Peace flight with registration number APK 7818 touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at 7.22pm local time on Wednesday.

Speaking shortly after the evacuation, Allen Onyema, Air Peace chairman said the lives of 315 people have been rescued as a result of the evacuation.

Onyema said with this evacuation, Air Peace has succeeded in bringing in 504 stranded Nigerians in all.

He assured that Air Peace will still evacuate more people when they have finished with their documentation process.

Speaking on the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, he said “You can’t believe the kind of stories these returnees have. Forget the political statements coming out from South Africa. Some of them have been stranded for 12 years with no where to go and having the fear of being arrested. Nigerians are stigmatized over there. A lot of them are very happy coming home.

Air Peace chairman commended the captain and his crew who went on the rescue mission.

“The 18-man crew if Air Peace went on a rescue mission. They stood up for about 25 hours on the first day to bring these people back. When they came back, they had offer of over 40,000 dollars but they refused to take it. They said this will be their contribution to Nigeria. They said they want to learn from my selflessness,” he said.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Executive Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said NIDCOM is glad that the Nigerians are back and this time around a lot is being provided for them.

“We have a team that is providing medicals for them. We have counsellors here. Lagos state is also supporting them with cash for transportation. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and some donors also have something for them. What they will be leaving here with today will be worth N100,000 for each person in cash and kind.

“We thank those who have supported and we call on able Nigerians to also support them. The only crime is that they are Nigerians. States are also encouraged to support their citizens.

” We have profiled them according to State and we have written to State governments and they have all been responding and communicating with them. The Bank of Industry is also empowering them. There are adequate programmes for every one of them,”Dabiri-Erewa said.

She further disclosed that there is a widow with four children and scholarship orders are coming in, adding that a medical team was on ground and anyone who needs to be treated, will be treated.

“The first thing is for them to go him first, have some cash in their hand and there after States are getting involved and they will all be empowered. We are getting offers. I am glad at the response of the state governors.

The flight which was supposed to leave OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg in the early hours of Wednesday morning to arrive at noon was further delayed following certain unforeseen circumstances from that end but eventually took off by 1:50pm local time.

Recall, the Boeing 777 aircraft with registration 5N-BWI was supposed to have departed Lagos at 1.00 am(Tuesday), but it was denied landing permit by the South African authorities which stalled the return of the second batch of Nigerians from the country.

 

IFEOMA OKEKE