By Stellamaries Amuwa
The 1,490 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks have expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fully funding their evacuation and rehabilitation back home.
The returnees also appreciated federal government agencies, state governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists who have provided various forms of support to ease their reintegration into society.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this while calling on more state governments, private individuals and corporate organisations to extend assistance to the returnees.
According to her, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, donated ₦1 million to each returnee from the state, while Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, received Edo returnees at the Government House and also pledged ₦1 million to each beneficiary as an initial support package.
She added that the governments of Delta, Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Lagos states have already reached out to identify and support their returning citizens.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the governments of Bayelsa, Rivers, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kogi, Ondo and Osun states to also reach out to their citizens who recently returned from South Africa.
The NiDCOM boss also commended Apostle Dr. Chibuzor Gift Chinyere of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) for providing free accommodation to 57 returnee families at the church’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, as well as offering them skills acquisition programmes and free education up to university level for their children.
She similarly lauded MTN Nigeria for providing each returnee with a free SIM pack loaded with data worth ₦50,000 and an additional ₦100,000 cash support.
Dabiri-Erewa also acknowledged the JAAL Foundation for empowering 50 female returnees, Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church for donating ₦100,000 each to 66 returnees, Cruxstone Real Estate for providing financial assistance to the first batch of evacuees, and the Oyakhilome Foundation for distributing food baskets valued at ₦30,000 each to members of the last batch.
She further expressed appreciation to government agencies that facilitated the evacuation and reception of the returnees, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The NiDCOM chairman also commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, and the Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, for their roles in ensuring the safe return of the affected Nigerians.
She reiterated her appeal to governors, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support the returnees as they rebuild their lives.
The evacuation exercise, which began on June 11, concluded on July 15, with the final batch of 305 stranded Nigerians arriving in the country aboard an Air Peace flight.
