A NEW batch of 67 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos amid continuing concerns over the safety and welfare of Nigerians in the country.
The group landed on Wednesday night at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on a South African Airways flight, a week after 83 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa.
In a statement on the development, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the return of the 67 Nigerians, like the previous batch, was sponsored by private individuals.
“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.
The minister’s appeal came as the Federal Government continued efforts to facilitate the return of Nigerians amid reports of continuing xenophobic incidents and protests by groups demanding the deportation of foreign nationals from South Africa.
The latest repatriation follows the return of 83 Nigerians from South Africa the previous week, with the government stressing the need for state governments to support returnees who may have abandoned livelihoods and properties in the country.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the latest exercise, like the previous repatriation, was facilitated through private sponsorship amid the government’s concerns over the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
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.
The development further highlights the growing concerns surrounding the welfare of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly amid protests and reported xenophobic incidents.
