Another batch of 66 stranded Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday night, bringing the total number of returnees to 324.
The evacuation followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the immediate return of stranded Nigerians from South Africa.
In a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission said the latest group arrived after an earlier batch of 258 returnees was received on June 11, 2026.
According to the statement, the second evacuation flight was facilitated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet Airline, Otunba Kunle Soname. The returnees were accompanied to Nigeria by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa.
The evacuees expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving their evacuation, while also thanking Soname for sponsoring the flight and Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, for supporting the exercise.
They also commended the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whose officials received them on arrival and announced financial support for the returnees.
Speaking on behalf of the NiDCOM Chairman during the reception, Mr. Dipo Odebowale praised President Tinubu for ensuring the safe return of the stranded Nigerians.
He disclosed that logistical challenges encountered after the first evacuation were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, who, he said, had assured that all Nigerians registered for evacuation from South Africa would eventually be brought home.
As part of the resettlement support, the Imo State Government, under Governor Hope Uzodimma, donated ₦1 million each to returnees from the state.
Telecommunications company MTN also provided each returnee with a free SIM pack containing data valued at ₦50,000, alongside a cash donation of ₦100,000 to be paid into their bank accounts.
In addition, the Senior Pastor of Harvesters Church, Bolaji Idowu, donated ₦100,000 to each of the returnees.
Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other security agencies were present to receive and document the returnees.
The returnees expressed gratitude for the warm reception and financial support provided by the government, corporate organisations and individuals, describing the assistance as timely as they begin rebuilding their lives in Nigeria. #Securitynewsalert.com
