Another batch of 67 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa arrive in Lagos

A new batch of 67 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos.

The group landed on Wednesday night at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on a South African Airways flight, a week after 83 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa.

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.

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. (TheCable)