Another batch of Nigerian returnees from South Africa arrives
Lagos, June 25, 2026: Sequel to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approval for the immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians in South Africa back to the country, another batch of 66 Nigerians arrived Lagos on Wednesday night.
In a statement by the Head of Media and Public Relations of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun recalled that the first batch of 258 returnees arrived on June 11, 2026, bringing the total to 324.
This second evacuation was facilitated by the Chairman/CEO, ValueJet Airline Otunba Kunle Soname.
This batch, consisting of 66 returnees, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , and were accompanied by officials from Nigerian Embassy in South Africa.
The returnees expressed their gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving their immediate evacuation; Otunba Kunle Soname, the Chairman, Value Jet, for his humanitarian gesture and the Nigerian Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi.
They also expressed their gratitude to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, whose staff were on hand to receive them and announced some financial support for them.
Receiving the returnees in conjunction with other top government officials, Mr Dipo Odebowale , who represented NiDCOM Chairman commended President Bola Tinubu for facilitating and ensuring the safe return of the returnees to the country, adding that the logistical hitch faced after the first evacuation was being relentlessly resolved by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu who has promised that all
Nigerians registered for evacuation would return.
The returnees from Imo state courtesy of Gov. Hope Uzodinmma received one million naira each while
MTN donated free-sim pack (with data) worth N50,000 and N100,000 to be paid to the bank account of all the returnees.
Similarly, Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church also donated N100,000 to each of the returnees.
Other government agencies at hand to receive the returnees for proper documentation were NEMA , Refugees Commission , Nigerian Immigration Service, FAAN and security agencies.
The returnees were full of gratitude for the donations support and warm welcome they received on returning back home.
