A NEW batch of 67 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, via South African Airways on Wednesday night.
The repatriation was facilitated by a group of well-meaning private individuals.
Eighty-three Nigerians were previously repatriated with the support of the philanthropic group.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikem Ume-Ezeoke and Charles Mba addressed the returnees on behalf of the group and gifted them N50,000 each.
Mba, a businessman and philanthropist, urged the returnees to be patriotic citizens and comply with the necessary regulations required by various agencies.
According to him, no hope is lost, and whatever happened in South Africa would not be a hindrance to the returnees’ growth, particularly that of the children.
Ume-Ezeoke, the group’s coordinator, lauded previous efforts by the Federal Government, noting that the country had potential to be harnessed by the returnees.
The ICIR reports that the repatriation followed continuous attacks on Nigerians and other Africans by South African nationals.
In recent weeks, over 1,000 Nigerians have returned home from South Africa over the attacks.
Ghana, Malawi and others have also repatriated their citizens.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org