By Cosmas Okereafor
The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa by the federal government arrived this morning aboard special flight belonging to Airpeace, a major carrier in the Nigeria airspace.The flight touched down at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, this thursday morning, in accordance with the FG promise.The Director General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri- Erewa, was on ground to oversee the whole operations. From the grapevine, each evacuee will be given #50,000 MTN air time and also a cash of #100,000 for Local transportation.The passengers were accompanied by the representatives of Nigerian Mission, based in South Africa.The reality is that, the federal government acted based on the Xenophobic attacks mated on Nigerians and other African nationals by South Africans. The attacks led to loss of many lives and businesses shot dow, while the government of South Africa allegedly looked away.Some of the returnees were visibly shaken and described the whole episode as unfortunate treatment from fellow African Country.One of them who spoke under the condition of anonymity told Upright Media that she spent 13 years in South Africa and is now back to Nigeria, leaving all she laboured with her husband behind.
She recalled that, living in South Africa was not easy but had to manage all the years she lived there because of the condition also at home–Nigeria.” i regret all the years i spent in South Africa with my family. I am even scared that, the situation that drove me out many years ago is what i have come back to face with my little children. I appeal to the Nigerian government to come to our aid because we did not commit any crime just that our host country ( South Africa), did not want our presence in that country anymore”.The cargo area of the MMIA where the returnees were profiled and documented by various agencies of government as at the time this report was filed was full of activities, even as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), made sure that, the returnees were treated nicely and dispersed seamlessly from the airport environment.
