XENOPHOBIA: 188 voluntary returnees evacuated from South Africa

After an eight hour delay, 188 Nigerians have been successfully evacuated from South Africa following the recent violence against foreigners in the country.

The Air Peace Flight MEN 2795 left the OR Tambo International Airport around 4p.m for Lagos.

The aircraft is expected to arrive at the Murtala International Airport at 11:15 p.m.

About 640 Nigerians had been registered and documented with their names on the flight manifest to return home over the xenophobic attacks.

From the first batch of 315 returnees, many were prevented from boarding the free flight by the South African immigration officials, for not having travel documents.

READ ALSO: XENOPHOBIA: S’Africa security agents arrest 135 returning Nigerians at airport

More names remain on the voluntary evacuation list and it is expected that a second flight will be arriving in Johannesburg for them.

Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while awaiting the arrival of the first batch of returnees, also confirmed that there were immigration issues which caused the delay.

According to her, immediately they arrive, they would each be given sim cards and airtime that would last almost two months to help them stay in touch with their families.

“The bank of industry will also be here to offer some entrepreneurship programme and some support to start a small business and there would be some stipends for transportation to take you home and we will profile them and for those who want to get any training, they will decide what kind of training they want to do and the Bank of industry will be there to provide it,” Dabiri said.

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