Forty more Nigerians stranded in South Africa have arrived home as xenophobic violence continues.
The sixth evacuation flight landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday, July 11, 2026. Officials from the federal government and partner organizations were at the airport to receive them and begin reintegration support.
The returnees thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the evacuation, calling it timely and lifesaving. They also acknowledged Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Temitope Alexander-Ajayi, for coordinating the process on the ground.
NiDCOM, led by Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, received the group and announced immediate assistance to help them settle back in.
Several individuals and organizations pledged support:
- Imo State: Governor Hope Uzodimma gave N1 million to each returnee from the state.
- MTN: Donated free SIM cards with N50,000 worth of data and promised N100,000 cash to each returnee’s bank account.
- Edo and Delta States: Officials announced separate incentive packages for their indigenes in the group.
- JAAL Foundation: Promised empowerment support for 50 female returnees.
- Omega Power Ministries: General Overseer Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere offered free accommodation for about 52 returnees, plus skills training for families and free university education for their children.
- Harvesters International Christian Centre: Senior Pastor Bolaji Idowu gave N100,000 each to 66 returnees.
- Cruxstone: Provided cash support to an earlier batch of evacuees.
Agencies on ground for documentation included NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Nigeria Immigration Service, FAAN, and various security agencies.
The returnees said the reception, financial aid, and other forms of support would help them start over in Nigeria.
