The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, has commended the resilience of Nigerians returning from South Africa amid rising anti-immigration tensions and xenophobic attacks.
The minister praised the returnees for maintaining good conduct in spite of the circumstances that forced them to leave South Africa.
Dr Abimbola Fasanu, Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis to the minister, spoke on his behalf at the reception of the 269 returnees, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Doro addressed the latest group of returnees, describing them as hardworking Nigerians who had chosen to come home voluntarily rather than remain in an increasingly hostile environment.
“What is most important is that you were not deported for crime.
“You carried yourselves responsibly while earning a living in South Africa.
“Unfortunately, this challenge has come, but we must face it together as a country,” he said.
The minister reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensuring smooth reintegration process for all affected Nigerians.
“The President Bola Tinubu administration has pledged to ensure safe landing for all the returnees from South Africa. Nigeria will not give up on its citizens,” Doro said.
Doro also pledged that no returnee would be excluded from the ministry’s humanitarian assistance programmes.
He commended agencies involved in the evacuation and reception processes, including the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The minister called on state governments to complement federal government’s efforts by assisting returnees to settle back in their communities.
“There is no doubt in my heart that these strong Nigerians will fit in soon.
“The great spirit of hard work and perseverance for which Nigerians are known will see to the re-emergence of these great men and women,” he said.
Amb. Catherine Udida, Director of Migrant Affairs at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said that additional batches of returness from South Africa were being expected in the coming weeks.
She said that efforts were underway to support re-integration of the returnees through rehabilitation programmes, skills acquisition initiatives and other forms of economic empowerment designed to help them rebuild their lives.
Among the returnees was Adeyemo Place, who regretted financial losses he suffered while hurrying to depart South Africa.
He said that many returnees were forced to dispose of, at reduced prices, property they accumulated over the years, while some abandoned their assets.
“It was heartbreaking to sell off property acquired over a decade for peanuts, and in some cases, we could not even sell everything before leaving,” he said.
Another returnee, Mr John Okeke, urged the Federal Government to take a stronger diplomatic stance against xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian migrants in South Africa.
According to him, the returnees were law-abiding and contributed positively to South African economy.
He said they did not deserve the treatment they received.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 269 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, at 11 on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace flight that departed Johannesburg.
The returnees were evacuated under the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
According to a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, their arrival brought the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa so far to 595.
Ebienfa said that an Air Peace flight had, on June 15, brought back 258 returnees.
He added that 66 others were evacuated via South African Airways on June 24, adding that it was facilitated by a good-spirited Nigerian.
