Xenophobia: 320 Nigerians to return on Wednesday – Envoy
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/09/xenophobia-320-nigerians-to-return-on.html
The Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, has said
that the first batch of the Nigerian returnees from South Africa would
depart South Africa for Lagos on Wednesday.
Adama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview
that the first batch of returnees, are expected to depart South Africa
by 9:00 a.m Wednesday.
The consul general also disclosed that Air peace had indicated
interest to evacuate over 600 Nigerians that were willing to return to
their country following the latest xenophobic attacks.
“The first flight leaves by 09: 00 hours this Wednesday with about
320 passengers and the second batch will leave on Thursday all things
being equal.
“We have over 600 who had indicated interest. All things being equal,
without any hitches, the plane will take off by 09 : 00 hours this
Wednesday.
“The manifest for the first flight is ready, and we are working on the next flight,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday called for the immediate
evacuation of Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa
following the latest attacks on Nigerians and other nationals.
Buhari gave the directive when he received the Report of the Special
Envoy to South Africa, the Director-General of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Abubakar.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman of Air Peace
Mr Allen Onyema, had last week volunteered to send aircraft to evacuate
Nigerians who wished to return home without payment.
“Air Peace is willing to support the Nigerian Government’s efforts in
this matter by deploying our B777 aircraft to evacuate Nigerians back
home,” Onyema said.
The Chairman of the Air Peace also advised the returnees against making payment to anyone for their flights to Lagos.
Onyema urged the returning Nigerians to guard against unauthorised
persons, reportedly collecting 1,000 dollars from them, adding that none
of them should pay for the flights.
According to him, airline is particularly concerned about the safety of Nigerians in South Africans following the attacks.
“We have not designated or recruited any agent in South Africa to collect money on behalf of Air Peace.
“So, nobody should pay money to anyone or group of persons posing as Air Peace agent or staff.
“Any Nigerian who has paid money for repatriation to Nigeria with Air
Peace should request for a refund and report to appropriate
authorities,” he said.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, had also pledged the Federal Government’s support to
any Nigerian that wanted to return home.
Dabiri-Erewa said this after a closed door meeting with the Senate
Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations in Abuja.
She said that the returnees would be encouraged to enroll and
participate in the various social intervention programmes of the
government.
“We will encourage them to enroll in small scale entrepreneurial
programmes with the Bank of Industry under the social investment
programme . So, there are things that they can do’’, she said.