Imo, MTN and NiDCOM support Nigerians evacuated from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks

 Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, has reportedly approved a cash grant of N1 million each for all Imo indigenes who have been repatriated from South Africa.   Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), announced the governor’s intervention on Thursday while receiving the first batch of repatriated citizens at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.   The returnees, comprising men, women, and children, are the first among more than 1,000 Nigerians who registered for voluntary evacuation following weeks of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant violence in parts of South Africa.   Dabiri-Erewa said NiDCOM has coordinated integration plans for the returned citizens and would continue to ensure more people-to-people coordination.     “We’re excited that the president made this happen. And, of course, there’s multi-agency collaboration, each with their own goals,” she said.   “On our part at NiDCOM, we’ve been able to get them private sector collaboration: MTN is giving them N100,000 each, N50,000 airtime; NEMA is providing transportation to their various bases; Governor Home Uzodinma is giving each of his citizens a million naira each. 
And I hope all governors will do the same because they need to be reintegrated and they need to be happy to be back home.”   Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said four more repatriation flights are expected to return Nigerians who have expressed interest in leaving South Africa.   Ebienfa said the screening exercise has also been extended to Sunday to give more Nigerians the opportunity to be able to return.

Nigerians evacuated from xenophobic attacks in South Africa receive N1m from Imo govt, N100,000 MTN cash, and other support packages. Read More: https://punchng.com/xenophobic-attacks-evacuated-nigerians-get-n1m-from-imo-govt-n100000-mtn-cash-others/

The interventions were announced on Wednesday as the first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Cargo Terminal), Lagos, aboard a specially chartered Air Peace flight. The post Xenophobia Evacuations: MTN to donate cash, airtime to returnees as Imo govt promises indigenes N1m appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has disclosed various support packages extended to the first batch of 262 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa amid rising xenophobic attacks.NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who made the disclosure on Thursday during a Channels Television appearance, said the returnees received assistance from both government and private sector organisations upon their arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that the evacuees had committed no crime other than being Nigerian, stating, “None of them committed any crime. The only crime they committed is the colour of their skin. They are migrants in South Africa.”According to her, telecom giant MTN gave each returnee ₦100,000 in cash, along with ₦50,000 worth of airtime and starter packs to aid their reconnection and settlement. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma also donated ₦1 million to each indigene of the state among the returnees. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided transportation support, while a real estate firm offered additional financial assistance. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was also present to assist with identity documentation needs.Dabiri-Erewa urged other state governors to emulate Uzodimma by supporting their indigenes among the returnees. She added that the federal government would continue to engage with the evacuees to identify their skills and explore sustainable reintegration programmes.A second batch of Nigerians is expected to leave South Africa on Monday, June 15. Over 1,000 Nigerians have so far registered for voluntary evacuation.