Plaudit for FG, Air Peace as 2nd batch of S’african returnees arrive fatherland

…Four children of widow get scholarship …each returnee receives N100,000 cash, gift value The first thing is for them to go home first, have some cash in their hand and thereafter, States are getting involved and they will all be empowered. We are getting

Their j oy knew no bound as they touched down the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from South Africa on Wednesday night, 18th of September.

As tears rolled down his face, he looked up, knelt down and said in a loud voice, “finally the suffering and humiliation is over. I’m happy to be home, no place like home.”

These were the words of Udo Michael who was part of the 315 returnees evacuated From South Africa as a result of the xenophobic attacks.

“I am very happy. We are being given a warm reception for us. We suffered a lot in South Africa. It was even very difficult for us to go out. I have been in South Africa for six years and I entered the country legally. Sadly today, all my properties have been destroyed,” Udo disclosed.

Another returnee, Kayode Aaron said he was glad to be back home and all he thinks of doing now is to first settle down and after a month, he will get back into the system and see how he can start afresh again.

He said he feels happy with what the Nigerian government in conjunction with Air Peace is doing.

“South Africa never expected the evacuation to happen. This is the first time this is happening despite the fact that Xenophobia has been happening since 2008. So, this is very wonderful and I thank Air Peace for helping us,” Aeron added.

Returnees get warm welcome

Immediately after their arrival, the returnees were offered free medical tests by Louis Medical Hospital to check their health status and to know if they were HIV positives. Tests showed that all of them tested for HIV tested negative but some who showed symptoms of malaria were referred to the hospital to be treated free of charge.

They were however, referred to a desk where their passports were verified and stamped showing they were not deported but came home on their own volition.

Unlike the first batch that returned last week Wednesday, many of the returnees came back with their families, many of them children and infants.

Both the returnees and those waiting to receive them wept freely as the victims of xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid enclave recounted their horrific experiences.

Abike Dabiri-erewa, the Executive Chairman/ceo, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said NIDCOM is glad that the Nigerians are back and this time around a lot is being provided for them.

“We have a team that is providing medicals for them. We have counsellors here. Lagos state is also supporting them with cash for transportation. National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) and some donors also have something for them. What they will be leaving with will be worth N100,000 for each person in cash and kind.

“We thank those who have supported and we call on able Nigerians to also support them. The only crime is that they are Nigerians. States are also encouraged to support their citizens.

“We have profiled them according to their States and we have written to State governments and they have all been responding and communicating with them. The Bank of Industry is also empowering them. There are adequate programmes for every one of them,” DabiriErewa said.

She further disclosed that there is a widow with four children and scholarship orders are coming in, adding that a medical team was on ground and anyone who needs to be treated will be treated.

“The first thing is for them to go home first, have some cash in their hand and thereafter, States are getting involved and they will all be empowered. We are getting offers. I am glad at the response of the state governors.” Air Peace on rescue mission Speaking shortly after the evacuation, Allen Onyema, Air Peace chairman, said the lives of 315 people have been rescued as a result of the evacuation.

Onyema said with this evacuation, Air Peace has succeeded in bringing in 502 stranded Nigerians in all.

He assured that Air Peace will still evacuate more people after they have finished with their documentation process.

Speaking on the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, he said “You can’t believe the kind of stories these returnees have. Forget the political statements coming out from South Africa. Some of them have been stranded for 12 years with nowhere to go and having fear of being arrested. Nigerians are stigmatised over there. A lot of them are very happy coming home.”

Air Peace chairman commended the captain and his crew who went on the rescue mission.

“The 18- man crew of Air Peace went on a rescue mission. They stood up for about 25 hours on the first day to bring these people back. When they came back, they had offer of over 40,000 dollars but they refused to take it. They said this will be their contribution to Nigeria. They said they want to learn from my selflessness,” he said.

The flight which was supposed to leave OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg in the early hours of Wednesday morning to arrive at noon was further delayed following certain unforeseen circumstances from that end but eventually took off by 1:50pm local time.

Recall, the Boeing 777 aircraft with registration 5N-BWI was supposed to have departed Lagos at 1.00 am (Tuesday), but it was denied landing permit by the South African authorities which stalled the return of the second batch of Nigerians from the country.

Reps honour Air Peace chairman

The House of Representatives on Wednesday held a session in honour of Onyema, for the free air services offered by his airline to the Federal Government for the evacuation of Nigerians in South Africa.

Also, the House passed a resolution asking President Muhammadu Buhari to give a national award to Onyema in recognition of his patriotism, which Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker, asked the Clerk to the House, Patrick Giwa, to transmit to Buhari immediately.

The lawmakers also vowed to give the first priority to Air Peace when flying to any part of the country.

The Speaker asked that the Order Paper for Wednesday’s plenary be temporarily suspended to allow the lawmakers receive Onyema for recognition.

Gbajabiamila asked the Majority Leader, Alhassan AdoDoguwa, to move that Onyema be allowed into the chamber.