The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has made it clear that the 258 citizens who were evacuated from South Africa had not committed any wrongdoing. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, NIDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed regret that the only reason for their mistreatment was the colour of their skin, as they were black immigrants in a foreign country.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the successful evacuation operation, commending President Bola Tinubu for his role in bringing the Nigerians home. She stated, ‘I can tell you that every single one of the 258 returnees was innocent. The only crime they committed was being black migrants in South Africa.’ The Chairperson also noted that MTN provided a support package of 100,000 naira and 50,000 naira worth of airtime for each of the returnees.
As the focus shifts to reintegration, NIDCOM is calling on state governors to follow the example set by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who provided one million naira to each returnee from his state. Dabiri-Erewa stressed the importance of seamless collaboration among agencies and urged other states to assist in the reintegration process.