MTN, Imo State Grant Up to N1 Million to 258 Nigeria Evacuees From South Africa
Updated
Updated · Premium Times · Jun 12
MTN, Imo State Grant Up to N1 Million to 258 Nigeria Evacuees From South Africa
3 articles · Updated · Premium Times · Jun 12
Summary
258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa landed in Lagos on a chartered Air Peace flight, the first batch in a voluntary return programme for more than 1,000 people.
MTN said each returnee in the first batch will receive N100,000, N50,000 airtime, starter packs and phones, while Imo State approved N1 million each for its indigenes among them.
Airport officials began documentation, profiling and NIN registration on arrival as the federal government prepared reintegration support with states and private-sector partners.
Nigerian officials said the evacuees fled weeks of xenophobic violence in South Africa; President Bola Tinubu had ordered willing citizens evacuated and approved five Air Peace flights after delays.
The operation follows renewed anti-immigrant attacks that have pushed several African governments to warn citizens against non-essential travel to South Africa and revive diplomatic strains over recurring violence.
Is South Africa's crackdown on migrants a genuine policy shift or a dangerous political gamble before elections?
Can South Africa's economy survive without the millions of foreign workers it now seeks to expel?
Displacement and Repatriation in South Africa: The 2024 Surge in Xenophobic Attacks and Its Regional Impact
Overview
Foreign nationals in South Africa are facing an immediate humanitarian crisis as anti-immigrant attacks have displaced thousands, especially in Durban where many Malawian nationals are sheltering and awaiting repatriation. The crisis is widespread, with migrants from Burundi, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe also seeking refuge. Local officials have noted the rapidly increasing number of displaced people and called for urgent municipal action. This situation highlights the urgent need for coordinated intervention, as the displacement is not limited to one group or area, but reflects a broader regional challenge driven by escalating threats and violence.