ON SEPTEMBER 18, 201911:27 PM

BY RASHEED SOBOWALE

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday gave a sum of N20,000 to each of the second batch of 315 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fresh batch of returnees arrived a week after another 187 Nigerians fleeing xenophobia came back from South Africa.

The joyous returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 7.21p.m aboard an Air Peace B777 aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI.

The flight, which originated from the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg was received by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Air Peace Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema.

Also on ground was Mr Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Diaspora.

Presenting the token on behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr Jermaine Sanwo-Olu said that the money was a palliative for the returnees.

Sanwo-Olu said that the returnees from Lagos State would be transferred to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where they would be trained on skill acquisition.

Dabiri-Erewa told newsmen that the returnees would be profiled according to their states and local governments of origin to complement the federal government’s effort in reintegrating them.

She said apart from giving the returnees stipends to get back to their respective states, there was also a medical team on ground to provide assistance to those with medical conditions.

Dabiri-Erewa also noted that the Nigeria High Commission was working with the South African authorities to reduce the unnecessary delays which had so far characterised the evacuation exercise.

On his part, Onyema told newsmen that some Nigerians were stranded in South Africa for over four years and could not return home due to financial difficulties and lack of proper documentation.

He said: “What Air Peace is doing to freely evacuate Nigerians from South Africa is part of our support to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and we are doing it wholeheartedly.

“The airline is only asking the government to do what it has been doing to facilitate the smooth return of the Nigerians.

“We are not asking for any refund because we knew that the cost of evacuating the Nigerians will exceed N300 million at the end of the day.

“We are so happy that even our pilots and crew that went to South Africa refused to take their allowances saying that it is their own way of showing patriotism,” Onyema said.

He commended the Nigerian government for the matured diplomatic way it was handling the xenophobia issue with its South African counterpart and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resettlement of the returnees.

One of the returnees, Chuks Okoma from Delta State, thanked God for sparing his life considering the ordeal faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

Okoma said that he had been in South Africa for six years without a job and sleeping in the street.

Another returnee, Michael Udoh, narrated how some foreigners were burnt in South Africa, adding that they were unable to move around.

Udoh, who had been in South Africa for six years, said that the country refused to renew his work permit after it expired, thus making him jobless.

TRIGITIS:
Good attempt.

But 20k for a returnee from oversea residing in Lagos?

Babajide Sanwo-Olu can do better

All the same, nice gesture, at least better than none.

TRIGITIS:
Good attempt.

But 20k for a returnee from oversea residing in Lagos?

Babajide Sanwo-Olu can do better

All the same, nice gesture, at least better than none.

Ijawwomaninoyo:


Set them up for what? What about the unemployed here before? Who set them up before they left? ALL of them were employed here, saved money (Minimum N1m) before relocating.
You work for money, pay rents, feed, transport yourself and still have such savings, yet you say the Country is not working, you are leaving.
A hen eats corn, drinks water and swallow pebbles, yet it complains of having no teeth. If it has teeth, will it eat gold? What else does it want to eat? Let it ask a cow with so many teeth what else it can eat except grass.
Some sold their entire business, some left banking and 6 figures job to leave. It is not possible for an un employed person to leave a country, most were even employers of labour.
They are the original cause of unemployment here, did you see the combination of what they forfeited, try and Photoshop them here, unemployment rate will reduce.
One said he has business and branches in 7 province, the only thing he comes here to do is to greet his parents in December. Just imagine!
6 out of 10 of them have no homes here.
If about 3 or 4 of those businesses were here, he should have been an employer of labour likewise the others and their taxes will help the government to do something.
Ironically, himself, his family and kinsman are complaining about unemployment and hardship in Nigeria.
They are the architect of their own misfortune.

ursullalinda:
20k is too small oh but if they can get more from different governors.... . It won't be easy at all for the returnees but life first before wealth

vickayo:
From Gistvic.com

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abia State yesterday endorsed as its candidate for the March 9 governorship election, was seen distributing free kerosene in Umunkpeyi, Abia State. Gistvic Reports.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu branded Tanker was seen distributing free kerosene to people.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/8932552_ikp___2_jpga711af91c62f6ee29c85b0bf47990ad7

Bonatheripper:
Welcome to the zoo money..
They'd need it for malaria medicine in few weeks

RockHard:


Can do better how?? How many disadvantaged Lagosians have yet to receive such handout? Even FG 'Trademoni' beneficiaries only got 10k (loans at that). Giving each returnee 20k, irrespective of their states of origin, is more than ok as a starter in my opinion (that's besides the offer to train the ones from Lagos in skill acquisition). Air Peace has done it's bit, Lasg has also given something. The respective state governments of the returnees and other well-meaning Nigerians can also take it from there.

semyman:
The rejected zoo has come to their rescue
Trump still doing press up
Shiithole keel you

FG has approved N47bn for Nigeria Air —Sirika


https://punchng.com/fg-has-approved-n47bn-for-nigeria-air-sirika/

TRIGITIS:
Good attempt.

But 20k for a returnee from oversea residing in Lagos?

Babajide Sanwo-Olu can do better

All the same, nice gesture, at least better than none.

BlueRayDick:
Well that's ₦6,300,000.00 not going into Tinubu's pocket.

I will take that

post=82363669:
Only animals think they are living in the zoo btw.....

BlueRayDick:
Well that's ₦6,300,000.00 not going into Tinubu's pocket.

I will take that

anonimi:


Like the ones below

RockHard:


Can do better how?? How many disadvantaged Lagosians have yet to receive such handout? Even FG 'Trademoni' beneficiaries only got 10k (loans at that). Giving each returnee 20k, irrespective of their states of origin, is more than ok as a starter in my opinion (that's besides the offer to train the ones from Lagos in skill acquisition). Air Peace has done it's bit, Lasg has also given something. The respective state governments of the returnees and other well-meaning Nigerians can also take it from there.