NIDCOM says evacuated Nigerians from SA did no crime, attacked for being black
NIDCOM says the 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa earlier today committed no crimes; they were attacked solely because of their black skin. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Commission Chair Abike Dabiri-Erewa lamented that the only ‘crime’ they committed was being black migrants in the country. She praised President Bola Tinubu for ensuring their safe return and noted that MTN gave each evacuee ₦100,000 in cash and ₦50,000 of airtime to help with reintegration.
The NIDCOM boss said the evacuation was a seamless multi‑agency effort and called on state governors to follow the example of Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, which gave ₦1,000,000 to each Imo indigene among the returnees. She added that the focus now is on reintegration and urged other states to provide similar support.
Why does this matter? It underscores the persistent xenophobia faced by Nigerians abroad, even as the government and private sector step in with aid. The incident highlights both the vulnerability of the diaspora and the pressure on state governments to assist citizens returning from hostile environments.
What should you know or do? With MTN’s ₦100,000 cash and ₦50,000 airtime per person and Imo State’s ₦1,000,000 grant to its indigenes, reintegration packages vary widely. Will you support calls for all state governments to offer comparable assistance, or advocate for stronger protections for Nigerians living in South Africa?