After a seven hours delay at the O.R Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg due to immigration issues, Nigerians who willingly decided to return home due to xenophobic attacks in South Africa has landed in the country.
As the delay lasted, they could be seen singing the country’s “Arise O’ Compatriots” anthem inside the immigration area of the South Africa airport.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that immigration issues caused the delay.
She said immediately those on board arrive, they would be given SIM cards and airtime that would last almost two months to help them stay in touch with their families. Dabiri-Erewa added that the Bank of Industry (BOI) would also offer entrepreneurship programme to those willing to learn.
“The Bank of Industry will also be here to offer some entrepreneurship programme and some support to start a small business and there would be some stipends for transportation to take you home and we will profile them and for those who want to get any training, they will decide what kind of training they want to do and the Bank of industry will be there to provide it,” she said.
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A reporter with eNCA, Heidi Giokos, who has been monitoring events at the airport in South Africa, also tweeted that the plane took off at 3:30pm, South African time. “188 Nigerians have boarded the @flyairpeace plane. The plane was brought in for Nigerians who wanted the evacuation plan offered by @flyairpeace. The board is now ready to take off. It was scheduled to leave at 9:10 am. Over 7 hour delay,” she wrote.
A B777 aircraft was offered by the Nigerian carrier for free to bring willing Nigerians home.
According to her, the delay seemed to be as a result of expired documents from some Nigerian nationals going through the South African immigration.
It was also gathered that a second plane will arrive in South Africa on Friday to take more Nigerians willing to return home.
