The Federal Government has promised to give Nigerians who are returning from South Africa over xenophobic Attacks, soft loans through the Bank of Industry (BOI) to support those interested in small trade and businesses.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed in a statement to the returnees when they arrived Lagos at about 9.35 pm on Wednesday, September 11, on-board an Air Peace flight.
Apart from transport stipend to convey the returnees to their various destinations, Dabiri-Erewa told them that they are to receive SIM cards with N40,000 worth of air time, plus 9GB of data valid for two months to ease off communications.
“Hon. Dabiri-Erewa told the returnees that apart from transport stipend to convey them to their various destinations, for ease of communication, they are to receive SIM cards with N40,000 worth of air time, plus 9GB of data valid for two months as well as a soft loan from the Bank of Industry to support those interested in small trade and businesses,” the statement partly reads.
She also revealed that a programme of reintegration would also be put in place subsequently, while also stressing that arrangements for the airlift of second batch of Nigerians from South Africa are underway.
Dabiri-Erewa further stated that a total of 187 Nigerians were evacuated, amongst whom over 30 were children, adding that about 317 initially billed to return on the flight Wednesday experienced over 15 hours delay by the South African authorities.