It was harrowing experience for some Nigerians who were airlifted from the OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg.
Their flight, which was scheduled to take off at 9:10 am, was delayed for about seven hours. Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that immigration issues triggered the delay.
But the many hours of waiting and anxiety ended as the Boeing 777 aircraft belonging to Air Peace landed last night at the Lagos Airport.
The aircraft touched down at 9.37pm and taxied to the premises of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with returnees recounting tales of regrets.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said two hundred and thrity -one male and eighty-six females were preparing to return home.
They were received at a temporary camp opened for their profiling by Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, who said the government has made available to each of them N40, 000.00 recharge card to enable them communicate with their family members.
In appreciation of the gestures, the returnees rose in euphoria to sing the national anthem.
An Osun State indigene who identified himself as Saheed, lamented how he was sacked from work for being a Nigerian.
He narrated how he was subjected to discrimination despite working in Pretoria for more than five years.
Another returnee from Edo State, who identified himself as Anthony Joshua, described his trauma as unfortunate.
He called on the government to cut ties with South Africa because of the maltreatment of Nigerians.
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