The Air Peace flight MEN2759 conveying 188 Nigerians from South Africa has arrived at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos at 9:35 pm local time.
The aircraft which departed the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa, after an eight-hour delay, had on board, 188 Nigerians.
The evacuation of Nigerians follows an order by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 9, 2019, to evacuate Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa, after several xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
The President gave this order after he received the report of the special envoy sent to South Africa to convey a Special Message to President Cyril Ramaphosa over the recent xenophobic attacks in the country.
While some people were turned back over inadequate documentation for travelling with children, about seven were detained for allegedly entering the country illegally.
The number of Nigerians that made it back to Nigeria drastically reduced following moves by the South African government to frustrate the evacuation efforts. Only about 187 adults and children were successfully evacuated on Wednesday as against the 320 Nigerians expected back home.
The flight arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 9.43pm.
One of the returnees, Uche Victor, told journalists that he left his wife who he said was a Cameronian and a young daughter behind. He said, “I’m bleeding because I left my wife and baby but I have to come back because my mother cries for me to return. If something happens to me she will suffer. I left my business, I came back with nothing. South Africans believe all Nigerians are drug pushers, but I don’t know the colour of any drug.”
Victor, who explained that he left Nigeria for South Africa in 2007, explained that the attacks were anger against the government. “They are only venting their anger on foreigners. They started with black and will move to whites,” he said.
According to him, the flight would have returned earlier but the South African government made it difficult. “The didn’t want us to go but for Nigeria’s consulate,” he added.
Another returnee from Abia State, who gave his name as Onuoha, said a lot of Nigerians were still stranded as they could not return with their properties.
Aliu Saheed, from Osun State, said his shop was burgled and he came back home empty-handed. “But I’m happy to be home, I’m not going back again,” he said.
S’A CANCELS VISAS ISSUED TO RETURNING NIGERIANS One of our correspondents learnt that the South African authorities went further to cancel visas that were issued to the returning Nigerians. A picture on Facebook showed a Nigerian passport with a cancelled South African visa as of September 10.
The Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said there was 15 hours delay before the flight left South Africa. She had earlier told journalists that the South African authorities brought new immigration rules before the affected Nigerians could be allowed to board the aircraft.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the Federal Government is giving N40,000 worth of airtime to last them for two months as well as stipend of N10,000 for transport. She also said there were plans for the Bank of Industry to provide some money for the returnees to start small businesses.
Meanwhile, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Toyin Olajide, said the evacuation would cost the airline about N300m. Olajide said the cost would include payment of passenger service charge, aeronautical and other charges.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionUnhealthy lifestyles remain a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes
The number of new cases of type 2 diabetes could be stabilising, or even falling, a study suggests.
The analysis looked at 47 studies from the mid-1960s up to 2014, mainly from the US and Canada and countries across Europe including the UK.
A third of populations studied between 2006 and 2014 saw a fall in new cases and another third were stable.
But Diabetes UK said the challenges of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, both linked to the condition, remained.
Prof Dianna Magliano, head of diabetes and population health at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, in Melbourne, who led the study, said: "We are seeing a flattening of incidence and even a fall in many high income countries in the recent years."
'Potential plateau'
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionMeasures such as cycle paths may have encouraged people to live more healthily, thereby preventing diabetes cases
Studies between 1990 and 2005 showed the number of new cases increased in two-thirds (67%) of populations studied, was stable in 31% and decreased in 2%.
But from 2006 to 2014, increases were seen in only a third, with 30% staying stable and 36% declining.
Prof Magliano said: "The most obvious conclusion to be drawn from falling incidence is that we are succeeding in reducing the risk for developing diabetes in the population."
The studies did not reveal the level of undiagnosed diabetes in populations - and a different test for type 2 diabetes was introduced around 2010.
But Sarah Wild, professor of epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said the findings echoed what she had seen in Scotland.
"There does seem to be a flattening of new cases of diabetes," she said. "Why that is seems to be a bit of a puzzle.
"It's good news. But that doesn't mean we can take our eye off the ball."
'Challenges remain'
Dr Emily Burns head of research communications at Diabetes UK, said: "This study looks at type 2 diabetes through a different lens, reporting on the number diagnosed rather than the number living with the condition - which can often be distorted by factors such as how long people live for.
"With this in mind, it's promising to see that the number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes might potentially be plateauing in certain parts of the world."
But she added: "The challenges posed by obesity and unhealthy lifestyles - the two main drivers for type 2 diabetes - remain significant.
"That's why, while the findings are interesting, this study doesn't detract from the seriousness of the growing diabetes crisis and the vital prevention efforts under way to help tackle this."
