Another batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa amid ongoing anti-migrant violence has arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as the Federal Government continues efforts to bring home citizens affected by the unrest.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the government-funded Air Peace charter flight conveyed 268 returnees, alongside two officials and crew members, from Johannesburg to Lagos. She stated that the aircraft departed O.R. Tambo International Airport at 5:36 a.m. before landing safely in Nigeria.
According to the minister, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that the evacuation exercise should continue despite the expiration of the June 30 ultimatum issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, describing the safety and dignity of citizens as a key priority.
The latest evacuation forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing repatriation programme for citizens who voluntarily chose to return home following renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests in South Africa. Earlier evacuation exercises had already brought hundreds of Nigerians back to the country.
The Federal Government has assured that evacuation operations will continue for Nigerians still willing to return, while diplomatic efforts remain ongoing to address the safety and welfare of Nigerian nationals residing in South Africa.
