Another group of Nigerians fleeing the ongoing anti migrant unrest in South Africa has safely arrived in Lagos as the Federal Government continues its evacuation exercise for citizens affected by the wave of xenophobic attacks and protests in the country.
The latest batch of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard a chartered Air Peace flight from Johannesburg. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the aircraft brought back 268 Nigerian returnees, along with two officials and members of the flight crew. She disclosed that the special evacuation flight departed Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport in the early hours of Friday and was fully funded by the Federal Government as part of efforts to ensure the safe return of Nigerians who voluntarily chose to leave South Africa.
The minister explained that President Bola Tinubu directed that the evacuation exercise should continue despite the expiration of the June 30 deadline earlier issued by anti migrant groups in South Africa. She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Nigerians abroad, stressing that no citizen willing to return home would be abandoned because of the security situation...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The latest evacuation follows previous flights that had already brought hundreds of Nigerians back to the country since the repatriation programme began. The government has maintained that the exercise is voluntary and is intended to provide a safe exit for Nigerians who no longer feel secure amid the growing hostility towards foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
Authorities have also dismissed reports suggesting that returnees were required to pay for the evacuation, insisting that all special repatriation flights are being financed entirely by the Federal Government. Officials added that several hundred more Nigerians are still expected to be evacuated in the coming days as registration continues for those seeking to return home.
The continued evacuation underscores Nigeria’s determination to respond swiftly to the challenges faced by its citizens overseas while engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels to address the recurring incidents of xenophobic violence. As more Nigerians return home, the government says it remains focused on ensuring their safe reintegration while pursuing lasting solutions to protect the rights and safety of Nigerians living abroad.
