The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.
A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight arranged by the Federal Government as part of ongoing efforts to bring affected citizens back home safely.
The evacuation flight, initially scheduled to depart South Africa on Monday, was delayed until Wednesday due to documentation and processing challenges before eventually taking off.
The repatriation exercise comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, where renewed incidents of xenophobic violence have forced many migrants to seek assistance to return to their home countries.
The Federal Government had earlier disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians in South Africa had indicated their willingness to return home, with additional evacuation flights expected in the coming days.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated that requests for repatriation were increasing steadily. She explained that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had been engaging South African authorities to facilitate the smooth return of affected Nigerians, including those facing immigration-related issues.
According to the minister, special arrangements were made to ensure that Nigerians with unresolved immigration concerns could leave the country through the evacuation programme rather than face detention.
To support the exercise, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa commenced the screening and documentation of intending returnees. The registration process, initially scheduled to end over the weekend, was later extended to accommodate the growing number of applicants.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians living abroad.
“This underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the ministry stated.
The arrival of the 268 returnees marks the beginning of a broader evacuation effort aimed at assisting Nigerians affected by the unrest in South Africa and ensuring their safe return to the country.