Idongesit Mishael, Lagos
The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks has arrived in Nigeria, marking the commencement of the Federal Government’s repatriation programme for affected citizens.
A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight chartered to facilitate their safe return.
The evacuation flight, initially scheduled to depart South Africa on Monday, was delayed until Wednesday due to documentation and administrative processing challenges before eventually taking off.
The repatriation exercise comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa following reports of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.
The Federal Government had earlier disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had indicated their willingness to return home, with arrangements underway for additional evacuation flights in the coming days.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had revealed that requests for voluntary repatriation from Nigerians in South Africa were increasing as concerns over their safety continued to mount.
According to the minister, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has been engaging relevant South African authorities to ensure a smooth evacuation process for affected citizens, including those facing immigration-related challenges.
She explained that special arrangements were made to allow Nigerians with unresolved immigration issues to depart on the evacuation flights instead of being subjected to detention or other administrative sanctions.
To facilitate the exercise, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa commenced a comprehensive screening and documentation process for intending returnees.
The exercise, originally scheduled to end over the weekend, was subsequently extended to accommodate the growing number of Nigerians seeking repatriation assistance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and interests of Nigerians living abroad.
The ministry stated that the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas remains a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.