Another 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa

The Federal Government has evacuated another 268 Nigerians from South Africa as it continues efforts to bring home citizens affected by renewed xenophobic a.ttacks and anti-migrant violence.

The latest group of evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday aboard a special Air Peace charter flight arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa

According to the ministry, the operation was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who ordered that the evacuation should continue even after the June 30 deadline earlier issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa.

The chartered flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 5:36 a.m. and landed in Lagos later that morning with 268 returnees, along with two officials and crew members.

The latest exercise follows three previous evacuation flights that brought nearly 600 Nigerians back to the country before the June 30 deadline.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said officials from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies would receive the returnees for documentation, profiling and other necessary procedures.

The ministry emphasized that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing, assuring Nigerians that the government is committed to bringing home all citizens who voluntarily registered and were cleared for evacuation.

It said:

“The evacuations remain ongoing. The Federal Government is committed to bringing home safely, our Nationals who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared.”

Reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad, the ministry added:

“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in adherence to that unbreakable bond between citizen and state, remains dedicated to this mandate. The protection of our citizens abroad remains our priority, a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The dignity of our citizens abroad matters…and we remain committed to upholding it.”