Another batch of 268 Nigerians fleeing the wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa arrived in Lagos on Friday, as the Federal Government reiterated its resolve to continue evacuating citizens willing to return home.
The evacuees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard a chartered Air Peace flight from Johannesburg. Also on board were two government officials and members of the flight crew who coordinated the latest evacuation exercise.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the operation was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who instructed that the evacuation should continue despite the June 30 deadline earlier declared by anti-immigrant groups in South Africa.
She explained that the President approved the continuation of the exercise to ensure the safety of Nigerians affected by the growing xenophobic attacks and protests.
According to the minister, the government-sponsored flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport at 5:36 a.m., adding that it was the fourth evacuation mission after three earlier flights had successfully returned nearly 600 Nigerians before the expiration of the June deadline.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the evacuation programme remains open to all Nigerians in South Africa who voluntarily registered and completed the required screening process.
She assured that the Federal Government would continue to facilitate the safe return of every eligible Nigerian seeking evacuation from the troubled areas.
“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,” she said.
Reaffirming the government’s responsibility toward Nigerians living abroad, the minister stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains committed to protecting citizens regardless of where they reside.
She described the protection of Nigerians overseas as a key component of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the bond between the government and its citizens remains unwavering.
The latest evacuation comes amid continuing anti-immigrant demonstrations in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals have been blamed for rising unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
The unrest has reportedly claimed at least four lives, prompting countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique to organise voluntary evacuation flights for their citizens.
The Federal Government has also indicated that it will engage the South African authorities on compensation for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during the attacks.
