The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa in the wake of recent xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.
A total of 268 returnees touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace aircraft chartered by the Federal Government as part of efforts to bring affected citizens back home.
The evacuation flight was initially expected to leave South Africa on Monday but was postponed until Wednesday due to documentation and administrative challenges before eventually departing.
The repatriation exercise comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa, following reports of xenophobic violence that have led many foreign nationals to seek assistance in returning to their countries.
The Federal Government previously disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had expressed interest in leaving South Africa, with plans underway for additional evacuation flights in the coming days.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier revealed that requests for repatriation were increasing steadily.
According to her, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has been working closely with South African authorities to facilitate the departure of affected Nigerians, including those facing immigration-related challenges.
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The minister explained that arrangements had been put in place to allow citizens with unresolved immigration issues to leave on evacuation flights instead of being detained.
To streamline the process, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa began screening and documenting Nigerians seeking to return home. Although the exercise was initially expected to conclude over the weekend, it was later extended because of the growing number of applicants.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension demonstrated the government’s determination to safeguard the welfare 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 statement reads.
The arrival of the first batch signals the start of a wider government effort aimed at assisting Nigerians affected by the unrest and ensuring their safe return to the country.
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