The Federal Government has intensified efforts to evacuate stranded Nigerians, bringing home another 269 citizens aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, in Abuja on Tuesday. announcing the latest evacuation
The latest batch arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 10:48 a.m. on Tuesday, marking the second major evacuation coordinated by the Federal Government in response to the immigration deadline imposed by South African authorities.
The arrival follows an earlier evacuation on June 24, when 66 Nigerians returned to the country on a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian philanthropist, bringing the total number of returnees under the ongoing exercise to 335.
Officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa accompanied the evacuees throughout the journey and handed them over to government representatives upon arrival in Lagos.
Leading the Federal Government’s reception team was the Director of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, who welcomed the returnees on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ali-Gombe conveyed the President’s assurances that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a priority, stressing that the government would continue to support citizens facing challenges overseas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation exercise is far from over, noting that more flights have been scheduled in the coming days to airlift Nigerians who have completed screening procedures and opted for voluntary repatriation.
According to the ministry, the operation forms part of the Federal Government’s coordinated response to South Africa’s enforcement of immigration regulations affecting undocumented foreign nationals.
The government also assured that diplomatic engagement with South African authorities would continue to ensure that the rights and safety of Nigerians residing legally in the country are protected while facilitating the orderly return of those choosing to come home.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing consular support to Nigerians abroad and pledged to sustain high-level diplomatic efforts throughout the evacuation process.
