83 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa, Return to Lagos

Eighty-three Nigerians have returned to the country from South Africa following a repatriation exercise facilitated by private individuals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night, saying the returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.

The returnees were accompanied by two officials of the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg.

According to the ministry, the cost of the returnees’ flight tickets was covered by good-spirited private individuals whose intervention facilitated their safe return to Nigeria.

The returnees were received on behalf of the Federal Government by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.

They were subsequently handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling ahead of their reunification with their families.

The ministry reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians living abroad and supporting the safe return of citizens when necessary.

It also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, the private sponsors and other government agencies involved in the repatriation, reception and reintegration process.