Third batch of evacuated Nigerians arrives Lagos as returnees from South Africa hit 593

The third batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos following weeks of anti-immigration protests and rising xenophobic tensions in the country.

The returnees arrived aboard an Air Peace aircraft, which landed at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 10:54 a.m. on Tuesday.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest group of 269 evacuees brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 593.

He explained that the figure is in addition to 66 Nigerians who returned aboard a South African Airways flight on June 24 through the intervention of a Nigerian benefactor.

According to Ebienfa, the returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and formally received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.

He said Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message to the evacuees and reassured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.

“He conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country,” Ebienfa said.

The ministry also reiterated that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing ahead of South Africa’s June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.

“With the June 30 deadline on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, the Federal Government wishes to reiterate the fact that the evacuation process is still on course,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 258 Nigerians were evacuated in the first batch on June 11.

Ebienfa disclosed that additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days to bring home Nigerians who have already been screened and cleared for voluntary repatriation.

He added that the Federal Government would continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to safeguard the rights and welfare of Nigerians residing in the country.