KEY POINTS

• The first batch of 262 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos aboard a special Air Peace flight.
• The Federal Government has scheduled four additional evacuation flights between June 15 and June 24 to bring back more Nigerians.
• Returnees will receive support packages, including ₦100,000 from MTN Nigeria and a ₦1 million pledge from Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The Federal Government has announced plans to arrange additional evacuation flights for Nigerians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, following the arrival of the first batch of returnees in Lagos.

A total of 262 Nigerians were flown back to the country aboard a special Air Peace flight as authorities intensified efforts to bring home citizens willing to leave South Africa amid rising violence and unrest.

The returnees arrived at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa led by Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi.

Receiving the evacuees on behalf of the Federal Government, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the evacuation demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.

According to him, Nigeria would not stand by while its citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment anywhere in the world.

He described the operation as evidence of the country’s citizen-centred foreign policy and assured Nigerians in the diaspora that their welfare remains a priority.

Tinubu Pushed for Evacuation Since April

Acting High Commissioner Temitope Ajayi disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had wanted the evacuation to begin as early as April after reports of xenophobic attacks emerged.

He said the President maintained constant communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian officials in South Africa, demanding regular updates on developments.

Ajayi revealed that Tinubu set up crisis monitoring mechanisms to track incidents across South Africa’s nine provinces and insisted that Nigerians affected by the violence should be brought home.

According to the envoy, diplomatic pressure from South African authorities and other international stakeholders delayed the evacuation process because of concerns over the negative image such an action could create for South Africa.

He quoted Tinubu as saying that any attack on Nigerians in South Africa should be viewed as an attack on him.

Ajayi announced that five evacuation flights have been scheduled through Air Peace to repatriate Nigerians wishing to return home.

Following the first flight, additional batches are expected on June 15, June 18, June 22 and June 24.

He said the President had directed that the entire evacuation exercise should be completed before the end of June.

The envoy also rejected reports that the returnees were undocumented migrants, explaining that many had valid residency status but became undocumented because of delays in the renewal of permits by South African authorities.