The Federal Government on Friday intensified efforts to evacuate Nigerians stranded in South Africa as fresh waves of xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests continue to threaten the safety of foreign nationals.
A total of 268 Nigerians were airlifted from Johannesburg aboard a special charter flight operated by Air Peace Airlines, in the latest phase of an ongoing evacuation exercise ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The aircraft departed O.R. Tambo International Airport at 5:36 a.m. and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, at around 10:40 a.m., according to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The latest evacuation comes despite the expiration of a June 30 ultimatum reportedly issued by South African anti-migrant groups and vigilantes, underscoring the Federal Government’s resolve to continue bringing home Nigerians who feel threatened by the violence.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the latest batch comprises 268 returnees, alongside two officers and crew members, adding that officials from relevant government agencies would receive the evacuees on arrival for documentation, profiling and other necessary support.
She said Friday’s operation followed the successful evacuation of almost 600 Nigerians in three earlier batches before the June 30 deadline.
According to the minister, President Tinubu personally directed that the evacuation should continue until every Nigerian who voluntarily registered for evacuation and passed the required screening is safely returned home.
“The Federal Government is committed to bringing home safely our nationals who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared,” she said.
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She stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains steadfast in its constitutional responsibility to protect Nigerians abroad, describing the welfare and dignity of citizens overseas as a central pillar of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in adherence to that unbreakable bond between citizen and state, remains dedicated to this mandate. The protection of our citizens abroad remains our priority,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
The evacuation exercise comes amid heightened tensions in parts of South Africa, where renewed xenophobic protests targeting foreign nationals have raised fears among migrant communities, including thousands of Nigerians living and working in the country.
The Federal Government has consistently urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, cooperate with diplomatic officials and take advantage of the voluntary evacuation programme where necessary.
With the latest airlift, the number of Nigerians evacuated under the emergency operation has risen to nearly 900, as Abuja continues to monitor developments and coordinate further rescue flights for citizens seeking to return home safely.
P.M NEWS
