By Teddy Nwanunobi
No fewer than 268 Nigerian returnees were among the first batch of Nigerians that were evacuated from South Africa, following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos State on Thursday.
The returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight arranged as part of the Federal Government’s repatriation efforts.
The evacuation flight, originally scheduled to depart on Monday, was delayed to Wednesday due to documentation and processing issues before eventually taking off.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension reflected the government’s commitment to protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians abroad.
“This underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement read.
The latest repatriation exercise follows growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa, where reports of xenophobic violence have prompted many foreign nationals to seek assistance to return to their home countries.
The Federal Government had said more than 1,000 Nigerians have indicated their willingness to leave South Africa and return home, with additional evacuation flights expected in the coming days.
The arrival of the first batch marks the beginning of what officials describe as a broader effort to assist Nigerians affected by the unrest and ensure their safe return home.