Xenophobia: 268 Nigerian Returnees Arrive in Lagos from South Africa
The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.
A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight arranged by the Federal Government as part of ongoing efforts to repatriate affected citizens.
The evacuation flight, initially scheduled to depart on Monday, was delayed until Wednesday due to documentation and processing challenges before eventually taking off.
The repatriation exercise comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa, where reports of xenophobic attacks have prompted many foreign nationals to seek assistance to return to their home countries.
The Federal Government had earlier disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had indicated interest in returning home, with additional evacuation flights expected in the coming days.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had revealed that the number of Nigerians requesting repatriation was steadily increasing.
She stated that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had been engaging South African authorities to facilitate the return of affected citizens, including those facing immigration-related challenges.
According to the minister, arrangements were made to ensure that Nigerians with unresolved immigration issues would be permitted to depart on evacuation flights rather than face detention.
To coordinate the exercise, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa commenced the screening and documentation of intending returnees.
The process, initially scheduled to conclude over the weekend, was later extended to accommodate the growing number of applicants.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding 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 ministry stated.
The arrival of the first batch of returnees marks the beginning of a broader repatriation effort aimed at assisting Nigerians affected by the unrest and ensuring their safe return home.