Nigeria Receives First Batch of 268 Evacuees From South Africa
By Peace Erewunmi
The Federal Government has received the first batch of 268 Nigerian nationals evacuated from South Africa following renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks and safety challenges faced by foreign residents.
The evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace flight arranged as part of a government-supported evacuation exercise.
According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the returnees are part of over 1,000 Nigerians who voluntarily registered to be brought back home due to insecurity concerns.
The government said relevant agencies have been deployed to ensure proper documentation, profiling, and reintegration support for the returnees upon arrival.
Officials noted that the evacuation exercise reflects Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and responding to situations where their safety may be at risk.
Diplomatic authorities also confirmed that coordination efforts with Nigerian missions in South Africa remain ongoing to manage subsequent batches of returnees.
As of the time of filing this report, additional evacuation flights are expected as screening and registration processes continue.
