268 Nigerians Return From South Africa As FG Begins Xenophobia Evacuation

The first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks arrived in Lagos on Thursday, as the Federal Government commenced the repatriation of citizens affected by the unrest.

A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight at about 10:30 a.m., marking the start of the evacuation exercise.

The flight was originally scheduled to depart earlier in the week but was delayed due to the processing of travel documents required for the returnees.

Government officials say more than 1,000 Nigerians have so far indicated interest in returning home as concerns over their safety continue to grow.

Speaking earlier, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, revealed that the number of citizens seeking repatriation had continued to increase.

“The numbers keep increasing,” she said, noting that Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria had secured concessions from South African authorities to facilitate the evacuation process.

According to the minister, the Nigerian mission successfully negotiated waivers that allowed citizens with immigration-related issues to leave South Africa through the repatriation programme rather than face detention.

The evacuation followed a screening and verification exercise conducted by Nigerian authorities to determine those eligible for the programme.

Although the exercise was initially expected to end last Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs later extended it until Sunday to accommodate additional applicants.

In a statement announcing the extension, the ministry said the move was necessary to enable more Nigerians affected by the crisis to participate in the exercise.

The ministry added that protecting Nigerians abroad remains a key priority of the Federal Government and a central component of the country’s foreign policy.

“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 said.

Authorities also disclosed that arrangements had been put in place to support the returnees upon arrival, including documentation, reception and other assistance programmes coordinated by relevant government agencies.

The evacuation comes amid renewed reports of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which have prompted hundreds of Nigerians to seek assistance in returning home.