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 on Thursday 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.

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 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier disclosed that the number of Nigerians requesting repatriation was steadily increasing.

She noted that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had engaged South African authorities to facilitate the return of affected citizens, including those facing immigration-related issues.

According to the minister, arrangements were made to ensure that Nigerians with unresolved immigration concerns would be allowed to depart on evacuation flights rather than face detention.

To coordinate the process, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa commenced the screening and documentation of intending returnees.

The exercise, initially scheduled to end over the weekend, was later extended to accommodate the growing number of applicants.

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 reads.

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.