FG evacuates additional 39 Nigerians from South Africa

The Federal Government has facilitated the evacuation of an additional 39 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as part of its ongoing emergency repatriation programme for citizens affected by the recent xenophobic attacks.

The returnees departed Johannesburg aboard an Air Peace flight on Friday and are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at about 8:50 p.m.

According to a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the special evacuation flight was arranged to accommodate Nigerians who were unable to return on Thursday’s evacuation flight despite completing their travel documentation within the stipulated deadline.

The government said the additional airlift was organised to ensure there was no disruption to, or spillover from, the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation exercise for affected Nigerian nationals in South Africa.

It expressed appreciation to the management of Air Peace for collaborating with the government to facilitate the additional evacuation flight.

The Federal Government also disclosed that the final evacuation flight, expected to bring home about 300 more Nigerians, is scheduled to arrive in the country next week, bringing the emergency repatriation exercise closer to completion.

It reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to the welfare, protection and safe return of Nigerians affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The evacuation exercise was initiated following attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, prompting the Federal Government to coordinate the safe return of willing Nigerian citizens.