The third group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos after weeks of anti-immigration demonstrations and rising xenophobic attacks in the country.
The returnees were flown into Nigeria aboard an Air Peace aircraft, which touched down at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at approximately 10:54 a.m. on Tuesday.
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The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest arrivals came in addition to 66 Nigerians who returned on June 24 aboard a South African Airways flight sponsored by a philanthropic Nigerian.
According to Ebienfa, the 269 returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and were formally welcomed at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
He said Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill message to the returnees and reassured them of the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians living abroad.
Ebienfa noted that despite the June 30 deadline issued to undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, the evacuation exercise remains ongoing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the first evacuation flight, carrying 258 Nigerians, arrived on June 11. With the latest batch, the total number of citizens evacuated as of June 30 has risen to 593.
He further disclosed that additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days to bring home all Nigerians who have completed the screening process and opted for voluntary repatriation.
Ebienfa also stated that the Federal Government would continue diplomatic engagements with South African authorities to ensure the safety and protection of Nigerians residing in the country.
NAN
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