A total of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa have arrived safely in Lagos following renewed incidents of xenophobic attacks in parts of the country.
The evacuees touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace aircraft, arranged under the Federal Government’s coordinated repatriation programme.
The flight, initially planned for Monday, was postponed to Wednesday due to administrative and documentation processes before it was eventually cleared for departure.
Authorities said the evacuation became necessary amid rising insecurity concerns affecting foreigners in South Africa, where reports of targeted attacks have led to growing fear among migrant communities.
Government officials revealed that over 1,000 Nigerians had already expressed interest in returning home as tensions escalated, prompting plans for additional evacuation flights in the coming days.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, noted that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has been actively engaging South African authorities to ensure the safe movement of affected citizens, including those facing immigration challenges.
She explained that special arrangements were made to prevent Nigerians with unresolved immigration issues from being detained, allowing them to return through the evacuation process instead.
According to the ministry, screening and documentation of willing returnees were carried out by Nigerian diplomatic officials in South Africa as part of the evacuation arrangement.
Although the exercise was initially expected to conclude within a short timeframe, it was extended due to the increasing number of applicants seeking repatriation.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens abroad, describing the evacuation as part of its broader responsibility to protect national interests and ensure citizen welfare.
Officials say the arrival of the first batch marks the beginning of a larger operation aimed at bringing back Nigerians affected by the unrest, with more flights expected as coordination continues between both countries.
The Federal Government has assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure a smooth and safe return process for those still awaiting evacuation.