Air Peace has concluded the federal government’s humanitarian evacuation from South Africa, returning the final batch of 308 Nigerians aboard its Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
The airline said the final flight increased the total number of evacuees to 1,393 Nigerians transported across five successful humanitarian evacuation missions, according to a statement on Wednesday in Lagos by Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey.
It said the final evacuation flight arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, marking the successful completion of the operation. The aircraft docked at the Cargo and Hajj Terminal, officially bringing the federal government’s coordinated humanitarian mission with Air Peace to a close.
According to the airline, the operation showed Nigeria’s successful humanitarian response to the security situation affecting Nigerians in South Africa. It said the evacuation also demonstrated the importance of strong public-private collaboration in protecting the welfare and safety of Nigerian citizens abroad.
“From the commencement of the operation, Air Peace deployed its Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft across five dedicated evacuation missions, safely airlifting 1,393 Nigerians.
“Each evacuation flight carried families back to loved ones, restored hope to those displaced by uncertainty and reaffirmed that Nigerians can rely on their nation,” Air Peace said, noting that the operation further strengthened its reputation as Nigeria’s leading humanitarian airline through its continued support for emergency response efforts.
According to the statement, the airline had undertaken more than 20 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond since commencing operations, supporting emergency repatriations, humanitarian interventions, and national response efforts whenever the need arose.
The returnees were received by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission’s chief, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside senior immigration officials.
Ms Dabiri-Erewa sympathised with the returnees over the hardships they experienced during the crisis and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s reassurance of the government’s support. She affirmed the administration’s commitment to the returnees’ reintegration and overall welfare following their arrival in Nigeria.