- Mariam Taofeek-Bakare | Premier World News
Another group of Nigerians has returned home from South Africa following weeks of anti-immigration protests and xenophobic tensions in the country.
An Air Peace aircraft carrying the evacuees landed at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 10:54 a.m. on Tuesday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the flight brought 269 returnees.
He noted that this came after 66 others who arrived on June 24 aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian citizen.
“The batch of 269 evacuees, escorted by officials of the Nigerian mission in South Africa, were officially received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Director, African Affairs Department, Amb. Haruna Ali-Gombe”, Ebienfa stated.
According to him, Ali-Gombe delivered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message to the returnees.
“He conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country”, Ebienfa said.
He added that the evacuation will continue as South Africa’s June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners approaches.
“With the June 30 deadline on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, the federal government wishes to reiterate the fact that the evacuation process is still on course”, he said.
Premier World News reports that the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived on June 11.
With the latest arrivals, 593 Nigerians have been evacuated as of June 30.
Ebienfa said more flights are expected in the coming days to bring home Nigerians already screened and cleared for voluntary return.
“The federal government will continue to engage South African authorities at the highest level to ensure protection of Nigerian nationals living in the country”, he added.
