The Federal Government has successfully evacuated 593 Nigerian nationals from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic protests, with plans underway to airlift hundreds more in the coming days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, noting that the evacuation exercise is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerians affected by the unrest.
According to the Ministry, the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight. The returnees were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government, before being handed over to relevant agencies for documentation and profiling.
The Ministry explained that logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, necessitating the temporary accommodation of some Nigerians at the High Commission in Pretoria. During this period, the Mission provided care and support to the affected individuals.
In a notable gesture, a Nigerian philanthropist funded the air tickets for 66 stranded nationals, who returned to Lagos on June 24 via South African Airways. Subsequently, a second government-arranged evacuation flight brought back 269 Nigerians on June 30, bringing the total number of evacuees so far to 593.
The Ministry further announced that three additional evacuation flights have been scheduled to return approximately 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered, screened, and cleared for evacuation. The next batch, comprising 271 returnees, is expected to arrive in Lagos on July 3 at about 5:30 a.m.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Ministry stressed that all evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and are free of charge to the returnees. It dismissed as false and misleading allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission demanded payment from evacuees before processing their return.
“The insinuations are entirely unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement said.
The Ministry commended the collaboration among relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in executing the evacuation exercise, describing it as a demonstration of the government’s dedication to protecting Nigerians abroad.
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It emphasized that safeguarding the lives and dignity of Nigerian citizens overseas remains a core pillar of the country’s foreign policy, assuring that efforts will continue to provide necessary support to citizens affected by crises globally.
“The lives of Nigerians living abroad matter, and we are committed to ensuring they receive the care, support, and sense of belonging they deserve,” the Ministry stated.
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