The Federal Government has evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa following recent xenophobic protests, while preparations are underway to repatriate about 700 more citizens in the coming days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ongoing evacuation exercise reflects the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and providing timely assistance to citizens affected by crises.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight.
The returnees were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.
The ministry explained that logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, necessitating the temporary accommodation of some stranded Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where officials provided them with welfare support.
It further revealed that a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily sponsored the airfare of 66 stranded citizens, enabling them to return to Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight on June 24.
According to the ministry, a second government-arranged evacuation flight landed on June 30 with 269 returnees, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 593.
The statement added that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing, with three additional flights scheduled over the next few days to bring home all Nigerians who voluntarily registered for evacuation and successfully completed the required screening and clearance procedures.
It disclosed that approximately 700 more Nigerians are expected to be repatriated, with the next batch of 271 evacuees scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday.
The ministry also dismissed allegations circulating on social media claiming that officials at the Nigerian Mission in South Africa demanded payment from citizens seeking evacuation.
It maintained that all special evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and that no Nigerian is required to pay for transportation.
“The insinuations and false allegations that some staff of the Nigerian Mission were requesting money before enlisting our nationals for the evacuation flights are totally false, fake news, and should be discarded,” the statement said.
The ministry commended the coordinated efforts of relevant government agencies and partners involved in the operation, describing the successful evacuation as a demonstration of Nigeria’s resolve to safeguard the welfare of its citizens overseas.
Reaffirming that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a key pillar of the country’s foreign policy, the ministry said the government would continue to ensure that citizens affected by conflicts and emergencies receive the support, dignity and care they deserve.
“The lives of Nigerians living abroad matter, and we are trying our best as a Ministry to give them a sense of belonging,” the statement added.
