By Oluwatimilehin Fajemisin
The Federal Government has confirmed that the first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks is expected to arrive in Lagos on Thursday morning, marking the beginning of a broader repatriation exercise focused on assisting citizens that are affected by rising anti-foreigner tensions in the country.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 270 Nigerians will make up the first group of returnees. The evacuees are scheduled to depart Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight on Wednesday night and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m. on Thursday. The government said the evacuation operation is being fully funded by the Federal Government, with no cost to the affected citizens.
The repatriation follows weeks of growing tensions in South Africa, as anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic attacks have been targeting foreign nationals from different African countries. Reports have revealed that thousands of migrants have been displaced, while governments have started organizing evacuation efforts for the citizens that no longer feel safe to remain in the country.
Officials say more than 1,000 Nigerians have registered interest in returning home, a sharp increase from earlier figures, highlighting growing concern among the Nigerian community in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have stated that reception arrangements have been put in place for the returnees upon arrival.
The evacuation exercise shows Nigeria’s efforts to protect its citizens abroad while diplomatic engagements continue over the recurring issue of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
