Another group of 83 Nigerians has arrived in Lagos after being evacuated from South Africa following ongoing xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner violence.
The returnees landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Wednesday night aboard South African Airways flight SA060. The group includes 58 adults and 25 children. They are currently undergoing biometric screening under the supervision of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM.
This marks the first time the federal government’s voluntary repatriation programme from South Africa has used a commercial airline. Seven previous batches were flown home on chartered aircraft.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the evacuation was made possible by a group of private individuals and business associates who paid for the returnees’ tickets. She had announced on Wednesday that the group would depart Johannesburg.
According to her, the flight left Oliver Tambo International Airport at 3:35 p.m. local time and arrived in Lagos at about 8:45 p.m.
The same sponsors have also pledged to fund the evacuation of another set of Nigerians who say they no longer feel safe in South Africa and want to return home.
With this latest arrival, the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the programme has risen to 1,573. The previous figure was 1,490.
The repatriation effort began in response to xenophobic attacks in South Africa where some Nigerians were killed and others lost property.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the government remains committed to protecting Nigerians abroad under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda. She urged state governments to support citizens at risk abroad and help with evacuation, relocation and resettlement.
The minister listed the states represented in this batch as Anambra, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Abia, Osun, Delta, Kwara and Ekiti.
She praised Imo State for starting the payment of N1 million to each returning indigene. She also noted that Abia State approved N1 million each for 31 verified returnees, and that Enugu State has committed to helping evacuate stranded indigenes.
She called on other states to follow suit and support their citizens.
The minister also thanked Nigerians and groups at home and abroad for assisting citizens facing consular emergencies.
“To our returning Nationals, we say, ‘Welcome Home,'” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
