The first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa in the wake of renewed xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos
A total of 268 returnees touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight arranged by the Federal Government as part of efforts to bring affected citizens back home.
The flight was initially scheduled to depart on Monday but was postponed until Wednesday due to documentation and processing challenges before eventually making the journey to Nigeria.
The evacuation comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa, following reports of xenophobic violence that have forced many foreign nationals to seek assistance in returning to their countries.
The Federal Government previously disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had expressed interest in returning home, with further evacuation flights expected to follow.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier revealed that requests for repatriation from Nigerians in South Africa were increasing steadily.
She also stated that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had been working closely with South African authorities to ensure the smooth return of affected citizens, including individuals facing immigration-related difficulties.
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