Nigeria has concluded a major emergency evacuation of its citizens from South Africa after a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks forced hundreds to flee for safety, with the final rescue flight bringing 308 Nigerians back home on Wednesday.
The aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 11:30 a.m., officially ending the Federal Government’s emergency repatriation programme. In total, more than 1,500 Nigerians have now been evacuated from South Africa following weeks of growing fears over anti-foreigner violence.
The final flight also transported three Nigerian government officials who had remained in South Africa to coordinate the evacuation process and assist stranded citizens.
Speaking after the arrival of the returnees, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the successful operation highlights the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they live.
She explained that President Bola Tinubu approved the continuation of the evacuation exercise even after the June 30 deadline earlier announced by anti-migrant groups in South Africa, ensuring that more Nigerians who requested assistance were able to return safely.
The minister praised officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and other government agencies for working together to carry out the operation without major setbacks.
She also urged the returnees to take advantage of government reintegration programmes aimed at helping them settle back into their communities and rebuild their lives.
The evacuation programme was launched after renewed xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa left many foreign nationals, including Nigerians, fearing for their safety and seeking immediate assistance from the Nigerian government.
The successful completion of the operation marks one of Nigeria’s largest emergency evacuations in recent years and underscores the continuing concerns over the safety of African migrants living in South Africa.
