The Federal Government has announced that another batch of Nigerians will be evacuated from South Africa on Tuesday as part of efforts to protect citizens ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests in the country.
According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and is expected to return to Lagos on Tuesday morning with another group of Nigerians who opted for voluntary evacuation.
The latest operation comes as anti-immigration groups in South Africa prepare to stage demonstrations beginning June 30.
Ebienfa said the aircraft departed Nigeria at about 3:00 p.m. and was expected to arrive in South Africa at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time.
The return flight is scheduled to depart South Africa at midnight and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.
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A total of 271 Nigerians are expected to arrive on the evacuation flight.
President Bola Tinubu approved the voluntary evacuation programme earlier this month to enable Nigerians willing to leave South Africa to return home safely.
Earlier in June, the Federal Government disclosed that five Air Peace evacuation flights had been approved after more than 500 Nigerians were screened for repatriation.
Before the latest operation, 328 Nigerians had already been returned to the country in two batches, with 262 arriving on June 11 and another 66 returning on June 25.
The evacuation exercise is being coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with Air Peace and other relevant agencies.
