The Federal Government says it has successfully evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic protests that have left many foreign nationals fearing for their safety. The first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special evacuation flight and were received by government officials before undergoing documentation and profiling. […]
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The Federal Government says it has successfully evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic protests that have left many foreign nationals fearing for their safety.
The first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special evacuation flight and were received by government officials before undergoing documentation and profiling.
Despite logistical challenges that delayed subsequent flights, Nigerian authorities said affected citizens were accommodated and supported at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
An additional 66 Nigerians returned on June 24 through a privately supported evacuation, while another 269 evacuees arrived on June 30, bringing the total number of returnees to 593.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation exercise is ongoing, with three additional flights scheduled to bring home about 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered for repatriation. The next batch of 271 returnees is expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday.
The ministry also maintained that all evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and dismissed allegations that mission officials demanded money from stranded Nigerians seeking to be included in the exercise.
The latest evacuation has renewed concerns over the safety of African migrants and highlighted the challenges facing regional integration, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
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