271 More Nigerians to Return as FG Resumes South Africa Evacuation

The Nigerian Federal Government is set to resume the evacuation of its nationals from South Africa, with 271 citizens scheduled to arrive home on Monday aboard an Air Peace aircraft. This effort is part of Nigeria's ongoing initiative to repatriate citizens affected by recent anti-immigration sentiments and tensions in South Africa.

The Air Peace flight was expected to depart Nigeria at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, arriving in South Africa around 9:00 p.m. local time. The return journey was scheduled to depart South Africa at midnight, with an expected arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning carrying the 271 evacuees.

This latest operation marks another phase of the Federal Government's voluntary repatriation program, initiated after renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-immigration protests prompted hundreds of Nigerians to seek assistance to return. Over 1,000 Nigerians had initially registered for the evacuation exercise following the unrest.

The program commenced earlier this month, with the first batch of evacuees arriving on June 11. Subsequent operations have also taken place, including the evacuation of an additional 66 Nigerians last week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that these ongoing efforts underscore the government's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and providing consular support during crises.