FG repatriates 66 more Nigerians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks

The Nigerian Federal Government has facilitated the repatriation of an additional 66 Nigerian citizens from South Africa, continuing efforts to assist those affected by recent xenophobic violence.

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66 persons were repatriated in the second phase of the exercise.

The second batch of evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday evening. This operation follows the first phase, which saw 258 Nigerians return to the country on June 11. The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the latest group of returnees.

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The latest evacuation comes after the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in the country on June 11, aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.

Officials confirmed that challenges encountered during the initial evacuation are being addressed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that all registered Nigerians wishing to return will be evacuated. Support packages have been arranged for the returnees, including N1 million from the Imo State Governor for indigenes of that state, free SIM cards and data from MTN Nigeria, and N100,000 credited to each returnee's bank account. A church organization also donated N100,000 to each evacuee.

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all registered Nigerians willing to return from South Africa would be evacuated.

The returnees expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving and facilitating their safe return. They also extended thanks to the acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and other supporting individuals. Various Nigerian agencies, including NEMA and the Nigeria Immigration Service, were present at the airport to receive and document the arrivals.

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indigenes of Imo State among the evacuees would receive N1 million each from Governor Hope Uzodimma.