The Federal Government has received another 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, as efforts intensify to bring home citizens affected by the country’s June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight from Johannesburg at 10:48 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the latest evacuation brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the ongoing exercise to 335, following the arrival of 66 others on June 24 aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a public-spirited Nigerian.
The ministry said the 269 evacuees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and were received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, who conveyed the goodwill message of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the returnees.
Ali-Gombe reassured the evacuees of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
The Ministry also assured that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing, noting that additional flights are expected in the coming days to bring back all Nigerians who have been screened and cleared for voluntary return.
It added that the Federal Government would continue to engage South African authorities at the highest diplomatic levels to ensure the protection of Nigerians residing in the country.
