| By: Francis Onyemachi
The Federal Government has completed the evacuation of Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with the arrival of the final flight carrying 308 returnees to Lagos.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the latest flight brought the total number of Nigerians evacuated under the emergency exercise to more than 1,500.
In a post on her X account, the minister said the final Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 6:30 a.m. South African time.
“The last Federal Government-sponsored flight conveying our nationals home from South Africa as a result of the xenophobic protests and attacks on black migrants which have engulfed that country departed Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, this morning.
“Over 1,500 nationals have been evacuated. The number of evacuees on this flight is 308 nationals and three Nigerian officials. Our prayers are for a safe return,” she wrote.
The Air Peace flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 11:28 a.m., marking the end of the government-backed evacuation programme.
Before the final flight, the Federal Government had carried out six evacuation flights, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians who opted to leave South Africa following reports of xenophobia-related attacks and rising anti-immigration tensions.
The evacuation exercise followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a voluntary repatriation programme for Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa.
Earlier in June, the Federal Government announced that Air Peace had been cleared to operate the evacuation flights after more than 500 Nigerians were screened for repatriation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the operation was designed to ensure that all registered Nigerians who chose to return home were evacuated safely.
The exercise was coordinated by the Federal Government in collaboration with Air Peace and other stakeholders.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also thanked President Tinubu for approving the emergency operation.
“I wish, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Government’s diplomatic missions, to express our profound appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for these emergency rescue missions.
“His decisive leadership and compassionate intervention in facilitating the successful airlift and safe return of Nigerians stranded in South Africa, imperilled by the spate of xenophobic incidents, no doubt saved many precious lives which could have been lost if not for this timely action.“
She also commended Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa and Air Peace for their support in ensuring the successful evacuation.
The evacuation programme concludes the Federal Government’s response to the latest wave of xenophobic violence that affected Nigerian nationals living in South Africa.
