The final batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, marking the conclusion of the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme initiated in response to rising xenophobic tensions in the country.
The evacuees arrived aboard an Air Peace flight, which landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at approximately 11:28 a.m. on Wednesday.
The latest flight concludes a series of evacuation operations organised by the Federal Government to assist Nigerians who chose to return home following growing concerns over anti-immigration sentiment and xenophobia in South Africa.
Before the final flight, the government had conducted six evacuation flights, successfully bringing home hundreds of Nigerian citizens from South Africa.
The voluntary evacuation programme was approved earlier this month by President Bola Tinubu to provide safe transportation for Nigerians who wished to leave South Africa amid the escalating tensions.
Earlier in June, the Federal Government announced that Air Peace had been authorised to operate the evacuation flights after more than 500 Nigerians were screened for repatriation.
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According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the evacuation exercise was designed to ensure that every registered Nigerian willing to return home could do so safely and without difficulty.
The ministry added that the operation was coordinated by the Federal Government in collaboration with Air Peace and other relevant agencies to guarantee the safe return of affected citizens.
The completion of the evacuation programme marks the end of the government’s emergency response to the recent wave of xenophobia-related concerns affecting Nigerians living in South Africa.