The federal government has finalised plans to repatriate 270 Nigerians from South Africa, with the latest batch of returnees expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday as part of its ongoing voluntary evacuation programme.
According to the ministry of foreign affairs, the evacuees will be flown home aboard an Air Peace aircraft scheduled to depart Lagos on Tuesday afternoon for Johannesburg before returning overnight with the passengers.
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the spokesperson for the ministry, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the aircraft would leave the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and depart Johannesburg at midnight.
He said the flight is expected to land in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, subject to operational conditions.
The evacuation is being coordinated through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with relevant government agencies to assist Nigerians who have indicated their willingness to return home.
The latest operation comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic tensions and anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa, which have prompted fresh appeals for stronger diplomatic engagement and additional support for affected Nigerians.
The federal government said the exercise reflects its continued commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its citizens abroad and ensuring that those wishing to return are provided with the necessary assistance.
Nigeria has carried out several similar evacuation missions in recent years involving citizens stranded overseas due to insecurity, humanitarian emergencies, immigration challenges and economic hardship.
Air Peace has remained a key partner in many of the government-assisted repatriation operations, including evacuations from countries affected by conflict and other emergencies.
The planned airlift follows another recent government-coordinated evacuation in which 269 Nigerians were returned from Johannesburg to Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight.
