…1,459 citizens repatriated in total following anti-immigrant violence
The Federal Government has concluded the voluntary evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa with the arrival of the final batch of returnees on Wednesday.
Air Peace airlifted 308 Nigerians aboard its Boeing 777-200 aircraft from Johannesburg to Lagos, bringing an end to the evacuation exercise launched in response to recent anti-immigrant violence in parts of South Africa.
According to the airline, Air Peace conducted five evacuation missions and safely returned 1,393 Nigerians.
Another 66 citizens were evacuated by ValueJet under the same programme.
In total, 1,459 Nigerians have now been repatriated under the Federal Government’s evacuation initiative.
The evacuation followed a wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in some South African provinces. The Federal Government, in collaboration with Nigerian missions in South Africa and local airlines, organized voluntary return flights for citizens who wished to come home.
Officials said arrangements have been made to receive the returnees and provide them with necessary support on arrival in Lagos.
